Antananarivo – Miandrivazo – Kirindy – Bekopaka – Tsingy de Bemaraha – Morondava – Antsirabe – Andasibe – Nosy Be
Total No of Days : 15 Days
Best Season : April to December
DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN ANTANANARIVO (International Flight)
Arrival in Tana, meet and greet at the airport then transfer to your hotel. Night at GASSY COUNTRY HOUSE on B&B
DAY 02: TANA – ANTSIRABE – MIANDRIVAZO
After breakfast, briefing for the tours then with a private car, 3 hour’s drive southward to Antsirabe across the highland landscape with its terraced rice-fields and its spectacular eroded hills called "lavaka". Stop in Ambatolampy and visit artisanal aluminum fabric, which start from melting the old coke bins, and transform them into cooking pots. Continue to Antsirabe that we’ll reach around noon. Founded by Norwegians in 1856, it is an elegant city, which really feels and looks like an European city. After a short break, head on to Miandrivazo for 3 to 4 hours drive. The landscape is changing step by step, from green highland to savannah, erosion called « lavaka ». Arrival in Miandrivazo. Overnight in PRINCESSE DU TSIRIBIHINA on B&B
DAY 03: MIANDRIVAZO – MORONDAVA – KIRINDY : 6 hours drive
Departure to Morondava, the landscape is still dominated by rice fields, empty hills, red soil, and palm trees. Just before entering Morondava, we see our first couple of baobabs. Centre of the Sakalava kingdom, Morondava is a prosperous rice-growing area, it is also known as a seaside resort, with a laid-back atmosphere. Many different cultures and religions manage to intermingle in this region which makes it special. We continue our drive to Kirindy through the alley of baobabs. Arrival and check in at the lodge. This area is known for its baobab and its dry western forest. Night expedition to see six species of lemurs like lepilemur ruficandatus, microcebus myoxinus or murinus, phaner furcifer, cheirogaleus medius, mirza coquereli. Night at RELAIS DU KIRINDY on B&B
DAY 04: KIRINDY - BEKOPAKA 200 km: 6 hours with the ferry transfer
Morning walk with a special guide. Kirindy is one of the most rewarding wildlife site where visitors spot 8 species of lemurs: the most common one are: Verreaux’s sifaka, fulvus rufus, red-fronted brown lemurs. Then we drive straight to Belo through the Baobabs forest and the red soil of the west. Arrival at the Tsiribihina River, then take a ferry to cross to Belo sur Tsiribihina to reach Bekopaka. This drive brings us to profound Madagascar, close to the real life of Malagasy people in the driest part of the country. Arrival in Bekopaka around 18.00. Overnight in Hotel OLYMPE DU BEMARAHA on B&B
DAY 05: BEKOPAKA: TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, 4 to 6 hours hike in the reserve of “ Tsingy de Bemaraha, classified as World Heritage. This massif is spectacularly eroded into a chaos of karsts pinnacles. Here nature is in perfect harmony with this wild and sharp limestone massif. The flora consists of a dry western deciduous forest, typical plants of these dry limestone areas, such as Aloe and baobab Andasonia, the red-flowered flamboyant tree Delonix regia which is so widely planted in the tropics. Madagascar’s sole native banana Musa perrieri also occurs here. We can also see plants which grow in the stone like different species of pachypodium and orchids. Concerning the fauna we can see the stump-tailed chameleon Brookesia perarmata known from only a handful specimens. The bird list contains 53 species. The 7 species of lemurs include Decken’s sifaka Propithecus verreauxi deckeni. Night at the same hotel.
DAY 06: BEKOPAKA - MORONDAVA : 8 hours with the ferry transfer
After breakfast, 6 to 8 hours drive back to Morondava. Along the way, we stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS» for sunset photo; this is the region of splendid Grandidier’s baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. Arrival in Morondava end of the afternoon. Check-in and night in Hotel. CHEZ MAGGIE on B&B
DAY 07: MORONDAVA – ANTSIRABE: 380 km: 6 - 7 hours with stops
After breakfast, 4 hours drive to Miandrivazo then have 3 hour’s drive to Antsirabe. Night LES CHAMBRES DU VOYAGEUR on B&B
DAY 08: ANTSIRABE - TANA - ANDASIBE: 269 km: 6 to 7 hours with stops
Today we drive northward to Tana across the highland, and then take the RN2 for 3 hour’s drive eastwards to Andasibe, through the green landscape of the east. This step brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forest and lakes. Night in Hotel VAKONA on B&B
DAY 09: ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK
Morning, 3 to 4 hours hike to Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east. 9 species of lemurs can be spotted; the highlight is the “Indri Indri” which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810 ha reserve is also home to unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. After the hike, visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village, the second largest tribe. Afterwards, visit to the “lemurs’ island” which is the best spot to take photos of lemurs up close. Night at the same hotel.
DAY 10: ANDASIBE – TANA
Morning drive back to Tana. On the way, we stop in “Pyereras Reptiles park” to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles. On a walk inside the forest, we can spot 2 species of lemurs: the sifaka “coquereli” and the brown lemurs “fulvus”. Arrival in Tana, city tour of the town then stop in Marché Artisanale “ La digue” for souvenir shopping. Check-in and Night at GASSY COUNTRY HOUSE on B&B
DAY 11: NOSY BE (Domestic Flight)
Transfer to the airport to fly to Nosy be . With a perfect climate and fertile and prosperous soil, Nosy be is the ideal place for sugar, pepper and vanilla plantations which are its main exports. The main characteristic of Nosy Be is the heady scent of ylang ylang blossoms giving it the tourist-brochure name of “Perfume Island". Finally because of its nice beaches and the tiny isles around, Nosy be is the ideal place for sunbathing and relaxing.Night in Hotel RAVINTSARA WELLNESS on B&B.
DAY 12 - 13: NOSY BE
Day free. Many excursions are possible to the many isles around Nosy Be. One of them is the combination of Nosy Komba-Tanikely which are tiny isle on the south east of Nosy be, it is doted with the most beautiful beaches with white sand and sea of emerald colours. Named as «the kingdom of black lemurs", it is a place where we can see the lemurs maccacco maccacco which are endemic in the north. Along the small village we will see many embroidery made by local women to sell to the tourists coming to the isle, then continuation to Nosy Tanikely, the best spot for snorkelling and diving. Night in the same hotel.
DAY 14: NOSY BE -TANA (Domestic Flight)
Transfer to the airport to fly back to Tana. Night in GASSY COUNTRY HOUSE on B&B.
DAY 15: TANA -DEPARTURE (International Flight)
Transfer to the airport for the international flight.