Madagascar Discovered

Antananarivo, Andasibe, Ifotaka, Nosy Be

Duration of program: 13 days / 12 nights

DAY 1.                                                        ARRIVAL  —  ANTANANARIVO  —  ANDASIBE       

Arrival into Antananarivo International Airport (TNR)
Meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD), who will shortly brief you about your trip.
Cross a myriad of villages and get acquainted with the traditional lifestyle of the Malagasy people.
With pretty golden grasslands in the background, you will enjoy the abundant rice paddies, chimneyless long clay red houses and many roadside markets displaying a variety of handicrafts, fruit and meat.
In the evening, you will enjoy a nocturnal visit to VOIMMA
This park is run by the village community. There are many species of nocturnal lemurs and chameleons to be seen.
Dinner at the lodge

Mantadia Lodge 5* (HB)                    Standard Room

DAY 2.                                                        ANDASIBE

Breakfast at the lodge
Meet your ESG and depart on your Andasibe Park tour
Andasibe is one of the most beautiful and richest areas on the island in terms of biodiversity. The forests are located at an altitude of 900-1,250 metres and trade winds blow permanently on its Eastern part. They also shelter many animals, this way ensuring their preservation. 108 species of birds can be found in the park. Some of them, like the Terpsiphone mutata, contribute to some plants’ survival. There are also 14 species of lemurs, 51 species of Boa reptiles including the famous Boa “manditra”, and 84 species of amphibians.
In terms of flora, this is home to creepers and epiphytes such as orchids, mosses and ferns. We can find there, various orchids with more than one hundred listed species.
In the morning, visit of the special Indri Indri Reserve for a 3 to 4-hour stroll to observe the biggest species of Indri-Indri lemur
Some endemic species as Eulemur fulvus and Hapalemur griseus can also be seen there, as well as the observation of many birds’ species.
Experience a short tour of the Islets of lemurs, at the Private Reserve of Vakona Forest Lodge
The lemurs here roam freely and they have 4 species of lemurs (Ruffed Lemur, Ring tailed lemur, Hapalemur).
Lunch at Vakona Forest Lodge
In the afternoon, transfer to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a 155 square kilometre protected area, consisting principally of primary growth forest in the Alaotra-Mangoro Region in eastern Madagascar. The park’s elevation ranges from 800–1260 meters, with a humid climate. Average annual precipitation is 1700 mm, with rainfall on 210 days of each year.
Dinner at the lodge

Mantadia Lodge 5* (HB)                    Standard Room

DAY 3.                                                        ANDASIBE > ANTANANARIVO> FORT DAUPHIN > IFOTAKA

06:00 Early in the morning head back to Antananarivo directly to the airport
Formalities then fly by charter to Ifotaka Airstrip
Meet your English Speaking Guide (ESG) and transfer to the Mandrare Camp
Enjoy a scrumptious barbeque lunch at the lodge
Meet your guide and walk to the Sacred Ifotaka community forests
The forests are filled with the ancestral tombs of the local Antandroy Tribe, as well as a bewildering array of flora and fauna, unique to the spiny forest.
Return to the Camp
Enjoy an evening aperitif on the river terrace, before your sumptuous 3-course dinner
Charter flight only scheduled each Monday and Thursday / MONDAY (0930 / 1130)

Mandrare River Camp (AI)                    Luxury Tent

DAY 4.                                                        IFOTAKA / TUESDAY       

Breakfast at the camp
Meet your English Speaking Guide (ESG) and drive to the Sacred Gallery forests to the south of the camp.
These forests are deciduous mainly tamarind, and full of wildlife, especially lemurs with large groups of Ring-tailed Lemurs.
In the afternoon, enjoy a magical experience with sundowners at the Baobab, watching the sun set and moon rise with a view across the Baobabs to the mountains beyond,
In the evening the local village may come to perform traditional dances, accompanied by singing and music
Dinner at the camp

Mandrare River Camp (AI)                    Luxury Tent

DAY 5.                                                        IFOTAKA / WEDNESDAY 

Breakfast at the camp
Meet your English Speaking Guide (ESG) and continue to one of the nearby markets to see the full rich tapestry of valley life, as people who have travelled for hours or even days, buy and sell their local wares.
With our expert guides to interpret all that you see, this is a rich fulfilling experience.
Return to camp for lunch
In the mid-afternoon continue northwards to the Forest of Zenavo.
This forest owned by an elderly gentleman, is excellent for night walks, we do a day into night walk first spotting Sifaka and sleeping White-foot Sportive lemurs, then once the sun has set we see two mouse lemur species, sleeping birds, chameleons and owls.
Dinner at the camp

