MADAGASCAR “Heart of Madagascar” THIS IS A DRAFT ITINERARY PREPARED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS SITE: IT IS THE FIRST STEP FROM WHICH TO CREATE A TAILOR-MADE TRIP TO MEET THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS OF EACH CUSTOMER. A MORE SPECIFIC DRAFT CAN BE DRAFTED AND SENT UPON REQUEST. ACCOMMODATIONS, DURATION OF THE TRIP, EXTENSIONS AND COMBINATIONS WITH OTHER PLACES (WITHIN THE SAME COUNTRY OR IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES) CAN BE DETERMINED TOGETHER WITH KALAHARI AND MODIFIED ACCORDING TO YOUR DESIRES Period: only from the end of June till the end of October, in the dry season in this part of the country ITINERARY The trip starts at Tanà (Antananarivo). Day 1 Arrival - Antananarivo Arrival and meeting with the guide at the airport and start of ground services. Transfer to the city and accommodation in a nice hotel in the city centre. Tana is one of the finest African capitals, full of charm, history and culture. Day 2 Antisarabe Meeting with the guide and departure by car towards the south. We will cross the upper part of the country bordering villages along the main road through the island. A first stop in Ambatolampy to visit craftsmanship. Life in this country is simple but active. Even the most obvious things are always surrounded by an uneven and African imagination, full of colours and smiles. Once in Antsirabe, the afternoon is dedicated to markets. Important places to know and to understand the life of the country, you will go around the narrow streets on the typical pousse pousse, small local rickshaw, to stop in curious hidden corners. Visit also to laboratories, which process semi-precious stones. Basic accommodation, typical of Malgascia on half board basis. Day 3 Miandrivazo You will carry on by car turning westwards. You will leave the main road of the south to pursue a day transfer amidst beautiful landscapes: colourful landscapes, savannah, villages, daily routine activities, rivers and a succession of local life. You will arrive in the warm Miandrivazo, in the heart of the country. Here also, basic accommodation on half board basis. Day 4 Masiakampy & Nosy Ampela You will arrive in the morning at a specific point to get on board and cross the Tsiribihina River with a Chalon: a typical local boat. On this river, every five years they celebrate the great traditional ceremony of the Sakalava population, where the relics of the ancient kings are immersed in its waters. Visit the "gorges" where you can meet the famous lemurs, typical of Madagascar. There are many animals that can be encountered that lurk in the most remote forests. There are also many species of birds such as herons, kingfishers and other birds of prey. It is a wonderful experience because it is away from the usual national parks and tourist routes: you will spend two days of total relaxation transported by the calm waters of Tsiribihina and pampered by the owners of the boat during delicious lunches and dinners under the stars. Picnic lunch on a wide white sandy beach near the forest. Accommodation at the camp organised by the guide that accompanies you during the journey. All equipment except the sleeping bag is provided by the guide. Full board basis at the camp. Day 5 Tsaraotana Anywhere along the route you will find waterfalls and natural pools, and here one can take the opportunity to take a lovely bath. Across the big "falaise ", the villages of BEREVO, where you will encounter a population that is still detached from contact with the West. Picnic lunch on another white sandy beach. It is wonderful to navigate through this spectacular environment; through gorges, creeks and the lush vegetation. Accommodation at the camp is organised by the guide that accompanies you. The guide provides all equipment, except the sleeping bag. Full board basis at the camp. Day 6 Tsimafana, Belo Sur Tsiribihina, Bekopaka At about lunchtime, we arrive by boat at Belo Sur Tsiribihina. Lunch on board. On the shore the 4x4 vehicles are ready for the journey to Bekopaka. The roads here are terrible, but the view, the pristine environment and the fine, white sandy beach will leave you enchanted. You will proceed on the path back inland to the national park. Here, to get to the lodge, you will cross the Manambolo River where you will see the famous gorges. Overnight stay behind the park on half board basis. Day 7 Bekopaka – Petit Tsingy e Manambolo After breakfast, a relaxing sail on a canoe along the stretch of the Manambolo River, up to the gorges covered with lush vegetation; visit the caves and viewing of the Vazimba burials. Lunch. In the afternoon, we will continue with the tour to Small Tsingy, pinnacle rock formations that stand out on the surrounding savannah, forming an obstructed barrier. Then continue for the exploration of tropical forests