Overview
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
Details
Departure city
Antananarivo
| Duration | Type | Axis | Level | availability |
| 17days/16nights | Birding | South | 1 | Sept to Dec |
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Greet services from our representatives
Transfer to the hotel.
Overnight accommodation at the Hotel San Crictobal Boutique*** or similar
Day 2: Antananarivo / Andasibe (150km)
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…
After that, on the way to join the Andasibe National Park, passing through the Peyrieras or Madagascar Exotic that is home of reptiles from the biggest to the smallest.
Lunch at the suitable restaurant in Moramanga
Birding, several species of reptiles, amphibians, chameleons, snakes, uroplatus, frogs…
Overnight accommodation at the Hotel Longoza Ecolodge or similar
Day 3: First visit of Andasibe Mantadia National Park (17kms)
A full day birding.
Join Mantadia, setting out early for a captivating exploration of Andasibe Mantadia. Delight in the enchanting melodies of Mantadia’s primary forest as you encounter some of the region’s most exquisite birds, making your journey a harmonious symphony of nature’s beauty. You will reach Mantadia NP, home for of birds, lemurs and chameleons. You will seek Diademed sifaka, Black-andwhite ruffed lemurs, the insectivorous tenrecs and the rainforest-dependent ground rollers.
You will see target species of Andasibe in the bird list documents
Picnic lunch
Birding, indri-indri and other varieties of Andasibe lemurs
Night jungle walk allowed
Dinner and overnight Camping
Day 4: Second visit of Andasibe Mantadia National Park (17kms)
Set out early once more to reach the pristine Mantadia primary forest, a sanctuary for rare birds. The two-day exploration is essential, given the wild nature of the animals and the challenges in locating them amidst the dense forest.
Back to Andasibe, Stop at Vakona forest that is a Private Park the visit includes the Lemurs Island to see other species of lemurs such as Varecia, catta, brown, bamboo, fulvus… and crocodiles area, you could take close-ups without zooming.
Lunch at the restaurant in your choice
Birding, lemurs, reptiles, crocodiles…
Overnight accommodation at the Hotel Longoza Ecolodge or similar
Day 5: Andasibe / Antsirabe (310km)
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 at the Hotel Arotel**** or similar
Day 6: Antsirabe / Ranomafana (251km)
After some visits in Antsirabe, 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 at the hotel Thermal*** or similar
Day 7: First visit of Ranomafana national park (2x5km)
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 at the hotel Thermal*** or similar
Day 8: Second visit of Ranomafana (2x10km)
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
Night jungle walk to see mainly nocturnal lemurs, chameleons and frogs
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Thermal*** or similar
Day 9: Ranomafana / Ranohira (335km)
On the road to Ranohira. Make some must stops in a renown village which breed silk and manufacture antemoro paper of Ambalavao. and then visit the Anja community reserve with its numerous catta lemurs easy to find.
Picnic lunch
Landscapes, view points, visit of zebu markets in Ambalavao allowed every Wednesday, Antemoro paper, workshops, ring tailed lemurs
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Le Relais de la Reine**** or similar
Day 10: Ranohira / Ilakaka / Zombitse Vohibasia (91kms)
After breakfast, visit the Queen of Isalo and Isalo Window, then continue on the road to Zombitse Vohibasia National Park. In addition to birdwatching, you’ll have the opportunity to experience local Malagasy culture. Pass through Ilakaka, a former quiet village that transformed rapidly after the discovery of sapphires in the late 1990s. Today, it is known as Madagascar’s sapphire capital, where you can observe the bustling mining atmosphere, see informal trading markets, and witness how the gemstone industry has shaped the local way of life. Setting up tents and relaxing.
Picnic lunch
Landscapes, visit of saphires mines
Diner and overnight Camping
Day 11: Zombitse Vohibasia / Toliara (150km)
Zombitse Vohibasia National Park is a true haven for naturalists and bird enthusiasts alike. This remarkable reserve protects a unique transition zone between Madagascar’s dry and humid forests, creating an exceptional diversity of habitats. It is home to several endemic bird species, making it a prime destination for birdwatching, as well as a variety of lemurs, reptiles, and rare plant life.
Picnic lunch
Birding early riser, lemurs, fauna and flora
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Amazon*** or similar
Day 12: Toliara / Anakao / Ambola (1h30min by boat+ 50kms)
Transfer by spead boat to Anakao. Upon arrival, have a visit of Nosy Ve, an authentic island and also a nesting place of red tiled tropic bird. Join Nosy Ve around 15 minutes by canoe. Then drive through the sandy road to Ambola.
Lunch in Anakao
Nosy Ve, original canoe Vezo
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Le Domaine d’Ambola or similar
Day 13: Ambola / Tsimanampetsota / Anakao (2x20kms + 50kms)
Birding in Tsimanampetsotsa National Park.
The varied landscapes of Tsimanampetsotsa National Park from shimmering soda lakes to distinctive spiny forest create habitats that support a unique assemblage of birdlife found nowhere else. This ecological diversity, coupled with relatively low visitor numbers, makes it a rewarding destination for those seeking both remarkable sightings and a more tranquil birding experience in southwestern Madagascar.
You can see target species in the birds list documents
Picnic lunch
Birding, mixed habitat
Overnight accommodation at Prince Anakao*** or similar
Day 14: Anakao / Toliara / Ifaty (1h30min by boat+ 30KMS)
Transfer by speed boat to Toliara then reach Ifaty.
Lunch at the restaurant of your choice
Night walk allowed in the spiny forest of Reniala park
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Vovotelo*** or similar
Day 15: Ifaty
Birding in the baobab forest of Reniala to see mainly small size birds.
Lunch in a suitable restaurant
Birding, beach
Overnight accommodation at the hotel Vovotelo*** or similar
Day 16: Ifaty/ Toliara/ Antananarivo
Transfer to the airport of Toliara.
Internal flight from Toliara to Antananarivo.
Lunch in the suitable restaurant
Overnight accommodation at the hotel San Cristobal Boutique*** or similar
Day 17: Departure from Antananarivo
After some shopping in Antananarivo, transfer to the Ivato airport
End of the tour
Best birdwatching period in Madagascar: October to December
