The exciting Midwest and East of Madagascar

Explore some of the highlights of the exciting midwest of Madagascar: Ankarafantsika Ampijoroa, one of two last remaining examples of western Malagasy tropical dry deciduous forests. The famous National Park of Andasibe (Perinet), the green and luscious East Coast with its beautiful beaches and tropical Sainte Marie island.

Please scroll down for a detailed day to day program.

Ampijoroa, Andasibe, East coast, Sainte Marie Island

15 days / 14 nights

Antananarivo – Ankarafantsika – Night walk at Ankarafantsika – Ankarafantsika National Park – Antananarivo – Pyereiras Reptiles Farms at Marozefo – Andasibe -Night walk at Andasibe – Analamazaotra National Park – Ilot de Lodge Vakona -Andasibe – Manambato – Ankanin,ny Nofy Palmarium – 1^st Night walk at Ankanin,ny Nofy Palmarium – Diurnal visit at Ankanin,ny Nofy Palmarium – Visit Village at Nosin,Ankoho – 2^nd Nights walk at Ankanin,ny Nofy Palmarium – Manambato – Tamatave – Mahambo – Mahambo port or Soanieran Ivongo port – Sainte Marie –Antananarivo.

Including:

A private vehicle, fuel, a driver, an assistant guide: Antananarivo – Ankarafantsika – Ankarafantsika National Park – Ankarafantsika – Antananarivo -Peyrieras Reptiles Farms in Marozevo – Andasibe – 1st Night walk in Andasibe – Mantadia National Park or Maromizaha Reserve – Ilot de lodge Vakona – Andasibe – Analamazaotra National Park – Andasibe – 2nd Night walk at Andasibe– Manambato -Tamatave – Mahambo – Soanieran,Ivongo port or Mahambo port – The Upper Town in Antananarivo – Digue Market – Ivato airport.
Accommodation: Antananarivo (1 night) – Ankarafantsika (2nights ) – Antananarivo (1 night) – Andasibe (3 nights) – Palmarium Ankanin,ny Nofy (2nights ) -Mahambo (1 nights ) – Sainte Marie (3 nights) – Antananarivo (1 night).
Continental breakfast: Antananarivo – Ankarafantsika – Antananarivo – Andasibe – Palmarium Ankanin, ny Nofy – Mahambo – Sainte Marie – Antananarivo.
Parks and Local guides: Night walk in Ankarafantsika / Ankarafantsika National Park / Peyrieras Reptiles Farms in Marozevo / 1st Night walk at Andasibe / Mantadia National Park or Maromizaha Reserve / Ilot de lodge Vakona /Analamazaotra National Park / 2nd Nights walk at Andasibe / 1st Night walk at Ankanin,ny Nofy / Diurnal visit at Palmarium Anakin,ny Nofy / Visit Village at Andranokoditra Village / 2nd nights walk at Ankanin, ny Nofy Palmarium.
Transfers by cars and on motor boats:
By cars: Ivato airport to Antananarivo City / Sainte Marie Port to your hotel in Sainte Marie / From your hotel in Sainte Marie to Sainte Marie Airport / Ivato airport to Antananarivo City / Antananarivo City to Ivato airport.
On motor boats: Manambato port to Ankanin, ny Nofy port / Ankanin,ny Nofy port to Manambato port / Soanieran,Ivongo or Manambato port to Sainte Marie port.

Excluding:
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks, Tips, Etc.

Price:
For one person: price on request
For two persons: price on request
More than 3 people: price on request

Best time: January to December

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Part 1 – The Exciting Midwest

Day 1: Ivato airport – Antananarivo City – Hotel

Tonga Soa!!! (Welcome). Arrival in Antananarivo (Tana), the capital of Madagascar – the City of a Thousand Warriors. We will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation: touch down and relax. If arrival is in the morning, we’ll do some activities in the City and gather energy for the upcoming adventure. Overnight at “Chalet des roses hotel”, standard room

Day 2: Tana – Antananarivo – Ankarafantsika – Night walk at Ankarafantsika – Hotel

7 am after breakfast ,we will drive to the north western part of the Island through a beautiful mountainous scenery of forests and rice paddies. Lunch at Maevatanana as known for a “Malagasy Sun City” and expected arrival at Ankarafantsika by 4h30 pm. Check in at the hotel. At dusk, before supper, we embark on a short night walk along the road and the patch of forest near the park to look for Chameleons, Golden mouse lemur. And then back to the hotel. Overnight at “ASITY hotel”, Standard Lodge bungalow.

Day 3: Ankarafantsika – Ankarafantsika National Park – Ankarafantsika – Hotel

After breakfast, morning expedition in the park to look for the beautiful Coquerels sifaka and brown lemurs. There is a chance of seeing day roosts of Milne Edwards sportive lemur during the walk. Along the hike, we may also see endemic birds such as Coquerel’s coua, Red capped Coua and we end the hike at the scenic landscape of “Lavaka” where we’ll see a “soft Tsingy”, caused by erosion and wind. Walk back to the campsite for lunch. In the afternoon, we explore the lake, its crocodiles and the endemic Malagasy “fish eagle”. A visit to the breeding station of the Durrell trust preservation where we’ll be able to see the “Plough shell tortoise”, “Radiated tortoises” and “Spider tortoises”. Overnight at “ASITY hotel”, standard lodge bungalow.

