This birding tour in Madagascar is a tour that you could also see Malagasy cultures, way of life, let us say discovery tour because apart nature and birds, there are more unforgettable places along the tour so you could take advantage of it.
The itinerary offers you 5 family birds and 5 birds manificient nesting birds from Antananarivo to Toliara. After visiting the Ramsar site in Antananarivo named Tsarasaotra private park that is a breeding place of more birds. go to join Ranomafana national park. Ranomafana is famous in watching birds, it is one of the best nests of several beautiful and rare birds in Madagascar. We can count around 75 species of birds. In addition, the park of Ranomafana shelters a high percentage of reptiles, frogs and lemurs. One can count more than 120 frog species, 13 species of chameleons and more than 10 species of lemurs. Continue to Ranohira where the Isalo national park is located. This national park is not renown as a birding park, it is famous to its canyons and sandstone massifs, just a really worth visit when people ax to the south of Madagascar but one can find some lemur species and endemic birds like Madagascar Kestrel, Madagascar button Quail, Madagascar bee-easter, Madagascar Sunbird…Following to that, visit Zombitse Vohibasia national park, a mixture of dry and dense forest that the site present 47% of endemic birds of Madagascar or more than 80 bird species, then, 8 species of frogs and an important lemur species. Also, in the vicinity of Toliara, the Tsimanampetsotsa national park which shelters 112 bird species, most of them are aquatics and not to forget flamingo colonies make scenery in the lake and then in Anakao the Nosy Ve Island, a place of Red Tailed Tropicbird breeding and other species. To finalize itinerary, visit the Ifaty baobab forest in Renala. A dry spiny forest that shelters several small bird species.
Best birding period October to December
Check Birds list
Day 1: Antananarivo
Go to the Tsarasaotra private park located in Antananarivo and have visit of the ramsar site that is a refuge and nesting bird place for fresh water birds in generally, other bird species, endemic bird species and some madagascar endangered bird species could seen like Madagascar Pound Heron, Meller’s Duck, Vulnerable Madagascar, Litle greb…
In addition to close day excursion in Antananarivo, have visit of Rova of Manjakamiadana that is one of the 12 sacred hills of Antananarivo.
Birding, historical place, viewpoints
Overnight accommodation
Day2: Antananarivo/ Antsirabe
On road to join Antsirabe, an architecture colonial town famous for its semi-precious and precious stone markets and handicrafts. Visit the aluminium foundry of Ambatolampy in the half way leading to Antsirabe.
Foundry of aluminium in Ambatolampy, visit of Antsirabe workshops, Antsirabe stone
markets and stone museum, people and culture.
Overnight accommodation
Day 3: Antsirabe/ Ranomafana
Join the national park of Ranomafana, one of the most beautiful national parks of Madagascar with its hot spring water. Pass by Ambositra, a must break that offers several shapes of craftmen carved woods. The town is famous to its Zafimaniry Arts
Landscapes, some visits of Ambositra workshops, waterfalls, people and culture.
Overnight accommodation
Day 4: First visit of Ranomafana national park
Full day birdwatching in Ranomafana
“Early birdwatching catch the worm”. Go on early visit guided in this humid forest of ranomafana that shelters rare and beautiful birds are easy to find.
Hikking, Ranomafana bird species, reptiles, lemurs, viewpoints, landscapes.
Overnight accommodation
Day 5: Second visit of Ranomafana/ Fianarantsoa
A half-day birding in Ranomafana
We personally choose to add a surplus of half-day visit to complete successfully your photography and birdwatching. Followig that, go to Fianarantsoa, the capital of Betsileo ethnic and famous for manufacturing local wine
Bird species of Ranomafana, fauna and flora, swimming allowed
Overnight accommodation
Day 6: Fianarantsoa/ Ranohira
After making some Fianarantsoa’s high lights, continue to the south and pass by a renown village which breed silk and manufacture antemoro paper in Ambalavao. and then visit the Anja community reserve with its numerous catta lemurs easy to find.
The old town of Fianarantsoa or high city, landscapes, view points, visit of zebu markets in Ambalavao allowed, Antemoro paper, workshops, ring tailed lemurs
Overnight accommodation
Day 7: Ranohira
Visit guided of the amazing sandstone massifs of national park of Isalo.
Hiking, canyons, panoramic views, swimming in Isalo pools allowed, some bird species, lemurs
Overnight accommodation
Day 8: Ranohira/ Zombitse Vohibasia
Have a first visit of Zombitse forest, a transition forest of the west and the east. Birdwatching in Zombitse Vohibasia are easier due its short dry trees.
Landscapes, more than 10 lemur species, rare endemic birds
Overnight Lodge
Day 9: Zombitse Vohibasia/ Toliara
Before finishing the RN7 to Toliara, have a second visit in Zombitse to complet birding. Then, continue to Toliara, called a town that never sleeps.
People and culture
Overnight accommodation
Day 10: Toliara/ Tsimanampetsotsa/ Anakao
Let you go birding to the national park of Tsimanampetsotsa that is located in Saint Augustin bay. The national park shelters in generally several species of aquatic birds mainly flaminagos.
Birds watching in Tsimanampetsotsa, Flamingo colony
Overnight accommodation
Day 11: Anakao
Go to the island of Nosy Ve by traditional canoe of Vezo, a breeding place mainly for Red Tailed Tropicbird. Also the area is an authentic fishermen area.
Birds, Anakao beach, original Canoe Vezo, people and culture
Overnight accommodation
Day 12: Anakao/ Toliara/ Ifaty
Go to Ifaty resort famous for its white sandy beaches and turquoise sea protected by coral reefs.
People and culture, Ifaty beach, Diving allowed
Overnight accommodation
Day 13: Ifaty/ Toliara/ Antananarivo
Before going back to Toliara and taking flight to Antananarivo, take advantage to visit baobab forest that shelters also some species of small birds.
Ifaty beach, birding, Souvenirs in Toliara.
Overnight accommodation
Day 14: Antananarivo/ Ivato
After some shopping in Antananarivo, transfer to the Ivato airport
End of the tour
Best birdwatching period in Madagascar: October to December
