Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Overnight stay at IC Hotel
Welcome to Madagascar! You will meet our team directly at Antananarivo airport, we will give you a warm welcome. We will take you to a hotel not far from the airport, where you won’t hear much of the noise of the big city. Here you can relax after the long journey and gather your first impressions of Madagascar.

Day 2: Antananarivo –  Ankarafantsika
Overnight stay in our camp
We set off early in the morning towards the north-west. We set off on our journey through the winding highlands until we reach lower altitudes and it becomes significantly warmer. We cover a total of 425 kilometres on Madagascar’s easy roads. We reach Ampijoroa in the early evening and set up camp among the sickle-billed vangas in the dry forest of Ankarafantsika National Park. Our cooks are already getting started – under the simplest of conditions, they conjure up excellent meals for us three times a day.

Day 3: Ankarafantsika
Overnight stay in our camp
After the first night in the jungle camp, our chefs are already waiting for us with a delicious breakfast. The endangered Coquerel’s Sifakas are just waiting for us to unpack our cameras. Today’s route takes us to one of the region’s photographic highlights, the Ambalabongo Canyon. Hardly anyone sees it from below, from its fantastic, colourful side – we climb down to get the best shots.

Day 4: Ankarafantsika
Overnight stay in our camp
Today we go on another excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ankarafantsika dry forest. We set off on an expedition around Lake Ravelobe, the lake of crocodiles. In addition to the rhinoceros chameleon (Furcifer rhinoceratus), whose females are bright orange and purple in colour, the jungle here is also known as the “kingdom of birds”. The majestic and extremely rare Madagascar Sea Eagle will accompany us on our way around the lake.

Day 5: Ankarafantsika –  Mahajanga
Overnight stay in Antsanitia Resort
In the morning we dismantle our camp and load the vehicles. A fairly short drive takes us through jungle, savannah and past large table mountains to the coastal town of Mahajanga. This is not only home to Madagascar’s largest Baobab. Not far from the colourful hustle and bustle of the city, we move into a chic lodge with a view of the beach. We’ve earned a cocktail by the pool after camping!

Day 6: Mahajanga
Overnight stay at Antsanitia Resort
Today is all about photography. The fishermen with their dugout canoes in the bay directly in front of our resort offer a picturesque motif at sunrise. In the nearby dry forest, we go in search of chameleons – there are two rarer species to marvel at here – snakes and geckos. The curious brown lemurs, which often come as close as arm’s length, are a nice change from the many reptiles.

Day 7: Mahajanga – Katsepy
Overnight stay at Chabaud’s Lodge
In Mahajanga harbour, we board a motorboat that takes us through Bombetoka Bay with its red water to the opposite shore on the Katsepy peninsula. Furcifer voeltzkowi was recently rediscovered in the dry forest of this remote village, which few people visit. The colourful chameleon had been thought lost by scientists for more than a hundred years until German and Malagasy researchers rediscovered it on Katsepy in 2020. We will search for the animals in the evening and hopefully find some.

Day 8: Katsepy
Overnight stay at Chabaud’s Lodge
Katsepy is not only home to rare chameleons but is also home to the last Crowned Sifakas. These gentle lemurs are threatened with extinction. We find the animals in their habitat, a nearby dry forest, and combine this with a visit to the historic Katsepy lighthouse. With a bit of luck, we may also spot and photograph the extraordinary Mongoz lemurs here.

Day 9: Katsepy – Mahajanga
Overnight stay at Antsanitia Resort
Our boat takes us back to Mahajanga in the morning. Today we relax by the pool with cool drinks and fantastic food. We can discuss the photos we have taken so far, watch the lobster fishermen on the beach or simply relax on a sun lounger. In the evening, we can watch some small mouse lemurs in the light of the torch.

Day 10: Mahajanga – Antananarivo
Overnight stay at IC Hotel
We set off before sunrise. Today is a long day’s drive, as we want to return to the capital, Antananarivo. We have lunch in Mampikony before soon reaching the cooler highlands. We reach Antananarivo in the evening and treat ourselves to a well-earned shower before rounding off the day with a delicious dinner.

Day 11: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
Today we can get off to a cosy start a little later. We set off for the famous rainforests of Andasibe and Mantadia. The journey takes us through the winding eastern highlands, which look very different to the north-west of the country. In the afternoon we reach our destination, a lodge with a direct view of the rainforest. There are so many reptiles and amphibians here that even a frog is named after our lodge.

