Essences of the South

Scheduled flight departure to Madagascar. Overnight on board.

Arrival at Antananarivo International Airport, the capital of Madagascar, and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Andasibe National Park. Today, the tour will take us through a landscape of rice paddies to the tropical forests of this region inhabited by the Bezanozano and Betsimisaraka ethnic groups. We will be able to see the traveler's tree, also known as the famous ravinala, which is the symbol of Madagascar. Lunch in Moramanga, a crossroads between several secondary roads with a significant confluence of ethnic groups from the east of the island. We will visit its lively market and continue to Andasibe National Park. Arrival at the lodge and accommodation.

Breakfast and early departure to Analamazaotra National Park (within Andasibe National Park), where we will take a four-hour walk to observe the largest lemur on the island, the famous Indri-Indri, as well as chameleons, frogs, tree ferns, pandanus... Free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon, walk through the small town of Andasibe where we will meet the Betsimisaraka ethnic group. Night visit to the Voimma Reserve, where we will be able to see various species of endemic fauna of the tropical rainforest, such as the endearing microcebu. Return to the Lodge and accommodation.

Early breakfast and departure towards the "Malagasy Highlands" among a landscape of rice fields. Free time for lunch (not included) in the city of Foie-gras, Behenjy, where it is recommended to taste the different varieties of this exquisite delicacy. Continue to Ambatolampy, to visit the curious artisanal factory of the aluminum pots that are part of all Malagasy homes. In the afternoon, arrival in Antsirabe, founded by Norwegian Lutheran missionaries at the end of the 19th century, a thermal city thanks to the discovery of its waters rich in sodium chloride. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure towards the extensive valleys of Vakinankaratra, one of the most fertile regions of the island, considered the "garden" of Madagascar. In Manandona, we will walk for approximately one hour through a landscape of rice fields, where we will have the opportunity to learn about the agricultural culture and the daily life of its inhabitants, we will be able to share their daily tasks, visit a traditional house, look into their "fady" and perhaps, if we are lucky, enjoy an improvised musical performance. Along the way we will see the summit of Mount Ibity, the third highest mountain on the island at approximately two thousand meters, with a waterfall and a natural pool where we can take a bath (only in the southern summer). Return to Antsirabe. After lunch (not included), we will take a ride in a Pousse-Pousse (similar to Indian rickshaws) or on foot, to explore the historic center of the city. We will visit the Atsena Kely (small market), the Notre Dame de la Salette Cathedral, the train station, the Ethnic Monument, as well as the countless buildings from the French colonial era such as the decaying Hotel des Thermes, where King Mohammed V stayed in exile in 1953. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to the capital of Malagasy crafts, Ambositra. At about a thousand meters above sea level, this Malagasy town is renowned for its Zafimaniry craftsmen, masters of wood carving. Located in the highlands, Ambositra is the birthplace of the Betsileo ethnic group. We can visit various marquetry workshops, stroll through its streets and mingle with its inhabitants. Between the months of July and September, there is the possibility of encountering the famous "Famadihana" or return of the dead, which, with a bit of luck, you can attend if you are invited, since it is a family celebration, not a tourist one. If we were invited, we would go to the celebration but would only be there for a short time so as not to violate family privacy.

Free time for lunch (not included) and continue to Ranomafana National Park. Arrival and rest of the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation.

Early breakfast and departure on an excursion through Ranomafana National Park, where we will take a walk of about four hours in search of lemurs such as Propithecus Edwardsi, Hapalemur Griseus Ranomafanensis or Varecia Variegata, standing out among the different species of lemurs that live in the forest, full of impressive tree ferns, wild orchids and pandanus, Ranomafana is nature in its purest form. This National Park was declared by UNESCO as World Natural Heritage of the Antsinanana Rainforests, which includes six National Parks that extend along the eastern coast of the island. After lunch (not included), panoramic visit to the waterfall on the Namorona River and continue to the rural village of Sahambavy, where we will walk through the famous tea plantations, unique on the island. We will learn about the production process first-hand and taste the two varieties of tea produced. Check-in at the hotel next to the plantation and on Sahambavy Lake and rest of the afternoon free. Accommodation.

Breakfast and departure to Ranohira for a stroll through the "old town" of Fianarantsoa and to admire the panoramic views of the city from the "Haute Ville". Continue to the town of Ambalavao, where we will discover the curious production of antemoro paper. Arrival at the Anjà Nature Reserve, an ideal place to observe lemurs of the Maki Catta species, as well as chameleons and Betsileo tombs. Free time for lunch (not included) and continue to the Isalo National Park. At this stage we will finish our tour of the highlands and begin our descent through the Malagasy savannah, desert landscapes and towns grown in the middle of nowhere. Dinner and accommodation.

Breakfast and departure for a hike in the Isalo National Park, visiting the Waterfall of the Nymphs, the Blue Pool and the Black Pool in the famous Namaza Canyon. This is the most visited park on the island and has deep canyons where the water flows in the form of streams, as well as Bara tombs, caves where the Portuguese and Arabs hid. This park is a living testimony to the history of Madagascar. The place is also home to several species of lemurs such as the Eulemur Fulvus, Rufus, the Eulemur Rufifrons, the Propithecus Verreauxi Verreauxi among others and also worth mentioning the endemic Isalo palm, the Bismarkia nobilis, Aloes, Pachypodiums, etc. We will visit the village of the semi-nomadic Bara shepherds of "Antabara" in Ikazandreno and enjoy the spectacular sunset from the "Isalo window". Return to the hotel, dinner and accommodation.

Early breakfast and departure to the south, observing along the way the famous Mahafaly tombs, stone tombs with funerary steles, sculpted or with paintings of animals, couples or scenes of daily life, and almost always covered with skulls and horns of zebus. We will be able to photograph the first baobabs in southern Malagasy. In Zombitse National Park, we will take a walk through an easy path in the dense and dry forest, where we will find Baobabs of the Adansonia Za species, ficus, aloes, pandanus, orchids and many more species. We will also be able to observe lemurs of the Propithecus Verreauxi and Eulemur Fulvus Rufus species, as well as chameleons and geckos. Before reaching Tulear, we will detour to visit the Tropic of Capricorn Monument. Free time for lunch (not included). Arrival at the Reniala Reserve and its Baobab forest, where we will take a walk to observe these endemic trees of the island. Accommodation.

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to the airport.

Breakfast and free time until your transfer to Tuléar airport for your domestic flight to the capital. Arrival in Antananarivo and transfer to the hotel. If the domestic flight arrives in the capital before 12:00, a free tour will be offered, consisting of a visit to the La Digue craft market, the largest craft fair on the island and one of the largest markets in Africa. A brief visit to the city centre, Soarano station and Independence Avenue. If the flight arrives between 12:00 and 16:00, only a visit to the La Digue craft market will be offered. Accommodation.