Day 4: Ankarafantsika – Antananarivo City – Hotel

We leave Ankarafantsika then drive back to Antananarivo. Overnight at “Chalet des roses hotel”, standard room.

Part 2 – The Green East

Andasibe, the reserve of Palmarium and the Channel of Pangalane, The lovely beach of Mahambo and the splendid landscape of the East coast, the Island Sainte Marie- Whale watching and Scuba Diving.

Day 5: Antananarivo – Pyereiras Reptile Farm – Andasibe – 1^st Night walk – Hotel

We leave Antananarivo for the drive eastward to Andasibe. Midway stop at the Reptiles farms of Pyerieras to see a huge variety of Chameleons and Geckos which are difficult to see in the wild. Late lunch at Feon’ny Ala hotel. Afternoon relax after the long drive. Before supper ,we’ll do a night walk along the road to look for pygmy Chameleons, Tree frogs and mouse lemurs. And the back to the hotel. Overnight at “Feon,ny Ala hotel”, standard lodge bungalow.

Day 6: Andasibe – Mantadia National Park or Maromiza Reserve – Ilot de lodge Vakona – Andasibe – Hotel

Early in the morning after breakfast, we leave the hotel then drive 18 km to Mantadia National park to look for the elusive black and white ruffed lemur, diademed Sifaka. Packed lunch (sandwiches). Before heading to the hotel, we stop at Vakona Reserve Islands of lemurs. We will spot : Black and white Ruffed lemurs, Brown lemurs, Bamboo lemurs, Golden Sifaka ,Crocodiles, etc. We drive back to the hotel and relax. Overnight at “Feon,ny Ala hotel”, standard lodge bungalow.

Day 7: Andasibe – Analamazaotra National Park – 2^nd Nights walk – Andasibe – Hotel

Morning visit in Analamazaotra National Park. (2 to 5 hours walk) : we locate “Indri indri“ again and other species of the lemurs, Birds, Orchids, etc. Back to the hotel for having lunch. From 6 pm, we’ll try again a night walk along the road. We drive back to the hotel and relax.

Day 8: Andasibe – Manambato – Pangalana Channel – Ankanin’ny Nofy Palmarium – 1^st Night walk at Ankanin’ny Nofy – Hotel

Leave Andasibe for a 5 hours drive through tropical wetlands and small villages toward the east: Manambato. In Manambato take the boat towards ANKANIN’NY NOFY (nest of dream) where you will be surrounded by lemurs. This is a relaxing place with a lovely seaside and lakeside full of vegetation. The edge of this Channel is often bordered by lush tropical vegetation which characterizes the eastern part of the Great Island. The Palmarium is located on a peninsula of more than 30 hectares on the Ampitabe Lake, which is good for swimming. We’ll do a night walk and take a speed boat to the Palmarium Reserve’s Islet to look for “AYE AYE ” Lemurs. And then back to the hotel. Overnight at Palmarium hotel, standard lodge bungalow.

Day 9: Ankanin’ny Nofy Palmarium – Diurnal visit – Andranokoditra Village – 2^nd Nights walk – Hotel

Morning expedition in the forest to see the Indri again – but while you are having breakfast :lemurs like the Crowned lemur, Black and white ruffed lemur and Red fronted brown lemurs will play near the restaurant. Afternoon visit to the fishing village of Andranokoditra with its distillery of essential oil from the “Niaouli plant”. Stroll along the beach before heading back to the hotel where a group from the village will put on a performance of Malagasy music before supper. Overnight at Palmarium hotel, standard lodge bungalow.

Day 10: Ankanin’ny Nofy Palmarium – Pangalana Channel – Manambato – Tamatave – Mahambo – Hotel

We leave Palmarium hotel and then sail back to Manambato where we will take the vehicle again to Tamatave and have lunch. We’ll do a small City tour before heading to Mahambo which is 5 hours to the place where we will take the boat to St. Marie Island the following day. Overnight at La Pirogue hotel , de-luxe bungalow.

Day 11: Mahambo – Soanierana Ivongo(Mahambo) – Speed boat – Sainte Marie Island port – Hotel

After breakfast, we leave Mahambo. It’s only a short trip to Soanierana Ivongo where we will take the boat to Sainte Marie. Overnight at Libertalia hotel ,luxury Bungalow with Sea view, Pied dans l,eau, Vitrée, with FAN.

Day 12 and 13: Sainte Marie island

Relax. Overnight at Libertalia hotel, luxury bungalow with Sea view, Pied dans l,eau, Vitrée, with FAN.

The main touristic activities in Sainte Marie:

Whale watching / Scuba diving / Water Dives / Beach excursion to Iles aux Nates / Paddling out to Iles aux Nates in dug out canoes.

Day 14: Sainte Marie airport – Ivato airport – Antananarivo City – Hotel

Transfer by car to Sainte Marie airport and fly to Antananarivo. Transfer by car again to Antananarivo City. Overnight at “Chalet des roses hotel”, standard room.

Day 15: Antananarivo City – Ivato airport – Fly out

Shopping at the crafts market of La Digue then transfer to the Airport for your flight back home.