Day 12: Analamazaotra
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
In the morning, we are woken by the songs of the Indris, Madagascar’s largest lemurs. They communicate with their loud calls, which we can hear in our bungalows and on the restaurant terrace at breakfast. Today’s excursion is dedicated to these beautiful lemurs, the Indris, as well as the endangered Diademed Sifakas. There are also countless reptiles to marvel at in the Analamazaotra rainforest. The short-horned chameleon (Calumma brevicorne), various smaller chameleons such as Calumma emelinae, Calumma nasutum and Furcifer willsii, as well as a subspecies of the Parson’s chameleon (Calumma parsonii cristifer) can easily be found here. In the evening, we go on a night walk in a small, community-run park. In the dark, the rainforest shows a completely different side!

Day 13: Maromizaha
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
After a delicious breakfast, we visit the Maromizaha reserve not far from Andasibe, which, unlike the better-known national park, is frequented by far fewer people. In the enchanted rainforest, we look for some very special chameleons such as the recently described Calumma roaloko and Calumma malthe with their impressive, erectable “ears”. At a stream, we keep our eyes peeled for little beauties such as Mantella baroni. There are also representatives of the smallest chameleons, the leaf chameleons, to be found here. An exciting and day-long excursion!

Day 14: Vohimana
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
After breakfast, we set off today for the Vohimana reserve. This reserve is well hidden behind a river that has to be crossed and a series of railway tracks that have to be followed on foot for a while. However, if you are up for the adventure, you will find many special animals in Vohimana, including the Pinocchio chameleon Calumma gallus, one of the largest chameleons in the world, Calumma parsonii parsonii, and frogs such as the extremely diverse Boophis albilabris. Sometimes you can even encounter Calumma furcifer, an extremely rare rainforest inhabitant, here in the rainforest.

Day 15: Andasibe – Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
Our journey continues towards the east coast. Around midday, we reach the beach of the Lake of Kings, where we board our motorboat. If we still have time, we can look for the local form of the panther chameleon in Manambato. We then travel a leisurely 26 km along the Canal des Pangalanes to the “Nest of Dreams” – here the name says it all. The heart of every animal lover and every nature photographer beats faster when there are so many motifs that you don’t know where to look first. This is also home to a local species of panther chameleon, named after Lake Ampitabe.

Day 16: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay at Palmarium Lodge
It’s worth having your camera with you at the hearty breakfast. One or two crowned lemurs simply can’t keep their hands off the delicious plates of fruit. We dedicate today to the reserve’s many lemurs: Indris, black and white ruffed lemurs, red-bellied lemurs and black lemurs can be seen so close that many a guest didn’t want to leave the rainforest. The motifs are numerous and almost always in the immediate vicinity. As soon as dusk falls, we have a very special highlight ahead of us: we take a boat to a small island, home to Madagascar’s most bizarre lemur, the aye-aye. Observing this nocturnal animal is the dream of many travellers to Madagascar – we make it come true for you!

Day 17: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay at Palmarium Lodge
Our destination in the lowland rainforest today is the many reptiles. We will encounter day geckos, Madagascar iguanas, leaf-nosed snakes and panther chameleons. There are even some undescribed species here, including a tiny leaf chameleon and a mysterious snake. There is time to relax in the afternoon. In the evening we can go on a short night walk. In the dark, the woolly and fat-tailed lemurs become active and go in search of food – the perfect time to have your camera at the ready!

Day 18: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay at Palmarium Lodge
We head to the Indian Ocean beach shortly before sunrise. The fishermen from the nearby village venture into the dangerous surf at sunrise in their simple dugout canoes – this is not only breathtaking but also promises great shots. Afterwards, you will enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then experience the rainforest once again. On the shore of the lake, we look at carnivorous plants and find colourful Madagascar frogs that only sit in certain trees.

Day 19: Akanin’ny Nofy – Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
In the morning, we say goodbye to the people and animals we have grown fond of in the Nest of Dreams. We travel back to Andasibe with unforgettable memories. In the evening, we can go stalking again on foot to find mouse lemurs or small chameleons.

Day 20: Andasibe – Antananarivo
Overnight stay at IC Hotel
In the morning, we listen to the songs of the Indris one last time before leaving the rainforest behind us and immersing ourselves in the colourful hustle and bustle of Tana. We stock up on souvenirs, spices and Malagasy delicacies at the craft market and the nearby markets. After a final dinner and one last THB, we head to the airport. Veloma, Madagasikara – see you next time!

Of course, this tour is available for your individual holidays, too, with an upcharge. Don’t hesitate to ask us, your personal travel of dreams is close to you.