Activities

Detailed 14-day Madagascar Safari Holiday Itinerary

Day 1: Antananarivo

You will be met on arrival in Madagascar in Antananarivo. It is also referred to as Tana by the locals. Our Madagascar safari rep will brief you on this Madagascar safari holiday. You’ll enjoy a transfer to your Antananarivo hotel. The rest of the day will be spent at leisure with dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 2: Antananarivo - Antisirabe

you will begin your day on Madagascar safari holiday with breakfast. You’ll then set off to Antisirabe. This is a tidy, well maintained town. You’ll be here to enjoy the tranquillity of this small European provincial town. There is the exuberance of traditional Malagasy buildings. The journey takes approx. 3+ hours on a good, windy road. 

You’ll stop en route as you make a visit Ambatolampy. This is the biggest town between Tana and Antisirabe. Here you may get the chance to see craftsmen building aluminium pots. There are other aluminium utensils made here too. 

If you got time on your side then a visit to lake Tritriva is worth a try. This is a stunning lake of volcanic origin with blue/green waters. The lake is surrounded by beautiful scenery. You may have an hour’s walk around the lake. You are likely meet many local Malagasy people during the walk. Where we will stop and what you will do today will depend on your preferences. Upon arrival at Antisirabe visit the stone cutting workshop where they cut crystals. Overnight will be in your hotel in Antisiribe.

Day 3: Antisiribe - Lemur forest

This morning your Madagascar safari holiday will drive to Ambohimasoa. Tonight, you’ll spend the night in Lalatsara Bungalows. They are set in a managed forest within a private eco-reserve. As the name dictates several species of lemur can be found here. This includes the Milne Edwards Sifaka. You’ll spend the afternoon exploring the forests.

You’ll also have a short night walk to experience the nocturnal world. Your overnight at the eco-reserve will be at Lalatsara Bungalows.

Day 4: Lemur forest - Sahambavy

The morning of Madagascar safari holiday will be spend exploring the forest. You will be back to the bungalows for an early lunch. Your Madagascar safari holiday will then proceed to Sahambavy. This small town lies about 23 km on the railway from Fianarantsoa to Manakara. Its main attraction is the Sahambavy Lake, nestled at the foot of a hill. It is also famed for the only Madagascan tea plantations. 

This afternoon we can visit these tea plantations. You will stay at the Lac Hôtel with breathtaking view of the island’s unique tea plantation. The 520 hactares spreads out as far as the eye can see. This is the perfect destination for a relaxing stop-off. Your dinner and overnight will be at Lac Hotel.

Day 5: Sahambavy - Manakara - Faraony

This day on Madagascar safari holiday starts with breakfast. By train you will leave from Sahambavy to Manakara. The trip will take you through dense forests and along a calm river. You’ll encounter few rapids for the next few days. These gentle rapids can be avoided if you don’t want the potential of a swim. But, the first rapid tends to be the one to catch most of you out. 

The travel will start by half day train journey through scenic and interesting landscapes. The train ride takes approximately 5-6 hours. You’ll be travelling on reserved 1st class seats as the train can get pretty full. You’ll disembark in Manampatrana. The Faraony River winds in a gentle between boulders, cliffs and cultivated banks. 

With the help of the canoe team you’ll enjoy a short canoe downstream. This is on grade 1 and 2 rapids. You’ll stop at one of the beaches to setup camp. Afternoon showers are not unusual in this area. Your guides and canoe team are in charge of all the logistics. Yours today is to help with putting up your own tent. The well-prepared meals are from fresh and local products. You will have your overnight at your beach campsite.

Day 6 -7: Faraony River

These days on Madagascar safari holiday are dedicated to canoeing. You’ll reach a zone of beautiful beaches and boulders. This is just before the junction with Onilahy river. This will be a pretty full on day rowing. Your days will have departures set at around 0900 hrs. There will be various excuses for impromptu stops and life sharing experiences. 

