Madagascar Highlights

9 days—"the Eighth Continent"

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$12750 USD

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Safari summary

Madagascar was cut off from Africa's mainland over 80 million years ago and is often referred to as "the Eighth Continent." This gem of an island is in the Indian Ocean some 300 miles east of southern Africa.

Madagascar is best known for the big-eyed lemurs, colorful chameleons, towering baobab trees, and stunning orchids. It is home to endemic flora and fauna, with unique landscapes that take you from desert to rain forest to mystical, rocky outcroppings and everything in between. Charming fishing villages and tranquil beaches add to its appeal. Madagascar is a rarely visited country with a completely different feel from any other area in Africa, or, for that matter, the world.

The World Wildlife Fund selected Madagascar as one of the world's top wildlife locations, with more than 80 percent of the island’s wildlife and plants, including more than 100 varieties of lemur, existing nowhere else in the world. The towns have a colonial flavor, and beaches are beautiful.

To provide the most seamless experience throughout Madagascar, we utilize scheduled charter flights wherever possible to bypass the island's vast distances. For regions where driving remains the most practical option, we use high-quality, comfortable vehicles. While road conditions can be challenging, the ever-changing landscapes and vibrant culture visible along the way make every transit an integral part of the adventure.

Accommodations are limited, but Born Free will select the best in the area for your trip. These range from all-inclusive lodges to eco-lodges, ensuring a comfortable and authentic stay that prioritizes both quality service and proximity to the island's unique wildlife.

Flights schedules are limited. Certain tour circuits may have to start on a particular day of the week.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Game drives
	Activity level	Moderate activity
	Best months	July, August, September, October, November
	Countries	Madagascar
	Parks	Andasibe-Mantadia

Fine details

Safari highlights

Beaches
Bird watching—with professional guide
Walking safari—with armed guard

What’s included?

Accommodation
Airport transfers
Internal flights
Meals
Park fees
Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

Hot air balloons
International flights
Premium alcoholic beverages
Spa treatments
Tips and gratuities
Visas

Itinerary

Day 01 - Welcome

You'll be greeted on arrival at the airport by a Born Free Safaris host who will accompany you to your hotel in the capital city of Antananarivo ("Tana" as the locals call it). Tana offers fascinating traditional architecture with French and Indonesian influences.

Day 02

Andasibe-Mantadia

After breakfast, your guide will take you east to Andasibe, a stunning rainforest park, about 4-hours’ drive from the city. The park consists of two protected areas, the Perinet Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park.

Day 03

Andasibe-Mantadia

After breakfast, you will head to Mantadia National Park. Look for some of the lemur species in this stunning park including the Indri indri, diademed sifaka, grey bamboo lemur, red-bellied lemur and white ruffed lemur. While the trails are slightly more difficult, the rewards are great as the forest is taller, wilder, and less crowded than Perinet. There is an abundance of birds including the scaly ground roller, the pitta-like ground roller, and the red-breasted coua.

Day 04 - Perinet Reserve

Andasibe-Mantadia

This morning, enjoy a visit to the 810 ha Perinet Reserve with a local guide in search of the Indri indri. With a barely visible tail, black and white markings and a surprised teddy–bear face, this lemur is one of the few animals in the world that cannot survive in captivity. There are another 11 species of lemur to spot as you walk through the rainforest. You may find a troop of grey bamboo lemurs, common brown lemur, diademed sifaka, and the black and white ruffed lemur.

Day 05

Your morning is spent exploring a bit more around the lodge. After lunch back at the lodge, transfer to Antananarivo by road.

Day 06 - Anjajavy

After an early breakfast, transfer to Ivato Airport in time for your scheduled charter flight to Anjajavy. The forest surrounding your lodge is alive with lemurs, chameleons, malachite kingfishers, and hummingbirds. At 5:30 pm, you will depart for a night walk in the reserve to spot a variety of nocturnal lemurs.

Day 07

This morning, depart for a walk along the "Chemin des Crabes" to see the fabulous birdlife, beautiful baobabs, and, of course, the famous hairy crab. Even if bird watching isn’t your thing, you can’t help but be enchanted by the kaleidoscope of colors of the reserve’s common birds, from the vibrant red fody and Souimanga sunbird to the exotic paradise flycatcher and sickle-billed vanga.

Day 08

This morning, depart the lodge at 9am by boat to Moramba Bay. Let yourself be seduced by Moramba Bay and the beauty of the northwest coast of the island. Discover the centuries-old marine baobabs, the sandy beaches, and the mushroom-shaped tsingy islands. With the captain and a guide, search for one of the rarest raptors in the world - the critically endangered Madagascar fish eagle. If the water is clear, you can also enjoy some snorkeling for 30 minutes before returning to the Lodge.

Day 09 - Your Journey Onwards

At 9:30 am, transfer to the airstrip for your morning flight to Tana by scheduled charter. Upon arrival at Tana airport, you will be met and assisted with checking in for your outbound flight.

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