8 Days Madagascar Hiking, Wildlife and Beach Safari
8 Days Madagascar Hiking, Wildlife and Beach Safari
Madagascar is a diversity hot spot, offering a unique kind of safari. You won’t see the ‘normal’ safari animals here – there are no elephants or lions. Instead, the island is home to over 100 species of lemurs, as well as a wealth of reptiles, amphibians and birds. Most of these animals are endemic to Madagascar. Of particular interest are the chameleons, which vary greatly in color, shape and size.
Safari highlights
- Amber mountain NP
- Ankarana Reserve
- Nosy Be
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo and transfer to your lodge for relaxation
On arrival in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel close to the airport. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure at the pool.
Day 2: Domestic Flight from Antananarivo to Diego Suarez and transfer to Amber Mt NP
After breakfast you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight up north to Diego Suarez. There you will be met by your guide who will stay with you for the whole tour and drive about 30 to the west, to Amber Mountain National Park.
Day 3: Full-day walks in Amber Mountain National Park
Today you will go on a full-day walking tour in Amber Mountain National Park. The terrain is not very difficult the national park offers great biodiversity: a huge tropical forest with endemic fauna and flora, luxuriant vegetation and many waterfalls and volcanic lakes. The climate is perfect for walks, the cool air refreshes after the heat of the lowlands.
A big number of animal species inhabit the National Park. 25 species of mammals, among them 6 carnivores such as the ring-tailed mongoose and the fossa, and 8 lemurs: Sanford’s brown lemur, crowned lemur, lesser bamboo lemur and are five species of nocturnal lemurs. Besides these forests are the home of 75 different bird species (35 of which are endemic and even locally endemic, like the Amber Mountain rock-thrush ), 60 reptiles, such as tiny stump-tailed chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos and snakes, 35 frogs and more than 40 butterflies. Return to the lodge for dinner at your own expense.
Day 4: Drive from Amber National Park to Ankarana Reserve
Drive on to Ankarana Reserve, pass the tsingy rouge. The drive will take about 4 hours and at arrival you will check-in at Ankarana Lodge, only a short drive from Ankarana Reserve, in the afternoon you can go on one of the short self-guided walks from the lodge or relax at the pool.
Day 5: Full-day hike in Ankarana Reserve
Today you will explore Ankarana Reserve, which was created in 1956 and overs an area of 182, 5 km². It is a spectacularly eroded limestone fortress of sharp ridges, patches of dense tropical jungle, deciduous forest, deep caves and canyons (the biggest underground network of Africa) and rushing rivers. With an annual rainfall of almost 2000 mm, the underlying rocks undergo heavy erosion producing amazing karst topography, being it’s most known result the fantastically eroded limestone spires, known as “tsingy”. This reserve contains one of the highest densities of primates of any forest in the world: one of the largest populations of crowned lemurs. Sanford’s brown lemur, perrier’s black lemur, northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs, ring-tailed mongoose, fossa and more. Almost 100 bird species, 50 reptiles and 10 frogs cohabit in the Park. Inside the labyrinth of caves live 14 bat species, local endemic blind shrimps and the world’s only known cave-living crocodiles.
Day 6: Boat transfer from Ankarana reserve to Nosy Be
After breakfast drive to Ankify and boat transfer to Nosy Be. The journey will take about 4 hours and you will have the afternoon at leisure at the beautiful Ravintsara Wellness Hotel, which features an amazing pool area, lovely bay views and of course a lot of wellness.
Day 7: Full day relaxation at Nosy Be
Day at leisure, optional activities are available such as diving, snorkelling, a visit to Lokobe Reserve, or a cruise to one of the surrounding islands. You can also take a driver and explore beaches and the capital Hell Ville with some lively market.
Day 8: Departure
Today is the end of our tour and you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Trip includes
- Accommodation
- Vehicle transfers
- Boat transfers
- All activities included on your final itinerary
- Guides on activities
- Domestic flights
Trip excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Madagascar tourist Visa
- Tips for guides and hotels
When to book this safari package
We recommend booking this package 9 month to 1 year in advance.
Best time to visit Madagascar for a safari
We recommend travelling in November as it’s the best time to see wildlife in Madagascar and the weather is more favouring.
