Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path

The world’s fourth-largest island, Madagascar, is a huge and exotic realm supremely isolated in the Indian Ocean. It is a world unto itself, sometimes called “the eighth continent” for its utterly unique wildlife. Some of the planet’s most fascinating plants and animals are found here and nowhere else, including more than 50 species of lemurs, the friendly tree-leaping primates that have made Madagascar famous. We’ve created a special overland journey that features fascinating and seldom-visited nature reserves from the rich and beautiful rainforests of Ranomafana National Park on the edge of Madagascar's High Plateau, with its rare golden bamboo lemurs, to the spectacular red-rock scenery and rare flora and fauna of Isalo National Park. We cap off our journey at world-famous Perinet Reserve to see and photograph the “dances” of beautiful sifaka lemurs and listen to the haunting calls of indri lemurs in treetop canopies. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime natural history adventure!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Antananarivo, Madagascar / Antsirabe

Arrive in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, built on two granite ridges in the hilly central highlands. Rice paddies surround the city, and there are colorfully painted houses stacked up on its hillsides. We get an orientation to Madagascar’s wildlife and ancient culture at the Tsimbazaza Zoo and Cultural Museum, then drive through ancient rice paddies to Antsirabe.

Days 4-5
Ranomafana National Park

A long but scenic drive brings us to Ranomafana, one of Madagascar’s most important parks, on the edge of Madagascar’s High Plateau. It is one of Madagascar’s richest rainforest reserves, containing 12 lemur species and most of the rainforest-dependent endemic birds. Here we enjoy night walks as well as day walks in lush rainforest that is home to 10 species of lemurs, including the rare golden bamboo lemur, along with geckos, chameleons, and rare bird species.

Days 6-9
Isalo National Park / Tulear / Morondava

We continue south, stopping in Ambalavao, original home of the “antaimoro” paper made from the bark of the avoha tree. We feast our eyes on some of the most beautiful scenery in the country as we explore Isalo National Park, hiking up to Canyon des Nymphes, a spectacular hidden waterfall, and enjoying a photo session with ringtail lemurs. The next day, after a visit to the Arboretum d’Antosaky, with its wide array of spiny desert plants, birds, and tortoises, we fly to Morondava.

Days 10-11
Kirindy Forest

We spend a full day in the Kirindy Forest, the place to see rare fossa, Madagascar’s largest carnivore, endemic to Madagascar and related to the mongoose. The forest is also a habitat for the verreaux sifaka lemur. After exploring this remote reserve, we return to Morondava, with stops along the way to photograph the giant baobabs of “Baobab Alley.”

Days 12-13
Antananarivo / Perinet Reserve

Traveling down river by pirogue, we visit a nearby fishing village, then fly to Antananarivo and drive to Perinet Reserve, famous as the home of the Indri indri, a black-and-white lemur whose haunting treetop song carries for miles as one troop answers another. These three-foot-tall primates are the largest of lemurs and are renowned treetop acrobats. Moderate hikes give us a good opportunity to see these magical creatures of Madagascar’s eastern rainforests.

Days 14-16
Vakona Forest / La Mandraka / Antananarivo

After a visit with the friendly lemurs at Vakona Forest Lodge this morning, we return to Antananarivo via La Mandraka Nature Farm, and depart on homeward flights on Day 16.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

What the Trip is Like

The trip is rated Level 2+, easy to moderate. It features day hikes in national parks, with accommodations that range from city hotels to basic wildlife lodges. Participants should be fit, healthy, and ready for adventure because the walking trails in Madagascar’s parks can be quite slippery and muddy. It is expected that each participant be in excellent health and physical condition. The shape you are in will be an important factor in your enjoyment of your trip.

Explanation of Trip Levels