BIRDING & PHOTO TOUR WITH GUIDE ARMEL

BIRDING & PHOTO TOUR WITH GUIDE ARMEL
22 DAYS

DAY 1
2 DEC 2023 ARRIVAL ANTANANARIVO
Meet and greet at IvatoInternational Airport and transfer to the city.
Check in at the hotel and overnight stay in CHAT’O PARK HOTEL or similar.

DAY 2
3 DEC 2023 ANTANARIVO - MAJUNGA
Transfer to the airport and flight to Majunga.
Dinner and overnight stay at COCO LODGE or similar.

DAY 3
4 DEC 2023 MAJUNGA - ANKARAFANTSIKA (110km about 2 hour drive)
After breakfast, discover by boat the surronding where there are endemic and many species of birds. Drive to Ankarafantsika after this. Arrive at the end of the afternoon at the National Park of ANkarafantsika. It is limited to the East by the Mahajamba river and to the West by the Betsiboka. In the evening, optional visit of Ankarafantsika national park to explore nocturnal species of fauna.
Overnight stay at BLUE VANGA or similar.

DAY 4
5 DEC 2023 ANKARAFANTSIKA
Two days to explore the deciduous dry forest of Ankarafantsika which is home to over 120 bird species and is considered one of Madagascar’s top birding sites. A boat trip on Lake Ravelobe is rewarding for general water birds such as the Madagascar crested ibis and Madagascar fish eagle, Madagascar pygmy kingfisher. Back to the hotel.

DAY 6
7 DEC 2023 ANKARAFANTSIKA - ANTANANARIVO (450 km, about 10 hour driving )
Early departure for the long drive to Ankarafantsika national park with some stops for birding en route. Overnight at the hotel CHAT’O or similar.

DAY 7
8 DEC 2023 ANTANANARIVO - ANDASIBE (140 km about 3,5 hours drive)
After breakfast, drive east by car, through a landscape characterized by its nested rice fields and wooded hills. In Marozevo visit the Exotic Park (also called Peyrieras Park after its founder),  where you can see many chameleons from close up, as well as butterflies, frogs and other amphibians. Then on to Andasibe, the place looks more like a poor wooden shack village, it is the starting point for the visit of the national park, the realm of the legendary Indris. Once the only hotel in Andasibe was in the mighty train station building with a few bungalows opposite on the hillside. But in the course of the years, thanks to the visitors from all over the world, numerous new hotel complexes were opened, in which a lot of jobs were created. Possibility to walk with a local guide along the road near the National Park Perinet-Analamazaotra in search of nocturnal animals before dinner. With a little luck you will see wool and mouse makis, chameleons etc. Overnight stay at the hotel FEON’NY ALA or similar.

DAY 8
9 DEC 2023 ANDASIBE 
Visit of Andasibe reserve where you may see various species of birds such as Madagascar starling, Short-legged-and Scaly ground-roller, Crested ibis, Madagascar fluff tail, Ward's flycatcher, Brown wood-rail, Madagascar pygmykingfishers & Madagascar sparrow-hawk.
Overnight at the same hotel.

DAY 9
10 DEC 2023 ANDASIBE
Full day visit of Mantadia national park where we can spot various species of birds such as the Madagascar pondheron, Madagascar coucal, Madagascar Hoopoe, Fody Madagascariensis, Madagascar white-eye.
Overnight atthe same hotel.

DAY 10
11 DEC 2023 ANDASIBE
Visit of VOI Community run park to discover another species of birds in the forest. Overnight at the same hotel.

DAY 11
12 DEC 2023 ANDASIBE–ANTANANARIVO
After an early breakfast, another morning visit of Andasibe reserve or the VOI Community park then return to Antananarivo.
Overnight at the hotel LE CHAT’O or similar.

DAY 12
13 DEC 2023 ANTANANARIVO–TULEAR–IFATY (27 km about 1,5 hour-drive)
Transfer to the airport and flight to Tulear, there reception and transfer to Ifaty, a beautiful, gently sloping beach about 26 km north of Tulear, protected by a coral reef. On the way you can see various endemic thorn bushspecies and mangroves.
Overnight stay in HOTEL NAUTILIUS or similar.

