Madagascar – Northeast

Arrive Tana (Antananarivo) Madagascar’s capital. On arrival you will be met and transferred to our group hotel. D

We fly from Tana to Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), in the extreme north and are taken by 4WD’s south of Diego through Joffreville (an historical town characterised by its European architecture), before reaching the Montagne d’Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park. The next day is fully dedicated to exploring the Park. Established in 1958. This massif rises from the surrounding dry region forming an isolated stretch of montane rainforest covering an area of 18.200 hectares at altitudes between 800m and 1470m. The park offers great biodiversity: a huge tropical forest with endemic fauna and flora, luxuriant vegetation and many waterfalls and volcanic lakes. The climate is perfect, and the cool air refreshing after the heat of the lowlands. The dominant ethnic groups in this area are the Sakavala and the Antankarana. A large number of animal species inhabit the NP including 25 species of mammals, among them 6 carnivores such as the ring-tailed mongoose and the fossa. There are 8 lemurs: Sanford’s brown lemur, crowned lemur, lesser bamboo lemur and five species of nocturnal lemurs. B,L,D

After breakfast we drive 4 hours to Ankarana Special Reserve. Here we find impressive limestone pinnacles known as Tsingy, and the largest network of underground caves with stalactites and stalagmites to be found in Africa. A full day will be dedicated to exploring the reserve: walking through the ‘Tsingy’, visiting the caves which are surrounded by dry deciduous trees such as Baobabs and Elephant foot plant. Its dense forests also support one of the largest and least disturbed populations of crowned lemurs. Keep an eye out for Sanford’s brown lemur, Perrier’s black lemur, northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs, also ringtailed mongoose, fossa, tenrecs and striped civet that are also a common sight. Inside the spectacular and huge labyrinth of caves, 14 bat species, local endemic blind shrimps and the world’s only known cave-living crocodiles are waiting for your visit. At night swarms of bats and flying fox swoop in the darkness. B,L,D

After an early breakfast, we drive back to Antsiranana, with a detour to visit the “Tsingy rouges” or “red Tsingy”, which provide a wonderful spectacle of sculpture and colour all shaped by the wind and rain. Shaped by wind and rain. The sandy track we follow to reach the Tsingy threads between palm trees “satrana”. It is not easily accessible but well worth the scramble. We arrive into Antsiranana in the late afternoon. After a relaxing morning in Diego Suarez we fly back to Tana. B,L,D

After breakfast we drive to Andasibe for 2 nights, with a stop in Marozevo to visit the private reserve “Pereyras” and Mandraka Reptile Farm – where we’ll have the opportunity for close viewing of some of the island’s most extraordinary reptiles and invertebrates. We continue on to Andasibe-Mantadia NP for a night walk. The star of the park is the indri indri; at up to 1m tall, it’s the largest lemur. But there are more than a dozen other lemur species, many endemic birds and more than a hundred orchid species. We will have a full day to explore this amazing region. B,L,D

After breakfast, we drive to Manambato on the Pangalanes Canal, a chain of freshwater lakes and lagoons connected by man-made channels to form a 600km inland waterway. Akanin’ny Nofy (Nest of Dreams), on the white sand shores of Lake Ampitabe. It is a haven of forests, orchids, mangroves and palms. We visit the Palmarium, a private reserve of endemic palms and vanilla bean, where lemurs, including indri indri, sifakas, mouse and crowned lemurs, and the endangered aye-aye, enjoy complete freedom. We cruise by boat to Tamatave where we overnight and then fly back to Tana. B,L,D

Our final morning in Tana will be at your leisure before our transfer to the airport for our return flight home. B