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Explore Madagascar's unique flora and fauna, and spectacular and diverse scenery
There are no included activities today so you are free to arrive at any time. Accommodation: Residence Lapasoa or similar *Standard Hotel*
This morning we will embark on a short city tour of Tana by bus. With its bustling markets and ancient town on a hill with freestone churches and ancient royal places, it is unique among the world’s other capitals. Built around Anosy Lake, Tana offers much of interest set against a backdrop of terracing with outstanding views from the Queen's Palace. We will arrive in Andasibe around 3pm and we will then visit the Vondron’olona Miaro Mitia Ala Reserve. This is a community run reserve where you are able to see several species of lemurs and birds. The reserve is an untouched paradise for endemic animals and plants. There are groups of Indris which we hope to see here in their natural habitat, and their white-headed relatives, the Diademed sifakas, jump between the tree tops. For reptiles and amphibian lovers, the reserve offers countless frogs along its crystal clear river and several amazing chameleons can be found in the forest. In the early evening we take a twilight/nocturnal walk, looking out for the nocturnal species of lemur as the torchlights pass by their eyes. Accommodation: Sahatandra River Hotel or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we will explore the park and go in search of wildlife on a 4 hour walk in Andasibe National Park, also known as Perinet. The park is home to the teddy bear-like Indri, the largest of Madagascar's lemur species, as well as other forms of flora and fauna and a wide array of bird life. Listening to the piercing yet melancholy cry of the Indri in the morning is an evocative sound and for those who are prepared to follow them through the thick rainforest, the reward is often a close-up view of these beautiful creatures. A group of five Diademed sifaka have recently been re-introduced to Andasibe from Mantadia, and if we are lucky, we may spot one of these unusual creatures. In the afternoon we return to Madagascar’s capital, known simply as 'Tana' to the locals. Accommodation: Au Bois Vert Hotel or similar *Standard Hotel*
We depart early today to catch a flight west to the coastal town of Morondava, known for having one of the finest climates in Madagascar. This afternoon, we will pick up the 4WD vehicles and then visit the famous ‘Alley of Baobabs’. We then we drive to Kirindy dry forest reserve where we spend the night. Accommodation: Gite de Kirindy or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we visit the Kirindy Reserve, which is home to the giant jumping rat, seven lemur species, and the Fossa. Then we travel approximately 9 hours on a dirt road to Bekopaka. We travel past baobab forests, desert, and local villages, and cross the Tsiribihina river by local ferry boat. The western landscape is arid but has a beauty all of its own. Accommodation: Olympe de Bemaraha or similar *Standard Hotel *
We depart early this morning to the amazing Grands Tsingy. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, the area has unique geography, well-preserved mangrove forests. The Grands Tsingy is famed for its pinnacles, a forest of limestone pillars; some of its needles are several hundred metres high! The karst landscape and deciduous forest are a refuge for rare and endangered species and in the park there are over 11 species of lemur, 90 species of bird and 50 types of reptile, some of which we might be lucky to spot on our hike. In the afternoon we will head back to Bekopaka and relax at the hotel or enjoy a swim at the hotel pool. Please note that while our time in this area is a real highlight for most, this is a demanding walk and those suffering from vertigo and claustrophobia may find parts of the walk challenging. In some places we will go through caves and narrow chasms; harnesses are used for the more challenging parts of the climb for safety reasons. Accommodation: Olympe de Bemaraha or similar *Standard Hotel*
After breakfast we will head back south by 4WD vehicles to Morondava by road and ferry. The journey will take us approximately 12 hours. We will pass by the Sakalava tribe tombs along the way – specially known for the very unusual paintings and carvings that decorate the outside of each tomb. We will stop at the famous ‘Alley of Baobabs’ again where we plan to spend sunset. This is the best time to see these amazing trees as the colours at this time of day are spectacular, making for a perfect photo opportunity. After sunset we spend the night in Morondava. Accommodation: Renala au Sable d’Or or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today is a long travel day through the fascinating scenery of Betsiriry Plateau, some plains of savannah, and intercepted by some villages. We arrive at our destination by early evening. Antsirabe is at an altitude of 1500m and has a cooler climate. The warm springs and thermal baths here were a real draw in the 19th century. Accommodation: Chambres du Voyageur or similar *Standard Hotel*
