Day:

 

1. Arrival in Antananarivo: « the city of a thousand soldiers »

Tonga soa, welcome to Madagascar. Once arriving at the airport of Antananarivo, the team of bandro reisen will welcome you. After the formalities of entrance in the Malagasy land, you will be driven directly to your hotel. It will be your first night in Madagascar.

2. Antananarivo – Ampefy: Itasy Region

After a short city tour in the capital, drive to Ampefy. Ampefy is located in the west of Antananarivo. The region is charachterised by volcanic landscape. The Geyser of Andranomandrotra and the Lily Waterfall are the most visited sites in the area.

3. Ampefy – Antsirabe: The high plateau.

We take the way on direction to the old colonial city of Antsirabe through hills and rice fields’ landscapes.

4. Antsirabe – Miandrivazo: On the road of the country of Baobab trees

Our destination for today is the west coast, direction to Morondava.  Before leaving, we will make a short tour of the city and will visit artisanal workshops. Antsirabe means “the place where there is much salt”, it comes from the fact that the city houses sources. It is also called “the city of water”. It is a destination for vacations for Malagasy people. Every year, the beer festival is organized here. The area is well- known thanks to its pink quartz, in this fact; we will visit a workshop of semi-precious stone polishing of the town.
Historically, this city was founded in 1872 by Norwegian. Until now, their descendants still live in Antsirabe.
The trip from Antsirabe to Miandrivazo offers various landscapes. Via the plains, they are characterized by grassy hills and savanna.

5. Miandrivazo – Kirindy: the swiss forest

The reserve of Kirindy is also called “the Swiss forest”. We will focus on the discovery of nocturnal animals as weasel lemur, mouse lemur, giant jumping rat and even Foussa.

6. Kirindy – Bekopaka: to the Tsingys of Bemaraha national park

early in the morning, visit of the Kirindy reserve. After breakfast continuation to the small village of Bekopaka. It is about 160 km north of Kirindy reserve. The landscape is characterized by an overland road. We have to pass through 2 rivers by ferry.

7. Bekopaka: Tsingy of Bemaraha national park

After an early breakfast, we’ll leave the hotel to visit the National park of Bemaraha. The National park is a site of the UNESCO world heritage. In this region, the weather is very hot. We will have to provide ourselves constantly with bottles of water. Tsingy have pointed tracing form.  Our park local guide will give us more details about the origin of the Tsingy in general. We will have an excursion in small and large Tsingy. With a little chance we could meet some species of lemurs. We will also find charming species of plant here. For that, it is recommended to bring torches and suitable shoes of excursion.

8. Bekopaka -Morondava: the avenue of baobabs

Back to Morondava via Belo Tsiribihina. The highlight on this day is the observation of the sunset on the avenue of Baobabs. It is a landmark of the region. Here could you take your best pictures.

9. Morondava – Belo sur Mer : approximately 110 km drive

We get back to a peaceful village of Belo sur Mer at about 110 km. Lots of miles will be done on dirt road before reaching the village. The channel of Mozambique’s clear water is ideal for bathe. Belo is known as regional shipbuilding centre. We will have the opportunity to know the daily life of the Sakalava and the Vezo people.

10. Belo sur Mer – Morombe: a world apart

After leaving the peaceful village of Belo, we will pass to the small farming village of Manja. Then we will cross the Mangoky River. It is an unforgettable experience. We drive along the southwest coast.

11. Morombe – Ambatomilo: to the southwest coast

After a long drive, you will arrive to the one of the best lagoon in the area. It is a right place to enjoy wild beach. You will enjoy a beautiful view on the turquoise blue sea that gives a peace-of-mind feeling.

12. Ambatomilo: day off

Possible activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, and hiking or simply take contact with local people.

13. Ambatomilo – Ifaty: along the south- west coast

We will travel all along the coast to reach Ifaty, our destination. This travel has got adventures for us all the same. True daily life waits for us on the way. Ifaty is the South-western of Madagascar’s resort destination.

14. Ifaty – Ranohira: a multifaceted region

Today, we take the way on direction to Ranohira which is at 260 km of Ifaty. The landscape is characterized by succulent plants, Plateau Mountains and grassy savanna. We will find Baobab trees, the herds of zebus, the village of people exploiting sapphire and the Mahafaly tombs. The landscape is very captivating in spite of the dry area.
Ranohira is famous because of the Isalo national park. This park is characterized by the sandstone cliff formation. Apart from the rock formations, we can also find endemic flora and faunas here.

15. Ranohira: Isalo national park

The national park of Isalo is famous because of its spectacular sandstone formations. In spite of the dry climate throughout the year, there are several water supply points in the mountains. Small brooks and rivers feed those multiple oasis in the depth of this region. All the areas are considered by the native Bara as sacred, because they bury their dead in the cliffs. Our excursion leads us in the “Natural pool”. Clean water wait for us at the end of our destination for today, we should not miss the opportunity to take a bathe in this fresh water.

