LAND OF CONTRAST

Day 1 : Antananarivo

Arrival in Tana, meet and greet at the airport then transfer to your hotel. Our reps will meet you at your hotel to hand you all your travel documents and to make a briefing for the whole tours. Night in hotel

ANTANANARIVO :

Antananarivo means “City of thousands”. Its story began 500 years ago, the king Andrianjaka sent over 1000 soldiers to cut the forest and to conquer the land. Then the great King Andrianampoinimerina, attracted by the beauty of the city, decided to build a palace there, which became later his successor's main palace. From here the same king started to unify the different kingdoms of the island.

During King Radama's reign  Antananarivo became the capital of all Madagascar. . Antananarivo is build on 3 levels : the high city where the queen's palace is situated, the first area occupied during the royal period, then the mid-city, the administrative area where all the better boutiques of the capital are found, then the low city which is the commercial area of the Arrival in Tana, meet and greet at the airport then transfer to your hotel. Our reps will meet you at your hotel to hand you all your travel documents and to make a briefing for the whole tours. Night in hotel

Overnight : Gassy Country House BB

Day 2 : Antananarivo – Morondava (Domestic flight each Thursdays and Sundays) Kirindy (Réserve)

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Morondava, on arrival transfer through the Baobabs forest and the red soil of the west to Kirindy, Settlement in the lodge then meet the guide for night expedition of the reserve, We’ll start an expedition to see the fossa and other night active lemur’s species; overnight in the lodge.

Kirindy reserve :

Rich on wildlife and home to 8 species of day active lemurs, Kirindy is also home to “the Fossa” the only predator for lemurs and the “Giant Jumping Rat” and the world's smallest primate as well as dozens of amphibian and reptile species (and no poisonous snakes). The Kirindy boasts more than 60 species of birds, and thus become an inevitable spot for bird watching.

Overnight : Relais du Kirindy BB

Day 3 : Kirindy (Réserve) - Bekopaka Bemaraha

The Kirindy boasts more than 60 species of birds, so early morning we have 2 hours hike to look for birds before we take our breakfast. Then around 9.00am,  2 hours’ drive to Tsimafana through the Baobabs forest and the red soil of the west. We take a Ferry boat transfer to reach Belo.

Then head on to Bekopaka for another 4 hours adventure in a dirt track. This drive brings us to Madagascar profound, the bush African side of the country with its dry and red soil. One can experience the real life of Malagasy people in the driest part of the country. Arrival in Bekopaka by end of the afternoon, check-in and overnight in Hotel

Overnight : Olympe du Bemaraha BB

Day 4 : Bekopaka Bemaraha

Morning, after breakfast, hike to the Tsingy, a limestone mountain classified as an international heritage. This massif is spectacularly eroded into a chaos of karsts pinnacle which gives it a very strange form. Here nature seems to be in perfect harmony with this wild and sharp limestone mountain. The flora consists of a dry western deciduous forest, plants typical of these dry limestone areas, such as species of Aloe and baobab Andasonia, the red-flowered flamboyant tree Delonix regia which is so widely planted in the tropics. Madagascar’s sole native banana Musa perrieri also occurs.

Regarding flora, we can see typical plants growing in the rocky area such pachypodium, orchids. Concerning the fauna we can see the stump-tailed chameleon Brookesia perarmata known from only a handful specimens, the bird list contains 53 species, seven species of lemurs including Decken’s sifaka Propithecus verreauxi deckeni.

Overnight : Olympe du Bemaraha BB

Day 5 : Bekopaka Bemaraha - Morondava

Breakfast at hotel then, cross Manambolo river and take the dirt road to Morondava. Stop in Belo sur Tsiribihina  where we cross the Tsiribihina river with a local ferry to reach Tsimafana. From there another 4 hours to reach Morondava.

We are in the region of splendid Grandidiers baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. We stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS » and enjoy the sunset picture of this unique moment, with its different colours and lights. Night in Hotel.

Overnight : Laguna Beach BB

Day 6 : Morondava - Miandrivazo

After breakfast, drive towards Miandrivazo. En route experience varied landscapes and the transition from the very dry west to the red soil and rice fields around Miandrivazo. Situated on the Tsiribihina River, Miandrivazo is a very fertile region for cotton, corn, manioc, beans, tobacco and rice. The rest of the day is at leisure either to enjoy the countryside or relax at the hotel.

Overnight : Princesse Tsiribihina BB

Day 7 : Miandrivazo - Antsirabe

Continue the journey to Antsirabe. You will also notice changes on the features of the local people as Asian heritage becomes more prominent. We finish the day in Antsirabe, The city of Antsirabe has about 100,000 inhabitants, and was founded by Norwegian missionaries in the late 18th century, who were attracted by the pleasant climate. It lies on the slopes of the nation's second highest peak, Tsiafajavona, in the Ankaratra Mountains, and has nearby thermal springs, locally renowned for their healing properties. The city is also known as the centre of Madagascar’s brewing industry, and indeed you will smell the brewery on the way into town.

Overnight : Royal Palace BB

Day 8 : Antsirabe - Andasibe

In the morning, we head on to Tana, the end of National Road 7. From here we take the National road  2 and  we head on eastwards to Andasibe, through the green landscape and luxuriant vegetation of the East. This Head on to Tana after breakfast, on arrival we take the national road number 2, thus second step brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forests and lakes.

On the way stop in “Pyereras Reptiles Park” to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles. Then we drive for another 2 hours to reach Andasibe, we may stop in Moramanga for a short visit of the local market. We'll reach Andasibe at the end of the afternoon.

Overnight : Vakona Forest Lodge BB

Day 9 : Andasibe

Morning, 3 to 4 hours guided walk in the Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east. 9 species of lemurs can be spotted; the highlight is the "Indri Indri" which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810 ha reserve is also home to numerous unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds.

After the hike, visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village; who mainly lives on agriculture. Then visit the private park of Vakona in the "islands of lemurs" which the best spot to take photo of lemurs

Indri Indri :

According to the legend, Indri Indri or Babakoto’s name in Malagasy comes from the legend that one day, a small boy called Koto went and climbed a tree to collect bees. Arriving on the top, he was stung by the bees. Losing his lose, he fell but was saved by the “Indri Indri” which brought him to his village and from that time, Indri was called “Babakoto” or “father of Koto”. Members of the Indri family, includes the adult male and female, who stays together for life with their young. A female Indri gives birth to a single offspring every 2-3 years. No one knows how long an Indri may live, but their lifespan is estimated between 25 and 40 years. Adults are from 70-90 cm tall and weigh from 7-10 kg.

Analamazaotra National Park :

Morning, 3 to 4 hours guided walk in the Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the East. 9 species of daily active lemurs can be spotted; the highlight is the "Indri Indri" which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810 ha reserve is also home to numerous unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. After the hike, visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village; who mainly lives on agriculture. Then visit the private park of Vakona in the "islands of lemurs" which the best spot to take photo of lemurs. Back in hotel for the night.

Overnight : Vakona Forest Lodge BB

Day 10 : Andasibe – Antananarivo

Drive back to Tana after breakfast, on arrival day use at Gassy Country House then transfer to the airport for the international flight back home.

End of our services.