Madagascar Fly-in Safari

On arrival in Tana, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

Today you visit the Old city and upper town of Antananarivo. The majestic Rova ( The Queen’s palace ) overlooks the capital from the highest point of the city. The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as of the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century. The historic boroughs around the Rova ( The Queen’s palace) have nice panoramic views on downtown. You will drive or walk the neighbourhood with your guide to enjoy the picturesque ambiance of the noblemen residence area, with both well-kept traditional houses, colonial houses, palaces, cathedrals, the charm of the narrow, curved, upslope cobblestoned streets and ensemble of cute traditional Malagasy houses built entirely of wood.

After enjoying the Old city, you start your journey towards the Eastern part of the island. After exiting the busy and colourful city of Antananarivo, you reach the Route Nationale 2, the main commercial road of the country which leads to the East coast of Madagascar and its main harbour. During our 150 km (3.5 hour) long journey, you will see various landscapes of the highlands from small traditional villages perched on hill sides, rice fields. A twisty, steep and lush portion of the road will announce that you are entering another region of Madagascar. You will arrive in Andasibe, known for its National Park, home of the primary and secondary forest.

You will have the chance to stop off at Madagascar Exotic. This private reserve is also known as the Peyrieras Butterfly Farm, Peyrieras Nature Farm and Mandraka Reptile Farm. It is a small privately run reserve (or zoo) at Marozevo with a collection that includes many reptiles (chameleons, iguanas, geckos, frogs), Batraciens (Bats), crocodiles and papillons (Butterflies). The adjacent forest area supports families of relocated and habituated Verreaux’s Sifaka and Common brown lemur which provide opportunities to photograph them close at feeding times.

You will then embark on a night walk in The Mitsinjo reserve where you will have the opportunity to discover the nocturnal wildlife of the Andasibe Rainforest.

You leave the hotel at around 7:30 am and head to the entrance of the Analamazaotra special reserve to look for the biggest lemur of Madagascar’s famous “Indri Indri.” This lemur is endemic to the site and made his emblem. Through an easy hike lasting about 2 to 3 hours, you will search for groups of Indri Indri whilst also looking for other species of lemurs, birds, chameleons, endemic flora and medicinal plants.

Andasibe is also a kingdom of the orchids. Cymbidiellas falcigera and Bulbophyllum ameleni are the most enigmatic species as in addition to them being rare and magnificent plants, they also help to maintain the balance of the forest’s ecosystem.

You will also visit the immense Vakona property, an island that is surrounded by fresh water and is home to various species of lemurs: common brown lemurs, bamboo lemurs, ruffed lemurs, diademed sifakas. This is a rare opportunity to get up close and to interact with these primates. The Vakona property offers amazing photo opportunities and souvenirs. The numerous crocodiles, which used to belong to a former farm, can also be found in one of the small lakes of the property.

Next up is a visit to Andasibe, a village with a population of around 5000 people. Through this visit, you will witness the daily life of this calm and colourful village.  With your guide, you will walk in the narrow and unpaved cobbled streets along the small stalls. You will have several chances to interact with local villagers and see how they make a living and occupy their free time. The walk starts or at the old colonial train station with its alpine architecture which was home to the once very fashionable restaurant “Buffet de la Gare” in the 1930s.

Transfer back to Antananarivo, and to the private charter terminal within the airport to connect with your private flight. After a 1h30 flight from Antananarivo, you will land at the Amborodia airstrip near the Tsingy of Bemaraha. A 4×4 vehicle will pick you up to drive you to Bekopaka, a small village that will be your base for the next couple of days.

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is comprised of karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive ‘tsingy’ peaks and a ‘forest’ of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds.

At dawn, you take a traditional pirogue (dugout) to navigate on the Manambolo river and admire the impressive gorges. Further up on the river, you will see some caves and learn about the funeral traditions of the Vazimba ( the first inhabitants of Madagascar ).

You will then start with this easy introduction to the Tsingy of Bemaraha. The short circuit passes through a labyrinth of limestones and its access is relatively easy via walkways and iron ladders and small bridges. While the pinnacles are steep, they are not too high. You can observe them over from two viewpoints, having some good chances to spot the Decken’s sifaka and red-fronted brown lemurs.

Today you embark on a 4×4 vehicle and drive to the entrance of a Tsingy de Bamaraha trail, about 17km North of Bekopaka. Equipped with harnesses clipped to the steel cable, you climb and walk across the limestone forest. The Tsingy de Bemaraha Integral Nature Reserve represents rare or eminently remarkable geological phenomena and of exceptional beauty. It presents impressive geological elements including karstic scenery with a highly dissected limestone massif rising up to 100 metres, forming veritable cathedrals, offering a grandiose, spectacular natural landscape.

After your hike, you are transferred to the airstrip so you can embark on your private scenic flight along the beautiful coast and the dry forest of the West of Madagascar.

Late in the afternoon, you head to the Alley of Baobab. The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belo sur Tsiribihina in the Menabe region in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travellers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. Baobab trees, up to 800 years old, known locally as renala (Malagasy for “mother of the forest”), are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the sere landscape of scrub but stood in dense forest. Over the years, as the country’s population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect of their value as a food source and building material. A cocktail will be served at sunset for you to enjoy whilst taking in the beautiful scenery.

If the tide allows, you are paddled on a pirogue through the mangroves to see Betania, a small coastal village of Vezo semi-nomadic fishermen. After this easy morning in the laid-back seaside town near the shores of the Mozambique Canal, you fly down South to the massif of Isalo, in the heart of Madagascar. Enjoy the lush forests, high plateaus and arid deserted lands. It is one of the most beautiful parks in Madagascar. Once you are settled in this spectacular landscape, we will have time to have a swim in a natural pool and contemplate the sunset over this iconic massif with sundowners.

Accompanied by your park ranger, you hike through the canyons and oases of Isalo and its lunar landscape ending at some waterfalls. This environment was formed during the Jurassic age and the unique flora has evolved and adapted to the existing conditions. 77 species of birds live in Isalo including the rare and famous Benson rock-thrush. During your hike, you will see different species of lemurs, including the world-famous ring tailed lemur. After the canyons, you head to a few places where a panoramic view of the landscape can be enjoyed. You will have the opportunity to swim in the natural pools.

You fly back to Antananarivo to visit the historical neighbourhoods of the city and enjoy a gastronomic experience in one of the capital’s finest restaurants. In the evening, you are transferred to the airport’s international terminal, on time for your departure flight.