Herps & Birds

Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Overnight stay in IC Hotel
Welcome to Madagascar! Our team will meet you at Antananarivo airport and give you a warm welcome. We will take you to a nearby hotel. There you can relax after the long journey and get your first impressions of Madagascar.

Day 2: Antananarivo –  Ambositra
Overnight stay in L’Artisan
Our journey begins! Through the idyllic rice terraces of the highlands, we embark on a tranquil journey of around 170 kilometres to Antsirabe. Here we have lunch before travelling on to the town of woodcarvers, Ambositra. On the way we will find carpet chameleons and look out for the first birds, such as Bee-eaters, Hamerkops and Malagasy Bulbuls.

Day 3: Ambositra – Ranomafana
Overnight stay in Hotel Thermal
Today we travel through the winding roads of the southern highlands right through the rainforest to the Ranomafana valley. Our beautiful hotel is located on the river of the same name right at the foot of the rainforest. The national park here is famous for its high diversity of reptiles and amphibians, as well as fantastic birds such as the Sunbird Asity. We can’t wait to see what we will discover during our visit!

Day 4: Ranomafana
Overnight stay in Hotel Thermal
After breakfast, we set off on our first excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ranomafana rainforest. In the jungle, we will be accompanied by paradise flycatchers and the majestic Blue Coua, while we visit the Golden Bamboo Lemur and the endangered Edwards’ Sifaka. Another great photo opportunity is the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko – it camouflages itself perfectly between dead leaves and is hard to find! The colourful frogs provide a splash of colour in the green rainforest.

Day 5: Ranomafana
Overnight stay in Hotel Thermal
Today is all about birds and reptiles. We hike through the rainforest to an enchanted waterfall deep in the jungle. On the way, we hope to catch a glimpse of Velvet Asitys and Tylas’ Vanga. Velvet Asitys feed almost exclusively on fruit and can be observed particularly well on certain bushes. We dedicate the afternoon to the famous Parson’s Chameleon and its colourful, barely smaller relative, Oshaughnessy’s Chameleon. These two and many other fascinating lizards can be found not far from Ranomafana.

Day 6: Ranomafana – Ambalavao
Overnight stay in Hotel Aux Bougainvilées
We set off early today, as we want to travel 150 kilometres south. In the afternoon, we reach the foothills of the Andringitra Mountains and the town of Ambalavao. Madagascar’s largest zebu market is held here every week. We can take a stroll through the town and get to know the Betsileo ethnic group in the colourful hustle and bustle of the market.

Day 7: Ambalavao
Overnight stay in Hotel Aux Bougainvilées
After breakfast, we head to the Anja Community Reserve. This small park, successfully and independently managed by locals, is a model for many other projects in Madagascar. We will have a lot of fun climbing between and on the huge rocks. The forest at the foot of the rocks is one of the last remaining dry forests in the highlands and home to Madagascar’s most famous animals, the ring-tailed lemurs.

Day 8: Ambalavao –  Antsirabe
Overnight stay in Les Chambres du Voyageur
Today we start our return journey back to the central highlands. We bid farewell to the mighty granite cliffs and drive to Antsirabe, the town of salt, gemstones and thermal springs. The town has a colonial-era old town and is home to many small workshops: gemstone-cutting workshops, zebu horn workshops, sheet metal factories, a tiny sweet shop – many of Madagascar’s cultures come together here! Depending on what you feel like doing, we can look over the shoulders of various craftsmen at work or explore the city on one of the colourful rickshaws, the pousse-pousse.

Day 9: Antsirabe – Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
We drive around 280 kilometres east past the capital Antananarivo. Our destination is the famous rainforests of Andasibe and Mantadia. This is home to Madagascar’s largest lemur, the Indri, and the endangered Diademed Sifakas. We reach our lodge with a direct view of the rainforest in the late afternoon. During dinner, we listen to the many sounds of the jungle and watch Souimanga Sunbirds and Madagascar pygmy kingfisher flying to the nearby pond. With a bit of luck, we may spot one of the Madagascar Scops Owls that are often to be found here in the evening.

Day 10: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
Breakfast is already accompanied by the songs of the Indris, which put us in the mood for our visit to the remote primary rainforest of Mantadia. Madagascar’s largest lemur lives here, as well as the communicative black and white ruffed lemurs. In addition to these fantastic lemurs, we are particularly keen to find some flagship bird species, including the Scaly, Short-Legged, Pitta-like and Rufous-headed Ground-Roller. We return to the hotel around midday. From the terrace, we can comfortably take photos of rails and colourful weavers.

