Madagascar Birding and Mammals
The highlights of the adventure include to Explore Madagascar’s incredible Bird watching, Watch White-breasted Mesites and Gray-headed Lovebirds are sometimes seen within the camp, Visit to Lac Ravelobe where we could find Mascarene Martin, Madagascar Jacana and Purple Heron, Opportunity to visit some of the marshes in the hope of finding that ultimate Malagasy tick.
Day One: Arrival in Antananarivo
Upon your arrival in Anatananarivo, you will be welcomed by the guide from Afrikan Wildlife Safaris. Then transfer you to the hotel for the overnight. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may visit Lac Alarobia (Parc de Tsarasoatra), a 66-acre bird oasis near the center of the capital, where we will have our first encounters with some of the Malagasy birdlife. Dimorphic Egret, Madagascar Kingfisher and various duck species are common. Squacco Heron, Madagascar Pond Heron, Eleanora’s Falcon here. Dinner and overnight at Le Louvre Hotel. BB
Day Two: Ankarafantsika National Park.
After breakfast, we will head to Ankarafantsika National park. In this part, keep your eyes peeled for Lesser Vasa Parrots, Crested Drongo, Madagascar Magpie Robin, Sakalava Weaver, Madagascar Hoopoe and Madagascar Green Pigeon, Coquerel’s Sifaka, Madagascar Fish-Eagle, White-throated Rails. Dinner and overnight at Ankarafantsika Lodge or similar
Day Three: Ankarafantsika National Park.
After breakfast, we will start birding around the camp and look out for the White-breasted Mesites and Gray-headed Lovebirds. Then proceed to the park exploring the splendid network of trails through the park. Eight species of Lemur can be found around the camp, including Common Brown Lemur as well as the rare Mongoose Lemur. The jewel-like Schlegel’s Asity will be high on our list of priorities as will Van Dam’s Vanga and also the two species of Coua found here: Red-capped and Coquerel’s Couas. Vangas are well represented and other than Van Dam’s we should also find Rufous, Hook-billed, White-headed, Chabert’s and Red-tailed Vangas. Reptiles are plentiful, fortunately there are no poisonous snakes on the Island. Oustalet’s Chameleon (the worlds largest) and Rhinoceros Chameleon are common in the forest. After dinner we will go on a night walk for some of the nocturnal birds and Lemurs. Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher is often easier found at night than during the day. Dinner and overnight at Ankarafantsika Lodge or similar
Day Four: Mahajanga
Today, we will continue our birding looking out for Madagascar Crested Ibis, Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher and Sickle-billed Vanga. Madagascar Green Sunbird breeds in the camp and we will make another visit to Lac Ravelobe where we could find Mascarene Martin, Madagascar Jacana and Purple Heron. On the way to Mahajanga we will stop at Lac Amboromalandy where we might find Humblot’s Heron, White-faced Whistling Duck, African Pygmy Goose and Hottentot Teal. Dinner and overnight at Hotel La Piscine or similar, Mahajanga
Day Five: Betsiboka Delta then Antananarivo
We will have an early morning boat trip up the Betsiboka Delta where we can find the rare Bernier’s Teal and also Madagascar Sacred Ibis. Then look out also for Greater Sand Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel and Crab Plover likely. Return to Mahajanga and take you flight back to Antananarivo. Dinner and overnight at Vakona Forest Lodge or similar
Day Six: Perinet Reserve
This morning, Wwe will spend a full day birding Perinet Reserve. Look out for Red-fronted and Blue Coua, Velvet Asity, Madagascar Blue Vanga, Nuthatch Vanga and Red-tailed Vanga. Look out also for the Indri, world’s largest living Lemur. Other birds species to be on the lookout for include Madagascar Wood Rail, Madagascar Cuckoo, Madagascar Spinetail, Tylas, Nelicourvi Weaver, Souimanga Sunbird, Common Sunbird-Asity and Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller. After dinner, we will embark on an unforgettable evening in the forest, watching for nocturnal Lemurs and birds. Possibilities include Long-eared Owl, Rainforest Scops Owl and both Madagascar Nightjar and the rare and little-known Collared Nightjar. With the Lemur, we expect to find the nocturnal Eastern Woolly, Greater Dwarf and the diminutive Brown Mouse lemurs. Dinner and overnight at Vakona Forest Lodge or similar
Day Seven: Mantadia National Park
After breakfast, go birding in theMantadia National Park, which ideal to find the Ground-Rollers in Madagascar. Four of the five Ground-Rollers are found here, the only exclusion being the Long-tailed Ground-Roller. Some of the more difficult to see specialties at Mantadia include Red-breasted Coua, Madagascar Serpent Eagle and the incredibly scarce Red Owl. Check out for the Greater and Lesser Vasa Parrots, Madagascar Starling, Madagascar Blue-Pigeon, Madagascar Flufftail, Madagascar Little Grebe, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Forest Fody, Ward’s Flycatcher, Crossley’s Babbler, White-throated Oxylabes and many more. The elusive Diademed Sifaka and Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur are present here. Dinner and overnight at Vakona Forest Lodge or similar
Day Eight: Anjozorobe
Today, we will drive to Anjozorobe after our breakfast. On the way, look out for France’s Sparrow hawk and Madagascar Lark en route. Dinner and overnight at Mananara Lodge or similar
Day Nine: Anjozorobe
This is another exciting part of Madagascar. Ten of Madagascar’s thirty three Lemur species are found here in addition to a diverse bird species. The birds of top interest here will be Red-tailed Newtonia, Grey Emutail, Grey-crowned Greenbul, Yellow-browed Oxylabes and Common Sunbird-Asity. In the wetlands, we should look for the rare Meller’s Duck, Madagascar Snipe, Madagascar Little Grebe, super-rare Slender-billed Flufftail, Henst’s Goshawk, Madagascar Partridge and Madagascar Buttonquail. Dinner and overnight at Mananara Lodge or similar
Day Ten: Anjozorobe
This will be birding Anjozorobe in the morning for any birds that we might have missed the prevoius day. Then once again visit some of the marshes to check out for the Malagasy tick, the Slender-billed Flufftail. Then return to Antananarivo in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Le Louvre Hotel or similar
Day Eleven: Ranomafana
Afteran early breakfast, we will go for the long drive to Ranomafana. You may be stopping if you find any bird of interest on the way. Dinner and overnight at SETAM Lodge or similar
Day Twelve: Ranomafana.
