FACE TO FACE WITH THE MALAGASY AND THE LEMURS
18 DAYS

DAY 1    ANTANANARIVO
Depending on flight arrival, meet and greet at the international airport of Antananarivo Ivato and transfer to the hotel Belvedere in the city center or similar, overnight there.

DAY 2    ANTANANARIVO – ANDASIBE (142 km, about 4 hours driving time, on a good tared road)
Drive on the National Road No. 2 (RN 2)  around 142 km to the well-known National Park Andasibe (Analamazaotra–Mantadia). On the way, stop at the private reptiles park in Marozevo where we can see chameleons and other animals close up. In the morning, we’ll buy at a supermarket in Tana already all we need for an open air picnic lunch. Check-in at the hotel Feon’ny Ala or similar. Possibility to do a nocturnal visit along the road outside of the park with a local nature guide, where with the help of flashlights you can see nocturnal lemurs (mostly Goodman mouse lemurs with maximum 50 grams, wooly lemurs and fat tail lemurs), sleeping chameleons, tree frogs, etc.. We’ll walk maximum one hour along the flat road. Dinner possible at Mary’s guesthouse. Overnight at the Feon’ny Ala hotel or similar.

DAY 3    ANDASIBE–MANAMBATO-AKANIN’NY NOFY (Akanin’ny Nofymeans „Nest of dreams“, 125 km on good road, then 7 km on dirt track, then some 1,5 hours on the boat on the canal)
The around three hour long early morning walk (first a little ascent, then mostly flat) leads from around 07h30 with a local park guide through the evergreen secondary forest of the Park Analamazaotra, on the trail Indri 2. Here we can see with some luck two of the 63 families living in this area of the biggest lemur, the Indri, with its distinctive call. You can also see many birds, some reptiles (if its not too cold) and other species of lemurs (Diadem Sifakas, Brown lemurs, Bamboo lemurs etc.).Then drive on the RN2 to Brickaville, we’ll then shortly after the big railway bridge turn right and drive-then by 4WD car-on a dirt track to Manambato which is situated on the shore of lake Rasoabe. Then drive by boat along the Pangalanes canal to Akanin’ny Nofyat lake Ampitabe, where we’ll stay in the Palmarium hotel with an attached lemurs park or at the annex “Palmarium beach”. Overnight with breakfastat the Palmarium hotel or annex, electricity is produced by a generator and switched off at night. We’ll only take light luggage (day pack) with us if possible for this two days.

DAY 4    AKANIN’NY NOFY 
In the morning, walkof several hoursin the Palmarium park to spot several species of lemurs, who’llwatch us attentively, we’ll see some fromquiteclose up. When night falls, boat excursion to a placewhere you can spot the very rare and nocturnal Aye Aye lemur (Daubentoniamadagascariensis) with thelong middle finger,eightof them live on this well guarded island in the canal.Should the weather be goodon the day before, we’llbe flexible anddo this visit then.Overnightwith breakfastagain at the Palmariumhotelor atthe annex.

DAY 5    AKANIN’NY NOFY-TAMATAVE-FOULPOINTE (around 2,5 hours by boat, thensome60 km on the road to Foulpointe)
60 km longMotorboat transfer to Tamatave, the biggest harbour town of Madagascar,thenlunchor buy apicnic lunch, andcontinueafterbyminibusto Foulpointe, a seaside resort, which is also popular amongthe Malagasy on weekends.If there’s enough time, we’ll discover the1817 to 1824 builtold FortMandawith its guide Fidel. We’llenjoy thesea and its food, walk along the beach or relax.Dinner possible at the“Friendly Fisherman” restaurant.Overnight at the Manda Beach Hotelor similar.

DAY 6    FOULPOINTE–SOANIERANA-IVONGO-SAINTE MARIE (around 100km on theroadwith potholes, then some1,5 to 2hours on the ferry boat to the former pirate island)
Early breakfast at 05h30 AM, then at 6 AM departureto Soanierana-Ivongo, then do the registrationformalities thereandthencross the sea with the“Gasikara Be”ferry to the beautiful island of SainteMarie. Overnight at the bungalow hotel Lakanaor similaron the beach between the airport and the city ofAmbodifotatra, on half board base.If the sea should be too rough and the boat transfer forbidden, we’ll change the program spontaneously,and stay another night inFoulpointe, and try next day.