This morning we depart early. We will do a short rickshaw tour along Independence Avenue then do a sightseeing tour of Antsirabe, including a visit to some craft centres. From here we continue to drive to Ranomafana. Parc National de Ranomafana (approximately 40,000ha), with its rain forested hills and abundant wildlife, has long been considered one of Madagascar’s highlights, and is one of the most visited of the country’s national parks. Its entrance lies about 7km from Ranomafana village. Altitude in the park ranges from 800m to 1200m. In addition to its densely forested hills, Ranomafana’s terrain is characterised by numerous small streams, which plummet down to the beautiful Namorona River. Although much of the region has been logged, the easternmost part of the park retains relatively large areas of primary forest. Accommodation: Centrest Hotel or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we spend the morning (approximately 5 hrs) exploring Ranomafana National Park. We hope to spot Golden bamboo lemurs who are unique to this park, as well seeing other lemurs such as the Eastern woolly lemurs, the Red bellied lemurs, the Grey bamboo lemurs, and the Red-fronted brown lemurs. This park is also home to other mammals including tenrecs, bats and some of the carnivores such as mongoose and the Malagasy striped civet. In the afternoon, we will visit the Ranomafana Village, where we will see typical Tanala tribe houses as well as the public thermal bath. The evening is spent on a night walk along the roads in the hope of spotting some of the nocturnal lemurs, chameleons and other animals. Accommodation: Centrest Hotel or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we drive to Ranohira. The scenery changes dramatically as we head to the small town of Ranohira, a journey of approximately 11 hours. We stop in Ambalavao to visit Anja National Park along the way - a small reserve where several families of Ring-tailed lemurs can be seen in the wild. Accommodation: Isalo Ranch or similar *Standard Hotel*
We spend the day exploring Isalo National Park. Isalo is a vast region of wind-polished and water-scoured rock towers, deep canyons, gorges and oases often described as Eden. During our time here we will go walking in the magnificent Canyon des Makis in search of cheeky Ring-tailed lemurs and the Verreaux's Sifaka. We also visit the 'Piscine Naturelle' (natural swimming pool), a beautifully lush spot within an arid landscape, where we can swim and relax. Perhaps the magic is just to soak up the sheer beauty of the park, the combination of coloured eroded rock forms, strange plants and enveloping silence make this one of the most captivating places in Madagascar. (Please note that Isalo is a big national park and there will be a certain amount of driving involved today. Driving to the Canyon des Makis takes around 1.5 - 2 hours). Accommodation: Isalo Ranch or similar *Standard Hotel*
We drive to Tulear, among the dry forests of the west and the spiny desert of the south, and we pass both the 'Mahafaly tombs' and the 'Antandroy tombs', briefly observing their ornate decorations. Antandroy and Mahafaly are reputed to be the most impressive of all Malagasy tombs, with the Antandroy tombs being large and brightly painted, relating to the life story and wishes of the deceased. They are also topped with zebu skulls which were sacrificed during the funeral festivity - a ceremony of great significance. Mahafaly tombs are characterised by their wooden sculptures known as 'Aloalo', relating to the life of the deceased and their unfulfilled dreams, as well as their rank within the clan. After a brief stop in Tulear, we continue past the coastal town of Ifaty to Ifaty beach where we spend the night. Accommodation: Hotel de la Plage or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we have a free day. Running all the way around the south-west Malagasy coastline, Ifaty beach lies on one of the world's largest barrier reefs and is an excellent venue for scuba diving. Between late June and early September, whales can be observed off Ifaty's beautiful white beaches and the offshore islet of Nosy Ve is a terrific place for snorkelling. Protected by coral reefs, the beach and waters beyond the hotel offer a welcome place to rest. Accommodation: Hotel de la Plage or similar *Standard Hotel*
Today we transfer to Tulear airport for our flight to Antananarivo which will arrive in the afternoon. Depending on the flight schedule, you may have free time to explore Antananarivo on your own. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport in the late evening for the very early flight the next morning. We will have access to day-use rooms before the flight. Please note that flight delays on the internal flight are not uncommon – we strongly advise not to book your international flights to depart before midnight.
* 14 nights standard hotels, all en suite
* Travel by private bus, 4WD and internal flights
* Some long drives on poor roads
Food standards in Madagascar can vary and are probably not of the same
standard you are used to at home. A one-course lunch/dinner should cost £4-6
while a three-course lunch/dinner should cost £9-12 . Please allow
approximately £250 for meals not included, plus a little more if you enjoy a
drink with dinner! Malagasy lager is reasonably priced and easily available.
Malagasy wine is also reasonably priced but is not to everyone's taste. It is
sometimes possible to get hold of French or South African wine. A delicacy in
Madagascar is the various flavoured rum’s which are widely sold and very
reasonably priced.
Please note that if you eat neither fish nor meat, your food options will be
rather limited (i.e. omelette, cheese, pasta, vegetables and rice) on this
trip. Breakfasts are usually simple: eggs, a baguette, jam and coffee or tea,
and sometimes fruit. You may wish to bring something to supplement your
morning meal (e.g spread, peanut butter etc).
