This ten days Madagascar birding will introduce you to bird species like Madagascar Pochard, Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Slender-billed Flufftail, Red Owl with a variety of fauna and flora. The trip, however, is quite strenuous and the camping is fairly basic.
Day One: Arrival in Antananarivo
Upon your arrival at Ivato International Airport, you will be welcomed by the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris who will then transfer you to the hotel for the overnight. When at the hotel, look out for Red Fody and Madagascar Wagtail. Dinner and overnight at Relais des Plateaux Hotel, Antananarivo
Day Two: Flight to Mahajanga
After breakfast, you will take your flight to Mahajanga in the northwest of Madagascar on the Betsiboka Delta. If the flight is not in the morning, we will visit Lake Tsarasoatra and check out for White-throated Rail, Humblot’s Heron, Malagasy Pond Heron, Squacco Heron. When you arrive in Mahajanga, take a walk along the beach adjacent to the hotel and look out for the shorebirds. Dinner and overnight at Sunny Hotel, Mahajanga
Day Three: Bealanana
On this day, you will drive to Bealanana which may take the full day. On the way, you will briefly visit Ankarafantsika National Park to look for Broad-billed Roller, White-headed Vanga, Madagascar Hoopoe, Crested Drongo, Sickle-billed Vanga. Stop at Antsohihy for lunch then continue to Bealanana arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Guest house in Bealanana
Day Four: Bemanevika
Today, you will drive to Bemanevika. On the way, look out for Olive Bee-eater, Malagasy Kestrel, Madagascar Cisticola, Madagascar Buzzard. On arrival, set up a camp and later explore the area looking for White-throated Rail, Madagascar Lark, Meller’s Duck, Malagasy Kingfisher, Red Owl. Dinner and overnight: Camping, Bemanevika
Days Five and Six: Bemanevika
We will use the two nights to explore more of this region. The main focus will be on the Madagascar Pochard, Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Red Owl, and Slender-billed Flufftail, Check out in the grasslands for Malagasy Harrier, Madagascar Cuckoo, Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Lark, Mascarene Martin, Malagasy Kestrel, Olive Bee-eater, in the wetlands, close by, check for Madagascar Partridge, Grey Emutail, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Blue Coua, Malagasy Black Swift, Malagasy White-eye,Madagascar Flufftail. On the lake, look for Madagascar Grebe, Madagascar Swamp Warbler, Madagascar Rail, and night walks may provide Madagascar Nightjar, Rainforest Scops Owl, and Madagascar Owl. Dinner and overnight is Camping at Bemanevika
Day Seven: Antsohihy
After breakfast, we will drive back west for an overnight stop in Antsohihy while birding en route. We will stop for a picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Antsohihy
Day Eight: Mahajanga
This morning, we will transfer from Antsohihy to Mahajanga. On the way we will have lunch in Ankarafantsika National Park, where 129 species of birds have been recorded, more than half of them endemic to Madagascar. We hope to be able to encounter a number of them during our lunch stop, perhaps even the Critically Endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle. Dinner and overnight at Sunny Hotel, Mahajanga
Day Nine: Birding the Betsiboka Delta, flight to Antananarivo
After our breakfast, we will bird the mangroves at the Betsiboka Delta for rare species such as Malagasy Sacred Ibis, Bernier’s Teal, along with a host of tropical shorebirds, terns, and more. Then take a flight back to Antananarivo. Dinner and overnight at Relais des Plateaux Hotel, Antananarivo
Day Ten: Fly Out
Have your breakfast and later the guide will transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back home.