Madagascar Rainforests & North Highlights

Duration: 15 days

Location: Madagascar

Highlights: Rainforests, hikes, lemurs, caves, beach.

Price: £3,444pp

The
primary rainforests of the east, the dry forests, caves and vast tsingy formations of the north and the beautiful islands of the Nosy Be Archipelago combine to give you a fantastic 15 night Madagascar adventure that is packed with weird and wonderful wildlife, beautiful scenery, a taste of rural Malagasy life and some stunning beaches.

SPEAK TO THE SPECIALISTS.
This is just one idea. We have lots more up our sleeve. So let’s talk Madagascar, call 01273 923100 now. Or if you are worried the boss will be listening in, drop us an email, holidays@sundownerholidays.co.uk

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: London to Antananarivo
Fly this morning from the UK to Antananarivo (via Paris). On arrival into the Madagascar capital this evening you will be met and transferred to Au Bois Vert to spend 1 night, a lovely rustic city retreat which is convenient for the airport but hidden away in its own nature estate.

Day 2: Antananarivo to Andasibe
This morning you will be collected and transferred 3hrs north by 4×4 to the eastern rainforests of Andasibe to spend 3 nights at Vakona Forest Lodge, a firm family run Sundowner favourite with a beautiful location in the forest and its own wildlife packed reserve. This evening enjoy a nocturnal forest walk. Remember, this is just a starting point idea to give you a flavour of what we can do. All our holidays are uniquely designed for each individual client. Contact us on 01273 923100 or holidays@sundownerholidays.co.uk to start designing yours.

Days 3 & 4: Andasibe
Two full days with your local specialist guide to explore the Analamazaotra Reserve, one of the best areas in the country for the largest Indri Indri lemur, the Vakona Reserve, the Mitsinjo Community Reserve and the lush primary rainforest of Mantadia National Park. You will also visit Lemur Island for a close encounter with these amazing creatures! See our Lemur guide.

Day 5: Andasibe to Antananarivo
After a final morning in the rainforest you will drive back to the capital to spend 1 night at Lokanga Boutique Hotel, a charming 6 room town house close to the Queens Palace with amazing views across the city and very friendly service. This afternoon you will enjoy a guided tour of the city.

Day 6: Antananarivo to the Amber Mountain National Park
Returning early to the airport this morning you will fly to Diego Suarez in the very north of Madagascar to continue your wildlife adventure.

On arrival you will be met and transferred to Joffre Ville, the gateway to Amber Mountain National Park, to spend 2 nights at the Litchi Tree, a 6 room owner run guesthouse offering lovely accommodation, hospitality and food. Too much travel? Ask us for an itinerary that allows you to see Madagascar in a more relaxed style. Call 01273 923100.

Day 7: Amber Mountain National Park
Full day with your local specialist guide to explore Amber Mountain National Park. A beautiful region of primary rainforest this area is excellent for hiking with lots of waterfalls to discover and although it doesn’t offer the varied lemur sightings like the eastern rainforests it does still offer 7 different species plus 60 different reptile species including the leaf-tailed gecko and the tiny Brookesia chameleon.

Day 8: Amber Mountain National Park to Ankarana Reserve
Today you will drive south, stopping en route at the surreal red tsingy formations, heading to the eastern side of Ankarana Reserve to spend 1 night at the Relais des Ankarana, a rustic little guesthouse, owner run by a local Malagasy family and perfectly located about 100m from the park gates.

This afternoon you will enter the reserve with your local guide to search the dry forests and vast tsingy formations for crowned lemurs, Sanford’s brown lemur and northern sportive lemurs.

Day 9: Ankarana Reserve
Heading back into the eastern side of the reserve this morning you will definitely need your Indiana Jones hat and whip as you explore some of the incredible cave network within the reserve, containing 14 species of bat, endemic blind shrimp and the only cave-dwelling crocodiles in the world!

You will then continue to the western side of the park to spend 1 night at Iharana Bush Camp, a beautiful rustic eco lodge with funky traditional cottages and an amazing location overlooking a lake and huge tsingy mastiff – a great spot for a “Sundowner Moment”!

Day 10: Ankarana Reserve to the Nosy Be Archipelago
After a final morning hike through the tsingy you will get on the road, heading south to the port of Ankify where your boat will be waiting to transfer you across to the Nosy Be Archipelago, heading to Nosy Sakatia where you will spend 5 nights at the owner run Sakatia Lodge.

A true Sundowner favourite the lodge is relaxed, the staff are very friendly, it has beautiful beaches and amazing diving run by the owner Jose.

