ITINERARY: 

Day 1 – Antananarivo – 15th Nov
Plan on arriving in Antananarivo today and we will transfer you to our hotel for the night. Please if you have a very late arrival, often in you fly via Paris, then you may think about getting a flight that arrives a day earlier.
Night at Hotel Combava. D

Day 2 – Antananarivo – Ampijoroa
Today we will travel most of the day to reach our first major birding location, Ampijoroa. We will make several birding stops on the way to split up the long journey.
Night at Lodge of the park or Asity Lodge. B, L, D

Day 3 – Ampijoroa
Ampijoroa is a forest station situated in the extensive deciduous forests of the Ankarafantsika Reserve. This huge area protects a plateau that is covered in deciduous forest as well as areas of wetter moss laden woodland, interspersed with streams and is indeed a very rich habitat for wildlife. From our ideal base we have a day and a half to search areas of dry forest, and moist woodland for a great selection of regional and country endemics. The Madagascar Crested Ibis will be in our sights, as will Madagascar Buttonquail, France’s Sparrowhawk, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, and Rufous, Hook-billed, White-headed, Chabert’s and Red-tailed Vangas, Long-billed Greenbul and Crested Coua. No less than eight species of lemur occur here and many interesting and exquisitely marked Chameleons, including the world’s largest species the Rhinoceros Chameleon. No need to worry about snakes as there are no venomous snakes in Madagascar. We will spend the afternoon birding one of the nearby lakes in search of the critically endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle, one of the rarest raptors in the world with a population of around just 100 pairs. With possibilities of Sooty and Eleonora’s Falcons over nearby fields, and a variety of water birds such as Little Grebe, African Darter, Glossy Ibis, Comb Duck, Yellow-billed Stork, Dimorphic Egret, Greater Painted Snipe, African Pygmy Goose, Allen’s Gallinule, the localised Madagascar Jacana and White-throated Rail. If we are lucky, we may even find a Malagasy Kingfisher ending what should be a fabulous stay.
Night at Lodge of the park or Asity Lodge. B, L, D

Day 4 – Ampijoroa – Majunga
During the morning we will explore more of Ampijoroa Forest to search for any species we might have missed on the previous day. Once we’ve had lunch we will then make our way to Majunga. En route to the reserve we will search roadside ponds for Malagasy Pond, Squacco, Striated and Black Herons. Once we arrive, we will spend a little part of the afternoon birding for some new species around the hotel.
Night at hotel Edenakely. B, L, D

Day 5 – Majunga – Ampijoroa
Our day begins with our adventure with a motorised boat trip up the Betsiboka River Delta. This quiet back water is seldom-visited and as such is home to two of Madagascar’s rarest and most endangered birds, Bernier’s Teal and the recently split Malagasy Sacred Ibis. As we search for these special species, we should also come across a variety of other species including African Openbill, Greater Flamingo, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, shorebirds such as Terek Sandpiper and possibly the superb Crab Plover, both Lesser Crested and Saunders’s Terns and if we are lucky Humblot’s Heron. After our boat trip we will drive back to Ampijoroa and if we have anytime left in the afternoon, we will bird around the hotel.
Night at Tia Asity Lodge and Blue Vanga Lodge. B, L, D

Day 6 – Ampijoroa– Tana
After breakfast, full day drive back to Antananarivo. We might make a few birding stops on the way to break up the journey.
Overnight at hotel Orchid. B, L, D

 Day 7 – Tana –Tuléar
After breakfast, transfer to the airport. Fly to the town of Tuléar. Birding at La table in the afternoon before arriving at our hotel for the night.
Overnight at hotel Victory. B, L, D

Day 8 – Tuléar – Anakao
This morning we will board a speedboat for an excursion to the small the island of Nosy Ve. The main attraction of Nosy Ve is its colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds, and we should be able to get fantastic close views of birds in the air and also sat on nests under low bushes. We can check the shoreline for White-fronted Plover, Sanderling, Terek Sandpiper, Dimorphic Egret and with luck the rather nomadic Crab Plover. Seabirds could include Lesser Crested, Common, Greater Crested, Caspian and Saunder’s Terns and there is always the chance of something unusual. We have even had very close views of Short-finned Pilot Whales! Leaving this idyllic island behind us we will cross to the mainland and the small fishing village of Anakao where our targets will be the localised Littoral Rock Thrush and Sub-desert Brush Warbler both of which could be seen right around our accommodation. With a nice beach-side restaurant and bar looking out over clear blue waters this will be a relaxing place to unwind.
Night at Hotel Safari Vezo. B, L, D

