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14 Days The Lost Continent Tour Package Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights Priced From: $3,885 (All pricing reflects per-person Land Only expenses) Dates : Jul, Oct, Jul, Oct 
An island of gold-sand beaches lined with swaying palm trees, diverse topographical wonders that combine to house incredible arrays of endemic flora and fauna and friendly, traditional peoples with tribal cultures, Madagascar has all the right ingredients for an unforgettable tour destination; and this small piece of paradise doesn’t fail to live up to its potential. As we travel through sceneries of mist-enshrouded virgin rainforest, rice paddies fringing low hills, deep canyons carved into peculiar shapes by erosion and Eden-like waterfall oases, we see Mother Nature at her best and come to appreciate the uniqueness of this special place. We see ruined palaces, brightly coloured houses stacked on hillsides, bustling markets and innumerable intriguing sites that detail the area’s pre- and post-colonial history -- and of course, we’ll be sure to see plenty of lemurs, which can be found naturally only in Madagascar and on one or two surrounding islands. Truly a tour like no other! Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Antananarivo Arrive in Antananarivo. Antananarivo means 'City of the Thousand', supposedly because a thousand warriors protected it. By the end of the 18th century, Andrianampoinimerina had taken Antananarivo from his rebellious kinsman and moved his base there from Ambohimanga. From that time until the French conquest in 1895 Madagascar's history centred around the royal palace or rova, the modest houses built for Andrianjaka and Andrianampoinimerina giving way to a splendid palace designed for Queen Ranavalona I by Jean Laborde and James Cameron. The rock cliffs near the now ruined palace became known as Ampamarinana,'the place of the hurling', as Christian martyrs met their fate at the command of the Queen. There was no reason for the French to move the capital elsewhere: its pleasant climate made it an agreeable place to live, and plenty of French money and planning went into the city we see today. NOTE: Ever-changing air schedules to Antananarivo may necessitate an extra overnight at the start of the tour which has NOT be included in tour cost. If we find ourselves with extra time in Tana, we will have an expanded sightseeing programme in the city with time to browse through the local marketplaces. Land only passengers must confirm dates with Adventures Abroad BEFORE booking their flights. Overnight in Antananarivo. Dinner if required. Day 2 Antananarivo - Andasibe-Mantadia National Park In the morning we will have a sightseeing tour of Antananarivo, known as Tana. Tana has the quality of a child's picture book, with brightly coloured houses stacked upon the hillsides, and mauve jacarandas and purple baugainvillea against the dark blue of the winter sky. Rice paddies are tended right up to the edge of the city, clothes are laid out on the river bank to dry, and zebu-carts rumble along the roads on the outskirts of town. After lunch we will travel by road to the popular rainforest reserve of Andasibe-Mantadia (formerly known as Perinet). The drive over the highlands the escarpment is pleasant and the scenery is stunning. Since this is in the eastern escarpment, the climate is not too hot and rain falls mostly at night. The mist-enshrouded rainforest creates an awesome spectacle in the early morning. This evening we will go for a walk through the Analamzaotra Special Reserve. There are at least nine species of lemur here, (including the recent discovery of the aye-aye). Our most likely encounter will be with a troop of grey bamboo lemurs which are diurnal and sometimes feed on the bamboo near the warden's house. On a nocturnal lemur hunt one should look for mouse lemurs, and the greater dwarf lemur which hibernates during the cold season. Pack raincoats and a good flashlight for a night walk to see nocturnal animals. NOTE: There are some moderate to strenuous walks on this tour that, though optional, are an integral part of experiencing the highlights of the country. Reasonable level of physical fitness and steadiness on one's feet is important for the participant to fully and comfortably enjoy such tour activities. Overnight in Andasibe-Mantadia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Analamazaotra Special Reserve Today we visit Analamazaotra Special Reserve today (walks/hikes in the reserve). This reserve protects the largest of the lemur family, the indri. Standing about three feet high, with barely visible tails, black and white markings and surprised teddy-bear faces. You will be an observer: most people see indris in Analamazaotra Special Reserve, and if they don't see them they hear them. For it is their voice that makes this lemur extra special: while other lemurs grunt, the indri sings. It is an eerie, wailing sound somewhere between the song of a whale and a police-siren, and it carries for up to two miles as troops call to each other across the forest. In Malagasy the indri is called Babakoto. There are various legends connected with the indri, and explaining the esteem with which the local people hold them (it is unlucky to kill an indri). A popular legend tells of a man who climbed a forest tree to gather wild honey, and was severely stung by the bees. Losing his hold, he fell, but was caught by a huge indri which carried him on its back to safety. This is a good place for bird watching. There are flowering trees of a species much favoured by the Madagascar green sunbird (Cinnyris notatus) which has an iridescent green head and throat, and such nectar like the new World hummingbirds. There are also plenty of the cuckoo-like blue couas, blue pigeons, paradise flycatchers, two species of falcon (Newton falcon and Madagascar falcon), two species of black vasa parrot, and many others. Overnight in Andasibe-Mantadia. