Luxury Madagascar Beach & Wildlife Safari

Welcome to Madagascar! When you land at the Ivato International Airport, our English-speaking driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel, taking about 20 minutes. After check-in, have a good rest at the hotel or go out for a “date” with Antananarivo (aka Tana) to get your first impression of Madagascar if it’s still early. As you stroll among the crowds, you will find that the Malagasy look more like Asians than traditional Africans - that is because their ancestors who first settled on the island were Polynesians from Indonesia. For foodies, the first thing must be to try some local food. Perhaps seek out a hygienic local restaurant  (passport is a must-take when you visit restaurants and bars) and try Romazava, the national dish, to get a taste of what Madagascar is about and discover Indonesian and French influences that imply the country’s colonial history. If you are interested, you can also  have your hair plaited into dreadlocks in a bazaar, to start your African journey in earnest! 

► Things to know:
1. Madagascar does have poor sanitation. Even in the capital, Tana, heaps of garbage can be found spread across streets that reek of stench. Flies buzz around street food stands and mobile drink vendors would fill cups used before with beverage for next guests, so it’s better to enjoy meals in restaurants and eat fruits and vegetables that have been washed and peeled. Water pollution in Madagascar is also quite serious, so it is recommended to pack a filtered water bottle before your coming.
2. While having fun in downtown Antananarivo, be sure to take good care of your personal items such as wallet, phone and camera. Thieves or pickpockets may even steal them just through the car’s window when you are stuck in traffic. And it’s better to leave your other valuables like jewelry in your safe lockers at the hotel.

Accommodation: Asia & Africa Hotel - Ivato Airport, Antananarivo (4 stars) or similar

Today our driver guide will send you to the airport for a flight to Antsiranana. Upon arrival, the driver guide there will drive you directly to the famous Three Bays with pristine white beaches and crystal turquoise waters. Consisting of Sakalava Bay with excellent kitesurfing conditions, Pigeon Bays with countless pigeons and quails, and Dunes Bay with spectacular wild natural landscapes, the Three Bays are worth some time for a leisurely stroll. After that, transfer back to the hotel and check in. 

► Inside Tips:
Air Madagascar is the only domestic airline in Madagascar, and the weather may be fickle sometimes, so there are inevitably fewer flights and poor on-time performance. In case of delay or cancellation, rest assured that we will make minor adjustments to the itinerary to ensure that the following schedule will not be affected.

► Recommended Free-time Activities Around Our Handpicked Hotel：
You may have extra free time when you arrive in Antsiranana. The hotel we choose for you has a perfect location - just a few steps away from the beach, where you can enjoy some sea-based activities or just kick back and relax under palm trees. Also a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute ride on a local tuk-tuk from the hotel can get you to the downtown for a stroll. By the way, near your hotel there is a highly favored La Cambusa, an Italian-owned restaurant, which serves local food with a touch of western flavor at reasonable prices and is well decorated to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Grilled Zebu, grilled lobster and seafood pasta are all recommended. Give it a go!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Allamanda Hotel, Antsiranana (3 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will first drive to Joffre Ville, and check in at the hotel. Afterwards, visit the Amber Mountain National Park accompanied by a local park guide. The park receives abundant rainfall every year, contributing to lush tropical rainforest and rich biodiversity. As you hike through trails, you will not only appreciate refreshing natural beauty of small waterfalls, crater lakes and rivers to various directions, but also have your first meeting with Madagascar’s national treasure - lemurs, such as crowned lemurs who “wear a V-shaped black hat” and ring-tailed lemurs with black and white rings on their tails. Lemurs are afraid of cold, so they often sun themselves or huddle together for warmth with their tails intertwined - if you see this, you might not tell which tail belongs to which one. After the exploration, you will be escorted to the hotel for rest.