Day 9 – Anakao – Tuléar – Ifaty
After breakfast, back to Tuléar. Transfer to Ifaty. Birding at Belalanda Lake and at the baobab forest at Ifaty.
Overnight at hotel Nautilus. B, L, D

 Day 10 – Ifaty
Today will see us concentrating our efforts on the “Spiny Forest” and its very specialised wildlife. As we set foot amongst the huge bloated Boabab Trees surrounded by thorny scrub we will go in search of spectacular endemics such as the strange Sub-desert Mesite and the amazing Long-tailed Ground-Roller, two birds very unique to this incredible area. Other sought-after species include Banded Kestrel, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Madagascar Bee-Eater, Greater Vasa Parrot, Grey-headed Lovebird, Running, Crested and Red-capped Coua, Archbold’s Newtonia, Thamnornis Warbler, Sub-desert Brush Warbler, Lafresnaye’s, Red-tailed and White-headed Vanga, as well as the superb looking Sickle-billed Vanga. Nearby an area of wetlands and salt pools should attract plenty of shorebirds and here we will look for the endemic Madagascar Plover alongside Kittlitz’s, White-fronted and Ringed Plovers, Black-winged Stilt, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint and possibly seabirds such as Caspian Tern and both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds. At night we could find Madagascar Nightjars circle around our lodge, while a variety of reptiles including Three-eyed Lizard and Spider Tortoise could also be seen. We will the return to the lodge for the night.
Night at Hotel Nautilus. B, L, D

 Day 11 – Itafy – Tulea – Isalo
After breakfast we will set off towards Zombitse Forest National Park, a relict patch of woodland that holds the extremely localised Appert’s Greenbul. There should be plenty of other goodies to keep us busy including Coquerel’s Coua, Giant Coua, Cuckoo-Roller, Madagascar Spinetail, Common and Dark Newtonias, Blue Vanga, Rufous Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Madagascar Cuckooshrike, Madagascar Hoopoe, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar Starling, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk and Madagascar Ibis. The very elusive Fosa lives here as well as Hubbard’s Sportive Lemur but we would consider ourselves luck if we saw either of these. Moving on we will drive across grassy plains of the Central Plateau, to the isolated limestone Isalo Massif. This remote area is fairly devoid of birdlife but we will make strategic stops to search for Madagascar Partridge, Madagascar Buttonquail, Pied Crow, Namaqua Dove, Madagascar Lark and the attractive Malagasy Harrier, now split from the Reunion and with luck Madagascar Sandgrouse. Nearer to the Isalo National Park with its sandstone gullies and watercourses we can expect flocks of Grey-headed Lovebirds, Madagascar Coucal, Madagascar Cisticola, Madagascar Bee-Eater, White-throated Rail and Stripe-throated Jery. We will then do some birding around Isalo before heading to our hotel. We hope to see a few species around here like the Benson’s Rock Thrush and Madagascar Partridge.
Night at Jardin du Roy. B, L, D

Day 12 – 15 – Isalo – Fianarantsoa – Ranomafana
Today we set off on the long drive to Ranomafana passing small villages, barren rocky hills and open grasslands where we will keep a look out for Malagasy Harrier, as well as Mascarene Martin, African Black Swift and other roadside species. We will also make a stop at Anja park to see Ring-tailed Lemurs, arguebly the most popular and well know species of Lemur. We then have three full days to explore this superb national park which was set up to protect the Golden Bamboo Lemur discovered here in 1985. There are of course plenty of other lemurs present and we will search for Greater and Grey Bamboo Lemur, Red-fronted Brown, Red-bellied and Small-toothed Sportive Lemur, Eastern Woolly Lemur and the impressive Milne-Edwards’s Sifaka. Ring-tailed Mongoose are also present, alongside Common Tenrec, Red Forest Rat and Fanaloka, while chameleons and an incredible variety of frogs can also be seen. Once again though we will be in an area that is simply brimming with endemics and speciality birds and our days will be filled searching for Brown Mesite, Henst’s Goshawk, Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk, Madagscar Blue Pigeon, Forest Rock Thrush, Pollen’s Vanga, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Madagascar Yellowbrow, White-throated Oxylabes, Crossley’s Babbler, Red-fronted Coua, Ward’s Flycatcher, Grey-crowned Greenbul, Brown Emutail, Madagascar White-Eye, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Madagascar Brush Warbler, Common Sunbird-Asity and the highly localised Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity. We also have the chance to find a few skulkers such as Madagascar Flufftail, Madagascar Snipe, Madagascar Wood Rail, Grey Emutail and Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher.
4 Nights at Hotel le Cristo. B, L, D

