Madagascar Photo Tour

PLEASE NOTE: Due to ever-changing flight schedules, this itinerary often runs in a different order – please see special notes below.

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
A transfer will be provided to our hotel in Antananarivo, also known as “Tana”. This sprawling city is a fascinating and bewildering mix of the ancient and modern, with glassy high-rises going up in some areas as ox carts share the roads with a vast range of more modern vehicles. Quaint two-story red brick houses rise from a landscape of endless rice fields, and medieval avenues replete with markets and stalls selling all sorts. Despite being in the mountains, Tana almost feels like an island floating in a sea of rice!

Day 2: Tana to Fort Dauphin to Berenty
Today we catch a domestic flight south to Fort Dauphin and drive to Berenty, where we spend three nights.

Days 3-4: Berenty
Our time in Berenty offers incredible photographic opportunities for two of Madagascar’s most photogenic and famous lemurs: the cute Ring-tailed Lemur and the famous “dancing” Verreaux’s Sifakas. The gallery forest here also supports Giant Coua and daytime-roosting White-browed Owl and White-footed Sportive Lemur. This open dry Spiny Forest (Af2J) is a wonderful place to start enjoying and photographing a range of other Malagasy birds, mammals, and reptiles.

Day 5: Berenty to Fort Dauphin
After a final morning of photography, we drive about three hours to the charming coastal town of Fort Dauphin, where we’ll spend the night. This drive is fascinating from a habitat perspective as we witness an abrupt transition from semi-desert spiny forest to lush eastern escarpment rainforest.

Day 6: Fort Dauphin to Tana
A domestic flight brings us back to Tana, where we will overnight once more.

Days 7-10: Andasibe-Mantadia NP (Perinet)
On day 7, we will make the long drive to the wonderful Andasibe (3-5 hours). The most diverse habitat on the island is the lush Indian Ocean Montane Rainforest (Af4K) of eastern Madagascar. A major protected area here, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, offers the best of Madagascar’s fauna. Many of the island’s most spectacular endemic birds are restricted to this rainforest, where we seek out photo opportunities with species including Pitta-like and Scaly Ground-Rollers, Red-breasted Coua, Madagascar Flufftail, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, and Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher. The experience of rambling in Andasibe would not be complete without being serenaded by the planet’s largest lemur, the Indri. The spine-chilling howls of this creature will stick in your memory for the rest of your life, and these large prosimians also make wonderful photo subjects. With luck, we might encounter one of Madagascar’s evolutionary masterpieces, the bizarre Lowland Streaked Tenrec. After dark we will search for some of the creatures of the night, and should find Eastern Woolly, Crossley’s Dwarf, and Goodman’s Mouse Lemurs. The area’s reptile and amphibian fauna are equally dramatic; among the myriad of colorful and photogenic frogs, chameleons, and geckos we may encounter are the giant Parson’s Chameleon, dapper frogs, glowing green day-geckos, and two species of incredibly camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko. Four nights will be spent in Andasibe.

Day 11: Andasibe-Mantadia NP to Tana
After a final morning in the rainforest, possibly spent in a reptile park that is superb for macro photography, we will head back up the eastern escarpment and once again back to the capital of Tana, for another night.

Day 12: Tana to Mahajanga
Another short domestic flight brings us to the bustling coastal town of Mahajanga, where we spend the night.

Day 13: Mahajanga to Ankarafantsika
This morning will be spend driving into the seasonally dry Malagasy Deciduous Forest (Af5A) of Ankarafantsika, a treasure house of rare and wonderful wildlife. We spend two nights here at a simple eco-lodge.

Day 14: Ankarafantsika
We have a full day in the dry forest and adjacent shallow freshwater marsh wetlands of Ankarafantsika National Park. The abundance of lemurs and birds, and the open nature of the forest here make this one of the island’s premier sites for wildlife photography. Troops of handsome Coquerel’s Sifakas often hang around the park headquarters, along with birds like Madagascar Hoopoe, Sickle-billed Vanga, and Crested Drongo. A nearby lake is teaming with herons, egrets, and other waterbirds, and we may take a short boat trip there if water levels allow. The boat ride may present us with the opportunity to see and photograph two of Madagascar’s most epic endemics: Madagascar Fish-Eagle and Madagascar Jacana. Walking in the nearby forests we will seek out one of the island’s most unique looking birds, the Schlegel’s Asity, who’s psychedelically patterned multicolored wattle stands out in the world of birds. Night walks here are especially productive. We’ll seek out the Golden-brown Mouse Lemur, which is endemic to this park, plus Western Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur, Mongoose Lemur, and several species of geckos and chameleons.

