Above: Madagascar has a rich and diverse culture.
Below: The ring tailed lemur is probably Madagascar's most famous.
Lemurs, Moonlight & Music
December 3 - 14, 2009
From $4995.00
Itinerary
Dec 3 - Arrive in Antananarivo
Meet and greet at Antananarivo airport. We then proceed to our city center hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Royal Palissandre.
Dec 4 - Exploration of Malagasy Culture
After breakfast, we’ll be driven by a 4x4 to Antongona, one of the country’s most important spiritual places. An easy hike up the hill brings us to the King's Tombs. With luck the Diviner may be there. Connected to the spirits, these see-ers can share with us our path and potential future. Hear stories that relay the significance of this sacred place from our English speaking guide and learn why it is so important for local people to have such a spiritual safe haven. Break for a barbeque picnic, then in the afternoon, drive back to the town. We will make a stop at a local family house where toys made of recycled tin are manufactured. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Royal Palissandre. All meals included.
Dec 5 - More Exploration of Malagasy Culture
Morning visit of a pottery village. Traditional lunch with dance and music performed by local musicians and singers. Then we’ll engage in storytelling and other activities at Antshow, a musical oasis created by Madagascar’s most beloved and internationally famous musician, Hanitra. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Royal Palissandre. All meals included.
Dec 6 - Lemur Safari in Perinet
Morning departure is set for a drive through the highlands towards eastern rain forest. Stop to visit La Mandraka Nature Farm, a place where we can get an introduction about the different reptiles in Madagascar. Check in at the Vakona Forest Lodge in attractively furnished cottages nestled in a forest and garden setting. We will have an afternoon visit to the small Vakona reserve, with a night safari walk in the Analmazaotra Forest to get acquainted with the nocturnal lemur species such as the tiniest mouse lemurs. Dinner and overnight a Vakona Lodge. All meals included.
Dec 7 - Lemurs in Mantadia
An early start allows us to look for the Indri Indri, the largest of the lemurs. Hear their haunting "singing call". Medium hiking provides a good opportunity to experience the abundant flora and fauna of the eastern rain forest. Afternoon drive to nearby Mantadia National Park, for further wildlife sightings, including a chance of encounters with diademed sifakas. With patience and luck these beautiful, though elusive lemurs can be seen in their luxuriant, primary rainforest home. Overnight at Vakona Forest Lodge. All meals included.
Dec 8 - Onward to Isalo National Park
This morning we’ll be driven back to Tanŕ and onward to the airport. We’ll fly south Tulear, where we will be met and taken via a 4-hour scenic drive to Isalo Park in time for a sundowning at Isalo Window. Dinner and overnight at Relais de la Reine. All meals included.
Dec 9 - Discovering Isalo National Park
This morning, we’ll visit the Canyon des Makis, which is a tropical oasis cutting into Isalo’s rugged sandstone massif. After lunch, embark on a hike of 6 km to a natural bathing pool, which offers stunning views of the national park and a chance to see some of its fascinating endemic flora. Enjoy a sundowner at the Fenętre de l’Isalo before returning to the hotel. Overnight at Relais de la Reine. All meals included.
Dec 10 - Journey to Berenty and the Spiny Forest
After breakfast We’ll return to the airport for our flight to Fort Dauphin where we will be met and transferred 2.5 hours to the Berenty Reserve. On our day’s journey, we’ll pass through the villages of the Antanosy people who make impressive stone stele and exquisitely carved wooden memorials to the dead, and we’ll learn about the rites and customs that accompany such traditions. After checking in to our rooms at Berenty Lodge, we can take a guided walk into the bizarre landscape called the Spiny Forest. Dinner and Overnight at Berenty Lodge. All meals included.
Dec 11 & 12 - Into Berenty’s Spiny Forest
Both days are spent exploring the reserve, who’s shady gallery forest lines the Mandrare River and is home to ring-tailed lemurs, red-fronted brown lemurs and Verreaux’s sifakas, as well as several nocturnal species. As we stroll along Berenty’s quiet trails, close encounters of the lemur kind are virtually guaranteed and the opportunities for photography are superb. Birds and reptiles are abundant as well and time will also be spent in the ‘spiny forest’, whose endemic didieracae, euphorbias and kalanchoes will delight plant enthusiasts. Take a break to visit the fascinating ethnographic museum, which focuses on the struggle for survival of the local Antandroy people in this arid part of the island. Overnights at Berenty Lodge. All meals included.
Dec 13 - Malagasy Music
We’ll depart Berenty in the morning to drive to Fort Dauphin and visit the tropical Botanic Gardens. We’ll also have lunch at the panoramic Miramar Restaurant before the transfer to the airport and flight to Tanŕ. Upon arrival, we’ll be taken to Antshow, which is a cultural engine of traditional and contemporary Malagasy music and art. We’ll have a Malagasy dinner at with Hanitra, Madagascar’s most beloved artist, as guest speaker. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Royal Palissandre. All meals included.
Dec 14 - Markets and Farewell to Madagascar
We’ll have the morning free at our leisure to visit the craft market which has some remarkable finds. We’ll have day rooms at the Hotel Royal Palissandre to freshen up, repack before our flight and have a farewell dinner before being transferred to the airport. Lunch on our own.
Itinerary subject to change.
Overview
Map
Prices
Extension to the Island of Sainte Marie