inhabited by Sifaka lemurs and Fulvus Rufus. Overnight stay in the same lodge on half board basis. Day 8 Bekopaka – Grands Tsingy Full day excursion to the Great Tsingy: ancient coral reefs carved from the elements that over the millennia have become a maze of pinnacles of a dozen meters high (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990); suspension bridges, viewing platforms that can be reached with some extra effort. Definitely, worth the effort for the spectacular view it offers. You will spend the day exploring this strange paradise. For those who are more into sports, the excursion can be transformed into caving and abseiling activities: with the slings, you will descend into these depths of greenery, you will go through caves and narrow passages. An exciting experience; picnic lunch during the excursion. Return to the hotel in the evening. Overnight in the same lodge on half board basis. Day 9 & 10 Morondava & Rue du Baobab You will return to the south, past Belo Sur Tsiribihina to get to Morondava. A stop just before sunset in the Baobab forest. This famous track, not very long, goes along a stretch of high baobab. The warm rays of the setting sun colours their trunks with fantastic "nuances", from pink to purple, ochre to brown, creating an incredible sight. In Madagascar this tree (Andanasonia Madagascariences) is well known, and one can find a great variety of them. This land, at the time of Godwana, was a rich marsh of marshes and giant trees, where often the big dinosaurs used to gather. Morondava, a unique area, the only one that you will visit during this trip that is a bit more touristic. It is made up of many small fishing villages; Vezo: some on the shores of the coast on the other small islands of sand that sometimes, at low tide, can be more easily reached by walk. The entire area is sandy. Here, too, along the way, you can admire the tombs of important people and less of the Sakalavas population. Accommodation in a charming lodge on half board basis. Day 11-13 Belo Sur Mer You will get to Belo sur Mer with a 4x4 vehicle, always further south. Stunning coastline, beautiful sea and white sandy beaches. The vegetation is typical of southern Madagascar's dry and thorny plants and shrubs that are born in the dunes. Free days to dedicate to the beach and sea. Accommodation in a small ecolodge on half board basis. Possibility of diving and fun excursions in the lagoon with sailing canoes. Another beautiful hike is the one that leads to coral atolls off the coast where you will pass an entire day on a picnic on the beach. In the months between June and September, you can also see the passage of families of whales. Day 14 Tanà You will return to Morondava by boat. From here, you will proceed to the airport for the flight to Tanà. Arrival and transfer to the city, stop for the visit to the crafts village. Accommodation at the same hotel of the day of arrival with breakfast. Day 15 & 16 Departure Early morning visit to the Père village. Pèdro and vehicle available until the transfer to the airport for the connection flight. End of ground services. SUGGESTED EXTENSION Lemours at Perinet The first day, on arrival at Tanà: Arrival and meeting with the guide at the airport. Start of ground services. Depart with vehicle towards the east to reach the Perinet forest. The route passes through; villages, all sorts of markets and rivers, where women wash clothes on the riverbanks and the kids move around carried away from their daily chores. An explosion of colours and smells. The journey, which is quite relaxing, takes about four hours until the arrival in the green primary forest. A stop in Peyreiras Mini Park in Mandraka. Accommodation in the best of the three lodges of the place surrounded by a pond and high vegetation. Accommodation in this area is simple a very touristic park, but it is an excellent opportunity to see the lemurs in their natural habitat: the incredible primary forest of Madagascar. Dinner and breakfast at the lodge, night excursions in the Vakona Private Reserve. Return to Tanà the next day. NOTE: This trip is meant for adventurous people and for those who have a good ability of adaptation! The hot, humid climate and the badly maintained tracks make the movements quite tiring. This fatigue is usually rewarded by the beauty of nature. All equipment for the camps and the preparation of the meals are organised by the guide that accompanies you. You are not required to help but if it is done, this will accelerate the timing and facilitate the efficiency of the trip. Given the simplicity of the journey and the fact that the path is not always perfect, both because of the condition of the roads as well as due to the rains during the wet months, the stops may change, but they do not affect the beauty of the journey, but one will expect different times.