Day 15: Ankarafantsika to Tana
On this day we travel from Ankarafantsika back to Tana. In some years, it is possible to fly between the two but in other years, we are unable to fly due to Madagascar’s unreliable flights, and we need to undertake an all-day drive.

Day 16: Departure from Tana
The tour ends this morning with transfers to the airport.

Kirindy Extension

Day 1: Tana to Kirindy
A short domestic flight brings us out of the highlands and to the coastal town of Morandava, the gateway to Kirindy, which is a couple hours’ drive away via the incredible ‘Allée des Baobabs’, an avenue of giant Grandidier’s Baobabs. It’s as iconic as it is photogenic, and we will enjoy a stop here for photos.

Days 2–3: Kirindy
The extension heads to the western coastline of central Madagascar, where the western Malagasy Deciduous Forest (Af5A) hold a diverse and easily photographable suite of lemurs, birds, and reptiles, plus Madagascar’s largest predator, a giant relative of the mongooses: the Fosa. Kirindy is a lemur paradise and we ought to catch up with lanky Verreaux’s Sifaka and big-eyed Red-tailed Sportive Lemurs among eight possible species. This is also a good area for snakes, and there is no nervous tension as none of Madagascar’s snakes are venomous! We will also seek out the giant Oustalet’s Chameleon and the spiky Cuvier’s Madagascar Swift. We’ll consider ourselves lucky if we manage photos of the shy White-breasted Mesite, but they are not rare to see here. Kirindy holds good numbers of many widespread Malagasy species, including a diverse range of couas and vangas. The open nature of the forests here means that these species are easier to photograph here than elsewhere, making Kirindy an excellent addition to a phototour of the island.

Day 4: Morondava to Tana (this is the arrival day of the main tour)
We catch our flight back to Tana, where we’ll spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT MADAGASCAR TOURS: It is possible that the final itinerary for this tour will be somewhat different from the one given above. Flight schedules in Madagascar are complicated and ever-changing. Most flights operate only on certain days of the week, and the itinerary above is based entirely on schedules that may change at short notice. We will monitor the situation and adapt our itinerary as necessary. Flights can even change on a moment’s notice based on weather conditions (or the whims of the airline!), so last-minute modifications are also a distinct possibility. Madagascar is an under-developed country. While we endeavor to use the best providers possible, sub-par service (e.g. uncomfortable or poorly maintained vehicles, simple hotels, cancelled or redirected flights) can sometimes cause inconveniences to travelers. Every tour company running trips here must deal with these problems, but we feel it is best to inform you beforehand, as it can be quite disconcerting considering the costs involved in visiting this country.

Trip Considerations

PACE:  Moderate. The sun comes up just after 5am, and early morning is the prime photography time, making for many early mornings. On the other hand, the sun sets about 6pm, meaning that days are not extremely long. There will be some down time at mid-day on most days of the tour, except for days with all-day drives. In the very hot northwest and south, we often have many hours of downtime due to high heat and lack of wildlife activity in the middle of the day. There is one very long drive possible (9-10 hours) on this tour, on day 15, if we are unable to get a flight (Madagadar domestic flights are notoriously unreliable). Most of the tour is spent on national roads which are mostly in decent condition, though often winding. Some sites are accessed via short drives (two hours maximum) on sandy or muddy tracks. There may be a couple of packed lunches (no more than that) on this tour.

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY: Moderate. The eastern rainforest sites require long sessions in the forest, away from the vehicle. On one or two days, these sessions may run from early morning until the afternoon. Although we try to find as many species as possible from the trails, bushwhacking is sometimes necessary to seek out special birds and lemurs, but these diversions from the trail can be skipped by those who are physically unable to make them. The rainforest trails don’t generally have deep mud but can be slippery on the surface after recent rain. Most of the trails are broad and flat. The terrain in the western sites is completely flat, but often sandy, which can be fatiguing, especially as midday temperatures take effect. You can expect to walk around 4 miles (6.4 km) per day maximum.

