We hope you enjoyed your international flight. We will be at the airport to welcome you and transfer you to your hotel, where you will stay overnight. Let’s start by learning a new word: “Tongasoa”, read it Toongasoo, which means Welcome. Our tour will begin in Antananarivo, where are we will depart by car, but before catching a hotel we will visit in the Ivato crocodile farm, also called “Croc Farm”. Spanning three hectares, this lush green oasis is ideal for you to relax.

From the “Croc Farm” we will transfer you to your hotel, where you will stay overnight. Do you want a piece of advice? Choose a light meal for dinner. You will feel more comfortable during your overnight stay at your hotel. In the evening after dinner, over cocktails we discuss our program. From the first day to the last day our experienced and professional guide and the driver will be next to you, so don’t worry about it, they are near to make sure you have everything you need. We are leaving tomorrow.

After breakfast, during the course of the morning you travel to Tsarasaotra which means bird's island, a small green oasis in the north of the city. The park is a refuge for many birds that can be easily watched and photographed here – among them 14 endangered species that only occur in Madagascar.

After visiting Tsarasaotra Park, we will drive along a scenic road to Ambohitantely Special Reserve (3 h). Here the adventure really starts. Ambohitantely Special Reserve protects the last of the original highlands forest. It is covered with natural forest and grassy plains and is known for its astonishing populations of palms. It is inhabited by 12 mammal species including the common brown lemur, the brown mouse lemur and the eastern woolly lemur (the latter two being nocturnal). It is a great location to see birds – with over 48 species including the Madagascar crested Ibis.

This afternoon we will spend the time hiking through this special reserve.

We will spend the morning trekking this reserve again before heading back to our car for our transfer to Ankarafantsika NP. We will cross the beautiful hilly landscapes. The rice fields are still numerous and the traditional pise houses well established. There are plenty of lakes, many waterfalls, fed by the rains of the moment. We are arriving in the country Sakalava.

Along the journey, we will make stop in Maevatanana for lunch and some visits. "The beautiful village, the village where life is easy". Ancient buildings of the beginning of the 20th century century are very pleasant. Here we will visit the Antanimbaryo market. Gold seekers tend to come together at this market on the south of the city, where purchasers coming from Tana, but also from the United States and from Thailand negotiate on the sale of this precious metal. Do not forget to bargain if you want to buy souvenirs for your loved ones. After a gold fever we will commit the less lucrative but surely not less thrilling activity to watching the crocodiles from the river. The area of Maevatanana was once a favorite place for hunting crocodiles (up to 5000 skins per year), today this hunting is forbidden...

In addition we will stop in the village Kandreho. This small village is renowned for the manufacture of raffia fabrics using special printing techniques ("lay masaka" that recall those of the Sunda Islands). To get some stunning photos, we will stop at the bridge over the Betsiboka Rapids. The red waters masses of the Betsiboka River at a place where some tumultuous rapids form. During the wet season foam usually reaches the bridge.

In the evening we will arrive in the Ankarafantsika NP. Here you are able to take night walks to see some of the nocturnal species which are particularly prevalent in this park (including mouse lemur – the smallest primate in the world).

We will set off after breakfast to explore this forest on foot, a superb, fauna rich day excursion. We will take a picnic lunch to have on the trails in the national park. There are 11 very good maintained trails, which will enable a deep glimpse into the park’s ecosystems.

Ankarafantsika National Park, set on Lac Ravelobe, is a mixture of deciduous forests and wetlands. This is major ecotourism site. It is known for its lakes and for being a haven for lemurs and endemic birds.  It is covered in varied fauna, mainly herbaceous and endemic woody plants.  It is the home to the beautiful Coquerel’s sifaka as well as 7 other species of lemurs (including western woolly, fat tailed dwarf lemur, mongoose lemurs) and exceptional birds (including roufous vanga and fish eagle).

There is also an option of a flat bottomed boat trip on the lake, which is perfect for birdwatching.

After dinner, we will have the option of setting out on a night hike again to see some of the nocturnal inhabitants of the forest.

Another day to explore this forest on foot, a superb and fauna rich day in the Ampijoroa area.

Ankarafantsika National Park, and especially the Ampijoroa area, is one of the best sites for first-time visitors to Madagascar. Accommodations are good and lemur-watching is easy. With a little bit of luck one can see all eight lemur species in an afternoon, an evening, and a morning. The word itself means something like “thorny mountains”, which aims at the famous canyon of the park. Besides this, Ankarafantsika is called “the kingdom of birds“, because it offers various great possibilities to spot endemic birds.

The Ampijoroa area within Ankarafantsika is also the site of the world’s most important captive breeding project for endangered Madagascar turtles and tortoises, including the ploughshare tortoise or angonoka (Asterochelys yniphora), the flat-tailed tortoise or kapidolo (Pyxis planicauda), and the Madagascar big-headed sideneck turtle or rere (Erymnochelys madagascariensis). The ploughshare tortoise is one of the most critically endangered tortoises in the world, and this is presently the only breeding site for it outside its natural range.

