Madagascar South

This tour leads to the Southwest of Madagascar, and contains some highlights, but also some trekking.

On this tour, you’ll see several National Parks (Ranomafana, Andringitra, Isalo) and reserves (Anja reserve), very beautiful landscapes and you can relax on the beach in the end. Beach extension is possible.

1st day: EUROPE – ANTANANARIVO

Meeting at Ivato international airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

2nd day: ANTANANARIVO – ANTSIRABE (169 Km about 3,5 hour-drive)
After breakfast. Drive to the Lemurs’ park which is located 25 km of the capital city for a visit, 9 species of lemurs are jumping around freely. After the visit drive to Antsirabe through a landscape composed mainly of mountains and rice fields . Tour of the “Town of Water”: so called because of its numerous thermal springs and the existence of two crater  lakes. Visit of a workshop where they make miniatures from recycled materials. Overnight at the hotel

3rd day: ANTSIRABE
Discover the beauty of nature as well as the cultural richness of the Vakinankaratra by visiting Mount Ibity. Lose yourself in a fascinating landscape alternating rice terraces and emerging rocks. Mount Ibity which culminates at 2292 meters of altitude – just outside the second largest city, Antsirabe – is one of the most geologically and botanically interesting locations in Madagascar. The beauty of the flora is the first attraction of this great massive of quartzite. Well known among gemologists and botanist alike, the mountain hosts some plants found nowhere else in the world.

Back to the hotel and Overnight.

4th day: ANTSIRABE – RANOMAFANA (240 Km about 5 hour-drive)
After breakfast, drive to Ranomafana. – Stop in Ambositra for the visit of some Zafimaniry handicrafts centres: woodcarving. Continuation to Ranomafana. Check in at the hotel. Night walk along the road to try to see the nocturnal species of lemurs (mouse lemurs) and perhaps fossa (the Malagasy “Puma”). Back to the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

5th day: RANOMAFANA
After breakfast, full day visit of the some 40’000 hectares big Nationalpark with its lemurs, chameleons, spiders, frogs, varieties of orchids and medicinal plants. Only in 1986 was discovered the golden Bamboo lemurs here, and there are more than 100 species of birds. Full day walk, and goes mostly on trails, sometimes a bit steep up and down, and sometimes you’ll go off the paths and into the forest to spot the lemurs, it’s a bit exhausting and requires endurance and agility.  Overnight at the hotel.

6th day: RANOMAFANA – AMBALAVAO – ANDRINGITRA
After an early breakfast drive to Ambalavao – the commercial centre of the southern Betsileo region, renowned for its folks, arts and crafts – to visit the “Antemoro Paper” factory (visit not possible on Sundays) This paper is a delicate, handmade, flower-decorated paper made of the fibres of the tree called “Avoha”  then transfer to the gate of Andringitra national park. The trek begins in forest which slowly becomes replaced by alpine meadows covered with orchids by the end of the rainy season. Leaving the forest we ascend a steep path which arrives onto the Andohariana plateau, climbing higher behind granite mountain tops. As we walk through the high montagne vegetation we reach a natural pool, which offers a freezing but very refreshing swim! After approximately 5 hours of walking, we camp at Andreamposty (2061m)

7th day: ANDRINGITRA
The longest day of treks, we begin our climb to the summit of Peak Boby ( 2658 m high )  very  early in the morning, to avoid climbing in the full heat of the day. This is a day to keep your camera handy as the trek climbs higher, giving unrivalled views and superb high-altitude flora. Although this is the highest accessible peak in Madagascar, it is a technically easy ascent up carved steps, and we should reach the summit after about 2 hours. We descend the same route back to our campsite where we have a chance to relax by the river while our lunch is prepared.  After lunch, we head out through moon-like landscapes, granite cliffs and a forest of palm trees known as Gloka, on our way to our campsite. After approximately 7 hours of walking, we camp at Iantaranomby (1650m)

8th day: ANDRINGITRA – TSARA CAMP
Today we have our final day of walking in Andringitra National Park. After breakfast we leave the mountains, exploring some of the villages on foot. With the decreasing altitude, we pass by many forms of succulent plants, such as the Pachypodium (looking like a mini baobab tree), Euphorbia and through savannah landscape. After approximately 5 hours, we overnight at the hotel.

9th day: TSARA CAMP – RANOHIRA (295 Km about 5,5 hour-drive)
Early trsfer to the private park Anja, where you can see on a walk of around two hours on a little bumpy tracks, but not steep, some families of ring-tailed Katta lemurs in their natural surroundings. Continuation to Ranohira. Overnight at the hotel. 

10th day: RANOHIRA
Morning  trek inside the Isalo National Park to discover on a walk of around three to five hours on sometimes bumpy tracks, at some parts a bit steep, the massif of Isalo, its ruin like sandstones, canyons, endemic fauna and flora (Lemurs and endemic plants such as Pachypodium , aloes,..) and to swim in its natural pool. Back to the hotel and overnight.

11th day: RANOHIRA
An another full day of trekking at the national park.

Back to the hotel and overnight.

12th day: RANOHIRA – TULEAR – IFATY (267 Km about 5 hour-drive)
After breakfast, off to Tuléar along a straight road. The landscape is composed of dry forests, baobabs and some proudly decorated Mahafaly tombs. Arrival at Tuléar visit of the city. Transfer to Ifaty –a seaside resort protected by a coral reef, on sandy road and through spiny bush. Overnight at the hotel

13th day: IFATY

Day free for leisure at the beach, or a walk to the nearby fishermen village, or an optional visit of the Reniala reserve with its Baobab Trees, birds etc.. Overnight at the hotel

14th day: IFATY – TULEAR – ANTANANARIVO (27 Km about 1 hour)
Relax on the beach then transfer to the airport and flight to the capital city of Madagascar. Meeting at the airport, Transfer to the hotel and overnight.

15^th Day: ANTANANARIVO – EUROPE
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Europe.