CLIMATE: The eastern rainforest sites have moderate temperatures (mostly 70°–80°F, 21°–27°C), though they are humid, with rain possible. The climate in the coastal lowlands is hot (up to 95°F, 35°C). The weather at Ankarafantsika NP very hot and humid.

ACCOMMODATION: Mostly very good, apart from  at Ankarafantsika on the main tour and at Kirindy on the extension. The very good ones have en-suite bathrooms, full-time electricity and some of them have reliable wifi. The Wifi in Madagascar is often unreliable, and the places where it is usually best are at Andasibe and in Tana. Two nights will be spent at a simple eco-lodge near Ankarafantsika NP on the main tour. This has en-suite, but does not have full-time electricity, which is limited to times when the generator is running. On the Kirindy extension, the accommodation is basic: the simple bungalows have en-suite facilities, hot water, though the electricity is via generator and often on for limited periods only.

WHEN TO GO: We run the set-departure tour in October or November, at the beginning of the warm and rainy season, when many birds begin breeding, hibernating mammals have started to emerge, and frogs and reptiles become more conspicuous. Although somewhat less diverse, the austral winter is also a good time to visit Madagascar, as the parks are less crowded and the weather is very comfortable. Custom tours can be tweaked to make the most of any season.

PHOTO PHILOSOPHY: There will be a lot of walking, but subjects are abundant right around our lodges, especially at Kirindy. We will seek out birds, plus lemurs, amphibians, reptiles, butterflies, and landscapes. This is one of our most diverse photo tours.

GEAR: A macro lens and flash are essential. Birds and lemurs are often very approachable, so it’s good to have both a big lens and a smaller zoom OR an intermediate lens like a 300mm. There is lots of light in the western forest at Kirindy, but it is dark inside the eastern rainforest.

Other Information

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: A valid passport is required; the passport must be valid for at least six months past your intended stay and have THREE BLANK PAGES. Proof of onward travel (a return ticket) may also be requested. A visa is required. Currently, a  30-day tourist visas can be obtained upon arrival for citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and most European countries. There is a fee for this, payable in cash on arrival.  This is currently 35 Euros/ $41 US Dollars (noter that this may change at short notice). A visa can also be obtained beforehand through a Malagasy embassy or consulate. Advance visas are currently only required of a few nationalities, mostly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Travel requirements are subject to change, and it is a good idea to double-check your entry requirements at least six weeks before you travel; contact the nearest embassy or consulate or ask our office staff for help. PLEASE NOTE: A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is generally not required for entry into Madagascar, if you are coming from an area without this. However, if you are transiting through some areas like Nairobi (Kenya) or Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), and you have had a long transit time or have left the airport in those places, you may need to present a Yellow Fever certificate on arrival in Madagascar.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Tips to local guides, drivers, and lodge staff; accommodation from the night of day 1 to the night of day 15 if taking only the main tour, or through the night of Day 3 of the extension (day 4 of the extension is the night of Day 1 of the main tour); meals from dinner on day 1 (unless you arrive too late for dinner service) to breakfast on day 16 if taking only the main tour, and from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4 of the Kirindy extension; safe drinking water throughout; Tropical Birding tour leader with audio gear from the evening of day 1 to the evening of day 15 if taking only the main tour, and to the afternoon of day 4 of the Kirindy extension; one arrival and one departure airport transfer per person (transfers may be shared with other participants of the same tour if they arrive at the same time); domestic flights; ground transport in a suitable vehicle with a local driver for the group to all sites in the itinerary from Day 2 to Day 15 of the main tour , and from Day 1 to Day 4 of the extension; entrance fees and local guide fees for all the birding sites mentioned in the itinerary.

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?: Optional tips to the Tropical Birding tour leader; tips for luggage porters; international flights; excess baggage fees on domestic flights; snacks; additional drinks apart from those included; alcoholic beverages; travel insurance; excursions not included in the tour itinerary; extras in hotels such as laundry service, minibar, room service, telephone calls, and personal items; medical fees; other items or services not specifically mentioned as being included; Expenses that could arise due to the delay, change, or extension of the trip due to circumstances beyond Tropical Birding’s control (weather, flight delays/cancellations, lost luggage, road closures, etc.).