Explore Madagascar Expedition

What’s Included

A fully supported expedition, from start to finish

Your expedition cost is comprehensive and covers the incredible activities you’ll be taking part in, as well as the extensive support you’ll receive in the lead up to, and during, your expedition.

Don’t forget you’ll also need your vaccinations, visas, kit and some spending money. You can find guidance on all of these on your personal Traveller Gateway once you sign up.

International flights
Expedition Leader
Comprehensive travel insurance
All meals
Unlimited drinking water
All accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
All activities mentioned in the itinerary
Entrance fees for all sights mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers mentioned are in private vehicles
Local Expedition Guides
Project costs and management
24 hour support throughout expedition

Day	Activities	More details
Day 1	Arrival	Tonga soa! Bienvenue! Welcome to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s crowded but attractive capital. After checking into your hotel you will have a presentation by the Mitsinjo Association on the biodiversity of Madagascar and the work of the Mitsinjo Association. Learn facts about plant species and how important they are to the rainforest of Andasibe.
Day 2	Antananarivo to Andasibe National Park	Leaving Antananarivo after breakfast you’ll travel to Andasibe National Park, also known as Perinet. On the way you’ll visit the Ambohimanga Royal hill. Once the religious capital and holy city of the kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century, today it’s a sacred and spiritual place. You’ll continue on to Andasibe, settle in and have lunch. In the afternoon there will be a tour of Andasibe village. In the evening you will experience a night walk in the Mitsinjo forest. Each group will be given a few cards of different animal and plant species that can be found in the forest. The guides will give us a chance to spot and identify those species first and we will see which group is best. The evening or other free time is usually spent around a campfire, folk music animation, puzzle games, group cohesion games or Malagasy typical games called Fanorona. .
Day 3	Analamazaotra National Park and reforestation activity	During a 3 hours guided walk in the Analamazaotra National Park, we will explore the fauna and flora of Andasibe which is famous for its 11 species of lemur. It is a home to the world’s biggest living lemurs called “Indri Indri”. Aside from lemurs, you might find endemic birds including the long-eared owl and the rufousheaded ground roller, as well as the smallest living chameleon – brookesia minima, insects and frogs. During your guided walk you will be playing the game of spotting and identifying different species.
Day 4	Andasibe to Manambato	After breakfast, you’ll enjoy a 2 hours to hike in the heart of the Mitsinjo rainforest and taking in the incredible biodiversity. Leaving Andasibe before midday, you’ll drive to Manambato, passing by Brickaville town and arriving in Manambato at the end of the afternoon. On arrival you’ll check-in to your accommodation and have time to rest. In the evening enjoy a bonfire by the beach and play games.
Day 5	Manambato and fishing village visit	Today you will board a boat for 45 minutes to visit a typical Betsimisaraka fishing village called Ampanotoamazina, a village steeped in history, located between the Pangalanes Channel and the Indian Ocean. Once ashore, you’ll meet the villagers and learn about their daily life. Following this, you’ll take another 45 minutes’ boat trip to Ankanin`ny Nofy. Here you’ll find a rich and wonderful forest reserve, known as the “Dream Nest”, which has more than 100,000 endemic palm trees. This small sanctuary of nature offers an enchanting setting where you can find the ravinala (traveller’s tree), carnivorous plants and orchids. After the visit, we will have lunch at a local restaurant and take some time to relax before heading back to Manambato in the afternoon.
Day 6	Andasibe to Antananarivo	This morning you’ll take part in project work at a local school. Cyclones occur frequently in Madagascar and they damage schools, hospitals and many other infrastructures especially in remote areas. The tasks will centre around maintenance and renovations of the school working alongside skilled local workers who will guide you through the tasks. In the afternoon you’ll transfer back to Andasibe.
Day 7	Manambato to Andasibe	After breakfast, you take part in a tree planting project. Throughout the week you will have learnt about the many different tree species you are planting and will have the opportunity to share what you have learned about the trees you are planting with the rest of the group. In the afternoon you’ll head back to Tana, stopping enroute at Moramang to visit the “MUSEE DE LA GENDARMERIE”. Here you can discover the story of the army of Madagascar from the beginning to the present day and learn about the Malagasy rebellion. On arrival in Antananarivo, you will have a chance to check out the souvenirs at a local market where you can buy different local crafts, spices, sarongs and more.
Day 8	Departure	Good bye Madagascar. This morning you will transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight home.