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Andasibe - Mantadia - Antsirabe Today we travel towards Antsirabe. Antsirabe was founded in 1872 by Norwegian missionaries attracted by the cool climate (1500m / 4,700 ft) and the healing properties of the thermal springs. Our journey takes us back via Antananarivo and into the highlands. Along the crest of the island lie the central highlands, a plateau region of red soil giving the country the nickname, "the Red Island." The name means "place of much salt". Antsirabe is the agricultural and industrial centre of Madagascar. This is the centre of a rich agricultural area lying on the slopes of the island's second highest peak. Overnight in Antsirabe. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Antsirabe - Ambositra - Ranomafana National Park Leaving Antsirabe we continue through typical highland scenery of rice paddies and low hills. We stop in Ambositra, the centre of Madagascar's wood carving industry where even the houses have ornately carved wooden balconies and shutters. There is an abundant choice of good quality carved figures and marquetry in several shops. From Ambositra, the scenery becomes increasingly spectacular. We now pass remnants of the western limit of the rainforest. The road runs up and down steep hills, past neat Betsileo rice paddies interspersed with eucalyptus and pine groves. Before we reach Ranomafana we first have the marvellous drive down, with the dry highland vegetation giving way to greenery and flowers. Then there are the views of the tumbling waters of the Namorana river, and the relief when the hillsides become that lovely unbroken, knobbly green of virgin forest. The village of Ranomafana is situated by a river in the lush greenness of the eastern rainforest. The name Ranomafana means "hot water" and it was the waters, not the lemurs, which drew visitors in the colonial days to this place. Today the people give more attention to the Ranomafana National Park. This unprotected fragment of high altitude rainforest first came to world attention with the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur in 1986 and is particularly rich in wildlife. Overnight in Ranomafana. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Ranomafana National Park Today we enjoy morning and evening walks/hikes in the National Park. Hidden in these trees are at least 12 species of lemur: diademed (Milne-Edwards) sifaka, red-bellied lemur, red-fronted lemur, ruffed lemur and three species of bamboo lemur. At night you can add mouse lemur, avahi, lepilemur, fat-tailed dwarf lemur, and even aye-aye. Then there are more than 110 species of birds with 36 endemic, reptiles, butterflies and other insects. Even if your wildlife viewing is limited, there is enough variety in the vegetation and scenery, and enough pleasure in walking the well-constructed trails. During our walks through the National Park we are most likely to see red-fronted brown lemurs and perhaps the rarer red-bellied lemur. The golden bamboo lemur is less easily seen. The most memorable of the easily found lemurs is a subspecies of the diademed sifaka, Milne-Edward's sifaka. Unlike the more familiar Verreaux's sifaka which is largely white, this is dark brown with cream-coloured sides. Overnight in Ranomafana. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 Ranomafana - Fianarantsoa This morning we depart from Ranomafana and journey onwards to Fianarantsoa. On our way there we pass forest, then open country, rice paddies and houses as we begin the approach to Fiarantsoa. The name means 'Place of good learning'. Fianarantsoa (Fianar for short) was founded in 1830 as the administrative capital of Betsileo. It is one of the more attractive Malagasy towns, built on a hill like a small-scale Antananarivo. The Upper Town, with its narrow winding streets and plethora of churches, is one of our stops today. Fianarantsoa has a wonderful market, which features a great variety of herbal medicines and dried fish brought up by train from Manakara. Overnight in Fianarantsoa. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 Fianarantsoa - Ambalavao - Isalo National Park This morning we drive through rice, corn, potatoes, vegetable, coffee and wine fields to arrive in Ambalavao. This is where the famous Malagasy 'Antaimoro' paper is made. This papyrus-type paper impregnated with dried flowers is sold throughout the island as wall-hangings and lampshades. The people in this area are Betsileo, but paper-making in the area copies the coastal Antaimoro tradition which goes back to the Muslim immigrants who wrote verses from the Koran on this paper. This Arabic script was the only form of writing known in Madagascar before a written Malagasy language was invented nearly five hundred years later using the Roman alphabet. Antaimoro paper is traditionally made from the bark of the araho tree from the eastern forests, but sisal paste is now sometimes used. After the bark is pounded and softened in water it is smoothed on to linen trays to dry in the sun. While still tacky, dried flowers are pressed into it and brushed over with a thin solution of the liquid bark to hold the flowers in place. This afternoon we drive to Ranohira through an awesome landscape. Here we may see 'zebu herds' of the Bara tribe. Ranohira is situated on the bottom of the Isalo mountains. The combination of sandstone rocks (cut by deep canyons and eroded into weird shapes), rare endemic plants and dry weather (between June and August rain is almost unknown), makes this Isalo National Park particularly rewarding. Abstract sculpturing and colours of the eroded terrain sweeping panoramas and absolute and enveloping silence. Overnight in Ranohira. