North Western Wildlife Photography Tour
Ankarafantsika National Park - Sahamalaza National Park - Nosy Komba - Nosy Tanikely - Nosy Be - Ankarana National Park - Andrafiamena Special Reserve - Amber Montain National Park - Emerald Bay
15 days & 14 nights
Highlights
Ankarafansika National Park: Observation of Coquerel's sifaka and rich birdlife
Sahamalaza National Park: Observation of the endangered Blue-eyed black lemur
Snorkelling in the Nosy Tanikely Marine National Park
Day excursion to Nosy Iranja with possibility to see sea turtles
Tsingy of Ankarana West: Visit of Big Tsingy and Lac Vert (Green Lake)
Tsingy of Ankarana East: Visit Tsingy Meva and bat cave
Andrafiamena Special Reserve: Observation of the endangered Black sifaka (Perrier's sifaka)
Amber Montain National Park: Discovering Crowned lemur in the rainforest
Emerald Sea: Day excursion in traditional sailing pirogue
Tour description
Day 1: Antananarivo (L/D)
Arrival at Ivato International Airport, reception and transfer to the hotel in Antananarivo. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 2: Antananarivo - Ankarafantsika National Park (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure to Ankarafantsika National Park in the northwest of Madagascar (6h drive). Picnic lunch on the way. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Ankarafantsika National Park.
Day 3: Ankarafantsika National Park (B/L/D)
After breakfast, day visit to the dry deciduous forest of Ankarafantsika. The national park consists of a dry deciduous forest and wet forest and is home of rare endemic wildlife. Several species of lemurs can be found, such as the Coquerel's sifaka and Mongoose lemur, as well as snakes and chameleons. The site is also popular for bird watching, like the Van Dam's vanga and asity. On and around Lake Ravelobe, part of the park, live numerous endemic aquatic birds such as Humblot’s heron, Madagascar jacana, ducks and the famous Madagascar fish eagle (one of the seven most endangered raptors in the world). Lunch, dinner and overnight at the hotel in Ankarafantsika National Park.
Day 4: Ankarafantsika National Park - Antsohihy (B/L/D)
Breakfast, during the morning we visit majestic baobab trees (Adansonia digitata), one of the seven species which grow on Madagascar and among the eight species growing in the world. Optional night walk. Lunch at the hotel. At 11pm departure to Antsohihy (5.5h drive). Arrival at the hotel. Dinner and night in Antsohihy.
Day 5: Antsohihy - Sahamalaza National Park - Ankify (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel and thereafter departure to Sahamalaza National Park. Short visit to the forest to discover the endangered Blue-eyed black lemur (beside the human the only primate with blue eyes). Picnic lunch on the way. Continuation to Ambanja and Ankify (3h drive). Dinner and night in Ankify.
Day 6: Ankify - Nosy Komba - Nosy Tanikely - Nosy Be (B/L/D)
Breakfast and thereafter transfer by speedboat to Nosy Komba (45min), visit of a Sakalava fishermen village and the little reserve. Then speedboat transfer to Nosy Tanikely Marine National Park. Arrival on the island and snorkelling along the coral reef. The seabed of this marine protected reserve is covered by very colorful corals of all kinds. Reef fish such as parrotfish, surgeonfish, clownfish swimming among sea anemones, shellfish and sea turtles. Picnic lunch on the beach. In the afternoon speedboat transfer to Nosy Be (1h), then transfer to the hotel.
Day 7:
Day 8: Nosy Be - Ankify - Ankarana National Park (East) (B/L/D)
Breakfast and transfer to the harbour. Transfer by speedboat to Ankify (1h), continuation to Ankarana National Park by car (3h drive). Arrival and lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, visit of the bat cave and lost river. This park protects one of the largest stretches of Tsingy, Madagascar's most bizarre, wonderful, and out-of-another-world landscape. Dinner and night in Ankarana National Park (East).
Day 9: Ankarana National Park (West) (B/L/D)
Breakfast and drive to the western part of Ankarana National Park (2 hours bumpy road). We will pass the Big Tsingy and Lac Vert (Green Lake). Picnic lunch along the way. Drive back to the lodge in the afternoon. We can do a night walk to search for Ankarana sportive lemur, Northern rufous mouse lemur, and perhaps some interesting gecko, frog or Madagascar scops-owl. Dinner and night in Ankarana National Park (West).
Day 10: Andrafiamena Special Reserve (B/L/D)
Breakfast and departure to Andrafiamena Special Reserve (2h drive) to search for the endangered Black sifaka (Perrier's sifaka) resident in the area. There are also many bird species in the rainforest of this reserve. These include Madagascar blue pigeon, Hook-billed vanga, Sickle-billed vanga, Red-tailed vanga, Common newtonia, Common jery, Lesser vasa parrot, Greater vasa parrot, Common Hoopoe and others. Picnic lunch. Return to the lodge in the afternoon. Dinner and night in Ankarana National Park.
Day 11: Ankarana National Park (East) - Red Tsingy - Amber Mountain National Park (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel and morning walk in the Tsingy Meva and Tsingy Rary. This park protects one of the largest stretches of Tsingy, Madagascar's most bizarre, wonderful, and out-of-another-world landscape. Lunch at the lodge and departure to Amber Mountain National Park (3h drive). Visit of the Red Tsingy on the way. Arrival at the lodge. Dinner and night in Amber Mountain National Park.
Day 12: Amber Mountain National Park - Diego Suarez (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel and day visit to Amber Mountain National Park. The Amber Mountain National Park is a volcanic and mountainous area. Founded in 1958, the park is home to seven species of lemurs, including the Crowned lemur, Brown lemur, Sanford's brown lemur, Northern rufous mouse lemur, Northern sportive lemur, Aye-aye and the Amber Mountain fork-crowned lemur (Montagne d'Ambre fork-crowned lemur). Amongst the mammals, the Ring-tailed mongoose is probably the most frequently observed. There are also many species of birds and the Brookesia minima, the smallest chameleon in the world.
You will discover beautiful waterfalls and lakes, and beautiful views of the extreme north of the island. The park aims to preserve the unique flora and fauna of northern Madagascar. This mountain is home to a beautiful tropical forest preserved from any human impact. During this visit you will enjoy the various forms of vegetation: canarium, ficus, orchids, ferns. Picnic lunch at Station des Roussettes. Departure to Diego Suarez in the afternoon (1h drive). Dinner and overnight in Diego Suarez.
Day 13: Diego Suarez - Emerald Sea - Diego Suarez (B/L/D)
Breakfast and day excursion to Emerald Sea. Transfer to Ramena (30min drive). Then we sail by traditional pirogue to Emerald Sea. We arrive at Suarez Island, where we have time for relaxation and leisure and the possibility to swim and snorkel at the coral reef. Picnic lunch on the beach on the little island and transfer back in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in Diego Suarez.
Day 14: Diego Suarez - Antananarivo (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight Diego Suarez to Tana. Arrival in Tana, reception and transfer to the hotel and lunch. Leisure time in the afternoon.
Day 15: Antananarivo (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for the international flight. End of services.
Contact
For more information about this tour please contact Pascal directly:
Email: expeditionmada@gmail.com / pascalelison@yahoo.com
Tel: +261 (0)32 57 940 24
Tel: +261 (0)34 89 704 24
Maroantsetra
Madagascar