Day 16 – Ranomafana – Antsirabe
We will spend the morning once again birding Ranomafana in search of more endemics and specialities. After lunch we will then make our way towards the town of Antsirabe for the night.
Night at Hotel Royal Palace or Cristal Hotel. B, L, D

Day 17 – 20 – Antsirabe – Perinet
We will then spend the morning driving to the famous reserve of Perinet (otherwise known as Analamazaotra). This afternoon and the following 3 full days will see us search both Perinet Forest Reserve and Mantadia National Park, two areas that protect some of the richest east coast forest in Madagascar. The latter only recently being opened is now a must visit site on any trip to this fabulous country. In true Madagascar style we could soon be listening to the unbelievable sound of the handsome Indri, the largest of the lemurs, and once heard never to be forgotten. In fact, if we come across a close group of these superb mammals, you just wouldn’t believe how loud their wailing cries can be. In the evening and close to the restaurant we may be fortunate enough to a family of Furry-eared Dwarf Lemurs that are sometimes seen in and around the gardens. The rich, moist rainforests here hold a wealth of Madagascar specialities including no less than four species of the much sought-after ground-rollers. We will spend time looking for the beautiful Scaly Ground-Roller, as well as Pitta-like, Rufous-headed and Short-legged, the latter surprisingly found in trees. Many of the species here are poorly known and several species impossible to see elsewhere. Flocks of Vangas may hold the strange Nuthatch Vanga, as well as White-headed, Chabert’s, Tylas, Blue, Red-tailed and Hook-billed, and skulking coua’s could include Red-fronted, Blue Coua and with luck the rare Red-breasted Coua. The bizarre Cuckoo-Roller should be found alongside a host of other species such as Madagascar Flufftail, the elusive Madagascar Wood Rail, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Madagascar Sparrowhawk, Greater Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Nightjar, Madagascar Cuckoo, Madagascar Spinetail, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar Cuckooshrike, Ward’s Flycatcher, Forest Fody, Madagascar Starling, Long-billed and Spectacled Greenbul, Crossley’s Babbler, Rand’s Flycatcher, Forest Fody, Madagascar Starling, Long-billed and Spectacled Greenbul, Crossley’s Babbler, Rand’s Warbler, Cryptic Warbler, Common and Dark Newtonia, Green, Stripe-throated, Common and Wedge-tailed Jery, White-throated Oxylabes, Madagascar Wagtail, Nelicourvi Weaver and Souimanga Sunbird. Many of the species we will be looking for are either rare, local or very elusive and we will be making special efforts to see as much as we can. The superb Collared Nightjar if not found in the evening may well be found on a day roost, allowing unprecedented views of this elegant looking endemic. We will try for both Common Sunbird-Asity and Velvet Asity, Brown Emutail, Madagascar Long-eared Owl and Rainforest Scops-owl. Of course, the area also abounds with many other forms of wildlife and we should have chances for a good selection of lemurs such as Diademed Sifaka, Grey Bamboo Lemur, Weasel Sportive Lemur, Eastern Woolly, Black-and-white Ruffed, Furry-eared Dwarf the diminutive Goodman’s Mouse Lemur and as mentioned before the superb Indri. Nocturnal outings add a touch of something special to this wonderful area and a short stroll could find us many bizarre and striking species such as leaf-tailed geckos, colourful frogs, chameleons and geckos.
4 Nights at hotel feon’ny ala or Indri lodge. B, L, D

 Day 21 – Perinet – Antananarivo – 05th Dec
Our last morning of birding will be spent at Analamazaotra reserve. We will then make our way back to Tana where will have a chance to bird Tsarasaotra park, where we can visit a lake to do some afternoon birding. Here we hope to find species like Madagascar Pond Heron, Meller’s Duck, Madagascan Grebe, Malagasy Kingfisher, Knob-billed Duck and Crested Drongo. We will the head to our hotel for our last Dinner together.
Note that most flights depart to Paris at 01.30am the following day 6th Dec. You will have a day room at the hotel until your airport transfer around 21.30 this evening. If you cannot arrange the above time departing flight then we can arrange an extra night at the Hotel Combava (including breakfast). Please let us know and we can advise this extra nights cost. B, L, D