Madagascar: Off the Beaten Path

Madagascar, the world’s fourth-largest island, is a world unto itself. Occasionally called the “eighth continent” for its utterly unique wildlife and rich flora, it holds some of the planet’s most intriguing plants and animals, including a delightful menagerie of friendly tree-leaping lemurs, colorful chameleons, and dazzling geckoes found nowhere else on earth. Our wonderful explorations feature remote and seldom-visited nature reserves renowned for their endemic biodiversity, from the rich and beautiful rainforests of Ranomafana National Park to the spectacular red-rock scenery and rare flora and fauna of Isalo National Park. We cap our adventure at world-famous Périnet Reserve, where we discover a wealth of fern and orchid species and listen to the haunting calls of Indri lemurs in treetop canopies.

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-3
Antananarivo / Antsirabe

After an introduction to Madagascar’s wildlife and botanical wonders at Antananarivo’s Tsimbazaza Zoo, we head to Antsirabe, known for its artisans’ workshops.

Days 4-5
Ranomafana National Park

A scenic drive brings us to Ranomafana, one of Madagascar’s richest rainforest reserves. Here we enjoy night walks and day hikes in a lush montane rainforest that is home to 12 species of lemurs, including the rare golden bamboo lemur, along with geckos, chameleons, more than 100 bird species, and a wide variety of orchids.

Days 6-9
Isalo National Park / Tulear / Morondava

We feast our eyes on some of Madagascar’s most beautiful scenery as we explore Isalo National Park, reminiscent of the American Southwest. Our explorations include a hike up to Cascades des Nymphes, a spectacular hidden waterfall. The next day, we visit the Arboretum d’Antsokay, with its wide array of spiny desert plants, birds, and tortoises, then fly to Morondava.

Days 10-11
Kirindy Forest

Remote Kirindy Forest is the habitat for the Verreaux sifaka lemur and several endemic chameleons. This is also the best place to see the elusive fossa, the island’s largest carnivore. We return to Morondava, with stops along the way to photograph the giant baobabs of “Baobab Alley.”

Days 12-13
Périnet Reserve

Traveling downriver by pirogue, we visit a nearby fishing village, then head to Périnet 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 renowned treetop acrobats. Our 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, we return to Antananarivo via La Mandraka Nature Farm. Depart on Day 16.

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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