DAY 13
14 DEC 2023 IFATY
Visit of Reniala reserve where a big variety of birds can be seen such as Madagascar buzzard, Madagascar harrierhawk, Madagascar kestrel, Madagascar button Quail, Sub desert Mesite, Whimbrel, Common greenshank, Black-winged stilt, Grey Plover, Lesser crested-tern, Madagascar turtle-dove, Madagascar green pigeon, Greater Vasaparrot, Lesser vasa parrot, Grey-headed lovebird, Madagascar lesser Cuckoo, Red-fronted Coua, Running Coua, Green-capped Coua, Crested Coua, Madagascar Coucal, Madagascar Nightjar, Madagascar swift, Madagascar bee-eater, Madagascar Cuckoo-shrike, Red-tailed vanga, Hook-billed vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Chabert Vanga, Madagascar magpie robin, Long-billed greenbul, Sub desert brush-warbler, Thamnornis Warbler, Common Newtonia, Archbolds Newtonia, Common Jery, Madagascar Munia, Sakalava Weaver, Madagascar fody, Madagascar Lark.
Overnight at HOTEL NAUTILUS or similar.

DAY 14
15 DEC 2023 IFATY–TULEAR–ANAKAO–TULEAR
Early transfer to Tulear port and motorboat transfer to Anakao–a small fishermen village, south of Tulear . Just after check-in, excursion to Nosy be to see Red-tailed Tropic birds breeding there and other aquatic birds. Back to Tuléar after this visit.
Overnight at VICTORY HOTEL or similar.

DAY 15
16 DEC 2023 TULEAR–ZOMBITSE-RANOHIRA (240 km about 4 hour-drive)
After breakfast transfer back to Tulear, then continue to Ranohira. After Tulear, drive along a mostly straight road, past tall bushes and small cactus forests, interrupted by typical Mahafaly burial sites, some with motifs and woodensteles, and mighty baobab trees. 20 km after Sakaraha you cross the remains of the protected dry forest areas of Zombitse and Vohibasia. A few hours visit of this park in search of the endemic Appert’s greenbul, Madagascarpartridge, Madagascar buttonquail, the stately Giant coua, Madagascar sandgrouse, Madagascar lesser cuckoo,Madagascar cuckoo-shrike, Thamnornis warbler, Common newtonia. Then continue on the short remaining stretch to Ranohira.
Overnight in a hotel ISALO RANCH or similar.

DAY 16
17 DEC 2023 RANOHIRA–RANOMAFANA (355 km about 7 hour-drive)
After breakfast drive to Fianarantsoa (means "where you learn good things"). About 12 km before Ambalavao there is a stop to visit the small reserve Anja, which was founded in 1999 by over 100 residents and villages in the neighbourhood in the middle of mighty granite rocks. Several hundred catta lemurs can be observed there in their natural environment. Caves and viewpoints provide additional enrichment to the tour, which can last between 45minutes and 5 hours. Continuing on to Fianarantsoa, it is worth visiting the historic upper town with its cathedral. Opposite it we go to the viewpoint and the stately statue of the Virgin Mary. Arrive at the end of the afternoon in Ranomafana. Before dinner possibility for a walk with flashlights along the road to look for nocturnal animals. Back to the hotel.Then room occupation in the hotel CENTREST SEJOUR or similar.

DAY 17
18 DEC 2023  RANOMAFANA
3 days visits of this beautiful NP of rainforest where we can see various species of of lemurs such as the goldenbamboolemurs, brown lemurs, chameleons, frogs, birds: Madagascar crested ibis, Henst's goshawk, various Vangas notably Blue, Rufous, Hook-billed, Red-tailed.
Overnight at  the same hotel.

DAY 18
19 DEC 2023 RANOMAFANA
Same as above.
Overnight at the same hotel.

DAY 19
20 DEC 2023 RANOMAFANA
Same as above.
Overnight at the same hotel.

DAY 20
21 DEC 2023 RANOMAFANA-ANTSIRABE (240 km about 5,5hour-drive)
After breakfast, drive to Antsirabe.
Overnight at LE CHAMBRE DU VOYAGEUR or similar.

DAY 21
22 DEC 2023 ANTSIRABE-ANTANANARIVO (170 km about 4 hour drive)
EarlyDrive back to Tana, and transfer to the airport and check-in for departure for the flight home. 

INCLUDED

• Transfer airport-hotel-airport
• Park and reserve fees
• Services of local guide in park and reserve
• Transportation with a driver (Mahajanga-Tana-Andasibe-Tuléar-Ranomafana-Tana)
• Boat transfer Tulear-Anakao-Tulear-accommodation in middrange hotels based on Bed & Breakfast
• Fuel and driver's indemnities
• English speaking guide
• Tourist levy
• Vat
  
  EXCLUDED
  
  
• English speaking guide for the full tour
• Domestic and international flights with their taxes. The price for the two domestic flights will be around 400 to 540Euro, depending on the booking class
• visa fees35 € for a stay of max. 30 days
• All othermeals
• Anydrinks