Best Madagascar Tour
The 14 days Best Madagascar Tour is the ultimate African safari tour in Madagascar. This is a mix of African wildlife safari and beach holiday. The best Madagascar tour lets you explore this 4th largest island in the world like never before.
Your 14 days Madagascar tour safari starts and ends in Antananarivo. It ia also known as Tana, the capital city of Madagascar. You should come for this 14 days Best Madagascar tour expecting to have the best that Madagascar has to offer.
14 Days Best Madagascar Tour Highlights
The Best Madagascar tour vacation offers you a fantastic nature-filled Madagascar tour vacation option. Explore Madagascar like never before visiting great national parks with lemurs on this Madagascar safari. You get to tour reserves with endemic animals and beaches with perfect sand.
- Lemurs
- Great and beautiful landscape, topography and natural features
- Attactive cultures with wonderful people
- Pristine sandy Indian Ocean beaches
14 Day Best Madagascar Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Antananarivo – Andasibe
Meet and greet upon arrival at the Ivato International Airport in Antananarivo. Tongasoa!!! (Welcome) to the Capital city of Madagascar, Antananarivo. The term means ‘The City of a Thousand warriors’.
You will be briefed on the 14 days Best Madagascar tour. Drive from Ivato airport to Andasibe.
As you drive, enjoy the beautiful landscape with varied terrain. This ranges from highlands, rice paddies and Ravinala, the oil palm.
You will check into Feon’ny Ala Hotel upon arrival in Andasibe. Some relaxation will prepare you for the evening. This is when your best Madagascar tour drives to the entrance of Analamazaotra Park.
You should look forward to a nice and interesting night tour. Discover nocturnal lemurs, chameleons and frogs. Return back to Hotel Feon’ny Ala hotel for overnight
Day 2: Andasibe
You will have the full day on the Best Madagascar tour in Andasibe. Spent touring beautiful parks and reserves around Andasibe. After breakfast, your Best Madagascar tour will visit Analamazaotra National Park. This is for a two to five-hour walk. Some of the wildlife you will be seeing here include Indri Indri. Other species of Lemurs, birds, orchids, insects, etc.
Return to the hotel for lunch which is on own account. This is before departing at 1400 hrs with a drive to Vakona Forest Lodge reserve. Your best Madagascar tour will be visiting the islands of the lemurs. Among the things to see today include ruffed lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs. There are also brown lemurs, bamboo lemurs, the famous Fossa, birds, crocodiles… etc!
Drive back to the hotel and relax. Overnight at the Hotel Feon’ny Ala, which is booked on bed and breakfast basis.
About Andasibe Mantadia National Park
Andasibe Mantadia National Park is a paradise for nature lovers. It has a rich and incredible fauna and flora. This park is in the Rural Commune of Andasibe. The Protected Area is the most visited in Madagascar. This is because of its proximity to the capital: 135km for about 3 hours drive.
Andasibe Mantadia National Park was created in 1989. It covers 15,480 hectares, most of which is covered by a dense evergreen humid forest. This is known to be the home for a wide variety of lemur species. There is a total of 14 diurnal and nocturnal species. They include the legendary Indri Indri, the mysterious Aye-Aye, the famous Varecia variegata, etc.
Andasibe Mantadia National Park is home to 51 reptile species and 84 amphibian species. Here there are 72 mammal species and 117 bird species. the park is home to countless insectivorous bats have been recorded so far. Mantadia is one of the best birdwatching sites on the Big Island. Don’t forget your camera!
Andasibe Mantadia National Park has a lush and green vegetation. This protected area contains a collection of evergreen vegetation. There are epiphytic plants – plants living on other plants. We also have mosses, ferns, bamboos, palm trees, hardwoods and precious woods. This park is also famous for its orchids with 120 inventoried species, all endemic. They bloom between September and January.
