Briefly - 10 days – three important biomes

Day 1 Arrive & overnight Tana.
Day 2 Drive & overnight Perinet.
Day 3 Day & overnight Perinet.
Day 4 Drive to Tana for overnight.
Day 5 Fly to Morondava; drive & overnight Kirindy.
Day 6 Day & overnight Kirindy.
Day 7 Return to Morondava for flight to & overnight Fort Dauphin.
Day 8 Drive to Madagascar Classic Camp (MCC) & overnight.
Day 9 Day MCC area at Mandrare river.
Day 10 Return to Fort Dauphin for flight to Tana & connection to Johannesburg.

Dates: 28 October to 06 November 2009

Minimum 4, Maximum 8 passengers

Euro5087 per person double room sharing ex Johannesburg

Single room supplement: Euro615

PRICES INCLUDE

International flights Johannesburg to Antananarivo return (economy class); all domestic Malagasy flights as per itinerary; all airport assistance and transfers between airports and hotels; all excursions to reserves and other places of interest, with vehicles, fuel, drivers, entry fees and local reserve guide fees, all hotel nights with all meals throughout the tour. Services of English speaking Malagasy guide throughout the tour.

NOT INCLUDED
Personal expenses, drinks in hotels/restaurants including bottled water, coffee and tea with meals, tips, and travel insurance, visas, excursions not mentioned.

PLEASE NOTE: Costing subject to hotel/flight availability and currency fluctuations.

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FULL ITINERARY

Three biomes of Madagascar for birds and wildlife

Dates: 28 October to 06 November 2009

Madagascar evolved in isolation from other landmasses, giving rise to a large number of birds and mammals not found in any other parts of the world. Ninety per cent of Madagascar's forest birds are endemic, as are about half of the island's 260 recorded birds. In addition, most of the land mammals are unique to the island and include 30 species of lemur. Lemurs, being primates, might be described as distant relatives of Man, and we shall see several species, from the tiny nocturnal Mouse Lemurs to the impressive black and white Indri. Five families of bird are only found here; the rail-like Mesite that superficially resemble some Asiatic babblers; Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller that sweeps over the forests in elegant display-flight; the widely differing but beautiful Ground-Rollers that nest in burrows; the Asities or 'false sunbirds' and the Vangas, which are allied to the shrikes. Other wildlife is equally impressive with inordinate numbers of chameleon, geckoes, lizard, over 3000 species of butterfly (97% of which are endemic), and many weird and fascinating insects and plants.  Man arrived in Madagascar between 500 and 900 AD, and since then 14 species of lemur and four species of ostrich have been extirpated. Forests are continually under pressure from slash-and-burn peasant farmers and the rapidly growing human population. Fortunately there are now many excellent, albeit small, reserves that look-after Madagascar's unique treasures. This tour visits the rich eastern rainforest reserves of  Perinet/Andasibe and Mantadia National Park, the exciting dry deciduous forests of Kirindy on the west and the dry spiny forests to the south-east near to Fort Dauphin.

October 28 (Wednesday): Arrive and overnight Pallisandre Hotel (or equivalent) in Antananarivo (Tana) (flight from Johannesburg). 

October 29, 30: This morning we drive eastwards to the world-renowned upland rain-forest reserve of Perinet (Analamazaotra) - three hours east on a good road. Our time here will be spent in the Perinet reserve and the Mantadia National Park and our overnights at the hotel Vakona Lodge (or equivalent).  The protected rain forest here exceeds 10,000 hectares and is vital for the survival of many of the island's unique species. The forest is characterised by humid climate, huge trees, and a lush, dense understorey, but there is good access along a number of footpaths. At Perinet the main attraction is the Indri, the world's largest (and noisiest) lemur, a tailless lemur found in family groups and often heard moaning and wailing. Among others, we may also see Grey Bamboo Lemur and Brown Lemur, as well as many birds - specials here include Madagascar Woodrail and Coral-billed Nuthatch Vanga. The bird-life includes six species of Vangas: Red-tailed, Hook-billed, White-headed, Chabert's, Blue and Nuthatch. Also likely to be encountered species include Madagascar Little Grebe, Madagascar Buzzard, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Blue Coua, Madagascar Spine-tailed Swift, Broad-billed Roller, Madagascar Bulbul, Ward's and Madagascar Paradise Flycatchers, Souimanga and Madagascar Green Sunbirds, Madagascar White-eye, Crested Drongo, Madagascar Starling and Nelicourvi Weaver. Reptiles abound, including Parson's chameleon and Madagascar Tree Boa. A night walk [a flashlight is essential] usually reveals four species of nocturnal lemur, as well as a plethora of reptiles and frogs - including chameleons galore.  Trails into the forest are easy to negotiate and because the wildlife in Perinet is highly habituated, animals tend to allow close approach. In Mantadia, which is primary rain forest and home to many species not found at Perinet, the wildlife is more reclusive and the trails are more difficult. Star mammal attractions in Mantadia include the Diadem Sifaka and Ruffed Lemur, while sought-after birds include Pitta-like Ground-roller, Short-legged Ground-roller, Forest Rock-thrush, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-asity and Pollen's Vanga - among others.