Days 11 to 14: Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Be Archipelago
Four full days to relax and enjoy. As one of the best diving spots in Madagascar and a house reef only 400m away from the lodge, the snorkelling and diving is highly recommended and you can also enjoy kayaking, island excursions, hikes and a host of adventure activities on neighbouring Nosy Be. And in whale season, you could head out on a whale watching trip to try and catch a glimpse of these marine giants migrating. Want more days on the beach? We can tailor this holiday idea to you. Call us on 01273 923100 now!

Day 15: Nosy Be Archipelago to the UK
Saying goodbye to Jacque and the Sakatia team you will be transferred to Nosy Be Airport for your flight back to the Antananarivo. On arrival a day room at Bois Vert will be available (if required) before you will connect with your International flight back to the UK (via Paris).

Day 16: Home
Welcome home…(that’s going to be a hard one to beat).

Vakona Forest lodge

Indri Indri Lemur, Andasibe

Waterfall at Amber Mountain National Park

Brookesia Chameleon, Amber Mountain

Bamboo Lemur, Ankarana

Red tsingy at Ankarana

Iharana Bush Camp

Nosy Sakatia

Heading out for some great diving at Sakatia.

This Madagascar holiday idea costs from £3,444pp and includes international flights (price based on London), all internal flights, all accommodation on a sharing basis, 2 nights B&B in the capital, 12 nights half-board, all park fees, a driver & private 4×4 vehicle for the duration of your wildlife tour, specialist local guides and all transfers. It does not include other meals, taxes or tips.

Now let’s make this holiday yours

Want to visit another national park? Want to spend more time on a Madagascar beach? Want to feed a lemur? Fancy a bit of diving? Want to get some other hotel options? Let us do the work. Call 01273 923100 now or complete an enquiry form.

The latest word on the street about Sundowner’s Madagascar holidays:

We had an absolutely fantastic time. You totally understood what we were looking for and delivered in every way. Your Madagascar team were great, helpful and flexible.

Sarah Mott Madagascar

Our itinerary was just right and the suggestions of the sites did not disappoint. I believe the main aim of our trip that my wife gave you was “lemurs, lemurs, lemurs”. You helped us to achieve this in spades and in so many different settings.

Terry Dalton Madagascar

It was a super and absolutely unforgettable holiday. We were so lucky with wildlife – with lemurs, chameleons, frogs, birds, strange plants all around us. A big thank you to all.

Ernest Jenson Madagascar

Thank you for all help in arranging my trip, which was hugely successful. Tsara Komba, with its magical setting, was lovely. Also, the Le Pavillon de l’Emyrne in Tana was perfect. Again the staff could not have been more charming, positive and helpful. Having the garden to sit and read in, was a welcome retreat as Tana is hectic.

David McCue Madagascar

I just wanted to tell you what an amazing time we had in Madagascar. It all went perfectly and we enjoyed very minute of it. The visits to the Reserves and the wildlife we saw were out of this world. Our guide, Eunice was a great guy and a pleasure to be with. All in all we had the most wonderful time.

Sue Lesley Madagascar

A fantastic holiday with an amazing combination of charming people, extraordinary wildlife, stunning contrast of terrain. Thank you for all your recommendations.

Keith Bye Madagascar

FANTASTIC! It was the most incredible experience. We loved the variety that you had planned for us, from the rainforest in Andasibe to Isalo which was stunning (the hotel was really special). Ifaty was also a really interesting place but the piece de resistance was definitely Anjajavy. We thought we had died and gone to heaven! The honeymoon package was wonderful but the best part was Cedric and his passion for the environment. Another aspect which we were thrilled by was the quality of the guides. A special thanks for the guide in Isalo and Ifaty – I think he was called Sedeer. He was so knowledgeable and good company.

Judith Lamb Madagascar

Our Holiday was AMAZING! Loved Vakona. And Anjajavy…well ‘paradise’ just about sums it up! BEST Place we have ever stayed.

Mel Fewtrell Madagascar

I have just returned from a holiday in Madagascar. We both had an amazing and enjoyable time. We were very impressed with our driver/guide. He was helpful, full of interesting information, answered all our questions (and there were a lot!) with good humour and excellent English. Always flexible and willing to cope with special requests (especially for my photo stops) and even taught us some Malagasy. At Andasibe National Park we had a top class wildlife guide who was very knowledgeable and his ability to spot wildlife in the forest was uncanny. He even managed to spot a Leaf-Tailed Gecko (a master of camouflage in the wild) which was amazing.

Sarah Hay Madagascar

Excellent holiday. Spoilt totally at both our lodges. The guide, Andreas was outstanding in knowledge of not just wildlife but also culture, politics and history of the people. He managed his trackers to best advantage and discreetly. Great to be able to view wildlife on foot, on boat and canoe. Staff and locals determined that we saw as much as possible. Endlessly patient and willing to tell us about their lives and country.

Mr & Mrs Milsom Madagascar

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