Located in the South highland of Madagascar, Andringitra, the second highest mountain in the Country and a National Park is for those who would like both trekking and adventure. Then Isalo National Park is very attracted by its landscape. Wildlife is present in those two Parks as well.
After Breakfast, drive Southward to Antsirabe. The landscape for this first bit of the journey is made of typical Merina countryside, of mixed rice paddies, and vegetable crops. Few wildlife such as stonechat, hamerkop, egrets, kingfishers are seen on the way.
Stop at Ambatolampy at an aluminium handicraft workshop.
Check in and have lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, different workshop visits.
Breakfast then continue the drive to the South. Occasion also to see the typical mid altitude vegetation of the western slope of the central Island: the Tapia forest. At Ambositra, visit of the woodcarving and marquetry workshop then lunch.
Then continue to drive to Ranomafana National Park. Check in and dinner at the lodge.
Breakfast then short drive to the Ranomafana National Park for a morning forest walk to look for the local wildlife: some types of Lemurs, Birds, most of them are endemic.
Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit of the arboretum of Ranomafana to see samples of native trees and the Giant Parson’s Chameleon.
In early evening, short walk along the road to look for mouse Lemur, one of the world smallest Primate, Frogs and some Chameleons.
Breakfast then drive southward to Ambalavao. Still beautiful terraced rice paddies on the side of the road then grapevine plantation before reaching Ambalavao. Check in then lunch.
In the afternoon, some workshop visits are suggested: Handmade paper makers, and wild silk.
Breakfast then departure to the Andringitra National Park. Soon we leave the nice sealed road for a more adventure to Ambalamanandray village, one of the gates to enter the Parc where we meet our local staff (guide and porters) and start the trek.
Picnic lunch on the way then continue to the plateau of Andriampotsy where the staff will set up the camp. We will admire the impressive scenery all along. Dinner and night at the camp.
Early breakfast then take the trail up to Pic Boby while the porters set down the camp.
Pic Boby is the second highest point in the Island with 2658m. The trail allows fantastic view on one of the most typical landscape of Andringitra: Its wide array of granitic organ, one of the world largest for this special type of erosion on granitic rock. Picnic lunch.
Stop and rest on top then hike down to Iantaranomby where the camp was set up by the staff.
Dinner and night at the camp.
Early breakfast then departure to the Tsaranoro valley. Today’s landscape, still superb, is quite different from the previous day.
Arrival at the lodge at mid-day. Check in and lunch. Afternoon rest.
Dinner and night at the lodge.
Breakfast then drive to Ranohira. We are now within the Bara tribe land. The journey starts with dirty road but soon we are again on the main tarred National road which is here nicely sealed. The look of the local villagers is totally different.
Beautiful hike in the Isalo National Park. Isalo is a superb ruiniform sandstone Massif with highly adapted vegetation such as Elephant foot plants.
Good place as well to see diffent types of Lemurs which appear at Picnic lunch.
Dinner and night at the lodge.
Early breakfast then drive to Zombitse National Park. First time to see Baobabs on the way.
At Zombitse, easy forest walk to try to meet some endemic Birds. Some types of Lemurs. Nice baobabs.
Picnic lunch and drive to Toliara, then to Ifaty.
An early morning visit of the spiny forest to look for the endemic Birds, some reptiles, and various shapes of the Baobabs. After the visit drive back to the lodge for breakfast. The rest of the day at leisure. Varieties of activities can be organized locally such as snorkelling and diving, zebu cart tour, bike riding.
After Breakafast drive back to Toliara, boarding in an outboard boat and transfer to Anakao. On the way, stop at Nosy Ve island to meet the Red-tailed tropic Bird. Picnic lunch then transfer to Anakao.
Check in. Dinner and night at the lodge. In the evening, have a little walk around the garden to look for the Mouse Lemurs in the trees.
Early breakfast then 1h30 drive to Efoetse, gate of the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park.
Visit of the Mitaho Cave for a start: the endemic blind Fish. Hike on the Mahafaly plateau. The life condition here is so tough that the plants are very adapted to the drought. Several plant species are Baobab like.
Possibility to meet the ring-tailed Lemurs, Radiated Tortoises and some endemic Birds. Greater Flammingos at the Tsimanampetsotsa Lake.
Lunch at a local restaurant then drive back to Anakao.
Dinner and night at the Lodge.
Breakfast then transfer to Toliara.