► Note:
1. Since the behaviors of wild animals are unpredictable, to keep them from spooking you suddenly and protect your own safety, when adventuring in the wild environment today or in the next days, keep a safe distance from any animal even if it approaches you of its own accord. 
2. Please note that lodges in Madagascar’s wild areas can be rustic. The electricity there may be cut off at night and even for few hours during the day sometimes (so do hotels, but it happens less often than lodges). Charge your devices such as mobile phone and camera immediately after check-in. Sometimes in those hotels powered by own generators, you may need to turn to the reception. If you have special electricity needs, tell our travel consultant in advance. It’s better to pack a flashlight and power banks before departure. Also don’t put too much stock in hot water supply promised by your accommodations, and it’s better to shower during the day while it is still hot.
3. It is important to know that basically nothing can be done online when travelling in Madagascar. Wi-Fi is only available in hotels’ receptions or restaurants, not rooms, and sometimes you can’t connect to it. Also your mobile phone may not be networked because of unstable signal. Handle all your business before you go.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nature Lodge, Antsiranana or similar

After breakfast, we will head to the south. First drive 2.5 hours to Tsingy Rouge (Red Tsingy). The landscape woven with an expanse of low red laterite pinnacles, formed by water erosion, is magnificent. Tens of thousands of such formations stand in this desolate land, which looks like the scene on Mars. A result of slash-and-burn agriculture, it is also a haunt for geologists to study the effects of man-made destruction on nature. After the visit, continue to drive 5 hours to Ankarana. On arrival, check into the hotel to have a good rest.

► Note on Bumpy Ride on Your Tour:
The road infrastructure is not well developed in Madagascar, or even poor - there are very few well-paved roads and almost two-thirds are dirt roads with potholes, so the road trip may unavoidably be slow and bumpy. But we will equip your tour with off-road 4WD that can conquer all kinds of difficult terrains to give you as much comfort as possible. Of course, as dust is kicked up on the roads, for your health we will also provide dust masks.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Ankarana Lodge, Antsiranana (standard bungalow) or similar

Today, our driver guide will escort you to the Ankarana National Park for a trekking adventure. It’s a park that has yet to be explored in depth, where rocky pinnacles rise from the plateau, and hidden in crevices and canyons are dense dry forests and endless underground rivers. Apart from crowned lemurs you have seen before, the endemic Sanford’s brown lemurs also await you here. With your local spot guide, you will be impressed by these lemurs’ wisdom - they coat their bodies with foul-smelling liquid secreted by millipedes to ward off mosquitoes and parasites. The rare fish-scale geckoes are also residents, and interestingly, they can shed their scales to escape from enemies’ mouth when attacked. When the sun goes down, we will drive you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Ankarana Lodge, Antsiranana (standard bungalow) or similar

This morning we will first drive about 2.5 hours to Ankify Harbor, where we will take a speed boat to Nosy Be, an attractive and popular island famous for its amazing beaches, various water sports and seafood restaurants and so on. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Then soak yourself in joyful activities in rest free time. 

► Recommended Activities for Your Free Time:
After settling in the hotel, perhaps rent a scooter (four-wheeler is also available, but it’s not as flexible and affordable as a scooter on the whole) in nearby village of Ambatoloaka to explore around this island, through faint scent of Ylang Ylang. Ride along the coast to enjoy stunning seascapes; pass Mahatsinjo Village for a photo with a giant Banyan tree; stop in Helle Ville for a city walk and then reach in Ylang Ylang plantation to learn about perfume making… Don’t be too surprised if you happen to see a zebu leisurely strolling on the road and all local vehicles stop to make way for it - that’s because zebu plays a sacred role in Madagascar’s culture and the Malagasy worship and respect zebu greatly. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: L'heure Bleue, Nosy Be - standard bungalow (4 stars) or similar

We won't arrange any activities for you today. You can just relax at the seaside beach or take part in some activities at your preference.

► Recommended Activities for Your Free Time:
Nosy Be is one of the best diving destinations in the world, and with rich biodiversity in the underwater world and sea temperature above 25℃ all year round, it is simply a natural aquarium! Snorkel a few meters off the coast to dance with countless colorful tropical fish! Mild and friendly devilfishes and whale sharks also love to rollick in the nearby waters, and we wish you luck encountering and swimming past them. If you are interested in these activities, contact the hotel to make your reservation at your own expense. Of course, if you travel between July and September, when humpback whales come to give birth, a tailor-made whale watching tour is available as well! Nosy Be Island is worth your time!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: L'heure Bleue, Nosy Be - standard bungalow (4 stars) or similar