The park is home to a sacred lake, a natural swimming pool and an impressive sacred waterfall. It is also crossed by important rivers. The Vohitra River supplies the Andekaleka hydroelectric dam. This is the capital and the nearby localities’ energy source. Let’s not forget that we are here in a part of the Eastern Rainforest!
Day 3: Andasibe – Antsirabe
Start the day on the 14 days Best Madagascar tour with breakfast. This is followed by a drve back to Antananarivo center and then drive towards Antsirabe.
Along the way you will stop at the Reptile farm of Peyreras. This gives you an opportunity to see many varieties of Chameleons and Geckos. You see some reptiles that are difficult to see in the wild.
Your Best Madagascar tour proceeds through a beautiful landscape. Here you’ll see the life of the Merina tribe along the road side. You will arrive in Antsirabe later in the days.
Antasirabe is the hot spring city and is famous for semi-precious stones. You will find craftsmen who make amazing souvenirs.
This day of the 14 days Best Madagascar tour, you will overnight at Green Park hotel booked on bed and breakfast.
Day 4: Antsirabe –Miandrivazo
Start the day on Best Madagascar tour with breakfast before departure. Today you will make a visit to the sacred -volcanic lake of Andraikiba.
Later proceed with the drive with most of the day on the road as you head to Miandrivazo. Your arrival in Miandrivazo will be in the evening. You will check in for relaxation and overnight at La Pirogue hotel on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 5-7: Tsiribihina River tour
You will have the next 2 days of your Best Madagascar tour on Tsiribihina river trip. Start the day with breakfast before being transferred to Masiakapy by a taxi brousse. Here you will start the calm water river journey on the majestic Tsiribihina River.
You can sit back, relax and enjoy a beautiful landscape. There are many kinds of wild animals for you to see. They include herons, wild ducks, parrots, raptors, kingfishers, chameleons, insects and butterflies. In the midday, you cross the massif of Bemaraha. It overflows with a fantastic landscape, deciduous forest with lemurs and marvelous bird sounds.
In the afternoon you have the opportunity for a shower under the best waterfall of Madagascar. This is“Nosinapela” and its natural swimming pool. After this nice waterfall, you will proceed with your cruising toward Begidro village. It ia at the village that you will be setting camp on a sand bank, build a fire and cook your dinner.
Enjoy your meal, listening to the sounds of the river and watch the sun go down. The Tsiribihina River tour ends on day 7 in the afternoon. You will take a Zebu car to join the village of Antseraraka. We’ll spend a night in the local bungalow.
Day 08: The Sunset in Baobab Avenue – Morondava – Beach hotel
The day on Best Madagascar tour begins with breakfast after which you will travel south. This will be a drive heading to Morondava.
You will have a stop for lunch in a small village. Among the vegetation to be seen on the way are the many Baobab trees. There is plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the landscape.
You will be in time to catch sunset at the ‘Avenue of the Baobab’ between Belo sur Tsiribihina and Morondava. Later you will proceed to Morondava and relax at the Bougainvilles hotel. Here you will be accommodated in Beach Bungalows. Enjoy the amazing view over the Mozambique channel.
Day 9: Morondava – Antananarivo – Nosy Be – Hotel
The day on Best Madagascar tour will start with breakfast. This is to be followed by a transfer to Morondava airport in time for your flight to Antananarivo. You will be connecting to your flight to Nosy be island. Upon arrival you will be transfered to the hotel. Overnight at Chez Eugenie Hotel, booked on bed and breakfast basis.
Day 10-12: Nosy Be
You will have these day of the 14 days Best Madagascar tour on relaxation. Enjoy walking around and experiencing Nosy be with an excursion to Nositanikely between. Get time to take in and enjoy this beautiful tropical island. All your accommodation on bed and breakfast basis will be at Chez Eugenie Hotel.
Excursion in Nosy Tanikely
Choose a day on your best Madagascar tour, you will settle for the Nosy Tanikely excursion. This begins with a transfer by motor boat to “Nosy Tanikely”. This is a lovely little island and a marine reserve, with an amazing variety of marine life.