Mandrare River Camp (AI)                    Luxury Tent

DAY 6.                                                        IFOTAKA / THURSDAY

All meals at the lodge
Day at leisure in Ifotaka

Mandrare River Camp (AI)                    Luxury Tent

DAY 7.                                                        IFOTAKA > FORT DAUPHIN > ANTANANARIVO

Early breakfast at the camp
Meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to Ifotaka and fly back to Antanarivo
Arrival into Ivato International Airport (TNR), meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to the hotel
Lunch at the hotel
Sunset and dinner at Lokanga Restaurant

Charter flight only scheduled each Tuesday and Friday / FRIDAY (0930 / 1000)
Maison Gallieni (BB)                                Monaco rooms

DAY 8.                                                        ANTANANARIVO > NOSY BE

Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to Ivato International Airport (TNR) for your flight to Nosy Be
Depart Ivato International Airport (TNR)
Arrival into Nosy Be, meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to Manga Soa Lodge where you embark on a speed boat to Tsarabanjina
Situated in the splendid isles of the Mitsio archipelago, 40 km north of Nosy Be, this is a heavenly spot and in an idyllic setting where you can relax. Made from natural materials, the villas reveal a fusion of elegant style, modern-art and Malagasy culture.
Lunch at the hotel
Dinner at the hotel

Constance Tsarabanjina 5* (AI)                    North Beach Villa

DAY 09- 10.                                                        NOSY BE     

All meals at the hotel
You are free to avail yourself of the hotel’s activities or to simply enjoy your day at leisure

Constance Tsarabanjina 5* (AI)                    North Beach Villa

DAY 11.                                                        NOSY BE > ANTANANARIVO

Breakfast at the hotel
Embark on your speedboat transfer back to Nosy Be, on arrival meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to Nosy Be Airport for your flight back to Ivato International Airport
Depart Nosy Be Airport
Arrival into Ivato International Airport (TNR), meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to the hotel
Lunch at Combava Restaurant
Dinner at Kudeta Restaurant

Maison Gallieni 4*(BB)                    Monaco rooms

DAY 12.                                                        ANTANANARIVO > DEPART                                                                                 

Breakfast at the hotel
Meet your English Speaking Driver (ESD) and transfer to Ivato International Airport (TNR) for your onward flight

INCLUDES

•  Accommodation as specified in itinerary
• Meals as specified in itinerary
•  Transfers as specified in itinerary
•   English Speaking Driver as specified in itinerary
•  Services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide
•  Meals as per program
•  All entrance fees and guided excursions as described in itinerary
•   All park fees / Conservation Levies
•  Internal & Domestic Flights (priced separately)
• Incidental tips to hotel/lodge
•   Gratuity to tour driver/guide

EXCLUDES

•   International Flights and Airport Taxes
•  Visa Fees (if applicable)
•  Medical & Travel Insurance
• All expenses of personal nature
• Any entrance fees and guided excursions not included in the above itinerary
•  Early Check In & Late Check Out

PLEASE TAKE NOTE

• All ITRAVEL standard terms and conditions apply to this quote, these terms and conditions are available on request
• All quotes are subject to availability and change due to airfare increases, hotel rate increases, currency exchange fluctuations and any other unforeseen circumstances all without prior notice.
• Please check and re-confirm all services on this itinerary with Itravel prior to final booking, failure to do so may result in incorrectly scheduled services for which Itravel will not be held responsible in any manner whatsoever.
• Itinerary and journey times are close approximations and are subject to change without prior notice.
• Light Aircraft Flights:
• Baggage allowance is normally restricted between 15kg to 30 kg (depending on country, aviation supplier and seat class chosen) per passenger, inclusive of hand luggage in soft bags. Excess baggage will be charged at prevailing rates and only carried subject to space availability.
• Timings in remote areas such as national parks may vary from day to day. It is very important that your clients ask their tour guide or lodge manager to reconfirm flights 24 hours before departure. This reconfirmation process will give the departure and arrival details for the flight(s) the following day and will save unnecessary waiting time and discomfort. Charter companies reserves the right to change departure times or carrier when so required for operational, weather or safety reasons.
• Passenger weights limits apply for light aircraft flights and additional seats may be required if exceeding the weight limit. However, please let us know in advance if this is likely to apply so we can do whatever is possible to minimize the likelihood of this becoming an issue.