Our driver guide will transfer you to the airport for a flight to Antananarivo today. If the flight is scheduled for the late afternoon or evening, take your last chance to relax on the beach in front of the hotel. And if it lands early in Antananarivo, after check-in at the hotel, go check out its local markets, where you may find many novelties, such as woodcarvings of baobabs or lemurs, trinkets imported from China, bananas longer than your forearm, all cheap as chips! There is also a second-hand clothing market, where you'll be shocked to find used underwear for sale. By the way, it is sorrowful to know that two thirds of Malagasies still live under the poverty line, with an average monthly income of around USD 70 - 80 / MGA 320,000 - 370,000.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Serviced Apartments Antananarivo City Centre (4 stars)

After breakfast, the driver guide will escort you to Andasibe, about a 4-hour drive away. On the way we will have a stop to visit Reserve Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic, where you will spot more rare species of chameleons, frogs and lemurs, such as sifakas and common brown lemurs. Here you may witness a critically endangered native frog species called golden mantella, whose bright orange bodies make them easy to be spotted. As animals here are raised in captivity, you can be close to them and even touch or feed them under professional guidance. Then continue driving to Andasibe and check into the hotel upon arrival.

► Recommended Nighttime Activities:
The paid night tour organized by the hotel is not recommended as it is a bit difficult to see the nocturnal animals. If you’re interested, take a flashlight and try your luck in tracing the night lemurs, crawlers and lizards in the nearby area on your own. In the list of the ugliest animals in the world, the aye-aye we are likely to see tonight is always near the top. Its small bat-like head with big ears and fearsome long fingers does not make for a cute first impression. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see it rapidly tap on the trunk for insects with its distinctive feeding tool - the middle finger.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vakona Forest Lodge, Andasibe (3 stars) or similar

This morning, we will visit the Analamazaotra National Park, the preserved habitat of wild lemurs and a highlight of eastern Madagascar. Prepare to greet grey bamboo lemur, red-fronted lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur and famous indri indri (the existing largest lemur species) here. Indri indri is usually heard before it is seen, featuring a rhythmed cry that you can hear a mile away. Its crying rhythm, which would gradually slow down, is similar to what we human call “ritardando” in the classical music. Here you may also encounter fossa, the top predator in Madagascar, which is a great natural enemy of lemurs. After that, we will continue our tour back to Antananarivo and overnight there.

► Recommended Restaurant in Andasibe:
Before the long car ride to Antananarivo, it is suggested that you have a quick lunch at Vane Resto, sitting right in the Analamazaotra National Park. If you are interested, your guide will be happy to show you the way. You can dine on either the ground floor or the tourist-friendly top floor, from which you could take in forest views and spot occasional lemurs. The restaurant mainly serves moreish Malagasy, Indian and Chinese cuisines, offering good value for money. One of the must-orders here is the Pepper Sauce Zebu Steak made from a Malagasy breed of cattle known for a hump on the shoulders. Exquisite food and warm service also await you!

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Serviced Apartments Antananarivo City Centre (4 stars)

Today is the last day of your Madagascar safari tour. In the morning, we will take you to the UNESCO-listed Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, the remains of King Andrianampoinimerina’s palace perched on hills on the northern outskirts of Antananarivo. Follow our guide to learn about the history of Imerina Dynasty (lasted from the 16th to the 19th century) by appreciating the palace architecture and their interior furnishings, cemeteries and sacrificial buildings. The Malagasy cherish this history so much that they have the relic printed on the 500 MGA note. After the tour, we will transfer you to the airport. It’s essential to arrive at the airport three hours prior to your departure, so remember to ask your driver to send you there as early as possible. 

Meals: Breakfast

► Let Us Customize Your Tour for More Charms of Madagascar!
Except for the playful lemurs and pristine beaches, Madagascar has more attractive wonders. The world-famous Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava owns hundreds of giant baobabs as the name implies, which create a breathtaking view especially at sunset; Sainte Marie is truly a whale watching mecca from July to September; the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, with its unique karst stone forest, is even more spectacular… If you have some extra vacation time, why not go check them all out? Always feel free to contact us if you want to extend you tour. We will work diligently to provide you with a perfect tailor-made tour!