Madagascar - The Lost Continent

Remote and isolated, Madagascar feels like a completely different world, which has taken its own evolutionary path. The island is home to some of the world's most unique flora and fauna - according to the WWF, 95 % of Madagascar’s reptiles, 89 % of the plant life, and 92 % of the mammals can not be seen anywhere else on Earth. On this tour, we will explore a stunning array of landscapes - from lush rainforests to towering mountains and baobab forests and get to see firsthand the outstanding biodiversity of Madagascar.

Highlights:
♦ Ranomafana National Park - it is the flagship conservation project for Madagascar, covered by tropical forests and famous for its wide variety of orchids
♦ Isalo National Park - protects 81,540 hectares of wildly eroded Jurassic sandstone massif
♦ Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park - known for its alien-looking geological formations

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Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Antananarivo
Arrival in the capital city of Antananarivo and transfer to the hotel for overnight. -/-/-

Day 2. Antananarivo - Morondava. Kirindi
This morning we catch a flight to the city Morondava - a sleepy seaside town in the West of the country, a gateway to exploring some of the country’s natural highlights - like the Baobab Avenue or Kirindy Forest. The Baobab tree has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Madagascar, six of the nine species of baobab trees are native to Madagascar. One of the best places to see them is  Baobab Avenue, located some 40 km from Morondava. We will also explore the Kirindy dry forest reserve, inhabited by some endemic to Madagascar species - like the fossa - the largest carnivore on the island, as well as the rare Malagasy giant rat, the narrow-striped mongoose, different lemurs and others. We will spend the night in Morondava or a village in the region. B/-/-

Day 3. Kirindi - Bekopaka
Today we will continue to the small town of Bekopaka, a gateway to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which we will explore in the next two days. B/-/-

Day 4. Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
In the local language, “tsingy” means "where one cannot walk barefoot” and it very well describes the alien-looking landscape around. Today we have the whole day to explore the karstic plateaus, rifts, crevasses, and “forests” of limestone needles, some of them reaching up to 50m. There are two rivers that cross the park - Tsiribihina and the Manambolo, which can be crossed via a set of aerial suspension bridges. The reserve is also home to hundreds of rare plant and animal species like the eye-aye lemur, the ring-tailed mongoose, and others. B/-/-

Day 5. Bekopaka - Morondava
Today we are travelling back to Morondava, before continuing our journey into the central and eastern parts of the island. B/-/-

Day 6. Morondava - Antsirabe
Today we are heading to the city of Antsirabe, which literally translated means ”a place of much salt”. It is famous for its thermal pools with good healing properties and attracts both locals and tourists due to its cool climate and location. Antsirabe is also the capital of rickshaws, and THB (Three Horses Beer) - the local Malagasy beer. B/-/-

Day 7. Antsirabe - Ranomafana
Today we continue driving toward the town of Ranomafana - a gateway to the remarkable Ranomafana National Park. On the way we will also stop at Ambositra - the capital of traditional woodcarving, where we will visit a local artisan market. We will arrive in the town in the afternoon, check-in in our hotel and have time for some rest. B/-/-

Day 8. Ranomafama National Park
Today we will explore one of the most picturesque national parks in Madagascar. The name of the park comes from the local Malagasy language, it means “hot water” and reflects the multiple hot springs located in the area. The majority of the park area is comprised of dense rainforest, which supports high levels of biodiversity. The park is home to about 30 endemic species of birds like Henst's goshawk, velvet asity, Rufous-headed ground roller and others. There are also about 12 lemur species that can be seen here - two of the most notable ones being the  golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur. B/-/-

Day 9. Ranomafana - Ranohira
Today we are heading southwards to the town of Ranohira. On the way we will have a short stop at the Anja Community Reserve, which is home to over 400 ring-tailed lemurs. The next stop will be the town of Ambalavao, known for the diversity of crafts that the locals engage in - from paper and silk production, winemaking and others. Overnight in Ranohira or the surroundings. B/-/-

Day 10. Isalo Nаtional Park
Today we will explore the natural wonders of Isalo NP which includes canyons, trekking, natural swimming pools and waterfalls. You will see 3 kinds of lemurs, such as the Ring-tailed lemur, the Brown lemur, and the Sifaka. Some of the birds that can be seen here include the Madagascar Wagtail and Benson's rock thrush, which is endemic in Isalo NP. B/-/-

Day 11. Ranohira – Ifaty
Today we are heading to the seaside town of Ifaty, passing by Tulear - the capital of South Madagascar. On the way we will stop at the Arboretum of Antsokay - a private arboretum reserve, which hosts a collection of about 900 plant species. Continue to Ifaty for overnight. B/-/-

Day 12. Ifaty - Tulear. Flight to Antananarivo. End of services.
Today we are heading to Tulear to catch a flight to Antananarivo (arriving in Antananarivo in the evening).  End of services upon arrival in Antananarivo. B/-/-

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Price Includes:
land transportation according to the itinerary
arrival airport transfer
accommodation in standard hotels or guest houses with breakfast included
domestic flights
all entrance fees as per itinerary
local guides at the parks
English-speaking driver-guide
representative from Penguin Travel (at min. 10 people)

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Not Included:
international flights
optional tours (ordered and paid on the spot)
additional transfers
water
drinks and meals not included in the itinerary
personal expenses
tips for the guide
visa fees (if applicable)

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Gallery

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