Spirits of the forest

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Overnight stay in Relais de Plateaux
Welcome to Madagascar! Our team will meet you at Antananarivo airport and give you a warm welcome. We will take you to your hotel in a quiet area of the city, just a few minutes from the airport./p>

Day 2: Antananarivo –  Tolagnaro – Berenty
Overnight stay in Berenty Lodge
Today we take a small plane to the south of Madagascar. The destination is Tolagnaro, the old French name of the town is Fort Dauphin. We head off-road straight into the adventure: over dusty tracks we travel 80 kilometres to Berenty, a small and very fine reserve. In the associated luxury lodge we enjoy a sundowner with a view into the mysterious thorn forest.

Day 3: Berenty
Overnight stay in Berenty Lodge
Time to explore the thorn forest! Ring-tailed lemurs, the secret mascots of Madagascar, and sifakas are everywhere around the lodge. Even at breakfast, some try to catch a tidbit. We observe the various lemurs on a hike, whose young are, by the way, just making their first major excursions on their own. Of course, the dancing white Verreaux’ sifakas on Berenty’s red earth are also one of our photo motifs.

Day 4: Berenty
Overnight stay in Berenty Lodge
Today we are walking in the forest again. Apart from the many lemurs, Berenty naturally has other inhabitants to offer: The southern Madagascar boa, warty chameleons, sportive lemurs and a whole range of fascinating birds offer magnificent photo opportunities. In the evening, after a delicious meal, we go night stalking to meet the nocturnal spirits of the forest.

Day 5: Berenty – Tolagnaro
Overnight stay in La Croix du Sud
Today we return by off-road vehicle to the former fortress town of Fort Dauphin. Our hotel is just a stone’s throw from the sea on the Bay of Libanona, the famous paradisiacal dream beach of Tolagnaro. Do you prefer hustle and bustle to the beach? Then explore the colourful hustle and bustle in the largest town of the Antanosy, the ethnic group living here. In the evening, we can photograph the magnificent night sky on the beach.

Day 6: Tolagnaro
Overnight stay in La Croix du Sud
After breakfast we head towards the east coast. Just 10 kilometres away is the small reserve of Nahampoana, a little natural paradise. Here we spend the day to encounter collared macaws and larval sifakas. With a bit of luck, a few rare reptiles will make the memory cards of our cameras glow.

Day 7: Tolagnaro – Antananarivo – Andasibe
Overnight stay in Mantadia Lodge
Early in the morning, a small plane takes us back to Madagascar’s capital. From there we set off for the rainforests of Andasibe, the contrast to the barren south of the island. We reach our beautiful lodge in the afternoon. Those who still want to jump into the pool can even enjoy the view of the fantastic rainforest while swimming and hear the varis calling.

Day 8: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Mantadia Lodge
At breakfast we listen to the songs of the indris, which get us in the mood for the visit to the Analamazaotra rainforest. The largest lemur in Madagascar lives here, but also diadem sifakas and black-headed macaws. The Andasibe area is also known as an absolute paradise for frogs and reptiles. So it’s worth screwing the macro lens on your camera for the many chameleons, snakes and frogs. In the evening we go to a small community park in the dark. Experiencing the rainforest at night is fascinating and lets us find completely different animals than during the day.

Day 9: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Mantadia Lodge
Today we visit the Mitsinjio forest, which is also home to the Indri, but the groups here are often much closer. We follow the tracks of the second subspecies of the Parson’s chameleon and go in search of the famous giraffe neck beetle – both are fantastic photo opportunities. In the afternoon, you also have the opportunity to photograph lemurs in the hotel’s own reserve.

Day 10: Andasibe – Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Our journey continues towards the east coast. Around noon we reach the beach of the Sea of Kings, where we board our motorboat. Via the Canal des Pangalanes we travel a leisurely 26 km 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.

