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Ranomafana + Isalo + Amber + Nosy Be (South & North)
RPS16A

16 NIGHTS
FROM $3,769
International flights quoted separately
This wonderful two week tour of the rainforests and tsingys of Madagascar combines the famous lemur forests of Ranomafana, Andringitra & Isalo in the south, with Amber Mountain, the red tsingy, Ankarana and the beaches of beautiful Nosy Bay in the north, where scuba diving and deep sea fishing is also outstanding. Less 10% for 4+ pax.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tours Madagascar Tours Lemurs Madagascar Vacation Nosy Be Madagascar Holiday Nosy Bay Madagascar
• Antsirabe • Ranomafana • Isalo • Lemurs
• Rainforests • Antananarivo • Diego Suarez • Amber Mountain
• Ankarana Park • Nosy Bay
Day 1
You will be met at Antananarivo Airport and transferred to your hotel in the capital city of the enormous island of Madagascar.
 
Check in to your hotel and relax in your warm surroundings.
 
Before leaving the airport, remember to withdraw local currency from the cash machine for lunches along the way (approx 15,000 ariary per person) and buy plenty of bottled drinking water for your journey
Day 2
Today we leave Antananarivo and travel 5-hours past terraced rice paddies and traditional red clay houses to Ambositra in the central highlands.
 
We pass through the small city of Ambatolampy, an agricultural centre known for its aluminium factory, and stop at the foot of the Ankaratra Massif, which is the third highest summit on the island.
 
We travel through the thermal springs city of Antsirabe, established by Norwegian missionaries and today the agricultural and industrial centre of Madagascar, where we view local arts & crafts, including embroidery and the cutting of semi-precious stones.
 
We continue  to Ambositra, noted primarily for its master woodcarvers and furniture manufacturing. We check into our hotel in the capital of the Zafimaniry region, which is a veritable work of art - with many shutters and walls carved in geometric designs.
Day 3
Today we leave Ambositra and drive 2.5-hours to Ranomafana, stopping along the way at the Lalatsara Reserve, before continuing our drive through high altitude rain forests.
 
We check into our hotel in Ranomafana (meaning "hot water"), a thermal spring that is home to one of Madagascar's best known national parks and in the evening enjoy a visit to the Ranomafana Rainforest hoping to see nocturnal species such as the microcebus red mouse lemur (the smallest primate in the world) and the fossa, a member of the civet family and the largest carnivore in Madagascar.
Day 4
Today we visit Ranomafana National Park, a huge rain forest and one of the most important national parks in Madagascar, as it is home to 12 different species of lemurs including two of the rarest in the world - the greater bamboo lemur and the golden bamboo lemur, which has strange eating habits.
 
This rain forest is also home to 29 species of mammals, several species of viverrids, ring tailed mongoose, about 100 species of birds and a wide variety of butterflies, insects and unusual reptiles including lizards, chameleons and frogs.
Day 5
This morning we travel from Ranomafana to the old city of Fianarantsoa, a World Heritage site, for a guided tour of this ancient regional capital with its Royal Palace and Lac Anosy.
 
We continue through the winelands of Ambalavao where we can visit a hand made papyrus factory, where papyrus made from the trees of the rain forest was formerly used by astronomers but is now mainly used for decoration. After 3-hours of travel, we check into our hotel in Andringitra.
Day 6
This morning enjoy a short walk in the granite Tsaranoro Valley, known as the Yosemite of Africa and home to ring-tailed lemurs. We then travel 5-hours from Andringitra as we take the road across the Plateau of Horombe, a rocky expanse of land known as the "Door of the South" to Ranohira.
 
Time permitting, along the way we also visit Anja Private Reserve - a scenic landscape of forest, hills and valleys located on 8 acres of community land famous for its endemic maki catta (ring tailed) lemurs, which are one of the most vocal of the 33 species in Magagascar. The small nocturnal microcebus lemur can also be spotted here. Anja also boasts wonderful rock formations and is home to some of the country’s rarest plants and many different chameleons (there are about 150 types of chameleons in the world, half of which are found in Madagascar).
 
