TOUR’S HIGHLIGHTS: The reserve of Berenty, the national park of Isalo, the avenue of baobabs, the national park of Tsingy de Bemaraha, the national park of Andasibe, the park national of Montagne d’Ambre, the national park of Ankarana and the beach break in Nosybe.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS:
Duration: 20 days / 19 nights
Number of people: from 2 people
Type of service: hotel with breakfast + half board in Berenty
Accommodation: top hotel and midrange
Vehicle type: tourism or minibus
Language spoken of driver / guide: French, English, Malagasy
Period: May to November
Price: from 1210 Euro per person

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: TANA

Upon arrival at Ivato international airport, direct transfer to Hotel Anjary (midrange) or Hotel de Louvre (top)

Day 2: TANA - FORT-DAUPHIN-BERENTY

Transfer to the Airport and fly to Fort-Dauphin, then continue to Berenty by 4WD, Berenty is a privately-owned reserve that lies about 80 km from Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro). It is among the most tourist-oriented destinations in Madagascar. There are species of plants which serve as habitat for a variety of wildlife. More than 100 ring-tailed lemurs are in the reserve; the dancing sifakas are the most interesting animals to spot in Berenty. It is among the most tourist-oriented destinations in Madagascar. The trails are flat and broad, the wildlife (most people come for the lemurs) is friendly and abundant, and the facilities are up to Western standards (though if you leave your door or windows open you may have lemurs come into your room for a visit). Giant Coua is one of the endemic birds in Berenty. There are other species of birds and lemurs, especially those active at night, including the white-footed sportive lemur, the tiny mouse lemur.

Stay at Berenty Lodge

Day 3:  VISIT AT THE RESERVE

A full day visit at the reserve with walks along the wide, well swept paths. The lemur Catta Maki; known as the ring-tailed lemurs, are very friendly and seem very happy for photographs. Sifakas are also the main attraction due to their beautiful dancing performances, as well as some red fronted brown lemurs, which were introduced to Berenty. At night, look for white-footed sportive lemur, Grey mouse lemur, the newly recognised red-and-grey mouse lemur. 
Walking through the reserve will also grant you the opportunity of seeing some of the 103 bird species, 56 of which breed here, and observe many prolific reptiles (various chameleons species, lizards, the endangered radiated and spider tortoises and the Madagascar ground boa).

Overnight at Berenty Lodge

Day 4: BERENTY - FORT- DAUPHIN - TULEAR - ISALO

Transfer to Fort-Dauphin Airport and take the flight to Tuléar. Arriving in Tuléar, afternoon drive to the village of Ranohira where the Isalo national park is.  Isalo is part of the Commune of Ranohira, in the region of the Ihorombe. It is 279 Km in the South of Fianarantsoa. The park, furrowed of rivers and their affluents, spreads over 81 540 ha. This massive ruiniforme is a plateau of continental sandstone dating from the Jurassic.Very much eroded, only the parceled witnessed by the sandy valleys and the canyons: a really exceptional show. A night at the hotel Satrana Lodge (top) the hotel Jardin du Roy (top) and the hotel Orchidee (midrange)

Day 5: VISIT AT THE PARK

Visit in the park accompanied by a local guide. Walk at Namaza trail to spot the ring-tailed lemurs, Verreaux’ Sifaka, and red-fronted brown lemur before relaxing at the ‘Piscine Naturel’. The animals of the Isalo are typical of the climate with vegetation and the geomorphology of the park. These are for a very strong majority of the endemic species. 77 species of birds live in Isalo among which the Benson rock-thrush Pseudocossyphus bensoni, an endemic species of Madagascar that is well protected. We can also find 14 species of nocturnal lemurs, 8 of which are introduced and seven endemic to Madagascar. Reptilian, amphibian, carnivores, insectivorous and gnawing rodents complete the list. Overnight at Orchidée ou au Satrana Lodge (top)/Jardin du Roy (top)

Day 6: ISALO - TULEAR

A half day visit at the park and back to Tulear, overnight at the hotel Paletuvier (midrange, top) or the hotel Victory (midrange, top)

Day 7: TULEAR - MORONDAVA

Transfer to the Airport and fly to Morondava. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel Renala Sable d’or (midrange, top) or the hotel Baobab Cafe (midrange, top). Visit at the baobab alley.