October 31: Today we have some final time in the Perinet area before returning toward Tana. We may spend some time visiting marshes on the way back to Tana or alternatively we may have time in Tana to visit Lake Alarobia. This lake, on private land offers sanctuary to myriads of waterfowl, egrets, and some passerines.  It is an ideal place to get to grips with Mad Pond Heron, Common Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night-herons, and with luck the now very elusive Meller's Duck.  Here we should also find Madagascar Kestrel, Madagascar Coucal, Madagascar Kingfisher, Madagascar Green Sunbird and Madagascar Red Fody. We overnight at the Pallisandre or equivalent.

November 01: We transfer to Tana airport for our flight to Morondava. From Morondava we will transfer by road to Kirindy about 2 hours away. We will stop to admire the baobab avenue – an amazing spectacle of the giant Adansonia grandidieri. A night walk here is usually very rewarding with Red-tailed Sportive Lemur, Grey Mouse Lemur, Pale Fork-marked Lemur, Greater Dwarf Lemur and perhaps a Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur. If we are lucky this is a good location for Fosa, Madagascar’s carnivore, and the Giant Jumping Rat. We overnight at the rustic Kirindy research camp.

November 02: Day at Kirindy. Here we’ll be looking for the sought after White-breasted Mesite, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Giant and Coquerel’s Coua, Greater Vasa and many others. We overnight at the rustic Kirindy research camp.

November 03: Our departure from Kirindy will depend on the time of today’s flight from Morondava to Fort Dauphin. Overnight at La Croix du Sud in Fort Dauphin.

November 04: Today you will be met by a representative of Madagascar Classic Camping (MCC). You will then head westwards by road towards the town of Ambosary in a 4x4 vehicle. Shortly after the town of Ambosary you will turn south through the Sisal plantations to Lac Anony (approximately 2½hrs). After a shaded picnic lunch by the lake shore you continue to the southern end of the lake to marvel at the enormous dunes, some 70ft high. A large variety of aquatic birdlife can be seen in and around the lake, with Flamingos in September and October. The dunes are magnificent and the view at the back of the dunes is just breath taking, miles and miles of completely un-spoilt beach with beautiful water and waves. Back in your vehicle for the final 1¾ hour drive to the camp. Approximate time of arrival at the camp is 5pm.

November 05: Day MCC camp area. An early start takes us to nearby Gallery forests with excellent Sifaka and Ring-tailed Lemur populations, as well as great birding. Then back to camp for a late breakfast. The remainder of the morning is at leisure for birding along the Mandrare river. After a barbeque lunch is served in camp, the afternoon is spent exploring nearby spiny forests for more lemur sightings and bird watching. Overnight MCC.

November 06 (Friday): Transfer to Fort Dauphin for outbound flight to Tana and Johannesburg.

Related News:

 Madagascar: Fort Dauphin - (MCC) Madagascar Classic Camp at Mandrare River ****  - 19-11-08 12:39

 Madagascar: Kirindy Forest and Camp - 06-02-08 13:00

 Madagascar: Andasibe (Perinet) - Vakona Lodge *** - 11-12-07 13:25

 Madagascar: Antananarivo - Palissandre Hotel & Spa **** - 20-12-06 13:20