Ranomafana was gazette to protect the Golden Bamboo Lemur after their recognition in 1987. Ranomafana means hot water, which refers to the hot springs in the area. The birds that we will be on the lookout for include the elusive Brown Mesite, Forest Rock Trush, Wedge-tailed Jery, Pollen’s Vanga, Pitta-like Ground-Roller, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Rufous-headed Ground-Roller, Brown Emutail, Rand’s Warbler and Cryptic Warbler. Dinner and overnight at SETAM Lodge or similar
Day Thirteen: Ranomafana
We will spend the whole day birding the forest and we should find birds such as Blue Coua, Yellow-browed Oxylabes, Grey-crowned Greenbul and, with huge amounts of luck, we might spot Madagascar Cuckoo Hawk. After lunch we will visit the Vohiparara marsh for Meller’s Duck, Madagascar Harrier, Grey Emutail, Madagascar Snipe and the very rare Slender-billed Flufftail. We will constantly be on the lookout for the 12 known species of Lemur that occur here as well as a myriad of Chameleons and other reptiles and amphibians. Dinner and overnight at SETAM Lodge or similar
Day Fourteen: Isalo National Park
After your breakfast, you will drive to Isalo National Park via the Horombe Plateau. The primary target will be Benson’s Rock Thrush. Look out also for Madagascar Sandgrouse, Madagascar Partridge and Madagascar Harrier. We will spend the afternoon birding around Relais de la Reine, located between the town of Ranohira and Isalo National Park. Dinner and overnight at La Mangrove or similar
Day Fifteen: Zombitse Forest
Today, we will be birding the Zombitse Forest where we will search for one of the world’s most localized birds, the Appert’s Greenbul. We also check out for the Giant Coua, Crested Coua, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Ashy Cuckoo-Shrike, Long-billed Greenbul, Madagascar Buzzard, Fosa, Madagascar’s largest predator, has also been reported from here. Dinner and overnight at Mangrove or similar
Day Sixteen:
You will have an early start and head for the La Table, here we look for the localized Verreaux’s Coua and the recently discovered Red-shouldered Vanga. Then later we head for the island of Nosy Ve via the Onilahy Delta where we might find Humblot’s Heron and Greater Flamingo. Nosy Ve is an uninhabited islet with a breeding colony of Red-tailed Tropicbird that are very confiding. Other attractions include Crab Plovers and numerous waders. Snorkeling is another famous pastime here and we might opt for this if you would like to spend a bit of time in the water. Get back to the mainland and stop at Anakoa for Littoral Rock Thrush, which is regularly recorded here. Dinner and overnight at Mangrove or similar
Day Seventeen: Ifaty
This morning, we will head for Ifaty to check out for the Saunder’s Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Lesser Sand Plover, and Bar-tailed Godwit. Both Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds. Stop to some wetlands on the way to Ifaty to look for Greater Painted Snipe, Baillon’s Crake and Little Bittern. We will spend the afternoon birding in the Spiny Desert around Ifaty for Long-tailed Ground-Roller. Dinner and overnight at Ifaty, Les Dunes Hotel or similar
Day Eighteen:
Go for the early morning birding in the Spiny Desert in search for Sub-desert Mesite, Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Archbold’s Newtonia, Thamnornis Warbler, Banded Kestrel, Sub-desert Brush Warbler, Running and Green-capped Couas. The Spiny desert is home to numerous reptiles. We should see the fairly common Three-eyed Lizards and may be lucky enough to find a beautiful Spider Tortoise or rare Dumeril’s Boa. Then head back to Tulear where we will catch our flight to Antananarivo. Depending on the exact time of the flight we might pay a visit to Tzimbazaza Zoo or perhaps another visit to Lac Alarobia for some last minute birding. Dinner at a French Restaurant.
Day Nineteen:
After your breakfast, you will be taken to the airport to catch your flight back home.
Trip Includes
All Lodging as mentioned in the itinerary
All meals as indicated
All land transportation within
Airport transfers within
Park fees
Expert bilingual birding guide (s)
Services of two Cheepers
All activities not listed as optional