Discover South of Madagascar in 11 Days

Discover South Of Madagascar

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Discover South Of Madagascar

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Highlights

Travel the scenic route from Antananarivo to Antsirabe

Visit Ambatolampy, renowned for its local metalwork

Explore Ranomafana National Park

Delve into the history and lives of the Mahafaly and Antandroy tribes

Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Manakara

nature, cultural, Wildlife

Private Tour

11 Days

Easy

English, French, Italian

Description

Discover Madagascar from Antananarivo to the south- Tulear. Along with this tour, you will have the opportunity to cross the country and allow you to know about the tradition and culture of the Malagasy people; the lemur and other famous species will be spotted in its unique biodiversity that makes Madagascar a treasure island.

Itinerary

Day 1: Tana
- Arrive in Antananarivo.
- Explore the city: visit the Queen's Palace, Andafiavaratra Palace, and the Rova of Antananarivo.
Overnight in Antananarivo.
Day 2: Tana -Antsirabe
- Start the tour from Antananarivo to Antsirabe with your driver. The ride takes about 4 hours on a twisting road.
- On route, meet the beautiful landscape of the rice field and Merina's typical tombs and villages.
- Stop at Ambatolampy to visit a local forging-making cooking pot with aluminium (metalwork). This is the largest town between Antananarivo and Antsirabe and an excellent place to have lunch.
- Arrive in Antsirabe. You can relax or walk alone since there is a safe town.
Overnight at Hotel Le Voyageur
Day 3: Antsirabe/Ranomafana
- Drive to Ranomafana (approximately 6 hours).
- Nightwalk along RN 27 in Ranomafana.
Overnight in Ranomafana.
Day 4: Ranomafana
- Explore Ranomafana national park: 12 lemur species and 118 bird species, and many variations of endemic orchids of the primary forest; free lunch.
- Visit the hot springs.
Overnight at Centrest Hotel
Day 5: Ranomafana/Ambalavao
- Have breakfast, and Drive to Fianarantsoa (approximately 2-3 hours). Explore the old town, visit the Fianarantsoa Cathedral, and local markets.
Overnight at Bougainvilliers
Day 6: Ambalavao- Isalo
- Drive to Isalo National Park (approximately 7 hours).
- En route, stop at Anja Community Reserve to see ring-tailed lemurs.
Overnight near Isalo National Park.
Day 7: Isalo National Park
- Full day exploring Isalo National Park.
- Hikes to natural pools, canyons, and rock formations.
Overnight near Isalo National Park.
Day 8: Isalo-Ifaty
- Day transfer to Ifaty: on the way, you can see some traditional tombs of the Mahafaly and Antandroy tribes. Each grave is decorated to tell the story of the person’s life with drawings and often animal heads.
- On route, see an impoverished village and few baobab trees.
Overnight at Moringa Hotel.
Day 9: Toliara/Anakao
- The transfer from Tuléar to Anakao occurs early morning aboard a fast and safe speedboat.
- Stay at leisure in Anakao.
Overnight at Lalandaka Hotel.
Day 10: Anakao
- Stay at leisure in Ifaty.
Overnight at Lalandaka hotel.
Day 11: Anakao/Toliara
- Breakfast and preparation; transfer to Toliara first, then to the airport and flight to Tana.

What's Included

Airport transfer

Hotel in full board

The 4WD and fuel with the driver

All parks entrance fees for the clients

Domestic flights

Tax hotel

What's Excluded

International flights

Any insurances

And things not mentioned above.

Personal expenses “drinks, usual tips for guides and drivers, etc.”

Know Before You Go

Madagascar is a country that isn’t very touristic. It makes it a great country to visit for more experienced and/or adventurous travellers. I’ve visited over 60 countries and I’m always looking for new countries to explore. To me it didn’t feel like a big deal to travel to Madagascar, but now that I’ve been there I wish I prepared myself a bit better to this trip. So to help you out I’ve made this list with 10 things you need to know before your trip to Madagascar. With these tips you’re better prepared than I was and I’m sure you’ll have a great time on this beautiful African island.

Visa-

A Visa is required for all travelers visiting Madagascar, even if it’s only for a short period of time. You can buy your visa at the airport or arrange it beforehand in your home country. Arranging it beforehand at the embassy is quite expensive, but it’ll give you peace of mind to know that you’re allowed in to the country. Buying your visa to Madagascar at the airport is also possible. You’ll have to cue and officially you could be denied entry but I don’t think that’s very likely for tourists.

For both options you’ll need a return ticket, a passport that’s valid for at least another 6 months and a passport picture.

Money

The local currency in Madagascar is Ariary. When I was there the exchange rate was 4600 Airiary for 1 Euro. Important to know is that you can’t pay with your bankcard/debitcard anywhere in Madagascar. Some bigger hotels and restaurants accept credit card payments but there are no ATMs where you can get money with your bankcard. A credit card is a must in Madagascar! Most banks only accept Visa but the IBN bank (white with green logo) accepts Mastercard as well. You can find an IBN bank in the bigger cities. Always make sure you have enough cash on you as you’d be surprised at how few places you can pay with card.

Some big hotels or rental car agencies might accept euros as well.

At the airport there are 2 ATM’s in the arrival hall, one where you can get money with Visa and one for Mastercard.