After a lovely picnic lunch on the beach we return to Nosy Be. Overnight at Chez Eugenie Hotel booked on bed and breakfast.
Day 13: Nosy Be – Antananarivo
Your day on Best of Madagascar tour begins with a leisure breakfast. This will be followed by a transfer to the airport of Fascène for your flight back to Tana. You are expected to arrive in Tana around noon or in evening depending on the departure time.
Enjoy a transfer to Tanajacaranda Hotel in Antananarivo. Here you are booked on bed and breakfast for overnight.
Day 14: Antananarivo City Tour –The Upper Town in Antananarivo – Market Of Digue:
Today you will have a Tana city tour concentrating on the upper town. This takes you to its ‘Rova Palace’ of the former Queen. This dominates the city and offers a magnificent panorama. You will have time on the last day of your Best Madagascar tour to do some shopping at the crafts market of Digue.
Later you will enjoy a transfer to airport for your flight back home.
———- End of 14 Day Best Madagascar Tour Safari ———-
14 Day Best Madagascar Tour Safari Costs:
What is included in the cost of14 Day Best Madagascar Tour?
- Car and fuel with a driver
- Guide during the whole tour
- Accommodation as per the itinerary on bed and breakfast basis
- Park entrance fees and local guide fees
- Domestic flight
- Speed boat to Nosy Be Island (one way)
14 Day Best Madagascar Tour Safari Price excludes:
- Your food and drinks during the whole tour
- All your international flights
What to Carry on the 14 Day Best Madagascar Tour Safari
- Light and a few heavy clothings for evenings
- Closed, comfortable shoes
- Sun protection like sun cream, hat
- Insect repellent
Places of Interest on the Best Madagascar Tour
Andasibe National Park
Best Madagascar tour to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park takesonly three hours away from Antananarivo, will delight the young and old alike. Get into the forest and discover the exceptional wild.
There is a good chance that you will catch sight of some lemurs perched on the top of a tree, coming to greet you, both day and night.
The primary forest is formed by two distinct protected ares – the Analamazoatra special reserve and the Mantadia national park.
Almost the whole park is formed by primary forest which has never been modified by human beings. It is also a refuge for many animals and plants. Thus, it is not uncommon to come across a multitude of species: lemurs, birds, chameleons, and insects of all kinds.
The climate of the park is quite cool, the average temperature is around 20°C and it rains almost all year. Plan to cover yourself if the weather is bad. You will find all types of accommodations (in the town of Andasibe) and in the vicinity of the park on your Best Madagascar tour. It is also possible to camp in the reserve of Analamazoatra.
What to See in Andasibe National Park
There are 14 different types of lemurs of which (by far) the best known on is. On this Best Madagascar tour you will be looking for the rare Indri Indri. This is the largest half ape in the world and only exists in the east of Madagascar.
You would think they are very difficult to find but the Indri Indri can be heard from afar by the hard and distinctive call they produce.
In addition to the lemurs, there are many other endemic animals to be found such as species of chameleons, frogs, leaf tail geckos and special birds such as the nightjar.
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
A Best Madagascar tour to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park goes northwest of the island in the remote Melaky region. Covering some 579 square miles (1,500 square kilometers), the park is dominated by two incredible karstic plateaus known as Great Tsingy and Little Tsingy.
These are interspersed with areas of dry deciduous forest, savannah, lakes and mangroves. This createsan astounding variety of different habitats for the park’s flora and fauna to thrive in.
Because of its uniqueness, Tsingy de Bemaraha was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.
Your Best Madagascar tour will enjoy a boat ride on Tsiribihina River. Bemaraha National Park is located in the Melaky region in central west Madagascar.
The park stretches over an area of 157,710ha, with a length of 100km from north to south and a width of 10 to 40km from east to west.
