Madagascar Wildlife Tours 2008

We are proud to present our 2008 Madagascar wildlife tour led by Madagascar specialist, Marius Burger.

Madagascar Wildlife Tour

30 November - 12 December 2008

The Madagascar Wildlife Tour provides the opportunity to see a wide variety of lemurs, birds and extraordinary reptiles, frogs and invertebrates, and amazing and diverse flora. You will explore each of the main Malagasy habitat types: the rainforest at Perinet-Mantadia, the dry forest at Ankarafantsika and the spiny forest at Berenty.

ITINERARY

November
30 Sun
Depart from Paris CDG on the Air Madagascar overnight flight to Antananarivo.

December
1 Mon
Marius Burger and your professional, English-speaking guide will meet you on arrival. Travel overland to ‘Périnet’ (Andasibe-Mantadia National Park) in the humid eastern rainforest band (≈ 3½ hours). Introductory walk in the rainforest. Stay 3 nights at Vakona Forest Lodge.

2 Tues
Explore the lush rainforest of Périnet. Star attractions include troops of Indri (largest of the surviving lemurs), birds such as the Blue coua, and Parson’s chameleons.

3 Wed
Visit the rainforest of Mantadia National Park, to seek rare mammals such as Diademed Sifaka and sought-after birds like the Pitta-like and Scaly ground-rollers. This 10,000ha primary rainforest also holds a plethora of reptiles, frogs and invertebrates.

4 Thurs
After a final (optional) early morning walk in the rainforest, travel to Antananarivo for the afternoon flight to Mahajanga, on the northwest coast. You will travel overland on the RN4 to Ankarafantsika to stay 2 nights in the lakeside chalets at Gite d’Ampijoroa. Night walk in the forest.

Please note that, although the chalets have private en suite facilities, there is no hot water on tap.

5 Fri
Ampijoroa is one of Madagascar's top wildlife hotspots. Key species include the acrobatic Coquerel’s sifaka, the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle and the Rhinoceros chameleon. Night walks are particularly rewarding and one of the forest denizens we will be seeking is the recently described and locally endemic Golden-brown mouse lemur. Day and night walks in this wildlife-rich tropical dry forest.

6 Sat
Very early transfer to Mahajanga for the flight to Antananarivo where we will visit the Parc National de Tsimbazaza and a nursery.

7 Sun
Morning at leisure in Antananarivo. After lunch, transfer to the airport for the flight to Fort Dauphin where we overnight at Le Croix du Sud.

8 Mon
Travel inland to Berenty Private Reserve, with stops en route to see localised and rare flora including baobabs and the peculiar, endangered Triangulated palm. Berenty protects parcels of the bizarre 'spiny desert' habitat as well as dry gallery forest. Stay 2 nights at the simple Berenty Lodge.

9 Tues
Best known for its large and well habituated populations of Ringtail lemur and the "dancing" Verreaux’ sifaka, Berenty also holds a wide variety of birds, reptiles and fascinating dry country flora. We have the whole day to explore the reserve.

10 Thurs
After most of the day spent exploring Berenty, travel back to Fort Dauphin and overnight at Croix du Sud.

11 Fri
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Antananarivo. On arrival, we will tour the capital until it is time for the early farewell supper. Transfer to the airport for the Air Madagascar flight to Paris CDG.

12 Sat
Arrive Paris 07h40.

Price: £3215 per person sharing.
Single room supplement: £290

The price includes: Air Madagascar international and domestics flights from Paris CDG, prepaid departure taxes, and fuel surcharges; accommodation and meals; transfers and transportation; the services of Marius Burger as tour leader and the services of a dedicated, professional English-speaking guide; reserve permits and entry fees; excursions; the services of our local representatives throughout your stay.

Not included: Entry visas (currently about 60 euros on arrival), travel insurance, items of personal expenditure, gratuities.

Updated 22 July, 2008.