WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP SPECIAL?
Madagascar In Depth — The best itinerary, so you can spend time with lemurs, get in some birdwatching, and hike in spectacular landscapes.
Two Days at Berenty Reserve — Excellent for wildlife photography, with six species of lemurs, including “dancing” sifakas and ring-tailed lemurs.
Rare Wildlife Experiences — Our expert local guides know where to find rare birds, chameleons, lemurs, and other endemic species.
Walk through Stunning Landscapes — From lush green rainforests to surreal tsingy limestone pinnacles to the otherworldly spiny forest.
Flexible Hiking and Photo Options — Choose from challenging hikes, leisurely photo walks, early morning birding outings, night walks.
Expert Trip Leaders — Experienced Malagasy naturalists who delight in sharing their perspectives and environmental understanding.
Overview
Watch long-limbed sifaka lemurs “dance” down a forest trail in front of you, see playful ring-tailed lemurs, and listen to the hauntingly eerie calls of the indri in treetop canopies. These lemurs, along with many other species, are completely unique to Madagascar. Separated from Africa and the Indian subcontinent millennia ago, this island-nation’s animals and plants evolved in such isolation that literally four out of five of all its species are found nowhere else on the planet!
Wilderness Travel has created a fascinating journey that explores this distinctive island in depth. You’ll hike through the lush rainforest at Amber Mountain and otherworldly landscapes like the Dr. Seussian spiny forest at Berenty Reserve and surreal tsingy pinnacles at Ankarana, see an exotic display of orchids, photograph colorful chameleons up close, and observe fascinating birdlife, such as songbirds that forage in mixed-species flocks.
No place on earth surpasses Madagascar’s combination of unusual species, extreme biodiversity, and unique habitats. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime natural history adventure!
Madagascar is an amazing place, and seeing some of its special wildlife, and its culture, felt like a very special privilege. And the people were wonderful—our guides, lodge, and hotel staff, and others we happened to interact with.
— Rob C., Concord, MA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-2
Antananarivo / Diego Suarez / Amber Mountain
From Antananarivo ("Tana"), Madagascar’s capital, we head to Diego Suarez and explore Amber Mountain, a biologically diverse reserve whose montane rainforests are filled with huge green tree ferns, crystal-clear crater lakes, picturesque waterfalls, and a wealth of wildlife. Walk forested trails in search of lemurs and a varied flora—over 1,000 species, a botanist's delight!
Days 3-6
Ankarana / Antananarivo
Explore Ankarana, a reserve with spectacular landscapes, including the eroded limestone towers known as “tsingy,” and many species of lemurs, including crowned lemurs, endemic to northern Madagascar. We fly back to Antananarivo on Day 6.
Days 7-9
Berenty Reserve / Antananarivo
Fly by private charter to Berenty Reserve, home to the unique “spiny desert” habitat. This small private park preserves a third of Madagascar’s remaining tamarind forest and is a superb place to see friendly ring-tails and incredibly acrobatic sifakas, known for their death-defying tree leaps and the sideways hops they use to get around on the ground. We fly back by private charter to Antananarivo on Day 9.
Days 10-14
Andasibe National Park / Lemur Island
We head to Andasibe, famed as the home of the indri, a lemur whose haunting treetop song carries for miles as one troop calls to another. Their Malagasy name is babakoto, or “Father of Man.” These three-foot-tall primates are renowned treetop acrobats. Red-fronted lemurs, grey bamboo lemurs, and woolly lemurs are also found here, along with colorful reptiles including huge Parson’s chameleons. We’ll visit a school, see ring-tailed lemurs on Lemur Island, and go for a night walk. Return to Antananarivo in the afternoon of Day 13 and depart on Day 14, or join our Isalo Extension.
Magical Madagascar
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Custom-Tailored Adventure in the Land of Lemurs
Experience the wildlife wonders of Madagascar on a Private Journey with exclusive accommodations, private flights, top-notch guides, and flexible activities each day, from sundowners among the baobabs to early morning bird walks and exciting night excursions into the forests.
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Download a PDF of our Magical Madagascar Detailed Itinerary to learn more about our day-to-day itinerary, prices and dates, lodging, and leaders.
