World Wildlife Fund

Wild Madagascar

$10,895 per person, based on double occupancy; single supplement: $1,095.

Trip Overview

Madagascar is a world apart. Its forests are home to indri indri, diademed sifakas, aye-ayes, tenrecs, fossa, didiera and pachypodia. For even the best-traveled nature lover, Madagascar offers a kaleidoscope of discoveries. In fact, many of its rare and intriguing plants and animals – upwards of 80 percent – exist nowhere else on Earth, making Madagascar a living time capsule. Once part of a supercontinent, Madagascar broke away from that landmass 100 million years ago and has since existed largely in biological isolation. Discover a continent you never knew existed.

Trip Itinerary

Please note that the dates below do not include travel time to and from the destination. We suggest consulting our tour operator, Natural Habitat Adventures, to discuss the best flight options for your travels.

Thursday, June 23, 2011: Johannesburg, South Africa
Arrive in Johannesburg and gather for a welcome dinner. Airport Sun Intercontinental (D)

Friday & Saturday, June 24 & 25: Antananarivo / Pèrinet Reserve
Fly to Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, and drive to Pèrinet Reserve in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Madagascar has more than 15 species of lemur, and the world’s largest is found here, the indri indri, whose arresting call sounds like loud, eerie wailing. You may also spy diademed sifakas or the palm-sized brown mouse lemurs. 

Stay at Vakona Forest Lodge and spend two days exploring the park, a critical component of Madagascar’s efforts to conserve its biodiversity. This threatened biome contains a thousand different orchid species, a plethora of medicinal plants and a neon spectrum of chameleons. One evening, take a night walk to spot nocturnal creatures. You will also visit Lemur Island, a small island sanctuary near Vakona Lodge which has allowed orphaned lemurs to thrive. There are regularly several species of lemur, which have become quite habituated to visitors allowing for amazing close-up encounters and great photo opportunities. Vakona Forest Lodge (B,L,D)

Sunday & Monday, June 26 & 27: Tamatave
Take an early morning walk in Anamalazotra Reserve in search for the dynamic indri, whose distinctive call guides our tracking. In the afternoon, drive to Madagascar’s main port city, Tamatave. Here, visit Ivoloina Zoological Park and the Save the Lemur Foundation, which runs a successful captive breeding program for endangered lemur species. The enthusiastic staff will explain how conservation and community development go hand in hand – a key component of WWF's work, too. Hotel Sharon (B,L,D daily)

Tuesday & Wednesday, June 28 & 29: Maroantsetra / Masoala National Park
Fly to Maroantsetra and Masoala National Park, the best-protected tract of virgin rainforest in Madagascar. Within this slick green realm of coiled leaves and unfurled vines find geckos, frogs and stick-like chameleons masquerading as branches. Relais du Masoala (B,L,D daily)

Thursday & Friday, June 30 & July 1: Masoala / Nosy Mangabe
Explore the park’s varied habitats and look for rare species of lemurs on day and night walks. Glimpses are usually fleeting, but you may spy the extremely endangered black-and-white ruffed lemurs or the notoriously shy aye-aye. On the island of Nosy Mangabe, rising 1,000 feet out of the sea, you’ll walk among many exceedingly rare plants and animals, likely seeing leaf-tailed geckos. Relais du Masoala (B,L,D daily)

Saturday, July 2: Masoala / Antananarivo
After a leisurely morning, fly back to Antananarivo and Le Pavillon d’Emyrne, originally a Malagasy colonial manor and now a boutique guesthouse. Enjoy an afternoon exploring this exotic capital city. Le Palissandre (B,L,D)

Sunday, July 3: Ifaty
Visit a handicrafts market before your flight to Tulear. Southern Madagascar is a profound contrast to the lush northeast, an arid zone of odd spiny forests and rocky canyons. Other worldly trees pepper the landscape, including massive baobabs, spindly didiera and the swollen-footed, bottleshaped pachypodia. In Ifaty stay at a collection of thatched bungalows tucked along a beach on the Mozambique Channel. Le Paradisier (B,L,D)

Monday & Tuesday, July 4 & 5: Reniala / Isalo National Park
Rise for a daybreak hike through the spiny desert of Reniala Reserve, one of the world’s most endangered biomes. Many resident species are found nowhere else on Earth, including incredibly rare birds and octopus trees. Later, look for ring-tailed lemurs among the cacti in Isalo National Park. And cool off in the secret swimming holes set deep in ancient canyons. Le Paradisier (B,L,D daily)

Wednesday, July 6: Zombitse & Vohibasia National Parks
Return to Tulear and visit Zombitse and Vohibasia national parks, offering some of Madagascar’s finest bird watching. In the dry forest look for the rare Appert’s greenbuls, iridescent souimanga sunbirds and, always, lemurs. Le Paradisier (B,L,D)

Thursday, July 7: Antananarivo
Fly back to Antananarivo for a farewell dinner at the Malagasy cuisine of Villa Vanille. Le Palissandre(B,L,D)

Friday, July 8: Antananarivo / Johannesburg
Enjoy a morning of leisure, then fly to Johannesburg. After a late-afternoon arrival, connect with flights home. (B,L)

Optional Extension

There are several optional extensions for this trip. View a list of options throughout South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.