Trip Overview
Journey with us to the magical island of Madagascar in August 2018 for an off the “beaten path” adventure in Africa to explore a bizarre world completely unlike any you’ve experienced before!
Welcome to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar! Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world. You will be amazed by this African island’s biodiversity, home to some 2,300 species of plants and animals, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. But this island’s greatest secret is its warm and friendly people. The Malagasy are proud of their heritage and are keen to share their art, handicrafts, food, and music with travelers to Madagascar.
We begin our journey in Madagascar in Ambositra, a small town recognized for its Zafimaniry woodcarvings and handicrafts. The Zafimaniry people are known for the typical wooden architecture of their houses, and their woodcarving knowledge and art was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage sites.
We then drive to the Manandriana area to learn about silk weaving from a group of local women weavers. From the silk worm to a woven scarf, discover the art of transforming a cocoon of wire and different stages of silk weaving. You will learn about the different stages of silk weaving, cooking the cocoons, spinning, dyeing, and weaving. And you’ll even try your hand on the loom!
Explore the Kirindy Forest, a private reserve in Madagascar, and one of the only places where you can see the endangered giant jumping rat, which hops around like a kangaroo but also walks on all fours. On your way to Kirindy, stop at the Avenue of the Baobabs for a remarkable sunset that paints the sky in reds and oranges.
Madagascar is world-famous for its lemurs. Lemurs are primates that look something like a cat crossed with a squirrel and a dog. These animals are unique to the island and display a range of interesting behaviors. Today, lemurs are found in virtually all of Madagascar’s ecosystems and share some of the social and behavioral characteristics of monkeys, including forming social groups, eating fruit and vegetation, and being active during the day. Search Kirindy for lemurs during the day, and you’ll even get to experience a nocturnal visit nearby.
After exploring the forest, four-wheel-drive vehicles are waiting to take you to Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park. This is a true African bush adventure where you will be traveling on bumpy roads as you drive through remarkable, relatively remote countryside before arriving at your hotel.
The Tsingy are a very peculiar rock formation, which only exist in Madagascar. These limestone pinnacles are formed by the slow sedimentation of coral and shell along with the effects of wind and water. These “stone forests”, which can tower several hundred meters high, contain a labyrinth of caves, underground rivers, and canyons, where rich populations of bats, lemurs, birds, and a specific flora thrive.
You’ll then fly back to Antananarivo on a charter flight and make your way to the Anjozorobe Protected Area. Home to numerous species of flora and fauna, the area is also rich in medicinal and endemic plants. Settle in at your charming forest lodge, and then head out to look for the Indri indri, one of the largest living lemurs. You’ll have an opportunity to learn about the diverse plant life, including rare orchids.
We end our Madagasgar adventure, leaving the countryside and heading back to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital. Visit Lemurs Park, home to nine species of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs before returning to the city for your farewell dinner, where you will celebrate the warmth and hospitality of the friendly Malagsy!
Join us in August 2018 for culture, art, and wildlife on a true African adventure on the magical island of Madagascar!
- Madagascar Adventure Tour: Day-by-Day Itinerary
- What’s Included on your Madagascar Adventure Vacation
- What to Pack for a Vacation in Madagascar
- Traveling Tips & Information About Getting to Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Detailed Itinerary: Madagascar Adventure Tour
Main Attractions
- Search for lemurs, birds, chameleons and rare flora, found nowhere else on Earth
- Explore Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park with stunning rock formations only found in Madagascar
- Marvel at the fauna and baobab trees found in Kirindy Reserve
- Learn silk weaving and embroidery from local women
- Visit the Angavo Anjozorobe Protected Area to search for Madagascar’s largest lemur
What You'll See and Do
- Anthropology
- Camping
- Cultural Exploration
- Handicrafts
- Local Delicacies
- National Parks
- Natural History
- River Cruising
- Spa Element
- Walking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Women-To-Women Exchanges