Transportation

The roads in Madagascar are very bad. There’s one main highway; the RN7 that goes from the capital city Antananarivo to Tulear in the South-West. But even that one is often in bad shape. If you’re short on time (say 10 to 16 days), I’d advise you to just this RN7 highway. It’ll give you a chance to see quite a lot from what the country has to offer in a reasonable amount of time.

The best way to do it is to rent a car, we did this as well. Most car-rental agencies will only rent a car including a driver. Although it felt weird for me in the beginning, in retrospect I’m very happy that we did this. We rented our car with Europcar and paid for it in cash Euros. We arranged it online beforehand so we knew we had to bring enough. The advantages of a driver is that he knows the way, he knows the good hotels, he knows local guides that he can call beforehand to guide you in National Parks, it’s less tiring if you don’t have to drive yourself and it gives you a save feeling.

Are you more adventurous? You can also take the local busses ‘bouse bouse’. Don’t expect too much from them though; they’re small vans made to seat about 10 people but often used by 20 at the same time. You’ll often see them on the road, packed with people inside and hanging out and packed with luggage, food and even live animals on the roof. The busses break down frequently and as you can imagine are not very comfortable.

Keep in mind that Madagascar is a very big island (it’s the size of France and Belgium combined), so calculate enough time for driving from one place to another. Also add about 25% to the time that Google maps will tell you and don’t plan your schedule to tight. There are always things that can happen like car trouble, animals on the road or not being able to bypass a slow truck.

Anakao is a picturesque fishing village located on the southwestern coast of Madagascar, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant marine life, and traditional Vezo fishing culture. Here are some key highlights:Natural Beauty

Beaches: Anakao boasts pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the serene coastal environment.

Marine Life: The waters around Anakao are teeming with marine life, making it an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving. The coral reefs are home to a variety of colorful fish, sea turtles, and other marine creatures.

Activities

Snorkeling and Diving: The vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life make snorkeling and diving popular activities. You can explore the underwater world and witness the diverse marine ecosystem.

Whale Watching: From June to September, humpback whales migrate to the waters around Anakao. Whale-watching tours offer a chance to see these majestic creatures up close.

Fishing: As a traditional fishing village, Anakao offers opportunities to learn about the Vezo fishing methods. You can join local fishermen on their boats and experience traditional fishing techniques.

Culture

Vezo People: The Vezo are a semi-nomadic fishing community known for their deep connection to the sea. Interacting with the Vezo people provides insight into their unique way of life, traditions, and customs.

Local Cuisine: Fresh seafood is a staple in Anakao. You can enjoy delicious dishes prepared with locally caught fish, crabs, and lobsters, often cooked in traditional Malagasy styles.

Nearby Attractions

Nosy Ve: A small island located just off the coast of Anakao, Nosy Ve is famous for its birdlife, particularly the red-tailed tropicbirds. It's a great spot for bird watching and enjoying a secluded beach experience.

Tsimanampetsotsa National Park: A bit further inland, this park is known for its unique limestone formations, baobab trees, and diverse wildlife, including flamingos and other bird species.

What To Bring

On the clothing side, you have to adapt to the climate of Madagascar. So take light clothes, ideally cotton, and some long sleeves to fight mosquitoes. Also, don't forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, which are essential to withstand the heat. Remember to take good shoes and warmer clothes for your hikes on the Hauts-Plateaux for the cool nights.

In your pharmacy kit, be sure to take sunscreen with a high protection factor, a tropical-type mosquito repellent (with DEET, dosed at 25-50%), anti-malarial tablets, anti-diarrhoea tablets, aspirin, bandages, disinfectant, tablets against travel sickness, a soothing lotion for insect bites and a balm for sunburn, of the Biafine© type. Also, take tampons or sanitary napkins, which are difficult to find locally.

Finally, don't forget your camera to take home fantastic memories. A travel diary will also allow you to write them down.

Meeting Point

Lot 43 BAI Amoronakona Ambohimangakely

Cancellation Policy

For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -

Refund of 80% of the tour price.

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Discover South of Madagascar in 11 Days

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Tana

Day 2: Tana -Antsirabe

Day 3: Antsirabe/Ranomafana

Day 4: Ranomafana

Day 5: Ranomafana/Ambalavao

Day 6: Ambalavao- Isalo

Day 7: Isalo National Park

Day 8: Isalo-Ifaty

Day 9: Toliara/Anakao

Day 10: Anakao

Day 11: Anakao/Toliara

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

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Discover South of Madagascar in 11 Days

Highlights

Description

Itinerary

Day 1: Tana

Day 2: Tana -Antsirabe

Day 3: Antsirabe/Ranomafana

Day 4: Ranomafana

Day 5: Ranomafana/Ambalavao

Day 6: Ambalavao- Isalo

Day 7: Isalo National Park

Day 8: Isalo-Ifaty

Day 9: Toliara/Anakao

Day 10: Anakao

Day 11: Anakao/Toliara

What's Included

What's Excluded

Know Before You Go

What To Bring

Meeting Point

Cancellation Policy

Price

Check Availability Hide

Starting from

Can't Find the Perfect Tour? Tailor Your Dream Trip!

Create your own adventure!

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