Day 8: MORONDAVA - TSINGY

Drive from Morondava to the national park of Tsingy of Bemaraha. The park of Bemaraha spreads over 157 710 Ha with 100-km long from the North to the South and 10 to 40km large in West. Its Southern part enjoys the National Park statute with 72.340 ha of surface. Its Northern part that has the statute of Integral Natural reserve is covered of 85.370 ha. It is in the South that we can find the Tsingy, spectacular pinnacles, the access of which is extremely difficult. This Karstic formation spreads is visible from afar, a forest of peaks and ergots of rocks that makes all so impressive. Overnight at Vazimba hotel (top) or Olympe of Bemaraha (midrange, top)

Day 9: VISIT AT THE TSINGY

A full day visit at the Grand Tsingy and the small Tsingy.
Bemaraha is a high spot of endemism and diversity. The scientists estimate that the general endemism rate of this park is 86, 7% and the ecoregional one is 47%. 11 species of lemurs are listed there, five families of Bats, 103 species of bird species.  The index of the reptiles and amphibians is as large as Bemaraha possesses 34 species that are all endemic. These are just a first taste of your discoveries. Overnight at Vazimba hotel (top, or Olympe of Bemaraha (midrange, top)

Day 10: TSINGY - MORONDAVA

Drive back to Morondava, overnight at hotel Renala Sable d’or (midrange, top) or the hotel Baobab Cafe (midrange, top).

Day 11: MORONDAVA - TANA- ANDASIBE

Transfer and fly back to Antananarivo. Upon the arrival, drive to Andasibe National park. The national park of Mantadia is in the Alaotra Mangoro. It is known for its rare orchids that bloom in the forest, Indri indri that can be observed all year round, its magnificent water falls and the famous cultural rituals of the inhabitants of its surrounding. Mantadia and the Special Reserve of Indri of Analamazaotra form the complex Andasibe Mantadia. Overnight at the hotel Vakona Forest Lodge (top) or the Hotel Feon’ny Ala (midrange)

Day 12: VISIT THE PARK ANALAMAZOATRA AND MANTADIA

Visit the two reserves. The forest of the Mantadia Park accommodates a lot of animals which assure their perpetuity at the same time. 108 species of birds are known in the park, some of which play a role in the survival of plants like Terpsiphone mutata. We can also find 14 species of lemurs in there, 51 species of reptiles Boa, the famous Boa manditra and 84 species of amphibian.

The ecosystem of Mantadia depends on its lower-case letters animals: They are the pollinisateurs of the plants of flowers, the recyclers of the nourishing elements of soil and the organic garbage. In the food chain, the bugs are the food of many birds and mammals.
The forests of Mantadia are the domains of the lianas and épiphytes as the orchids, the mosses and the ferns. The orchids are very varied with more than a hundred species inventoried. Overnight at the hotel Vakona Forest Lodge (top) or the Hotel Feon’ny Ala (midrange)

Day13: ANDASIBE - TANA

Drive back to Antananarivo, overnight at the hotel Anjary (midrange) or Hotel de Louvre (top).

City tour and relax.

Day 14: TANA - DIEGO - MONTAGNE D’AMBRE VISIT

Transfer to the Airport and take flight to Diégo. While arriving, departure to the national park of Montagne d’Ambre. The national park of the amber Mountain spreads on 23,010 ha of which 18,200 ha for the National Park and 4,810 ha for the Reserve Special Forest of amber. It is a volcanic massif covered of forest spreading on 850 to 1,475 m. Six lakes and several streams and rivers furrow the park. The Amber Mountain is a high place of endemicity with 77 species of birds, seven species of lemurs and 24 species of amphibian.

Overnight at the Monastère (midrange or Nature Lodge (top)

Day 15: MONTAGNE D’AMBRE - ANKARANA

Quit Montagne d’Ambre to Ankarana.

The park of Ankarana spreads over 18,225 ha. Ankarana is the western extension of a chalky massif of the medium Jurassic that emerges from a basaltic plain located above 50m over the sea level. The plateau, that is a greatly eroded karst formation in surface, is constituted by a lapiaz of Tsingy.

Overnight at Relais d’Ankarana (high - midrange) or chez Aurélien (midrange)

Day16: ANKARANA - AMBANJA

A half day visit at the park

The biological inventories of Ankarana reported 50 herpetofauna species with 40 reptiles and 10 amphibians. The biological inventories also reported 96 species of birds, 50 species of mollusks and a huge number of snails of The tsingy. 14 species of bats, either the half of the bats of Madagascar lives in the underground cave of Ankarana. 11 species of lemurs live in Ankarana. Besides, it is in this park that the famous Propithecus perrieri, known under the vernacular name of Black Sifaka was seen for the last time by the agents of the park in 1995 and 1996. After the visit drive to Ambanja, Ambanja is 22 kms from Ankify, the small port where you take the boat to Nosybe .Overnight at the hotel Méridien (midrange) or the hotel Baobab (top).

Day 17-18-19: AMBANJA - NOSYBE

Take the boat to Nosybe, transfer to the hotel ‘Un Autre Monde’ (high midrange) or Hotel Amarina (top).

This haven of peace received many qualifications from visitors, to indicate its beauty but it seems that the term “paradise on earth” is best adapted to qualify the extremely rare beauty of this island, which means not easily seen from other part of the planet. The other terms, like the pearl of the Indian Ocean, does not completely manage to qualify it because it does not evoke the width of its splendour.

Day 20: NOSYBE -TANA

Transfer and fly back to Antananarivo, continue home.