The Faraony bears exploitable amounts of precious minerals. There are ‘gold rushes’ on many of the river bends. You’ll have the chance to observe hundreds of smiling folks digging. Others will be sifting through the sands and gravel. You’ll spend the evening and nights camping under the African sky.

Day 8: Faraony River - Manakara – Ranomafana

This morning you’ll lay up your canoes and say goodbye to the Faraony. Your Madagascar safari holiday will abandon the river as soon as it starts to flow with force. This is as it goes through rapids and cataracts. There will be a 4 – 5 hour trek before you are picked up by the guide. This Madagascar safari holiday will then proceed to Ranomafana for overnight.

Day 9: Ranomafana

Today your Madagascar safari holiday visits Ranomafana National Park. This is a rich and beautiful mountainous subtropical park. It was established in 1991 to protect the golden bamboo lemur. It contains lowland moist forest, cloud forest, waterfalls and high plateau forest. It is one of the most important and favorite wildlife parks in Madagascar. 

This is home to a large number of lemur species, 13 in total. These Lemurs are easy to spot whilst trekking. There are also over 100 bird species and more than 70 amphibians and reptiles. This is a great place to see some of the unique species living in Madagascar. 

You’ll find the black and white ruffed lemur, brown mouse lemur and Milne Edwards Sifaka. There is also the rare greater bamboo lemur here. This is easy to see in Ranomafana. Wildlife viewing is good all year round but is most productive from April to May. 

You can also have great viewing from mid-Sept to December. Your accommodation will be outside Ranomafana. This is about 10 minutes from the park entrance.

Day 10: Ranomafana – Ambalavao

You’ll spend the morning on Madagascar safari holiday rafting on the Namorana River. This is inside the National Park. Later your Madagascar safari holiday will set off to Ambalavao. If time allows, you’ll visit the attractive town of Ambalavao.  

This is a small town typical of the Central Highlands. It is renowned for its wooden balconies with elaborate carvings. There is papermaking industry and a lively cattle market. You’ll then head to your hotel for relaxation and overnight.

Day 11: Ambalavao – Anja – Tsaranoro

This morning your Madagascar safari holiday visits Anja park. The park is just a few kilometers from Ambalavao. Anja is actually one of the more touristy places you’ll visit. But the site is community run and remains beautiful. It offers a unique occasion to interact with ‘wild’ ring-tailed lemurs. They are habituated and are somewhere between tamed and familiar.  

Your Madagascar safari holiday will proceed to the next destination. You will have a one hour thirty minutes drive to the Tsaranoro Valley. Here you’ll be accommodated in a traditional bungalow at Camp Catta. This is situated at the foot of Tsaranoro’s cliff. This afternoon you’ll be able to go on a short trek to explore the area or simply relax. Overnight will be in a bungalow at Camp Catta.

Day 12: Tsaranoro Valley

You’ll spend the day on Madagascar safari holiday exploring this stunning area. This will be done on foot and includes meeting all the locals. It is a fantastic opportunity to see Madagascar in all its natural glory. Prepare to be enchanted by the astounding landscapes. 

There are stunning red land and the beautiful and awe-inspiring Massif of Andringitra. There also are many kinds of orchids and three sorts of palms. This includes one kind which is endemic to the Andringitra. There are chameleons, lizards, snakes, batrachians and birds. 

You have the famous peregrine falcon as well as the friendly Catta Lemurs here. They live in small families around the Camp. You’ll also have the chance to visit Tsarasoa. Here you’ll have the opportunity to visit and see the reforestation effort. Depending on the time of year we may also get to plant some young saplings. You will have your overnight in Camp Catta.

Day 13: Tsaranoro – Ambositra

This Madagascar safari holiday starts the journey back to Antananarivo. This will be a long drive as you will have 8 hours on the road. You will be heading to Ambositra. It is here that you’ll spend the night.

Day 14: Ambositra – Antananarivo

You’ll begin your last day on Madagascar safari holiday with breakfast. This is before a 5-hour drive to Antananarivo. You’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your late evening flight.

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