DAY 7    SAINTE MARIE
Free day on Sainte Marie. We can explore the south of the island with the Ile aux Nattes or explore theNorth or east by walking or bicycleor by Tuk Tuk, or do water sports or relax on the beach. The piratescemetery is also interesting to see at low tide (communal taxaround 4 €/person), it can now be reachedeasily. Between July and September, a whalewatchingexcursion can be booked through the hotel. Enjoythe nice sunset. Overnight again at the Hotel Lakana or similar.If due to the rough sea, the ferry transfer to Sainte Marie wasn’t possible, we’llstay in Foulpointe anothernight andstart the drive backto Tana next day.

DAY 8    SAINTE MARIE
Due to the change of the domestic flight schedule, another free day on Sainte Marie. Night at the samehotel on half board.If due to the rough sea, the ferry transfer to Sainte Marie wasn’t possible, we’ll start the drive back, andwill drive until Andasibe or Moramanga (depending on hotel availability), overnight there and continue toTana next day.

DAY 9    SAINTE MARIE-ANTANANARIVO (domestic flight, not daily)
Depending on flight schedule,transfer to the airport and flight to Tana, if there’s no last minute changewith Air Madagascar/ Tsaradia. Rest of the day free. Overnight at the Belvedere Hotel or similar.If the Sainte Marie island visit wasn’t possible due to weather conditions, we’ll continue the drive back to Tana.

DAY 10    ANTANANARIVO–AMPEFY (about 120 km, max. 3,5 hours driving time, with a lot of stops)
Breakfast at around 07.30, then slow drive on the National Road No. 1 towards the “wildwest”with many opportunities for taking nice pictures. In the morning, we’ll buy at a supermarket in Tana all we need foran open air picnic lunch. Stop after around 21 km at the lemurs park where 9 species of lemurs can jump around free lyon 5 hectares. A short stop later in the small village Ambohikely, you can see how many families manufacture from used beer cans and other recycled materials miniature vehicles which will be exported worldwide. Continuation via Miarinarivo, where we’ll visit residential home for pupils (only possible during school season), run by a German/Malagasy association. Continue and arrive then to Ampefy at the lake Itasy (rich in fish). In the region are grown tomato, pineapple, papaya and avocado. If there is still time, visit the geysers or the Lili waterfall today. Overnightwith breakfast at the Hotel Kintana Fleuron or similar.

DAY 11    AMPEFY–FARATSIHO-ANTSIRABE (155 km, around 5 hours drive)
Early visit of the surroundings,shortwalks to the 22 m high waterfall of the Lily river, geysirs of Analavory,if this wasn’t possible the day before. Then drive through one of the coldest areas of Madagascar on anewly renovated road through mountainous terrain via Soavinandriana to Faratsiho, then continuethrough many coniferous forests to Sambaina, where the road joins the national road No. 7. In this area, alot of rice is also cultivated, partly in artfully laid out terraced fields on the slopes. Then drive to Antsirabe(37 km). In theafternoon, city tour in Antsirabe, an economic metropolis also called "city of water"because of its hot water springs, but also because of its crater lakes. In Antsirabe there are also manybicycle rickshaws. Overnight at thehotelFlower Palace hotel orsimilar.

DAY 12    ANTSIRABE–AMBOSITRA–FIANARANTSOA (around 240 km (some 6 hours driving time) on the RN7 (national road No. 7))
Drive through beautiful landscape via the woodcarving town of Ambositrato Fianarantsoa, the " placewhere one learns the good ". From the highest point of this “city of a 1001 churches”, we’ll have a niceview towards Ambalavao. In the shop of the most known Malagasy photographer Pierrot Men, we’ll get anice view into his works. We’ll thenget the tickets for next day’s train ride. Overnight at theVilla Sylvestreor La Rizière (which is a tourism school training hotel and restaurant) or similar.