The landscape changes into rocky mountains and savannah as we travel to Ranohira, where we arrive in the late afternoon and check into our hotel.
Day 7
Today enjoy a full day exploring on foot the vast Isalo National Park, an eroded sandstone mountain whose rocks have been carved into many strange formations by the winds.
 
The ruiniform massif has many deep and narrow canyons and a 1-hour walk will take you to the lush palm-lined oasis of Piscine Naturelle. A 3-hour walk across deep canyons with riparian forests will take you to the Canyon des Singes.
 
The canyons of the park shelter over 55 bird species, including the red vanga, 3 species of lemur (the maki catta or ring tailed lemur, the sifaka and the varika), geckos, chameleons and many other reptiles and amphibians. You will also see many endemic flora, including succulent plants such as pachypodium, tapia, aloes and pandanus.
Day 8
Today we travel for 4-hours from Ranohira to the southern city of Tulear, for your flight to Antananarivo.
 
We travel through the dry forests of the west and the spiny deserts of the south. We pass through the sapphire mining village of Ilakaka and along the way you will see giant baobab trees, whose strange bare branches look like they are planted upside down. You will also see the spectacular Mahafaly tombs - unusual funeral carvings unique to the southern region, which express the life and fertility of the deceased.
 
You will be dropped off at Tulear Airport for your flight to Antananarivo, where you will be met and transferred to your airport hotel.
 
Day 9
Today transfer to Antananarivo Airport for your flight to Diego Suarez, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in this harbour city.
 
Although now called Antsiranana, the city is still widely referred to by its original name and is situated on the northern most tip of Madagascar, with its own beautiful sugar loaf mountain. Check into your hotel and relax in your warm island surroundings.
Day 10
Today we travel 1-hour to Amber Mountain - the most visited national park in northern Madagascar, due to its great biologiocal diversity.
 
Covering a prominent volcanic massif with lots of small lakes and waterfalls, this national park is the source of many rivers and is home to over 75 different bird species, 25 mammal species and 59 reptile species, including frogs, geckoes & chameleons.
 
There are also seven lemur species in this park, the most notable of which are the crowned lemur and Sanford's brown lemur. Also many beautiful orchid species and huge baobab trees. After visiting this amazing hot, humid and wet rain forest, relax at your hotel.
Day 11
After leaving Amber Mountain, we travel 4-hours to Ankarana Reserve.
 
Sharp limestone needles (called tsingys) dominate the landscape, but this seemingly inhospitable environment is home to one of the highest density of primates of any forest in the world, as well as several species of lemurs, geckoes and crocodiles. We visit attractions such as the bat cave, water hole and small tsingy, before checking into our hotel.
Day 12
This morning enjoy a full day excursion to the green lake and Red Tsingy of Ankarana, whose colours have variously been described as yellow, orange or brown depending upon the sunlight.
 
We walk through green and luxurious canyons into dry forests and over rocky outcrops, while viewing the birds and unique wildlife of this park.
 
We continue 5-hours to Ankify travelling through Ambilobe with its colourful market and past Tsaratanana Mountain, the highest peak on the island. This is a very fertile region, with many ylang ylang (perfume), vanilla and coffee plantations.
 
Day 13
We transfer 45-minutes by boat today from Ankify harbour to the beautiful island of Nosy Be, with its spectacular turquoise waters.
 
Transfer to your hotel and relax on this paradise island.
Days 14 To 16
At leisure to relax and enjoy the splendid beaches, islands and wildlife surrounding Nosy Be.
 
The rugged coastline has many coves and deserted beaches lined by palm trees, offering superb swimming in emerald seas, snorkelling, scuba diving and fishing.
 
Meaning "Big Island", Nosy Be is a volcanic island which enjoys a tropical climate, with its landscape characterised by many hills overlooked by Mount Lokobe and Mount Passot. From one of these high vantage points enjoy exceptional views over nearby Radama and Mitsio Islands, or enjoy day excursions to the small islands of Nosy Komba and Tanikely.
 
 
Day 17
Transfer to Nosy Be Airport for your flight home.
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