10-Days Cost: $ 1,620.00 Single Supplement: $150.00 * - Available throughout the year with 4+ traveling together.

Detailed Itinerary: DOWNLOAD (PDF-document)

Madgascar: yes, it’s as romantic as its name, and fascinating for the natural world enthusiast, with lemurs, tenrecs, chameleons and boas, and many endemic birds. In the floral domain there is dense rainforest, bizarre spiny desert, dry deciduous western forest, fabulous orchids, and seven species of baobab trees. The Magalasy are a gentle, sensitive people with a fascinating Afro-Indonesian culture. Making contact with them in markets, small villages or on the bank of the river is a pleasure.

The Mahajilo and Mania Rivers join near the town of Miandrivazo to form the Tsiribihina River, western Madagacar’s biggest river. We spend five days on the tranquil Tsiribihina River. Our inflatable rafts are propelled downstream by a small outboard motor on the 140 km journey from Masiakampy to Tsimafana. We make stops for forest walks, birdwatching, and exploring the streams coming off the Bermaraha with their waterfalls, blue-water grottos and travertine chutes.

Lemurs found along the river include the red-fronted lemure and Verreaux’s safaka, with mouse lemurs and lepilemurs spottable by night. We pass fruit-bat roosts and sandstone cliff whose ledges and caves attract peregrine falcons and barn owls. We enjoy a wide variety of endemic Malagasy bird life throughout our journey.

We travel south to Antsirabe. The road passes through the central highlands inhabited by the Merina people, whose terraced rice fields fill the valleys and whose wonderful tall brick houses dot the countryside.

The next morning, after shopping for fruits and vegetables in the colorful market, in Antsirabe, the road heads west. We travel through the increasingly barren grassy hills, drop over the Bongolava escarpment and descend to the lowland town of Miandrivazo. We stay in the simple and charming bungalows of Chez la Reine Rasalimo. Next day we drive to the river, rig the boats and head downstream.

After the river trip we enjoy the unique ecosystem of the deciduous Kirindy Forest and after passing through the famous Avenue of the Baobabs we spend two days on the beach at the Mozambique Channel near Morondava.

A perfect family vacation, this unique get-away is designed those living in East Africa or already visiting the region. A two and a half-hour flight from Nairobi brings us to Antananarivo and the adventure begins. Leisurely paced, all inclusive and wonderfully catered, our time in Madagascar provides a glimpse and a true ‘taste’ of this little known and truly amazing part of the world.

Tour Features Include:

Tsirbihina River More accessible, a little less remote, but still fantastic, with some incredibly beautiful pools and waterfalls on its numerous tributaries. An excellent calm water rafting experience, our five day float on the Tsiribihina River exposes us to Malagasy life on the river. A truly comfortable camping experience, we enjoy sandy, barefoot campsites, and gorgeous weather.

The Kirindy Forest The 25,000 acre Kirindy Forest has the greatest density and diversity of primates in the world and probably the best western Reserve for seeing Madagascar’s endemic dry forest species such as the giant jumping rat. The forest is dominated by majestic baobab trees. It is home to the world’s smallest primate as well as dozens of species of amphibians and reptiles (and no poisonous snakes). As well, the Kirindy Forest boasts more than 60 species of birds and eight lemur species.

Morondava: Situated on the Mozambique Channel, Morondava, is a gem, with a long sandy beach (safe swimming at any tide) offering opportunities for good body surfing sets. You can go sailing in an outrigger canoe or paddle in the mangroves, stroll in town, and stay late at the beachside clubs. It’s an indescribable delight to be on the coast, facing west to the sunset, breathing that crisp dry air that makes you feel so good. Excellent seafood may be washed down with a cold Three Horses beer or Lazan ‘l Betsileo vin gris. The peaceful beach front hotel, the Chez Maggie, is our home for two nights.