The southern part with an area of 72,340ha enjoys the status of being a national park. The northern part, which is managed as an strict nature reserve, covers 85,370ha of land.
The protected area is located on the Bemaraha plateau at an altitude of 150 to 170m, a karst formation bounded to the east by steep cliffs and to the west by gentle slopes.
South of the park, there is a formation of pinnacles where access is extremely difficult. In the north rolling hills alternate with limestone formations.
What to See in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
One of the park’s greatest attractions on Best Madagascar tour is the chance to see unique animals. These are wildlife that you cannot see anywhere else on Earth. 85 percent of the flora and fauna found within Tsingy de Bemaraha is endemic to Madagascar.
There are 47 percent is locally endemic. The park is a great place to spot lemurs, with 11 different kinds living within the park’s boundaries.
Of these, five are found exclusively in western Madagascar. They include the endangered Von der Decken’s sifaka and the vulnerable western lesser bamboo lemur.
Whats on the Bucket List Here
Other bucket list mammals on your Best Madagascar tour should include endemic carnivores like the western falanouc, the cat-like fossa and the ring-tailed mongoose.
Baobab Avenue
Best Madagascar tour to Avenue des Baobabs travels west of Madagascar, around 40 minutes from the city of Morondava. The famous street with baobabs (Adansonia Grandidieri) is just above Morondava. The avenue is also the most accessible place to see the Baobab trees in Africa. The bumpy and curvy road demands an experienced driver though and on your Best Madagascar tour, you got one. In the future it is planned to develop ecotourism to preserve the area and these gorgeous Baobab trees. ‘Baobab Avenue’ is an amazing natural avenue lined by Grandidier’s baobab, about 45 minutes from Morondava, west coast of Madagascar. One of the most visited in the region, the site has been speculated as potentially one of the 7 Wonders of Africa. Some of the trees to be seen on the Best Madagascar tour are over 800 years old, and they grow to a height of over 30 meters.
Nosy Be
Nosy Be, also called Nossi-Bé, island lying about 5 miles (8 km) off the northwestern shore of Madagascar. The name means “Big Island.” It is 19 miles (30 km) long, 12 miles (19 km) wide, and has an area of about 120 square miles (310 square km). Formed by volcanoes, the island is forested and has numerous craters and crater lakes. Its highest point is Mount Passot (1,079 feet [329 metres]). It has an annual rainfall of 78–118 inches (1,975–3,000 mm). The island’s products, chiefly sugar and oils for perfumery, also include rum, vanilla, black pepper, and bitter oranges. The main town, in the south, is Hell-Ville, a resort and port for foreign shipping and trade along the west coast of Madagascar. There is an airfield at Fascène, 7 miles (12 km) away. Known for its vanilla, pepper and ylang-ylang infused air, brilliantly colourful sunsets and peaceful island life, Nosy Be, meaning ‘Big Island’, has firmly set itself on the tourism map. This large, volcanic island is easily accessible and acts as the main gateway to a stunning archipelago. Here your Best Madagascar tour will find some of the best beaches in Madagasca. They are, perfect for some relaxation after exploring the mainland’s countless natural attractions on your Best Madagascar tour. Best Madagascar tour takes you northwest coast, just 8 kilometres off the mainland. The history of the ‘Perfumed Island’ of Nosy Be dates back to the 15th Century when the first Indian and Swahili settlers were thought to have arrived. Today, the island is a popular spot for tourism with its main draw being its string of beaches, some of which are nearly deserted.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo, Madagascar’s vibrant capital city, is often passed over in favor of the island’s unique countryside and beaches. On the Best Madagascar tour, you’re within reach of all of these in Tana, as the city is more commonly known.
There are added attraction of great historical sites and excellent shopping and dining on your doorstep.
There are palaces, museums and streets lined with faded colonial architecture to explore. Your Best Madagascar tour will visit bustling markets and boutiques to peruse, and a contemporary dining scene to enjoy.