* 14 nights standard hotels, all en suite
* Travel by private bus, 4WD and internal flights
* Some long drives on poor roads
Madagascar is a rewarding destination with its wealth of flora and fauna,
however, before you decide to travel, we would highlight the following issues
for you to consider:
Travelling by vehicle in Madagascar can be uncomfortable as some of the road
quality varies. The majority of the roads are well-surfaced, but it is worth
noting that Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world and the
infrastructure reflects this. Some roads will be better than others, and at
times a little patience, humour and flexibility may be required! We do have
some longer drives but the diverse scenery more than makes up for time spent
on the bus. We break up our road journeys with stops at villages, to take
photos and to stretch our legs. There will be a lot of very early starts and
long days on this itinerary.
Parts of Madagascar are mountainous. You need to be prepared to walk in hilly
surroundings for periods of up to four hours. The trails are fairly gentle in
Andasibe but steeper in all of the other national parks. We include a visit
to the UNESCO site of the Tsingy of Bemaraha with some stunning scenery and
wildlife. This area is however quite remote and you should come prepared for
this. Those suffering from vertigo and claustrophobia may find some parts of
the walks in this area challenging.
The tourist infrastructure in Madagascar is new and some services are
limited. It is not unusual for there to be changes to accommodation or
internal flights and for this reason, the order of the itinerary (but not the
content) may sometimes change. However, what tourism does exist is of a
pleasantly good standard and you may be impressed by the level of services in
some of the places we stay.
This itinerary includes the use of local pontoon ferries which do not
(typically) offer emergency safety equipment such as flotation devices. While
we have risk assessed these crossings and find them to be ‘low risk’. If
you are concerned about this aspect please consider an alternative trip, as
we are unable to facilitate the provision of western safety equipment.
Hotels
We use tourist class hotels throughout the trip which are simple but
comfortable. Most of the hotels have mosquito nets in the rooms. Please note
that although all of the hotels are said to have a reliable electricity and
water supply there may be instances in which you experience some gaps in
supply - this is more a reflection of life in Madagascar than the standard of
the hotel. Please be aware that some hotels do not have 24 hr electricity,
and in some, hot water is not always available. There is WiFi in most of the
hotels but often this is only in the communal areas and not in the rooms.
Food standards in Madagascar can vary and are probably not of the same
standard you are used to at home. A one-course lunch/dinner should cost £4-6
while a three-course lunch/dinner should cost £9-12 . Please allow
approximately £250 for meals not included, plus a little more if you enjoy a
drink with dinner! Malagasy lager is reasonably priced and easily available.
Malagasy wine is also reasonably priced but is not to everyone's taste. It is
sometimes possible to get hold of French or South African wine. A delicacy in
Madagascar is the various flavoured rum’s which are widely sold and very
reasonably priced.
Please note that if you eat neither fish nor meat, your food options will be
rather limited (i.e. omelette, cheese, pasta, vegetables and rice) on this
trip. Breakfasts are usually simple: eggs, a baguette, jam and coffee or tea,
and sometimes fruit. You may wish to bring something to supplement your
morning meal (e.g spread, peanut butter etc).
Travel is mainly by small private bus. Most of this trip is on well-surfaced
roads with only the occasional poor and bumpy section while in the national
parks. There are several days where the drives are long but we make plenty
of stops along the way and time passes quickly. There are two internal
flights, one from Antananarivo to Morondava and one from Tulear to
Antananarivo. We also take 4WD vehicles from Morondava to Bekopaka and back
again. We use 4WD vehicles on this section of the trip as the road is a dirt
road and is very uneven (though the surrounding landscape and destination
more than make up for it!)
This itinerary also includes the use of local pontoon ferries which do not
(typically) offer emergency safety equipment such as flotation devices. While
we have risk assessed these crossings and find them to be ‘low risk’. If
you are concerned about this aspect please consider an alternative trip, as
we are unable to facilitate the provision of western safety equipment/./
The driving distances are as follows. Approximate driving time including
stops in is brackets:
Antananarivo - Andasibe: 135 km (4-5 hours)
Morondava - Kirindy: 60 km (dirt road, 2 hours)
Kirindy - Bekopaka: 175 km (dirt road, 7 hours driving plus 1 hour ferry
crossing)
Bekopaka – Morondava: 235 km (dirt road, 10 hours driving plus 1 hour ferry
crossing)
Morondava - Antsirabe: 475 km (12 hours)
Antsirabe – Ranomafana : 250km (10 hours)
Ranomafana - Fianarantsoa - Ranohira: 370km (11 hours)
Ranohira - Ifaty: 275km (6 hours)
*Travelling flight inclusive from London: 17 days*
The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before
Day 1 of the itinerary.
*Flights from London*
We normally use the scheduled services of Kenya Airways (depending on
availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend
you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm
up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and
cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.
*Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Antananarivo
*
Your trip normally starts at our accommodation in Antananarivo in
the afternoon of Day 1 of the itinerary. Details of how to reach the start
point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions ‐ sent approximately
two weeks before departure.
Please note that security conditions at the airport in Antananarivo do not
allow for the leader to be able to access the airport building. The leader
will be waiting directly outside the building to meet you on arrival.
Airport transfers are included for those on the group flights. Please note
that transfers are not included for clients arriving on any other flight,
even if Exodus has booked it.
If you require airport transfers, you may (by prior arrangement only) be able
to join the group transfer. Transfers are arranged to coincide with the
arrival time of the group flight - please check the group flight details 2
weeks before departure. If you do not take this transfer, or miss it, you
must make your own way to the joining point at your own expense.
Madagascar has a tropical climate with two seasons - rainy and dry. The
driest season extends from April to October. It can be cold on the central
plateau (including Antananarivo) in the evenings, and in the rainforest
areas, so you should bring warm clothes (fleece and waterproof). There is
considerable regional variation but coastal areas will normally be very hot
and dry. Expect daytime in the shade temperatures up to 38ºC from
October-December and up to 30ºC during the trips running from April-June and
September.
Lightweight clothing, to include at least one pair of long trousers and a
long-sleeved shirt (for protection against mosquitoes and scratchy plants)
Walking boots or training shoes with good tread
Rain jacket (all year round)
Warm layers
Warm sweater or fleece jacket (as nights can be chilly)
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Torch/flashlight for use when camping, wildlife viewing at night and for
powercuts.
Antibacterial gel
At time of writing the standard weight limit for hold baggage on the
recommended international carrier for this trip is 23kg. We recommend packing
only one piece of checked baggage.
Internal flights in the destination country are subject to a weight limit of
18kg, with a 5 kg limit on hand luggage.
As advice about luggage allowances for both hand and hold luggage is subject
to change, we suggest you check the airline's website for the latest
information prior to your departure.
Water bottle
Binoculars
Camera
Daysack
Swimming costume
Earplugs if you have trouble sleeping
Mosquito repellent
Gloves to use in the Grands Tsingy
Some clients might find walking poles useful.
Please note that tampons are virtually impossible to get hold of in
Madagascar.
Due to laws in Madagascar about the dispensing of medicine, the guides are
not able to carry any basic medicines should you feel unwell. These include
Paracetamol, Imodium and Aspirin. Although they are available to buy in
Madagascar, if you believe you may need these we advise you to bring them
with you from home.
A Visa card can be used to obtain a local currency cash advance at some
banks, and the Master card is accepted as well, but only at the BNI Bank. But
please note that we advise you to bring your spending money in Euros or US$
cash as these are easiest to change to local currency. Bills of 100 € or
USD usually get a better rate than bills of 20 or less. British pounds
Sterling can only be exchanged at banks at the airport, but even there, they
are not always accepted. *You can bring maximum 7500 € or the
corresponding amount in other currency without declaring it on arrival, above
that amount, you have to declare it. Please note that you can import and
export a maximum of 400’000 Ariary in the local currency Ariary.* You
cannot rely on credit cards for payment as they are rarely accepted and the
ATM don’t always work, and American Express or Diners cards are hardly
accepted anywhere in Madagascar.
All money should be exchanged at the airport on arrival, as in the banks in
the provincial towns, it’d take too long. Also, the exchange rate at the
airport is generally better than in the banks in Antananarivo or other
cities.
Any unused Ariary must be exchanged before checking in departures only US$
and Euros are accepted.
**
*Optional Excursions:*
*Ifaty*
Scuba diving: Single dive – Approx. £40 or 155,000 Ariary per person
Snorkelling - Approx. £12.50 or 50,000 Ariary per person
Whale watching (July-September) – Approx. £35 or 140,000 Ariary per person
(minimum 4 people)
Kayaking - Approx £9 or 35,000 Ariary per person.
Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. You may
feel that your leader has performed well over the course of your time in
Madagascar and want to show your appreciation of their services. If you would
like to tip your leader we suggest a figure of approximately £2 per person
per day.
It is also courtesy to tip any extra guides/ drivers you may have over the
course of the trip, though certainly not compulsory. Shortly after arrival
the leader will suggest to the group that they donate a sum of 200,000 Ariary
per person towards a kitty on arrival. This money is then used for tipping
local guides, hotel porters, drivers etc and will be distributed by the
leader, avoiding confusion on how much and when to tip as the trip carries
on.
* Travel insurance
* Single accommodation (available on request)
* Visas or vaccinations
Ved skriftlig aksept av vårt tilbud bekrefter du/dere at våre betingelser er både lest og forstått og at evt kansellerings gebyrer kan tilkomme ved en evt. avbestilling av reisen.
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