7/ Madagascar in Thousand views : 12 nights, 13 days

This tour provides a “thousand views” of Madagascar. Starting from the “deep south” of Ifaty with its thorny bush, spiny forest, following the famous Nationale 7, passing through the eroded massif of Isalo, the empty savanna of Horombe, the rocky mountain of Andringitra, the tropical rainforest of Ranomafana to the chilly highland of Antsirabe. The “Nationale 35” westwards to Miandrivazo, offers a very different landscape with its red laterite soil, giving Tsiribihina river a red colour, that we’ll navigate for 2 days. The tour is completed by the famous “Tsingy de Bemaraha” with is eroded limestone massif, home to many treasures. The last part ends in Morondava, the land of baobabs

DAY 1: TULEAR – IFATY: 20 km

Arrival in Tuléar, then we’ll drive for 35 km to Ifaty which is situated in the Deep South. We will cross the dry and sandy soil where local people suffer for the lack of drinking water. The landscape will be dominated by the spiny forest like the cactus, different euphorbiacea and didieracea. Many mangrove trees are lining along the coast alternated by Vezo villages which earn their living on fishing. We will see many small pirogues, men go on fishing twice a day, children and women are waiting on the coast to fetch the fishermen and bring the fish to Tuléar to be sold. Arrival in Ifaty at the end of the afternoon. Night in Hotel

DAY 2:IFATY

Day off. Ifaty lies on the north of Tuléar. Situated in the largest lagoon of the country, it is an ideal place for relaxing. Many excursions are possible on the spot like whales watching or sea excursion with local boat. From July to mid-September, whales are coming to the cool sea of Madagascar to give birth. It is a very spectacular experience as sometimes we will see the whales very near our boat. Situated in the largest lagoon of the country, Ifaty is also protected by a large coral reef which makes it an ideal place for diving and snorkelling. In the afternoon we can walk to the village of Mangily where we can have an experience off the Vezo Fishermen’s life, especially when the fishermen come back from fishing.

DAY 3 : IFATY – ISALO: 247 km

After breakfast we head on to Isalo. This step brings us to the interior part of Madagascar, the land of Mahafaly. Along the way we’ll see many tombs of this tribe. Before seeing Isalo, we pass through the national park of Zombitse, a transition zone between the dry south and the land of Isalo, a formation of continental sandstone rocks. We will pass the plateaux as well des baobabs which makes Madagascar very famous of. There are 7 species of Baobabs in Madagascar whereas African continent has only 2 species. Arrival in Isalo around noon. Settling and night in Hotel

DAY 4:NATIONAL PARK OF ISALO

Day excursion in the National Park of Isalo and the famous «Natural swimming pool». This park is very famous for its strange geological formation. Composed with sandstone and eroded by the rain and the wind, this mountain offers the most spectacular scenery of the country. This is also a place where the BARA tribes used to bury their dead until they have enough money to buy a silver coffin. If we are lucky, we will see the lemur catta during this walk. In the afternoon, we can go to the village of Ranohira, and then drive to the museum of the national park. Around 16.30, we’ll drive to the “The Natural window “where we see the beautiful sunset between rocks which looks like window. Accommodation in the same hotel

DAY 5: : ISALO – AMBALAVAO – RANOMAFANA: 268 Km

Drive northward to Ambalavao. Today we enter the rocky mountain chain of Andringitra which is very picturesque remaining of Arabian civilisation. Then the landscape changes when we enter the highland, we cross the “Gate of South” which serves as a transition between the south and the fresh and green highland. Stop and then visit to Anja Park, a community-based park run by the village which income serves to pay the teacher of the local primary school. Anja park which is home to many families of lemurs catta. Then we visit the famous “Papier Anteimoro” We continue to Ranomafana that we reach by the end of the afternoon. Night in Hotel.

Day 6: RANOMAFANA national park

3 to 4 hours hike in the rainy forest of Madagascar: the Ranomafana National Park which was created in 1991… This expedition in the forest with special guide enables us to see 12 species lemurs, the most important one the “golden lemurs” which has been discovered very recently, more than 100 birds, reptiles, butterflies and other insects. The area is covered with forest, in the higher areas the trees are festooned with mosses, lichens, and orchid. Afternoon free, we can have a visit Ranomafana village or go to the swimming pool of. Night in the same hotel

Day 7:RANOMAFANA – ANTSIRABE:238 km

Departure to Antsirabe after breakfast. Today we come across the highland which is characterised by rice fields on stage, its chilly climate and the population with Asian features. Stop in Ambositra, the capital of Zafimaniry craft to visit a wood-carving workshop. Continuation to Antsirabe in the afternoon. City tours of Antsirabe and visit a lapidary. Night in Hotel

Day 8:ANTSIRABE – MIANDRIVAZO – MASIAKAMPY: 245 km

Departure to Miandrivazo early in the morning, still across the highland. Today the landscape is changing, we will see rice fields, then red soil, many erosion « lavaka », then the vegetation becomes dryer. A very strange formation of granite because of the erosion. Arrival in Miandrivazo at noon, transfer to Masiakampy where the boat is waiting to sail to Tsiribihina. Beginning of the cruise. Stop around Sahambano. Camping on the bank of the river on full board.

Day 9:GORGE OF BEMARAHA

Departure around 07.30, breakfast on board. This day is for seeing animals like lemurs, crocodiles, birds, bats all along the sailing; and to have a look of primary forest. Around 09.30, trekking until the natural swimming pool for bathing or under the waterfalls. Lunch on board. Arrival in Berevo around 15.30. Visit of Berevo village. Camping on the bank of the river on full board.

Day 10: COASTAL PLAIN OF MENABE – BEKOPAKA: 140 km

Departure around 07.30. After the end of « Gorge of Bemaraha », we cross the plain of Menabe which is characterised by the rice plantation on the bank of the river. We can also experience the life of Sakalava tribes who live along this big river. Arrival in Belo around noon, then continue to Bekopaka. This drive brings us to Madagascar profound; we can experience the real life of Malagasy people in the driest part of the country. Arrival in Bekopaka around 18.00. Settling and night in Hotel.

Day 11:BEKOPAKA: TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK

Morning, after breakfast, day excursion to visit the reserve of « Tsingy de Bemaraha ». In the east of Antsalova south-east of Maintirano. This limestone mountain is classified as an international heritage. This massif is spectacularly eroded into a chaos of karsts pinnacle which gives it a very strange form. Here nature seems to be in perfect harmony with this wild and sharp limestone mountain. The flora consists of a dry western deciduous forest, plants typical of these dry limestone areas, such as species of Aloe and baobab Andasonia, the red-flowered flamboyant tree Delonix regia which is so widely planted in the tropics. Madagascar’s sole native banana Musa perrieri also occurs. We can also see plants which grow in the stone such us different species of pachypodium, orchids. Concerning the fauna, we can see the stump-tailed chameleon Brookesia perarmata known from only a handful specimens, the bird list contains 53 species, the seven species of lemurs including Decken’s sifaka Propithecus verreauxi deckeni. Night at the same hotel.

Day 12:BEKOPAKA – MORONDAVA: 200 km

After breakfast, we drive back to Morondava by a Four-wheel drive. This place is known for its baobab and its dry western forest. Along the way, we stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS » for photo; this is the region of splendid Grandidier’s baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. Arrival in Morondava in the afternoon. Settling and night in Hotel.

Day 13: MORONDAVA – another destination

Transfer to the airport to fly to another destination or extension.