MADAGASCAR

“Heart of ”

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. Transfer to the city and accommodation in a hotel. Tana’ is one of the finest African capitals, full of charm, history and culture.

Day 2 ANTISARABE Departure by vehicle, with the guide towards the south. You will cross the upper part of the country bordering villages along the main road through all of the island. A first stop in Ambatolampy to visit craftsmanship foundry. Once in Antsirabe, the afternoon is dedicated to the markets. Important places to know and to understand the life around this country.

Day 3 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.

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. A visit to 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. Two days of complete relaxation transported by the calm waters of Tsiribihina and pampered with during delicious lunches and dinners under the stars.

Day 5 Anywhere along the route you will find waterfalls and natural pools, and here one can take the opportunity to take a lovely bath. You will cross the big "falaise ", the villages of , where you will encounter a population that is still very detached from the West. 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.

Day 6 , BELO SUR TSIRIBIHINA, BEKOPAKA At about lunchtime, we arrive by boat at Belo Sur Tsiribihina. On the shore the 4x4 vehicles are ready waiting for you to continue the journey towards Bekopaka. The roads here are terrible, but the view, the pristine environment and the fine, white sandy beach will leave you enchanted.

Day 7 BEKOPAKA – PETIT TSINGY E MANAMBOLO You will continue to visit the 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.

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.

Day 9 KIRINDY RESERVE You will return to the south, crossing Belo Sur Tsiribihina. On the way you will stop at the Kirindy Reserve. You will embark on a wonderful nocturnal excursion in search of the lemurs and of a particular passage. This is a private reserve. A completely diverse location from the usual pristine vegetation. It is more arid, and for this reason it hosts many species of lemurs and the “flying mouse”, as well as a considerable amount of diverse reptile species.

Day 10 & 11 & RUE DU BAOBAB You will arrive at 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.

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 sandy islands 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.

Day 12 & 13 You will arrive at 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.

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 15 TANÀ You will return to Morondava by boat. From here, you will proceed to the airport for the flight to Tanà.

SUGGESTED EXTENSION Lemurs 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 by 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 one of the best three lodges of the area, surrounded by a pond and high vegetation. Accommodation in this area is simple in a 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.

KALAHARI TAILOR MADE ROUTES

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