16. Ranohira – Sahambavy/ Fianarantsoa: the Betsileo and their knowledge

Our current destination is Sahambavy. The way will pass by the high plateaus. We will visit “Anja” park, where we will make a little excursion. It is the area of the catta lemurs or the curly tailed lemurs.

The area is characterized by mountainous landscape. Rice fields on terrace cover the tops of the mountains. Ambalavao is known thanks to the creation of artisanal paper and silk scarves. We will visit some workshops. We take the direction to Fianarantsoa, the capital of the Betsileo tribe. This city is one of the big cities inMadagascar and was built by a queen Navy around 1872. The name “Fianarantsoa” literally means “the place where one learns good things”. As this city shelters several churches, it is called “the city of a thousand churches”.

17. Sahambavy / Fianarantsoa – Manakara: the jungle express

Many areas are not accessible by road, that’s why this train is a lifeline for local people.  The train travels in beautiful landscape as rainforest. One of the highlights of the trip is the station stops. The travelers have time to observe the daily life of the local people.

18. Manakara – Ranomafana: in to the rainforest

After visiting the city of Manakara, drive to Ranomafana. On the way, you see many rice field and spices plantation. The area produces pepper, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, litchis and more.

19. Ranomafana: Ranomafana national park

We wake up early today. After the breakfast, we will go to the national park. After the formalities, we will go looking ourselves for the local guide. He will guide us in the park during an hour excursion. He will give explanations about the animals and plants living in this national park. Above all various animal species, the high point of the exploration is “the golden bamboo lemur”.

The excursion at the national park of Ranomafana requires an excellent endurance, because the ways go up and down and even slipping while raining. Everyone needs to choose either to stay or to do the excursion according to his or her own capacities and endurances.
The national park of Ranomafana belongs to the natural world heritage of UNESCO. A zone is at the tourists’ disposal, the two others are dedicated fields of research for the naturalists. The national park of Ranomafana is classified as tropical forest.
The excursion is finished around noon.

Before the dinner, we will do nocturnal hike along the main road.

20. Ranomafana – Antsirabe: back to the highland

Today we leave the green landscape of the tropical forest. The area is characterized by mountainous landscape and rice fields. Those rice fields on terrace remind the landscapes of Indonesia.

We will stop in Ambositra, this city is recognized as the capital of the woodcuttings. We will visit artisanal shops there. We will find typical villages of the high plateaus on the narrow and sinuous roads to Antsirabe. Here we are again in Antsirabe.

21. Antsirabe – Andasibe: on the trail of lemurs

After breakfast, we will go to Andasibe passing by Antananarivo. Our current destination is the East coast of Madagascar. The journey passes by the high plateaus until the tropical forest. We will stop at the artisanal workshops on the way. In Ambatolampy, we will visit a family workshop, where the aluminium pans are manufactured in a traditional way. Besides the crafts, the local people live much on agriculture.
Before the dinner, we will have nocturnal hike along the main road.

22. Andasibe: Analamazaotra national park

The observation of the Indri- Indri is the high point of the visit of Analamazaotra .
The INDRIS are the greatest species of lemur in the world. Our park local guide will do the best to find these lemurs and show them to us. The INDRIS differ from the other species of lemurs thanks to their three various strong cries, which can be heard within a radius of 3km. Two hours excursion in the park will be rather tiring for each one of us. Other species of lemurs live here such as Diadem Sifaka, lemurs with brown and red belly. The place is also a real paradise for birds’ lovers.

After the midday rest, we will visit the private reserve of Vakôna. We have here the opportunity of mixing with the lemurs.

23. Andasibe – Akanin’ ny Nofy: Canal des Pangalanes – boat trip

After breakfast, we carry our way on to the east. The landscape is marked by the green vegetation. In Manambato, we take the boat to travel along the “channel of Pangalanes” to reach Akanin’ ny Nofy, literally translated “the Nest of dream”. “The Channel of Pangalanes” is an artificial channel, which has approximately 700 km long. It was created during the colonial period. It is particularly important for the local inhabitants for goods transportation. We get in a universe worthy of a fairy tale.

Before the dinner, we will have an evening excursion in the “Aye-aye Island”. The Aye-ayes are rare species of nocturnal lemurs. We can observe them very closely on the island.

24. Akanin’ ny Nofy: palmarium reserve

After breakfast, we will hike at the hotel park. Some species of lemurs also live here. Food’s ready! Take care to have bananas in the bag; otherwise the lemurs will not leave you quiet. A very good prospect is waiting for us on the mountain. Those who look for a haven of peace, they will be very happy finding it here.

25. Akanin’ ny Nofy – Antananarivo: Crossing the Channel of Pangalanes

Drive back to the capital.

26. Flight Back: Welcome back home.