Madagascar, The Lost World

Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow via Johannesburg to Antananarivo.

Day 2 Arrive in Madagascar’s capital and largest city. Stay overnight at the Palissandre Hotel & Spa. An evening welcome reception and briefing with your local tour manager is followed by dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 3 Travel to Andasibe located in the mountains of eastern Madagascar. En route we will stop to look out for birds such as the drongo and herons. Enjoy lunch in the historical city of Moramanga, one of the ‘hot spots’ during the rebellion of 1947. Our home for three nights is the Andasibe Hotel near the National Park which encompasses a stretch of primary rainforest that hosts an incredible array of biodiversity. The rainforest comes alive at night, take a night walk with your guide to spot nocturnal dwarf and mouse lemurs in trees and other endemic species. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Transfer to the start of one of the park's trails before entering the rainforest on foot. The protected primary forest is a stark contrast to the replanted stretches of eucalyptus and pine trees that exist outside the park, with a verdant array of plant-life, and a chance of spotting some of the eleven lemur species that live here. A picnic lunch is taken in the forest. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Transfer to Analamazaotra Special Reserve home to the Indri Indri, the largest living lemurs with inquisitive black and white faces. Living in small family groups, these incredible animals can be heard for miles around when they sing a haunting howl which is even more powerful when experienced up close. Venture further into the forest for more spectacular flora and fauna such as the common brown lemur, grey bamboo lemur and the eastern woolly lemur, birds, orchids and unique reptile species. Lunch is taken at the Feon’nyAla Hotel restaurant located on the edge of Andasibe National Park, offering local cuisine. Continue to Vakona Reserve located on Lemur Island, watch lemurs dance and play across open ground and leap from tree to tree. (B, L, D)

Day 6 After breakfast, drive back to Antananarivo and take the national road to continue southward to Antsirabe through mountains, hills and rice fields where you can spot black herons and egrets. Learn about the daily life of the highlands and its typical scenery, meet people in local villages and markets. Arrive at Couleur Café Hotel for an overnight stay. (B, L, D)

Day 7 Depart the spa town of Antsirabe, continue to Ambositra and enjoy the landscapes of the highlands. En route visit Ambositra the capital of the Malagasy handicrafts and Madagascar’s woodcarving industry. Continue to Ranomafana through Ambohimahasoa where we leave the highlands behind and drive through tropical rainforests arriving at the Thermal Hotel late evening. (B, L, D)

Days 8 & 9 Two days exploration of Ranomafana National Park. Established in 1991, it was the fourth National Park to be created in Madagascar and is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Head out to explore the park, famous for three out of the four bamboo lemur species; grey bamboo lemur, golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur. You may also see Milne–Edward’s sifaka, characterised by a black body with a light-colored “saddle” on the lower part of its back, red bellied lemurs and red fronted brown lemurs. Ranomafana is excellent for birding, the best time for sightings being early morning. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Drive back to the national road and continue to Antananarivo via Antsirabe. Overnight at the Palissandre Hotel & Spa. (B, L, D)

Day 11 Transfer for the flight to Fort Dauphin then continue by road to Ifotaka (approx. 4 hrs) and Mandrare River Camp for three nights. On the wooded banks of the river from which it takes its name, Mandrare is a small safari camp in a remote location that really immerses you in unique culture and wildlife. Afternoon walk to the Sacred Ifotaka Community Forest filled with the ancestral tombs of the local Antandroy Tribe, and a bewildering array of flora and fauna, unique to the spiny gallery forest. Enjoy an evening aperitif on the terrace before dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Drive to the sacred gallery forests to the south of the camp, these forests are deciduous, dominated by tamarind trees which support a range of species including lemurs. The ring-tail lemur habituate the area in large family groups known as conspiracies. Later enjoy a sundowner watching the sun set and moon rise with a view across the Baobabs to the mountains beyond. In the evening local villagers from the Antandroy tribe perform traditional dances, accompanied by singing and music. (B, L, D)

Day 13 After breakfast continue to one of the nearby markets. See the full rich tapestry of valley life as people who have travelled for hours or even days buy and sell their local wares. With our expert guide to interpret all that you see, this is a rich fulfilling experience. Return to camp for a barbequed lunch. In the afternoon continue to the Forest of Zenavo, privately owned, the forest is excellent for night walks. We take a day into night walk, first spotting Sifakas and sleeping white-footed sportive lemurs, then once the sun has set we see two mouse lemur species, sleeping birds, chameleons, owls and sportive lemurs. Return to camp. (B, L, D)

Day 14 Depart the Mandrare Valley and return to Fort Dauphin by road for the flight back to Antananarivo for an overnight stay at the Pallissandre Hotel & Spa. Enjoy a farewell dinner. Alternatively why not take a different way home and extend to the luxury resort of Manafiafy for three nights. (B, L, D)

Day 15 Return flight to London via Johannesburg. (B)

Day 16 Arrive London.

• Key
• B - Breakfast
• L - Lunch
• D - Dinner