MADAGASCAN DISCOVERER

Day 1
Depart London.

Day 2
Arrive Antananarivo; overnight in hotel.

Day 3
Today we have a half - day city tour of Madagascar's capital, known as simply 'Tana' to the locals. Built around Anosy Lake, the capital offers much of interest, with a backdrop of terracing and outstanding views from the Queen's Palace. We also aim to visit a Catholic Centre for orphan & homeless children in the city. This centre runs a welfare programme for very poor families which includes pre-school classes for the youngest children. If you wish to bring any gifts for the children, the most useful are kids clothes, reading books, colouring books, and pencils or pens In the afternoon we travel to Andasibe, visiting the Peyeiras centre in Mandraka which houses an outstanding collection of butterflies, chameleons and frogs along the way.

Day 4
Today we spend a full day in the park. 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 experience 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 Perinet from Mantadia, and if we are lucky, we may spot one of these unusual creatures. In the evening we take a twilight/night walk, looking out for the nocturnal species of lemur as the torchlights pass by their eyes.

Day 5
Today we travel to Antsirabe. The town is at an altitude of 1500m and so has a cooler climate. The warm springs and thermal baths here were a real draw in the 19th century. A stroll around the streets will bring you in contact with some fantastic little shops selling Malagasy artefacts and handicrafts and as Antsirabe is also home to precious and semi precious stone vendors you might get the opportunity to see the stones being cut and polished.

Day 6
This morning we take a city tour of Antsirabe. There should be time to visit some artisanal workshops before we visit one of the local lakes. In the hills west of Antsirabe lie Lac Andraikiba and Lac Tritriva which are both volcanic in origin. The deep blue lake of Lac Tritriva is impressively surrounded by sheer cliff. We then travel to Fianarantsoa where we spend the night.

Day 7
This morning we explore Fianarantsoa, the academic, intellectual and Catholic centre of Madagascar. Lying in the heart of Madagascar's agricultural centre, the city is well known for its tea and wine and has the superb backdrop of Mt Kianjasoa (1374m). In the afternoon the scenery changes dramatically as we head to the small town of Ranohira, our base for exploring Isalo National Park. Along the way we visit the small reserve of Anja, where Katta (otherwise known as Ring-tailed) lemurs can be observed in their natural surroundings. We also learn about the production of Antemoro paper - produced from the bark of the Havoha tree.

Day 8
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 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 in such 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 bear in mind 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).

Day 9
We leave early in the morning for the west coast. There is time to visit the bustling coastal town of Tulear before we head to Ifaty beach where we spend the next two nights.

Day 10
Today we have a free day in Ifaty. Running all the way around the south-west Malagasy coastline, Ifaty lies on one of the world's largest barrier reefs and hence is an excellent venue for scuba diving. In July and August 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 rest for those who wish just to relax.

Day 11
We depart early today to catch a flight north to the coastal town of Morondava, known for having one of the finest climates in Madagascar. This afternoon, we will visit the famous 'Alley of Baobabs' 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 return to Morondava where we spend the night.

Day 12
We have a long travel day today to Bekopaka. We travel past baobab forests, desert and cross the Tsiribihina river by local ferry boat. The western landscape is arid but has a beauty all of its own.

Day 13
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 and some amazing bird and lemur species. The Grands Tsingy is famed for its pinnacles, a forest of limestone pillars and limestone plateaux. 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 hikes. Please note that while our time in this area is a real highlight of this tour for most, those suffering from vertigo and claustrophobia may find some parts of the walks here quite challenging. There are places where we will go through caves as well as through narrow chasms; harnesses are used for the more challenging parts of the climb for safety reasons, and you should be prepared for this.
In the afternoon we will head to to Belo sur Tsiribihina. There is an option to visit Manambolo gorge, home to many interesting rock formations, by canoe and to see the Tombs of the Vazimba tribe from the river. These ancient people were the original inhabitants of Madagascar and grew no more than one metre tall. Those who do not wish to join this optional excursion are welcome to relax at the hotel or enjoy a swim at the hotel pool.

Day 14
After breakfast we will head back south by 4WD vehicles to Morondava, visiting a dry forest reserve along the way. The Kirindy reserve is home to the giant jumping rat, seven lemur species, the rare flat-tailed tortoise as well as the side-necked turtle which is Madagascar's only fresh water turtle. We also pass by the Sakalava tribe tombs - specially known for the very unusual paintings and carvings that decorate the outside of each tomb

Day 15
We fly back to the capital, Antananarivo this morning, and have the afternoon free to explore the city.

Day 16
Depart Antananarivo.

Day 17
Arrive London.