Day 11: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Shortly before sunrise we go to the beach of the Indian Ocean. The fishermen of the nearby village venture into the dangerous surf with their simple dugout canoes at sunrise – this is not only breathtaking, but also promises grandiose photographs. Afterwards, you enjoy breakfast at the lodge, where one or the other crowned lemurs surely can’t keep its little fingers off the fruit plate. We dedicate today to the many lemurs of the reserve: Indris, black and white ruffed lemurs, red-bellied lemurs and black lemurs can be seen so closely here that many a guest has not wanted to leave the rainforest.

Day 12: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Another day in paradise awaits you! We walk along Lake Ampitabe and photograph the carnivorous pitcher plants as well as the Madagascar iguanas sunning themselves on the deadwood by the lake. Afterwards, in the lowland rainforest, we observe the young of the crowned lemurs on their first big excursions off their mama’s back. 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 big dream of many Madagascar travellers – we’ll make it come true for you!

Day 13: Akanin’ny Nofy – Andasibe
Overnight stay in Mantadia Lodge
With unforgettable memories in our luggage, we say goodbye to the nest of dreams. We make a stopover in Andasibe before heading back to the capital Antananarivo. In the evening we can go stalking again to find mouse macaws or small chameleons.

Day 14: Andasibe – Antananarivo
Day use in Chalet du Lac
One last time we listen to the songs of the Indris in the morning before we leave the rainforest behind and dive into the colourful hustle and bustle of Tana. At the handicraft market and the nearby markets we stock up on souvenirs, spices and Malagasy delicacies. After a last dinner and a last THB, we head to the airport. Veloma, Madagasikara – maybe see you next time!

Tour itinerary
Spirits of the forest
This trip takes you to the hot, dry south of Madagascar and to the edge of the Indian Ocean, to the beautiful bay of Tolagnaro. From there we go to the famous Berenty Reserve. Afterwards, we fly back to the capital to experience a contrasting programme in the rainforests of Andasibe. The trip ends in a private retreat at Lake Ampitabe, where black and white ruffed lemurs greet us at breakfast. On this trip you will experience a maximum of lemurs that no other trip can offer!

Travel period
This luxury safari is particularly suitable from August to December. During this time, the young lemurs are just a few weeks or months old and make their first independent excursions. You can observe them particularly well then. In principle, however, the trip can be made all year round. Lemurs are active all year round!

Next group travel:
new date will follow soon

Can it be a group trip?
„Group tours are those coffee trips with strange strangers!“ That’s probably exactly what most people think of group travels. We at Tanalahorizon would like to prove to you that it is also possible to do something completely different than all-inclusive and boring! On every group tour, we only bring together hand-picked guests who have similar interests and are just as close to nature and open to new things as we are. Humour and good humour bring our small groups of a maximum of ten people – on luxury safaris even only six people – together quickly. We help and support each other in exploring the red island, in getting to know foreign cultures and in searching for animals. Many eyes see more than two! For us, travelling in small groups is the most fun and every year we look forward to seeing old familiar faces again and meeting new ones. On Madagascar, we have already made many lifelong friends.

Or would you prefer something of your own?
Would you prefer to travel to Madagascar alone or as a couple? You already have a circle of friends with whom you travel, but you don’t know your way around Madagascar? Then we have just the thing for you! With individually planned trips, you can experience your dream trip together only with your family, friends or partner. We offer you our best guides, experienced drivers as well as the entire planning and organisation of your complete trip as a total package (without flights) on Madagascar. We are only limited by the local conditions, which we have known for 28 years. Let us create your perfect Madagascar dream trip together – with heart, mind and the right feeling for the country and its people on the eighth continent.

What makes this trip special?
This luxury trip combines extra time to photograph and experience nature with extra luxurious accommodation. Nature during the day and relaxing by the pool with a cocktail in your hand in the evening – your dream holiday in Madagascar can look exactly like this! You will also experience the following highlights on the trip:

Reserve Berenty with its ring-tailed lemurs
Photograph the dancing sifakas
Nature Experience Reserve Nahampoana
Dream beaches of Lebanona
Night hike in Andasibe
Indri and chameleon stalking in Analamazaotra
Boat trip on the Canal des Pangalanes
Day excursion to the carnivorous pitcher plants
Night expedition in search of Aye-Ayes
Safari to the Indris and other Lemurs