Trip Planner

From Mgias

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Planning your trip 3 Suggested Iteneraries 3.1 Northern Region 3.2 Southern Region 3.3 Eastern Region 3.4 Western Region 3.5 Central Region 4 Travel Tips 4.1 Flexibility 4.2 Visa and Insurance 4.3 Money 4.4 Food 4.5 Climate

Introduction

Because I have extensive experience in natural history, birding, trekking, bush safari camping and canoeing and adventure safari trips, I can offer tourists the opportunity to explore our unique Madagascar wildlife and the real Malagasy culture, civilization and way of life where they can have personnel interactions with local people. My colleagues and I can organize tailor-made itineraries and adventure safari trips off the beaten track with a wide variety of specialist tours including wildlife, river trips, trekking, safari camping and expeditions. I can offer trips for all budgets and levels of experience from easy to the most adventurous.

Please see also International flight, internal flights and transport where to stay and bookings

Please feel free to contact me

Planning your trip

We provide tailor-made tours suitable for your interest and aptitude. We excel at special interest adventure tours to the remote areas; bush camping, hiking and river trips. We can offer you any trip suitable for your chosen route and for all preferred destinations. Trips can be planned for 1 week or for up to 1 month.

Safety is the most important rule of all our tours and safaris, we treat all places we visit with the most respect and care. And we make every effort to ensure your safety during your time with us.

For safety 's sake we always provide a well-informed Escort Guide during your stay. The escort guide takes care of all organisation of the tours and safari camping, including the supervision of the cooking in remote areas. He or she offers you unique opportunities to go hiking, canoeing and bush camping. The escort guide is able to provide up to date information about your chosen destination and has an excellent knowledge of the Madagascar environment. In every park that we visit, you will also have the expert service of the park guide - see park guides, local guides and porters.

Suggested Iteneraries

ITINERARIES IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Northern Region

1. Antananarivo fly to Diego-Suarez, Montagne d’Ambre National park, Ankarana to Ankify , Nosy Be, Nosy Komba + Nosy Tanikely or Lokobe, fly back to Antananarivo: 9 days. This can be extended by: Cruising in the Nosy Be surrounding islets:( Iranja, Mitsio) +4 days; Diving : Nosy Tanikely,Ankarea, sakatia, and Tsarabanjina.
2. Antananarivo fly to Diego-Suarez, Montagne d’Ambre, Ankarana, Daraina forest, Vohemar ,Sambava , Marojejy national park(camping) fly back to Antananarivo: 12 to 13 days

Southern Region

ITINERARIES IN THE SOUTHERN REGION

Anakao and Ifaty southwestern remote beaches and marine life with their warm crystal-clear turquoise waters are the most wonderful sites for water sports especially for snorkelling and scuba diving. Diving in recommended in these areas: Ifaty, Anakao, Faux-cap, Andavadoaka, Belo Sur Mer.

1. Deep south:(safari trip and bush camping) Antananarivo fly to Toliara, drive from Toliara to Isalo, Betioky, Bezaha Mahafaly reserve, Anakao, Lac Tsimanmpetsotsa, Itampolo, Lavanono, Cap Sainte –Marie Special reserve, Faux–Cap, Beraketa, Ihosy, Fianarantsoa , Ranomafana National Park, Antsirabe ,Antananarivo:18 days
2. From Toliara (safari trip and bush camping), Betioky, Anakao, Lac Tsimanmpetsotsa, Itampolo, Lavanono , Cap Sainte–Marie Special reserve, Faux–Cap, Berenty, Fort-Dauphin, fly back to Antananarivo:11 days
3. From Toliara to Morondava (safari trip and bush camping):Ifaty, Morombe, Belo sur Mer, Morondava , alley of Baobab, fly back to Antananarivo: 5 to 6 days

EXTENSION Excursion to Lokaro Bay (beach north of Fort-dauphin) +1 day

Eastern Region

ITINERARIES IN THE EASTERN REGION

Antananarivo, driving to Perinet special reserve, Toamasina (Tamatave); then flying from Toamasina to Maroantsetra , Nosy Mangabe Special reserve: 6 to 7days (camping in Nosy Mangabe) Extensions:

• Boat from Maroantsetra to Ambodiforaha forest, Tampolo marine reserve and Masoala national park (boat) + 3 to 4 days camping
• Mananara (aye-aye island) + 3 days
• Hiking from Maroantsetra to Antalaha + 4 to 5days.
• Hiking from Maroantsetra following the coast, Cap-Est to Antalaha + 7 to 8 days.
• Hiking from Tanandava (north of Ambatondrazaka) to Vavatenina (north of Tamatave) + 7 to 8 days.
• Diving at Sainte Marie, Ile aux Nattes, Ile au Sable and Baie d’Ampanihy.

Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa,(train to Manakara) Manakara, Vangaindrano,Manakara,fly to Antananarivo : 7 to 8 days Extensions:

• Hiking from Ifanirea (west of Vohipeno) to Ambohimahamasina + 5 days
• Hiking From Ambohimahamasina, Isalo, Toliara + 4 days

Western Region

ITINERARIES IN THE WESTERN REGION

1. Antananarivo fly to Mahajanga, Ankaranfantsika national park (camping), drive back to Antananarivo : 4 days. To see birds such as the rare Madagascar Fish-eagle and bernier's teal, we recommend the boat trip to the Betsiboka estuaries(Mahajanga) to sea water birds.
2. Antananarivo,Miandrivazo, a river trip of 3 days to Bekopaka, Tsingy of Bemaraha, belo Morondava fly back to Antananarivo: 9 days
3. Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Morondava, Kirindy forest and Alley of baobabs, fly back to Antananarivo: 5days
4. Antananarivo, Tsiroanimandidy, Ankavandra, then a river trip consisting of 5 days of canoeing down to Manambolo river to the Tsingy of Bemaraha, Belo sur Tsiribihina, Morondava(Baobab alley). Fly back to Antananarivo: 10 days.

The Tsingy of Bemaraha, Kirindy forest and western wetlands are accessible only from April to November. Extension

• Mahajanga to Anjohibe cave ( accessible only during dry season from May to October) + 1 day
• Morondava to Toliara :+ 5 to 6 days

To see birds such as the rare Madagascar Fish-eagle and bernier's teal, we recommend one more day to Bemaraha region to see water birds and to visit of the wetland of Manambolomaty( World Wetland Site:Ramsar convention) and/or Bemamba and Tsimembo forest (camping) + 2 to 3 days.

Central Region

ITINERARY IN THE CENTRAL REGION Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ranomafana national park, Fianarantsoa, Isalo national Park, Ifaty or Anakao, fly back to Antananarivo : 10 days(Ifaty) and 11 days(Anakao).

Extension (hiking):

• Toliara, Fort-dauphin,Berenty + 3 days (Southern Region)
• Trekking in Isalo + 5 days
• Trekking in Andringitra + 2 to 4 days
• Trekking in Zafimaniry (Antoetra - Ifanadiana) + 5 to 6 days
• Trekking in Ambohimahamasina -Ifanirea + 4 to 5 days

Travel Tips

Flexibility

Travelling in Madagascar is a kind of adventure, and flight schedules and hotel bookings are subject to change. As some places are remote, it’s part of the fun to deal calmly with the problems that can pop up. Your escort guide makes every effort to ensure that everything runs safely and enjoyably. So, those who truly want to enjoy Madagascar should be flexible.

Visa and Insurance

You must be in possession of a valid passport and have obtained your Madagascar visa. Travel insurance is highly recommended.

Money

Cash is the best option. However, we warn that you could experience difficulty changing cash other than American Dollars and Euros. The only spending money you need is for your beverage, souvenirs, gratuities, optional excursions and personal expenses. Sometimes traveller’s checks can be changed at banks and major hotels in large towns. Credit cards, other than VISA are rarely accepted and the use of even the use of a VISA card is a rarity. Please note that the Malagasy franc FMG or the new note ARIARY, is a non-convertible currency and cannot be exchanged back into another currency.

Food

Madagascar has wonderful, fresh food with an excellent cuisine resulting from the mixture of Malagasy, French and Chinese culinary arts, but with a strong French influence. International hotels serve French cuisine.

Climate

Madagascar has a tropical climate, but each region has its own climatic variation according to its altitude and latitude. Temperatures are high along the coast regions, but it is temperate in the central highlands, particularly during the winter period. But Madagascar is a land of the sun and gets sunshine almost all year round with high temperatures averaging 25° Celsius.

It has two distinct seasons:

• A hot, rainy season from November to April and
• A cold, dry season from May to October.

Additionally, the eastern and northern coasts are stuck by cyclones every year during the season that occurs from January to March. The cyclones damage the country’s infrastructure, particularly the coastal roads, but repairs are made and life goes on, as it has for centuries.