Day 1. Johannesburg to Antananarivo. Depart Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport for your flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival you will be met by local representative and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the lively Malagasy capital in the Central Highlands. Hotel Palissandre & Spa or similar.  F

Day 2. Antananarivo to Fort Dauphin.Transfer to the Ivato airport and fly to Fort Dauphin located on the far Southeast coast. A two hour drive inland will take you to the Berenty Reserve. One of the stops en-route will be a visit to a grove of carnivorous pitcher plants, endemic Baobab trees in the spiny desert and some remote Antandroy villages. Gite de Berenty Lodge or similar (2 nights) BLDF

Day 3. Berenty Reserve.A full day spent enjoying the Reserve which has well laid out paths making for easy viewing of the resident wildlife. Berenty offers great birding, as well as interesting reptiles and invertebrates. The spiny desert flora is remarkable. BD

Day 4. Berenty to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet). You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Antananarivo, from there you will be transferred to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park and enjoy the picturesque scenery en-route (3 – 3 ½ hours by good, winding road). If visiting in spring or summer (late August – March), pack a flashlight as you can go on a short night stroll to see nocturnal animal life. Vakona Lodge or similar (3 nights) BF

Day 5. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet). A whole day to explore this National Park. To see the most wildlife (especially Indris and birds) be in the rainforest as close to daybreak as possible as then animals are most active. The trails are not difficult to manage and most forest guides speak English. You should also encounter the likes of Grey Bamboo Lemur, Red-fronted Brown Lemur; birds like the lovely Blue Coua; Sunbird-Asity and Nuthatch Vanga, as well as impressive reptiles like Malagasy Tree Boa and Parson’s Chameleon. Orchids and other epiphytes festoon the trees. B

Day 6. Mantadia National Park. Today you will visit the wilder, nearby rainforest of Mantadia National Park where the Perinet guides are used to taking visitors. Fairly challenging terrain, but you can do as much as you feel comfortable with. The primary rainforest here is spectacular and wildlife includes Diadems Sifaka, Black-and White Ruffed Lemurs and birds like Brown Mesite, Pittalike Ground-roller, Brown Emutail and Velvet Asity. B

Day 7. Morondava. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Morondava on the West Coast. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore. Your hotel is situated in the port of Morondava which lies on a long, sandy spit of land called Nosy Kely, which runs southward from the town centre, flanked by the Indian Ocean to the west and a mangrove-lined tidal river to the east. Baobab Café (2 nights) BDF

Day 8. Kirindy (Swiss) Forest. Today you will have a full day excursion to the fabulous Kirindy (Swiss) Forest located 60km north of Morondava. This forst is a good example of tropical dry deciduous forst, the world’s most threatened habitat type. This is one of the island’s best places for mammals, especially nocturnal species like Fosa (biggest predator), various spiny Tenrecs and 6 species of nocturnal Lemur. In fact Kirindy claims a World Record for Primate density in forests of comparable size. The area is also known for good birding and three of Madagascar’s six endemic species of Baobab tree. After dinner in the campsite and a night walk, transfer back to Morondava. BLD

Day 9. Antananarivo. Transfer to the airport and fly back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Antananarivo, the remainder of your day is at leisure. Hotel Palissandre & Spa or similar B

Day 10. Departure - Arrive Johannesburg. Transfer to the airport flight back to Johannesburg. B