Today we will set off early to Marovoay. The former capital of the Boeny kingdom, Marovoay enjoys an exceptional location on the banks of the delta of the Betsiboka river just ideally connected with the Mozambique Channel. It is also the second largest rice producing region of Madagascar. Never ending plains are irrigated by the abundant waters of the estuary. Marovoay means: "where there are many crocodiles”. Indeed: the rivers abound many Nile crocodiles and can be easily seen. Hunting of crocodiles was in the early twentieth century an important activity in the region, but fortunately for these big reptiles this practice is no longer in use.

A trip plan: The market zebu (Friday and Thursday); Town tour and visit various markets (crafts, vegetables, fish); Climbing to a lookout site for a great view of the plains and rice fields; Simple lunch in a local inn (hotel Anjara).

In the afternoon, we will depart for canoe tour on the Betsiboka river which flows into the Mozambique Channel to reach Mahajanga within a few hours. The course of the river is punctuated with islets which shelter an important avifauna. This lively waterway offers scenic performances.

Breakfast at the hotel in 06-30 and departure 07-30 for the Sacred lake of Mangatsa with its exceptionally large carp and eels, white lemurs and crocodiles in captivity, charm guaranteed… This sacred lake with transparent waters is the home of some of the biggest goldfish you will ever see. Lake Mangatsa is a sacred place and even politicians come usually here to seek the advice of the ancestors. We will observe and attract the fish at the lake with a piece of bread that you will throw in the lake.

As soon as we get hungry, we will enjoy the nice food at the lake’s restaurant.

Then, go in the direction to the Les Grottes de Belobaka. Less impressive than the caves of Anjohibe (80 km from Majunga), the caves of Belobaka are 11 km from Majunga and are accessible all year round. The name Belobaka literally means "where there is a lot of tobacco", lobaka meaning tobacco in the Sakalava dialect.

In addition to the caves, the neighboring villages are also worth a visit.

In the morning we continue our trip to New protected area Antrema. Breakfast at the hotel in 05-30 and departure 06-00 for Katsepy Antrema by speedboat crossing Bombetoka Bay.

Visit plan: The sifakas of the village of the Prince and the arboretum; Mangrove Restoration Area; Sahariaka lake in the heart of the palm savanna, it is an ideal place for the bird watcher; the fishing village of Ambanjabe; Visit of the mangroves of the marine park.

After lunch, prepared by the local community, we will cross of a bridge over the mangrove and stroll to the beach for Katsepy lighthouse and a ride to the fishing village down with the blue circus, nestled between sandy beaches that invites guests to a complete idleness. Apart from walking to the lighthouse (where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Bombetoka Bay) or visiting the nearby Bay Boeny for a different landscape, there is nothing more to do here than laying on a hammock, swimming and enjoying the excellent meals prepared by Ms Chabaud, who is supposed to be one of the best cook in the region.

We’re so happy you enjoyed yesterday. This morning is another opportunity to wander around and enjoy the sea, the sun and swiming. Then, we head toward Soalala to reach Baly Bay (Baie de Baly) National Park, a unique and exceptional area, with the amazing opportunity to watch staggering landscape all along the way. Nevertheless it can be a rough journey, the transfer to Soalala takes from 4 to 6 hours depending on the road condition.

The Park is very rich in terms of biodiversity since it includes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, such as dense dry forests, mangroves, rivers and lakes, white-sand beaches, dunes and impressive coral reefs.

In Soalala we will be joined by a local guide and porters for the discovery of the park for two days with the bivouac for one night. Our luggage will remain in the hotel in Soalala under the security of our driver.

After breakfast, we will leave the hotel early in the morning to cross the bay by motor boat to find the rare wildlife.

Are you keen to explore the Baly Bay (Baie de Baly) National Park? Today we will make amazing discoveries. The Angonoky circuit allows us to discover the star of the Park, the very threatened ploughshare tortoise as well as some lemurs and some outstanding birds of this park. Trust our tour guide. Just enjoy strolling around, don’t think about dinner. We’re taking care of it at the bivouac where you will stay overnight.

After a very early morning birding, we will have a hearty breakfast.

Today we will continue to explore this wonderful nook of nature located in the back little-studied part of Madagascar. We will try to track down and watch as much as possible species from 13 mammal species, among them 8 of lemur, such as the Decken’s sifaka and the western bamboo lemurs, which share their habitat with 120 bird species and more than 35 reptiles, such as chameleons and terrestrial tortoises.

This stroll is very productive for birding and other nature observations. Green, hawksbill, Madagascar big-headed and loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the beaches, whilst dolphins and dugongs swim in the swallow bay waters. With a little luck, the mysterious dugong will be at the rendezvous with us during our swimming.

About 17-00 we will board a boat and go back to Soalala.