DAY 13    FIANARANTSOA–MANAKARA(163 km, 8–17 hours of driving time with thejungle –Express, in rare cases, it even takes longer)
Around 7 a.m., we take the legendary Jungle Express (first class) to Manakara on the southeast coast.For the 163 km with 67 bridges and 48 tunnels we need, if it runs very fast, eight hours, but it canbemassively longer (in the past sometimes until midnight). At each station, depending on the season, thepopulation offers everything that is typical there, from crayfish to grilled fish, bananas, mandarins tomanioc and rice cakes. Shortly before Manakara we cross the tarmac of the airport. This exists only atotal of three times in the world. At the train station in Manakara, where rickshaw drivers will intercept thearriving passengers, the driver picks us up and takes us to the Parthenay Club by the sea. Since the trainis often massively delayed, we take from 4 to 8 participants instead of the regular train the track motorcar, and can thus also stop for photo stops, etc., if we wish. The trip then takes about 8 hrs. on average,including stops. Please note, however, that the track motor carcan only take up to a maximum of 8people plus the guide, so if the group should be larger, then the train ride is cancelled altogether if themain train is not running either.Recently, they’ve boughtthree locomotives second-hand from Spain andalso passenger cars from abroad, so it should be more reliable now.If the train should be out of order or departing with a big delay, we’ll visit the historical upper city ofFianarantsoa instead. We’ll then drive to Ambalavao and spend the night there at the BougainvilléesHotel or similar.

DAY 14    MANAKARA–RANOMAFANA (ca. 200 km, around 4 hours driving)
We’ll greetin the morningthe fishermen who come back from the catch,and can do a little walk on thebeach.We’llthendrive to Ranomafana, along ravinala palm trees,smallspice plantations etc.Ranomafana has thanks to the thermal sources even a swimming pool.Night walkwith an experiencedlocal guidealong the road to spot the mousemaki, chameleons,frogsetc. Overnight at the Lodge ChezGaspardor similarwith breakfast.If the train should be out of order or departing with a big delay, we’ll visit the Anja reserve 12 km south ofAmbalavao, where we’ll have good chances to see some families of Kattalemurs. After that drive toRanomafana and overnight.

DAY 15    RANOMAFANA–AMBOSITRA (some215 km, around4hours)
Morning visit of the approximately 41.000 hectares large Nationalpark Ranomafana which is situated atthe Namoronariver, with its fauna and flora, such as the golden bamboo lemurs discovered only in 1986by the german researcher Bernhard Meier, thered fronted and the red-belliedlemurs and the Sifaka.Thiswalk is a bit tiresome, as it goes up and down and sometimesthrough the forest, it can also be a bitslippery at times. It requires a good fitness level and condition from the participants. Early in theafternoon, we’ll drivethe short distance back to the National road no. 7 (RN7), and then north untilAmbositra.The people from the Betsileo tribe are good landscape architects. They use the ground evenin relatively high altitudes for rice crop growing. Overnight at theGrand hotel, the oldest hotel on site,orsimilar.

DAY 16    AMBOSITRA-ANTSIRABE (100 km, around 2,5 hours)
After breakfast visit of a Zafimaniry woodcarving workshop.After a little walk through the small city driveon a winding road through the highlands to Antsirabe. Overnight at the Flower Palace again, or similar.

DAY 17    ANTSIRABE-ANTANANARIVO (170 km, around4hours)
After breakfastwe’ll visit a workshop where they make miniature bycicles out of used beer cans or similar,and anotherworkshop where they make nice items out of the horn of the Zebu cattle.Then visit a craterlake, and drive backvia Ambatolampyto Tana. In Tanavisit of the handicraft market with manyhandmade items made from leather, stone, natural fibres etc.then day use of a room in a hotel near theairport, where you can relax, take ashower, change clothes and perhaps have dinner. Thenaround 10PMtransfer to the airport for the flight back to Europe with AF.Orovernightat the hotel(night notincluded).

DAY 18    ANTANANARIVO-PARIS
Take off at about 01.00 AM or later,depending on the airline, perhaps an additional night will benecessary.