Herping and Berdwatching
21-day itinerary focused on discovering wildlife in both dry forests and rainforests.
Ankarafantsika – Andasibe – Palmarium – Kirindy forest – Ranomafana – Anja Reerve
21 days and 20 nights deep wildlife tour.
€3,553 for two people – One room
Not included : flyght , VISA, accommodation, all meals.
This tour is designed for wildlife enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive exploration of Madagascar’s diverse fauna, including chameleons, lemurs, snakes, crocodiles, and various bird species. The itinerary covers several key wildlife hotspots across Madagascar, with ample opportunities for both day and night observations. Explore diverse habitats, from the chameleon-filled forests of Ankarafantsika park to the nocturnal wonders of the Pangalane Canal, where you’ll encounter rare species such as the Aye-aye lemur and vibrant reptiles. Along the way, discover Madagascar’s iconic baobab trees, observe lemurs in the wild, and spot elusive carnivores like the fossa. With expert guidance and plenty of opportunities for day and night observations, this tour is a true haven for nature lovers.
Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo (Tana)
Upon your arrival in Antananarivo, you will be welcomed by a private driver and guide who will transfer you to your hotel. You can relax and settle in after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy the comfort and luxury of either Grand Hotel Urbain Tananarive or Hotel Palisandre, both centrally located to provide easy access to explore the city.
Day 2: Tana to Ankarafantsika
Leave the hotel at 6:00 am and head west to Ankarafantsika National Park, famous for its diverse wildlife including chameleons, snakes, crocodiles, and birds. Travel along National Road N° 4 for the day, with lunch at a restaurant in Ambondromamy or elsewhere. We will arrive at Ankarafantsika by the end of the day. Accommodation at the lodge in the park. (without swimming pool).
Day 3: Ankarafantsika
After breakfast, spend the day exploring Ankarafantsika, a haven for nature lovers. Whether you choose easy trails or adventurous excursions, you’ll encounter unique wildlife, including rare birds like the Madagascar Fish Eagle, Schlegel’s asity and different species of snakes like Madagascar ground boa, Madagascarophis colubrinuse ect. Stay immersed in nature at the lodge within the park, offering cozy accommodations without a swimming pool but surrounded by the beauty of Madagascar’s rich biodiversity.
Day 4: Ankarafantsika back to Tana
After breakfast, depart for the return journey to Tana via the same route. The journey will take a full day. Picnic lunch. Accommodation at the hotel Sky bleu. (with swimming pool)
Day 5: Tana to Andasibe
After breakfast, depart for the lush east coast. Travel along RN2 to Andasibe, approximately a 4 hour drive. Arrive in Andasibe around 12:00 pm. Lunch at Restaurant Chez Luc. After lunch, you may choose to visit the Vakona Reserve to observe various species of lemurs up
close, as these lemurs are isolated on an island. Accommodation at Lemurs Lodge (with swimming pool).
Day 6: Andasibe
After breakfast, you can choose to visit either Mitsinjo Reserve or Analamazaotra National Park. I suggest Mitsinjo Reserve as it is easier to find lemurs (Indri indri, the largest lemur) and other animals such as frogs, chameleons, birds, and snakes. In Analamazaotra, lemurs are harder to find. After lunch at chez Luc, depart to discover the chameleons of Vohimana, a reserve where various species of chameleons can be observed: Calumma parsoni parsoni yellow giant, Furcifer bifidus, Calumma falax, Calumma nasutum, etc. Accommodation at Lemurs Lodge (with swimming pool).
Day 7: Andasibe to Toamasina
After breakfast, depart for the city of Toamasina, which has the largest port in Madagascar. We will make a brief stop in a village named Ambodiriana along RN2 to observe Furcifer oustaleti and Furcifer pardalis chameleons. Ambodiriana has two different Furcifer pardalis
chameleons distinguished by their different colours in males and females. Picnic lunch. Accommodation at Hotel H1 or similar (without swimming pool).
Day 8: Toamasina to Pangalanes
After breakfast, depart by private car to the river port. We will take a local motorboat and navigate the canal for about 3 to 3.5 hours to reach the lodge. After lunch, visit the Palm Beach Lodge area to observe another species of chameleon, Calumma parsoni parsoni orange eyes, and an endemic snake named Langaha. At the end of the day, we will go on a night visit to observe the famous nocturnal lemur, Aye-aye. Accommodation at the lodge on Pangalanes (without swimming pool).
Day 9: Pangalanes back to Toamasina
After breakfast, depart for the return journey to Toamasina. Lunch on the boat.
Accommodation at Marina Beach Hotel (with swimming pool).
Day 10: Toamasina back to Tana
After breakfast, depart for the return journey to Tana. The journey will take a full day. Lunch in Andasibe. Accommodation at Hotel Blue Sky (with swimming pool).