Today we head to Tsingy de Namoroka National Park, a true sanctuary of nature and deserves to stay there at least 48h.

The park main attractions are of course the tsingy formations and the rich wildlife. This chaos of limestone rocks carved for thousands of years by rain and wind offers over 2000 ha a succession of caves and diaclases (narrow passages). On its sharp points grow baobabs and rare pachypodiums. It's a bit like visiting the more-famous Tsingy de Bemaraha, but without the crowds. Trails weave among the rocks, and rope bridges cross the canyons.

The rich wildlife offers a perfect counterpoint to the stunning landscapes.

This morning we head to Mahavavy-Kinkony Complex. Classified Ramsar site, the complex covers a total area of 300,000 ha and comprises 23 lakes including Lake Kinkony, which is the second largest lake in Madagascar. The site is ideal for watching rare birds of Madagascar. Visiting this complex is a must during your stay in the region of Mahajanga (Majunga).

After lunch in Mitsinjo and after a small digestive break, we will drive the way to Namakia on our jeep for a relatively short time depending on the state of the road. Then, we will go the harbour in outskirts of the town and ride a local pirogue with a small engine 20 CV for birding toward Ampitsopitsoka fishing village, which is the place for shore bird; and the endemic Bernier's Teal. This village is a favorite place to observe migratory birds and pink flamingos (September December).

During our slow 4-hour descent along the delta of the Mahavavy Delta, we will track down birds, especially near villages such as Tsiandrora, Belovo and Vavan'Ampitsopitsoka. We will land in Ampitsopitsoka at about 16-00 in the heart of the very hospitable local population, to immerse ourselves in the country of Sakalava. Lunch and it's time to enjoy a well-deserved rest on a beautiful beach.

Target species: Bernier’s Teal, Namaqua Dove, Turtle Dove, Love-birds, Madagascar Sandgrouse, Comb Duck, Bee- Eater, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill, Sand Piper, Crab Plover, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Madagascar Harrier, Hotentot Teal, Kittlitz’s plover.

After breakfast, at about 8-00 we will visit the Ampitsopitsoka village to learn more about the daily life of these hospitable people of Sakalava.

After lunch, no later than 12-30 we will go on a bird watching near the villages of Vavan'Antsatra / Betaintsamaka, Doany Kassimo, Aranta Be/Mangadrabo, where the birds abound. We plan to come back to 16-30, after you will have free time to relax on the beach.

Dinner and animation at 19-00.

After breakfast at 8-00 we set off on a trip to Port Namakia by a pirogue. The trip takes 1 hour. We get into our jeep and drive straight to Antsoheribory and Boeny Aranta.

Antsoheribory, a small sandy islet, an oasis of freshness - is a small corner of paradise. Although it is home to many tourist attractions, this island measuring 2 kilometers long for 70 meters wide is still unknown. It is rich in fauna and flora, among others, the birds and marine fish and vegetation marked by the dominance of the baobabs. The ruins of the former home of Arab sultans erected on the island also include culture to immortalize the scene attractions. All this is very beautiful! Let's explore this island!

This unique destination still deserves to be discovered, its rich flora and fauna. The local vegetation is, indeed, dominated by the presence of the baobabs. The two most identified varieties are: the za Andansonia, as well as the large Pachypodium rytenbergianum Digitata. There are countless species of birds and fish common and endemic.

The diversity of marine fauna is also one of the attractions of Antsoheribory. Actually, the waters have wonderful coral reefs, so favourable for the practice of diving and snorkeling. In the northern part of the island, the seabed is particular: we will meet different fish - the Mutts, sardines, parrotfish, rays, red mullet, moray eels, exocets, etc.

Today you will proceed to your transfer to the airport and prepare yourself for a safe flight to Antananarivo. Departure: 14:05 or 17-55, Fri, Sat, Mon. Transfer in your hotel in Tana.

Excursion "Tana-city" and Goodbye-dinner in the cozy atmosphere of the Le Restaurant «La Varangue».

We also can make visit the Chocolaterie Robert factory and Chocolatière boutique. Chocolaterie Robert is a traditional cocoa producer and chocolate maker using Trinitario and Criollo cocoa beans organically grown in the Sambirano region (Ambanja). The result is an irresistible range of pralines and chocolate bars made by ancient recipes containing only natural Malagasy ingredients. Prize-winner "GOLDEN BEAN AWARD 2017".

Alternatively, we can make visit The PALA. The PALA jewelers is a gem trader with a reputation for its premium quality gemstones and handcrafted jewelry design. Established in 1922, PALA is one of the original gem traders of Indian heritage to have settled on Madagascar. Today, the PALA Group is in its third generation of business.

Today your tour ends. A transfer back to the airport Ivato. We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Madagascar. Experienced travelers are used to goodbyes, but that doesn't mean they get any easier. When the time comes to depart the wonderful Madagascar, we wouldn't be surprised if you were already planning a return trip!