6-Day Wildlife and Birding Photography

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Antananarivo

Upon arrival in Antananarivo, our team will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Over a coffee, our primatologist guide will introduce you to the itinerary and explain the main highlights of your birdwatching journey. As international arrival usually late in the evening, staying close to the airport will allow you to rest sooner and be ready for an early start the following morning.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

Nosy Manga Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Antananarivo (City)

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+11 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Antananarivo – Tsarasaotra – Andasibe

Our journey begins with a visit to Tsarasaotra Park, a private wetland refuge and an excellent place to observe Madagascar’s waterbirds. Look for species such as the Madagascar Pond Heron, Meller’s Duck and Malagasy Kingfisher. After the morning in Tsarasaotra, drive east along the RN2 towards Andasibe, covering approximately 145 km in 4–5 hours. In the evening, explore a community reserve on a guided night walk, searching for Madagascar Nightjar, Collared Nightjar, Crested Coua and nocturnal lemurs. Depending on conditions, you may also encounter owls, frogs, chameleons and other nocturnal species.

Main Destination:

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Best Time To Visit April, May, October and November (Best weather, less rain)

High Season July, August and December holidays (The park is busy)

Best Weather April, May, October and November

Wildlife in Andasibe-Mantadia NP

Indri Common

Common
brown lemur Common

Other
chameleons Common

Leaf-tailed geckos Common

Diademed sifaka Occasional

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Red-bellied
lemur Occasional

Grey
bamboo lemur Occasional

Mouse lemurs Occasional

Sportive lemurs Occasional

Parson's
chameleon Occasional

Painted mantella Occasional

Black-and-white
ruffed lemur Rare

Madagascar tree boa Rare

Fossa Very Rare

Activities:

• Night nature hike/walk

Accommodation:

Mantadia Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located outside Andasibe-Mantadia NP

+6 Photos

+5 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Analamazaotra National Park – Maromizaha

After breakfast, begin an early morning exploration of Analamazaotra National Park, one of the best-known rainforest areas in eastern Madagascar. Listen for the distinctive calls of the Indri and search the forest canopy and understory for Madagascar cuckoo-roller, Blue Vanga and other endemic species. Later, continue approximately 15 km to the Maromizaha Reserve, an important high-altitude rainforest corridor. With patience, you can look for specialties including Nuthatch Vanga, Velvet Asity and Rufous-headed Ground-roller, while enjoying the exceptional biodiversity of this forest.

Main Destination:

Analamazaotra National Park (Andasibe-Mantadia NP)

Activities:

• Morning specialized birding (with a professional birding guide)

Accommodation:

Mantadia Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located outside Andasibe-Mantadia NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Manambato – Palmarium

This morning, travel to Mantadia National Park, located approximately 20 km north of Andasibe. The journey follows a rough track into a beautiful primary rainforest where you can search for endemic birds, ground-rollers, lemurs, reptiles and other forest species. After the morning exploration, continue east for approximately 125 km, around 3.5 hours, to Manambato. From there, take a boat across Lake Rasoabe and along the Pangalanes Canal for approximately 1.5 hours before reaching the Palmarium Reserve.

Main Destination:

Palmarium Reserve

Best Time To Go August to November (Less rainfall)

High Season July, August and December holidays (It gets very busy)

Best Weather

Activities:

• Morning game drive (normal 4x4 vehicle) & afternoon boat trip

Accommodation:

Palmarium Hotel

• Mid-range lodge located inside Palmarium Reserve

+8 Photos

+7 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Palmarium

Palmarium Spend the day immersed in the littoral (coastal) forest and lake margins of Palmarium. The bird life here differs significantly from the inland rainforests, offering sightings of the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Madagascar Harrier-hawk, and Madagascar Green Sunbird. You can explore the reserve’s trails on foot or take a boat along the Pangalanes Canal to look for Madagascar Fish Eagles and various herons. As dusk falls, you may visit a nearby islet to observe the rare Aye-aye lemur, often accompanied by the sightings of Madagascar Nightjars.

Main Destination:

Palmarium Reserve

Activities:

• Afternoon walking safari (with an armed guide)

Accommodation:

Palmarium Hotel

• Mid-range lodge located inside Palmarium Reserve

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Palmarium - Mantasoa - Antananarivo

The final day involves a long return journey to the capital, covering a total distance of approximately 260 km. After the morning boat transfer back to the mainland and a drive toward the highlands. Then, we will stop at the Mantasoa Reserve. This area features a man-made lake and a mix of pine and indigenous forest, providing a different ecological niche where you can spot the Madagascar Wagtail and Malagasy Kestrel. After this final birding break, we will complete the remaining drive back to Tana, arriving in the late afternoon directly to the airport for the international departure.

Main Destination:

Antananarivo (City)

Activities:

• No wildlife-viewing activities on this day

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.