Madagascar – Red Island Wonders

Fly overnight to the Malagasy capital Antananaviro, more popularly known as ‘Tana’.

Upon arrival in Madagascar’s bustling, colonial capital, meet your tour manager and transfer to your comfortable hotel, overlooking the city’s Lake Anosy. Rest and relax after the journey before dinner.

Join your tour manager this morning for a guided tour of ‘Tana’, with the highlight being the colonial buildings of the upper town, crowned by the former royal palace, the Rova.  You’ll then head south through the verdant highlands, stopping for lunch in tiny Ambatolampy. Here, there’s a chance to see local craftsmen at work, as they fashion aluminum pots from recycled metalware, while others create decorative arts from cattle horns. Continuing south, you’ll arrive in Antsirabe for two nights. Enjoy an introductory tour of this elegant, spa city, and dinner at the hotel.

A relaxing day sees you take in the delights of the city and its surroundings, which include the terraced rice paddies and ornate Lutheran church at nearby Betafo. There may be a chance to ‘take to the waters’ in one of the numerous natural spas that have drawn visitors to Antsirabe for years.

Bid farewell to Antsirabe on a morning’s rickshaw tour, taking in some of the artisans’ markets before you continue through the highlands to ‘City of Roses’ Ambositra, famed for its exquisite marquetry and handcrafted woodcarving. Following lunch, you’ll journey further south into an increasingly tropical rainforest, arriving by late afternoon in Sahambavy. Nestled by a tranquil lake at the foot of Madagascar’s only tea plantation is your welcoming hotel for the next two nights.

Today sees your first encounter with Madagascar’s extraordinary wildlife, as you visit the famed Ranomafana National Park, home to the rare and endangered golden bamboo lemur and 30 bird species, unique to the highland region. One of the most picturesque parks in Madagascar, this classified World Heritage of Humanity Site is enveloped in dense low-altitude and medium-altitude forests, sprawling marshland, and a labyrinth of bamboo forest. Bring a camera, binoculars, and comfortable walking shoes to join your guide as you go in search of the park’s inhabitants.

A longer day’s travelling brings you from lush Sahambavy, through the mountains and down into the red desert landscape of the south. Call en route at the charming town of Ambalavao, with its Gothic cathedral and paper-making workshops. Arrive by late afternoon at your spectacularly located hotel, at the gateway to the Isalo National Park.

From your beautiful hotel base, join your guide for a day in stunning Isalo, with its savannah grasses, towering sandstone buttes, rocky outcrops, and hidden pools. Wildlife includes the fabled ring-tailed lemur.

After the second night in Isalo’s incredible surroundings – and perhaps a memorable sunrise – continue through the southwestern desert, with its ‘upside-down’ baobab trees, and arrive in time for lunch in Tuléar, the former colonial harbour-town on the shores of the Mozambique Channel. This afternoon, transfer along the dusty, shoreside track to your lagoon-side hotel in the fishing village of Ifaty. 

Rest and relax in the hotel, perhaps indulge in some watersports or snorkelling, watch the local fishermen at work, or then take the included excursion to Reniala Nature Reserve, with its baobab trees, spiny forest, and lemur rescue centre.

After a restful stay ‘on the beach’, make the short transfer back Tuléar Airport and fly north to ‘Tana’ once again, from where you’ll make the journey east to the Vakona Forest Lodge, a gateway to the wildlife paradise of the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar’s most celebrated, UNESCO-protected rainforest reserve.

Spend an unforgettable day exploring the national park, beginning with a guided visit to the Analamazaotra Reserve, home to several species of lemur, including the indri, the largest of the mammals, the large Parson’s chameleon, over 100 bird species and a rich, dense variety of exotic and beautiful plants. After a visit to the glorious Mantadia Park, with its waterfalls, orchids and protected indris, there’s the chance, on your return to the lodge, to explore Vakona’s own private reserve, completing a very special day.

After a relaxing morning, bid farewell to Andasibe and its natural wonders, and return to ‘Tana’, calling en route at the famed Peyrieras Reptile Reserve, with its collection of reptiles and butterflies. Enjoy a farewell dinner and last night at your hotel.

Transfer today to the airport for the return overnight flight.

Arrive back in the UK, at the end of an exceptional, memorable Malagasy experience.