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Isalo National Park Today we spend exploring the Isalo National Park on foot. Beautiful flora and fauna, deep canyons eroded into weird shapes, rare endemic plants. This eroded mountain range is a marvellous and magical place. A flat grassy plain is surrounded by wind sculpted rocks and cliffs, seemingly full of eyeholes, noses and beaks. At ground level, there are strange leaves which grow lying flat on the ground, thousands of termite mounds, tiny stalagmite pinnacles, and mini baobab trees which look like inflated rubber gloves or planted human hearts! Some of these produce beautiful yellow flowers. Running through the middle is a small stream, which at two points runs into little lake gardens. These oases couldn't have been created more perfectly by a Hollywood set builder working on "Adam & Eve in Paradise". One in particular has a natural stone bridge and cave with a waterfall that tumbles into a cool, clean and deep pool, surrounded by overhanging pandanus trees. This spot, where you can swim, is simply Eden. Overnight in Ranohira. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Isalo National Park - Toliara This morning as we drive from Ranohira to Toliara (Tulear), the rugged mountains give way to grasslands. It is the human aspect that makes the final stretch so rewarding. There are some charming villages on our way, and as you get closer to Toliara you'll see baobabs and pass through a cotton-growing region. The name of the town is thought to derive from an encounter with one of those early sailors who asked a local inhabitant where he might moor his boat. The Malagasy replied: Toly eroa, "Mooring down there". Toliara is relatively modern (1895) and designed by an uninspired French architect. His tree-planting was more successfully aesthetic, and the shady tamarind trees, kily, give welcome respite from the blazing sun. Overnight in Toliara. Breakfast and dinner. Day 11 Toliara - Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) Today we fly to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin). The remains of two forts can still be seen in or near this town on the extreme south-east tip of Madagascar: Fort Flacourt built in 1643; and one that dates from 1504, the oldest building in the country, which was erected by shipwrecked Portuguese sailors. This ill-fated group of 80 reluctant colonists stayed about 15 years before falling foul of the local tribes. The survivors of the massacre fled to the surrounding countryside where disease and hostile natives finished them off. The year 1642 saw a French expedition, organised by the Societe Francaise de l'Orient and let by Sieur Pronis with instructions to 'found colonies and commerce in Madagascar and to take possession of it in the name of His Most Christian Majesty'. An early settlement at the Bay of Sainte Luce was soon abandoned in favour of a healthier peninsula to the south, and a fort was built and named after the Dauphin (later Louis XIV) in 1643. At first the Antanosy were quite keen on the commerce part of the deal but were less enthusiastic about losing their land. The heavily defended fort only survived by use of force and with many casualties from both sides. The French finally abandoned the place in 1674, but their 30-year occupation formed one of the foundations of the later claim to the island as a French colony. During this period the first published work on Madagascar was written by Pronis's successor, etienne de Flacourt. His Histoire de la Grande Ile de Madagascar brought the island's amazing flora and fauna to the attention of European naturalists, and is still used as a valuable historical source book. Overnight in Taolagnaro. Breakfast and dinner. Day 12 Berenty Private Reserve This morning we drive through beautiful landscape (mountains, endemic plants, baobab, cactus, sisal) to the Berenty Reserve. The reserve lies some 80 km to the west of Tolagnaro, amid a vast sisal plantation, and the drive there is part of the experience. For the first half of the journey the skyline is composed of rugged green mountains. Travellers' trees (ravenala) dot the landscape. Near Ranopiso is a grove of the very rare three-cornered palm, Neodypsis decary. We will first stop to visit some pitcher plants whose nearest relatives are in Asia. The yellow 'flowers' (actually modified leaves) lure insects into their sticky depths where they are digested, probably for their nitrogen content. Before reaching the spiny forest we will stop at an Antanosy 'tomb' (actually the dead are buried elsewhere) known as the tomb of Ranonda. It was carved by the renowned sculptor Fiasia. The artistry of this unpainted wooden memorial is of a very high standard although the carvings are deteriorating in the frequently wet weather. Berenty is famous for its population of ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas. Henri de Heaulme and now his son Jean have made this one of the best-studied 260 hectares of forest in Madagascar. Although in the arid south, its location along the river Mandrare ensures a well-watered habitat (gallery or reverine forest) for the large variety of animals that live there. In previous years the forest itself was threatened by the rampant spread of the cactus-like 'rubber vine', Cissus quadrangularis, but this is being vigorously tackled. The following species of lemur are often seen: brown lemur, ring-tailed lemur and sifaka. The lemurs here are well-used to people. There are approximately 350 ring-tailed lemurs in Berenty, and the population has stayed remarkably stable considering that only about a quarter of the babies survive to adulthood. The young are born in September and at first cling to their mother's belly, later climbing on to her back and riding jockey-style. Ring-tails eat flowers, fruit and insects. Overnight at Berenty Private Reserve. Breakfast and dinner. Day 13 Fort Dauphin - Antananarivo Today we fly from Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) to Antananarivo. Overnight in Antananarivo. Breakfast and dinner. Day 14 Departure Departure from Antananarivo. NOTE: Ever-changing air schedules from Antananarivo may necessitate an extra overnight at the end of the tour which has NOT been included in tour pricing. Land only passengers please confirm dates with Adventures Abroad BEFORE booking your flights. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Madagascar vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 10/09 |
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