Madagascar with Mike Dilger

Typical Itinerary

1. Day 1: Depart UK

   Today we depart the UK on an overnight flight to Nairobi. 

2. Day 2: Arrive Antananarivo

   We arrive in Nairobi and take a shuttle to the airport hotel for day use of a room. Later we take an onward flight to Antananarivo. On arrival, we transfer to our nearby hotel.

   Accommodation: Le Relais des Plateaux, 1-night

3. Day 3: Transfer to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

   This morning we leave the capital and drive eastwards to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, which will take around three to four hours. Once we reach our destination, we will visit VOIMMA Reserve, which is situated right on the edge of the national park. This reserve was established by the local community, and it is a wonderful place to observe some of the island’s endemic species.

   As we walk through the reserve, we could encounter diademed sifaka, common brown lemur and indri, the largest lemur species on the island of Madagascar. However, there is much more to see here than just the mammals. We also spend time watching the reserve's reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds. Possible species that we may see include Parson's chameleon, giraffe-necked weevil and mossy leaf-tailed gecko. Afterwards, we check in at our hotel.

   Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge, 2-nights

4. Day 4: Morning visit to the Analamazaotra Reserve

   This morning we visit the Analamazaotra Reserve for a guided walk through its beautiful forest. This is one of the finest primate watching locations in the world. This reserve has the perfect habitat for indri and as we venture deeper into the forest we may well hear their haunting call before seeing these stunning animals.

   Other lemurs commonly seen here include common brown, red-bellied, eastern woolly, eastern grey bamboo lemur and diademed sifaka. The park's special birds include nuthatch and hook-billed vangas, cuckoo roller and rainforest scops owl. Madagascar tree boas are also often seen.

5. Days 5-6 : Palmarium Reserve

   This morning we are transferred further eastwards to the coast on a drive that will take approximately two and a half hours as we journey to the Palmarium Reserve at Akanin'ny Nofy. We will also stop for lunch en route close to Manambato. The last part of our journey will be on a boat as we navigate along the Pangalanes Canal until we arrive at the reserve and our lodge for the next two nights.

   We spend the following day exploring the reserve. We are likely to have outstanding encounters with wild indris here and may also see common brown lemur, eastern grey bamboo lemur and roosting eastern woolly lemur. There is also a fine array of reptiles and amphibians to be seen here, including speckled day gecko, small lined day gecko and an introduced but thriving population of panther chameleons.

   In the evening there will be a night walk providing opportunities to see the incredible aye aye.

   Accommodation: Palmarium Lodge, 2-nights

6. Day 7: Continue to Ranomafana National Park

   Today we depart the lodge for the boat journey up the Pangalanes Canal to Tamatave. We then take our exclusive charter flight (around 1.5 hours) to Fianarantsoa in the Haute Matsiatra Region of central Madagascar. On arrival in Fianarantsoa we then transfer two hours by road to our lodge on the edge of Ranomafana National Park to settle in.

   Accommodation: Thermal Lodge, 3-nights

7. Days 8-9 : Explore Ranomafana National Park

   Over the course of the next two days, we will explore Ranomafana National Park on walks during the day and in the evening to observe both the diurnal and nocturnal range of wildlife that can be seen here. There are 12 species of lemur that have been recorded and in particular Ranomafana is known for its bamboo lemurs: the grey, golden and greater; however, the latter is becoming increasingly rare. In addition, we may also encounter Milne-Edwards sifaka, black-and-white ruffed and red-bellied lemur.

   Ranomafana is also home to a brilliant diversity of birdlife with 110 species having been recorded in the park, of which 30 are endemic to this region of Madagascar. Notable highlights amongst these bird species are Henst's goshawk, rufous-headed ground roller and crested ibis. During our time in Ranomafana we hope to enjoy sightings of some of these lemur and bird species as well as the wealth of reptile and amphibians that can be found here too.

8. Day 10: Drive to Isalo National Park via Anja Community Reserve

   This morning we depart Ranomafana and continue southward towards Isalo National Park stopping at Anja Community Reserve en route for a guided walk. This reserve was established in 2001 with the principal aim of preserving the local habitat and wildlife, but also to provide more employment opportunities and improve income for the local community. The reserve is a haven for wildlife, but importantly it has a strong population of charismatic ring-tailed lemurs believed to be more than 300 individuals.

   Continuing south we drive next to Isalo National Park, reaching our next accommodation in the late afternoon where we spend the next two nights.

   Accommodation: Hotel Relais de la Reine, 2-nights

9. Day 11: Explore Isalo National Park

   Today, we explore Isalo National Park and in comparison to some of the other national parks that we have visited during the itinerary, the environment here is noticeably drier as we have now moved in the southwest regions of Madagascar. These distinct climatic change inevitably means there are some new species for us to try and observe.

   There are 14 different species of lemur that can be found here, and our daytime visit to Isalo should provide good opportunities to observe ring-tailed, Verreaux's sifaka and red-fronted brown lemur. There are also some intriguing endemic bird species including Madagascar partridge, Benson's rock thrush and grey-headed lovebird.

10. Day 12: Visit Zombitse & transfer to Ifaty

    This morning we have a guided visit to Zombitse National Park which provides us with another opportunity to view those species adapted to the drier habitats on the island of Madagascar. Some of the species that we may encounter include Verreaux's sifaka, Coquerel's and giant couas, blue and rufous vangas, Madagascar buttonquail and Madagascar hoopoe. We also some to find two species found only in this forest, the Zombitse sportive lemur and Appert’s tetraka and localised Standing’s day gecko.

    Afterwards, we continue to Ifaty stopping at the Toliara Arboretum for an hour or two to watch some wildlife. Among the charismatic animals to be seen at the arboretum are green-capped coua, Sakalava weaver, Madagascar nightjar, spiny-backed chameleon and the charming grey-brown mouse lemur. We arrive at our accommodation by late afternoon, allowing for some time to relax before dinner in the evening.

    Accommodation: Dunes Hotel, 2-nights

11. Day 13: Exploring the Spiny Forest

    It will be an early start to the day as we head to the other-worldly spiny forest at Reniala in search of long-tailed ground roller, subdesert mesite, sickle-billed vanga and banded kestrel. After a morning of birdwatching, we return to the hotel for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we visit the nearby salt pans for some more birdwatching in the hope of seeing the endangered Madagascar plover and other wading birds such as Kittlitz's and three-banded plovers, Humblot's heron and greater flamingos, returning to the hotel in time for a rest and time to watch the sun set over the sea with a drink in our hand. We then have the option of an evening night walk in the wonderful spiny forest before dinner to spot the nocturnal grey-brown mouse lemur and Petter’s sportive lemur as well as various reptiles. 

12. Day 14: Return to Antananarivo & departure

    This morning, we have time for some final birdwatching or time to relax at the beach, before we transfer to the airport at Toliara to catch a domestic flight back to Antananarivo where we are transferred to our hotel and have the use of day rooms or take a city tour of the capital if of interest. 

    Accommodation: Le Relais des Plateaux, 1-night

13. Day 15: Park Tsarasaotra in Antananarivo

    This morning, we visit Lake Alarobia, also known as Park Tsarasaotra, an urban oasis with a bird-rich lake, dotted with islands and fringed with woodland within the heart of the city. A morning walk here makes for an enjoyable finale to our time in Madagascar. We then have day use of our rooms at the hotel, and a final dinner together. Late tonight, we transfer to the international airport to check in for our return flights to the UK.

14. Day 16: Depart Antananarivo & arrive UK