Day 11: Tana to Antsirabe
After breakfast, travel along RN7 to Antsirabe, a city known as the “water city,” famous for its agricultural and industrial production. The journey will take approximately 4 hours. Lunch at a restaurant in Antsirabe. After lunch, we will visit to better discover the hidden talents of the city’s artisans. Accommodation at Soimanga Hotel (without swimming pool).
Day 12: Antsirabe to Morondava
Departure very early in the morning at 6:00 am. Be ready for a long day. Heading west, the landscape changes, showcasing Madagascar’s wealth. After 5 hours of driving, we will pass through the town of Miandrivazo, where most tourists have lunch. We will arrive in Miandrivazo around 11:00 am. If it’s not too early for lunch, we can eat at a restaurant in this town. Picnic lunch is better. After lunch, we will continue our journey to Morondava, stopping for the first photo with a large baobab tree along the road. We will arrive in Morondava at the end of the day. Accommodation at Baobab Café (with swimming pool).
Day 13: Morondava to Kirindy and return to Morondava
Depart very early in the morning to observe and photograph the sunrise, which all tourists must not miss while in Morondava. After discovering the beautiful sunrise on Baobab Avenue, we will continue our journey on a track to Kirindy Forest Park. It is a good place to observe Madagascar’s largest carnivore, the fossa, a predator of lemurs. This park also hosts various species of lemurs, reptiles such as snakes, chameleons, and geckos. Lunch at Relais de Kirindy (with swimming pool). After lunch, depart at 2:30 pm to return to Baobab Avenue
for the sunset. After sunset, return to Baobab Café (with swimming pool).
Day 14: Morondava back to Antsirabe
After breakfast, return to Antsirabe via the same route. Lunch at a restaurant in Miandrivazo. After lunch, continue the journey. Stop midway to admire the beauty of the sunset. We will arrive in Antsirabe late. Accommodation at Royal Palace Hotel (with swimming pool).
Day 15: Antsirabe to Ambositra
After breakfast, depart to reach the town of Ambositra along RN7. The town’s people are famous for their woodwork and sculptures. The journey from Antsirabe to Ambositra takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. After lunch, a short hike in search of Furcifer lateralis
chameleons and some snakes in the wild on the outskirts of the town. Accommodation at Jonathan Hotel (budget hotel, without swimming pool).
Day 16: Ambositra to Ambalavao
After breakfast, head further south along RN7 to Ambalavao, a 6-hour journey by road. Known for its beautiful landscapes and traditional paper-making, Ambalavao is a charming town in the heart of Madagascar’s highlands. Lunch at a restaurant in Fianarantsoa, then continue your journey. Afterward, visit Anja Reserve, a community-managed park famous for its ring-tailed lemurs and dramatic granite formations. Accommodation at Bougainvillier Hotel (without swimming pool).
Day 17: Ambalavao to Ranomafana
After breakfast, depart further south to the communal reserve named Anja. It is the paradise of ring-tailed lemurs. This reserve also hosts other animals such as boa snakes, chameleons, ring-tailed lemurs, and birds. Lunch at a restaurant near the reserve. After lunch, depart to reach the village of Ranomafana, passing through the town of Fianarantsoa. We will go on a night visit in Ranomafana to observe the world’s smallest lemur, about the size of a rat, and various species of chameleons, other species of snakes, frogs, etc. Accommodation at Le grenat Hotel (without swimming pool).
Day 18: Ranomafana
After breakfast, depart to explore Ranomafana National Park. We will leave a bit early to enjoy observing lemurs while they are searching for food. After discovering the lemurs, we will continue our exploration to find the master of camouflage, the leaf-tailed gecko. Please note that this park is one of the most challenging in Madagascar, as the trails are not flat; we go up and down continuously to find the lemurs. You have multiple tour options in the park.
Lunch at a restaurant in the village of Ranomafana. After lunch, a brief visit to the arboretum to discover a species of Calumma parsoni parsoni yellow lip and other species of chameleons, frogs and snakes. Accommodation at Le grenat Hotel (without swimming pool).
Day 19: Ranomafana back to Antsirabe
After all visits at Ranomafana, here we are driving back to Antsirabe. Luch at restaurant at Ambositra. Diner Accommodation in the hotel (without swimming pool).
Day 20: Antsirabe back to Tana
After breakfast, we continue to Tana, lunch at restaurant, diner and acoommodation in the hotel(without swimming pool).
Day 21: Antananarivo
On your final day, enjoy a relaxing breakfast before being transferred to the airport for your flight home. This marks the end of your unforgettable journey through Madagascar’s incredible landscapes and wildlife.
