Classic Madagascar

You’ll fly from the UK overnight to Antananarivo via Paris. This unique city, known to the locals as Tana, has a distinctive French flavour. On arrival, you’ll be met by one of our team, who’ll drive you to Maison Gallieni for a night of relaxation before your adventure begins.

Just four hours from Tana is the mountainous ecosystem of the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Andasibe is home to eight different species of lemur and many of Madagascar's chameleons. These range from the 60cm-long Parson's chameleon to the tiny nose-horned chameleon. You’ll stay at the Vakona Forest Lodge, set amid lush forest on the edge of the park. Those strange sounds will be the haunting cry of the indri, a lemur you hope to meet tomorrow.

Expert rangers will guide you through a network of trails as you seek out truly unique species. Andasibe is the island's best location for spotting indri, Madagascar's largest lemur. Two of the resident indri groups here are habituated to humans, making them wonderfully easy to get close to. The birdlife, from coral-billed nuthatch to the long-eared owl, is equally spectacular.

The morning is all yours to laze at Vakona, dipping into the pool and listening to the calls of the birdlife. Once you’re feeling refreshed and rejuvenated it’s time to head back to Antananarivo to find your next lodging at Le Relais de Plateaux.

From the capital you’ll fly south to the coastal city of Fort Dauphin and be driven through rural Madagascar for a stay in Mandrare River Camp. Built within an old sisal plantation on the banks of the Mandrare River, the camp offers four-poster beds and delectable cuisine. As sun sets beneath the tamarind trees you can enjoy a cocktail and drink in the views of the mountain jungles beyond. This wildlife-rich terrain is sacred to the Antandroy tribe.

You’ll find a different world entirely as you explore Mandrare. The calls of the crested drongo will wake you and the songs of the Antandroy tribe will punctuate your days. This is your chance to immerse yourself in the cultures of a traditional Madagascan tribe and find out about their lives. Meanwhile day and night walks reveal the Antandroy's pristine ancestral forests and the creatures, including four adorable species of lemur, that also live cheek by jowl with the Antandroy.

After breakfast, drive to Fort Dauphin (4hours) in time for your Tsaradia flight back to Tana. On arrival your guide and driver will accompany you to your hotel near the airport. Overnight at Relais des Plateaux.

After an early breakfast, transfer to Ivato Airport in time for your scheduled charter to Anjajavy. Anjajavy Lodge is located within a 450 hectare nature reserve on Madagascar’s north-west coast. The surrounding forest is alive with lemurs, chameleons, malachite kingfishers and hummingbirds. At 5:30 pm you will depart for a night walk in the reserve to spot a variety of nocturnal lemurs.While the reserve’s show-stoppers are undoubtedly the charismatic coquerel’s sifakas, the hours of darkness also have their star performers. Other mammals to spot are the endemic tsingy tuft-tailed rat, Commerson’s leaf-nosed bat, or Madagascar’s largest predator - the rare and elusive fossa.

Choose to depart for a walk along the ‘Chemin des Crabes’ to see the fabulous birdlife, beautiful baobabs and of course, the famous hairy crab. At the end of the walk, you will visit a small cave where you will find a fossilized lemur skull, stalactites and sharks’ teeth. Enjoy a long walk along the Giant’s Causeway and King’s Alley. You will discover ancient baobab trees, tsingy rock formations found only in Madagascar, along with a variety of lemurs including the Coquerel’s sifakas. When not out exploring relax in the beautiful grounds of the hotel.

At 9:30 am, transfer to the airstrip for your morning flight to Tana by scheduled charter. Upon arrival at Tana airport, you will be met and assisted with checking in for your outbound flight.