TREKKING & HIKING, IN DISCOVERING MADAGASCAR

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo

Arrival in the Capital of the big isle, called Antananarivo which means “City of the thousand soldiers”. It is actually called Tana, to make it court and easier to pronounce. Three millions of inhabitants, a real melting of many different ethnical groups are living here. Indeed the all 18 existing ethnic group in Madagascar are seen here. Transfer to the Hotel.

Day 2: Antananarivo > Andasibe National Park

After a brief city tour in the capital, we go north-eastern to reach the Reserve of Analamazaotra & National Park of Andasibe. Along high gorges and plains undulating, the journey to the east is more wooded because of abundant precipitation. After lunch, visit of the private Park of Vakona where we’ll meet our very first lemurs. This is a real good contact since we will shake hands with them! Overnight in hotel

Day 3: Andasibe Reserve

Visit of the Reserve: The forest of the Mantadia Park accommodates a lot of animals which assure their perpetuity at the same time. 108 species of birds are known in the park, of which some play a role in the survival of plants like Terpsiphone mutata. We can also find 14 species of lemurs in there, 51 species of reptiles Boa of which the famous Boa manditra and 84 species of amphibian. The forests of Mantadia are also the domains of the lianas and épiphytes as the orchids, the mosses and the ferns. The orchids are very varied with more than a hundred species inventoried. Some varieties of plants have been introduced to Mantadia. They adapt well and managed to constitute a little abundant homogeneous formation. Picnic Lunch.

Day 4: Andasibe > Antsirabe

After breakfast, we drive back to Antananarivo and will have another park visit on the way where we’ll discover more closer some animals that actually deserve to be seen and should not be missed while having holidays in Madagascar, the “Peyreiras Park”. There we will see all the different kinds of chameleons, the biggest & the smallest in the world. But another species of animal will be seen too such as, crocodile, snikes, butterfly (the senventh biggest in the world)… After lunch in Antananarivo, we drive on southward, going through the high plateau characterized by some dozens of traditional villages with red-sol made houses. Before reaching the hotel, some visits are to be done to know more about Antsirabe such as the zebu’s corn workshop, the miniature where little design of cars are made from used aluminium box of milk or others…

Day 5: Antsirabe > Ranomafana

Before driving on, we’ll be taken to a famous lapidary where semi-precious and precious stones of the whole Madagascar are exposed (Possibility of buying). At Ambositra, the Capital of Art-crafts, we’ll have lunch. After it, we’ll go through workshop to workshop to get some souvenirs. To notice that the works (wood carving) of the Zafinamiry people are considered as a World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO. Continuation to Ranomafana National Park. Transfer to hotel

Day 6: Ranomafana National Park

The whole day will be dedicated to the visit of the Ranomafana National ParK. Ranomafana, a whole foresty park, spreads on 41,601 ha. It was classified World Natural Heritage of the Atsinanana in 2007. It shelters a big wealth in endemic biodiversity but in danger. We can see the rare species there and seriously threatened lemurs (The Varibolomena or Hapalemur aureus, the Prolemur simus, the Propithecus edwardsi, the Varibolomadinika or Small Hapalemur and so on...). The park is also the genetic reservoir of some rare and endemic plant species. It is browsed by many rivers that are the affluents of the “Namorona” stream. Picnic lunch. Overnight in hotel.

Day 7: Ranomafana > Camp Catta

Drive back to the national Road n°7 to reach Fianarantsoa, the capital of the “Betsileo” tribe, famous for rice cultivation & the production of wine. After about 50 Km from Fianaranstoa, we’ll reach Ambalavao a city that has built its fame upon “Papier Antemoro” fabrication. Antemoro Paper is a sheet which is made from a bark of a special wood from the eatern part of the isle. The paper is covered & decorated by real flower. This is a Malagasy heritage from their ancestor Arabs that accoasted the shore of Madagascar many years ago, around 1500. After an hour visit of the workshop, we drive on to Camp catta about 2 hours. The landscape is just wonderful, predominated by rocky mountains. Night in a lovely & cute bungalows!

Day 8, 9 & 10:  Trekking to Peak Boby

Adventure & Trekking to the second highest Peak of Madagascar (Boby Peak, 2658 meters of altitude). The first reachable Peak by humankind in the island. A very good adventure accompagned by local people. The nights under tents & the diner will be animated by a local, folkorical music.

Day 11: Camp catta > Ranohira

After a long and tiring trek, we’ll have rest in the car till Ranohira where another National Park is awaiting for us. Night in hotel.

Day 12: Isalo National Park

Today is another whole day hiking. We will discover the “Malagasy Colorado”, a lunear scenery. We will have the impression like we’re finding ourselves in one of Clint Eastwoods’ film in the Farwest. Break time in the natural swimming pool, and Picnic lunch with the lemurs as waitress for they are always present when we are having lunch, to pick up some rest of the fruits we’ve eaten. Isalo is the park of the Big South. This massive uniforme of the Jurassic era is the most visited park of Madagascar. Kingdom of Queen of the Isalo, cradle of a particular wild nature and an exceptional landscape, the lovers of the big escapes will be seduced by this Park. And a sunset seen through the window of the Isalo is a post card that deserves the detour.

Day 13: Isalo N.P > Tulear > Ifaty

After an early breakfast, we continue our tour southward, acrossing the dry& spiny forest, the baobabs small villages. We will be driving through the little villages of the “Saphires seekers” reputed for its characters of texas! Then arrive at Tulear where we’re gonna have lunch. After lunch we drive on to the southwestern to Ifaty, a little village of fisherman. Ifaty is known for the beaty of its beach & its seascapes! Overnight in hotel.

Day 14: Ifaty beach

Free day: Today you can do whatever you want; lying along the beach or having some tour around the village or snorkeling to discover what hides the sea of Ifaty!

Day 15: Ifaty > Tulear > Tana     

Today, we can have a “grasse –matinee” for our flight is only after noon, however the lunch must be taken earlier to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the embarkation. Once arrived at Tana, possibility of a Day Use in a hotel near the Airport or directly to international flight.

Day 16: Flight Tana – Paris

Very early in the morning, we must be at the international airport of Ivato for the registration.