Day 11: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
Today we spend the day in a small, rather unknown reserve that is an insider tip for birdwatchers. Here we look for the iconic Helmet Vanga, which has many nests in this rainforest. At lunchtime, we look for the beautiful Madagascar fruit dove near our lodge, which we have seen here several times before. Incidentally, the Andasibe area is known as an absolute paradise for frogs and reptiles – one frog is even named after our hotel here. On a walk along the road, we are sure to spot a frog or two and several chameleons.

Day 12: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
New day, new luck! Today we visit the Maromizaha reserve not far from Andasibe, which, unlike the better-known national park, is visited by far fewer people. Here we visit a number of brightly coloured frogs such as Mantella baroni and the endangered Diademed Sifakas. Maromizaha is also home to the beautiful Blue Coua, which we hope to photograph. We then follow the tracks of the second subspecies of Parson’s chameleon – so it’s worth having a macro lens ready today as well as a telephoto lens. Calumma malthe, a chameleon that can erect its large occipital lobes like “ears” when threatened, can also be found here.

Day 13: Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
After breakfast today we set off 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, those who embark on the adventure 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. Various vangas, including the Common Newtonia, Red-tailed, Chabert’s and Blue Vanga, can be found in Vohimana.

Day 14: Andasibe – Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Our journey continues towards the east coast. Around midday, we reach the beach of the Lake of Kings, where we board our motorboat. We take a leisurely 26 km trip along the Canal des Pangalanes to the “Nest of Dreams” – 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 15: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Even at breakfast, it’s worth having your camera with you. 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.

Day 16: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
We head to the Indian Ocean beach shortly before sunrise. The fishermen from the nearby village venture into the dangerous surf in their simple dugout canoes at sunrise – it’s not only breathtaking, but also promises great shots. Afterwards, enjoy breakfast at the lodge and then experience the rainforest once again. With a bit of luck, we might spot Madagascar Green-pigeons eating fruit from the trees. 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’ll make it come true for you!

Day  17: Akanin’ny Nofy
Overnight stay in Palmarium Lodge
Today we take the boat to a small, relatively unknown reserve in one of Madagascar’s last gallery forests. The rainforest here is home to some very exciting reptiles such as leaf-tailed geckos and probably the most famous reptile on the island, the panther chameleon. Many birds have also chosen the small protected area as their home and are easy to photograph. The afternoon is at your leisure today. You can go for a swim in the lake, go on another photo hunt or enjoy a cool beer and look through the pictures you have taken so far. In the evening, we can try our hand at star photography and bring a perfect holiday to a slow close.

Day 18: Akanin’ny Nofy – Andasibe
Overnight stay in Feon’ny Ala Lodge
In the morning, we bid farewell to our beloved people and animals in the Nest of Dreams. We travel back to Andasibe with unforgettable memories. In the evening we can go on the road again to find mouse lemurs or small chameleons.

Day 19: Andasibe – Antananarivo
Overnight stay in 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 – maybe see you next time!

Tour itinerary
Herps & Birds
This trip takes you to the various forests of Madagascar’s highlands. In the rainforest of Ranomafana, you will experience a wide variety of reptiles and birds, before travelling to Madagascar’s mascots, the ring-tailed lemurs, in one of the last remaining dry forests of the highlands. We then experience the east of Madagascar. In the rainforests around Andasibe, where we mainly enjoy lesser-visited forests, a first-class biodiversity awaits us. The trip ends at a private refuge on Lake Ampitabe, where black and white varis greet us at breakfast. A fantastic trip with a maximum of reptile, amphibian and bird sightings!

Travel period
We only offer this exclusive photo tour from November to December. During this time, the reptiles are just becoming active and starting to mate. This is also the time when most birds start breeding and are particularly colourful. This trip can also be organised individually for four people.

Next date for a group trip:
 17. November bis 04. December 2024
 17. November bis 04. Dezember 2025

Can it be a group tour?
“Group holidays, they’re just coffee trips with odd strangers!” This is probably exactly what many travellers imagine group travel to be. We at Tanalahorizon would like to prove to you that there are other ways of travelling than “all-inclusive and boring”! Each of our group tours is made up of hand-picked guests with similar interests who are just as nature-loving and open to new things as we are. Humour and good humour quickly bring our small groups of a maximum of ten people together – on exclusive safaris even just four people. We help and support each other as we explore the red island, learn about foreign cultures and search 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 familiar faces and meeting new ones. We have already made many lifelong friends in Madagascar.

Or would you prefer something of your own?
Would you prefer to travel to Madagascar alone or as a couple? Do you already have a circle of friends with whom you are travelling, but 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 with just your family, friends or partner. We offer you our best guides, experienced drivers and the entire planning and organisation of your complete trip to Madagascar as a complete package (without flights). We are only limited by the local conditions, which we have known for 28 years. Let us organise 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 exclusive photo trip offers plenty of time for photography with intensive reptile, amphibian and bird watching. We don’t just dash in and out of the forest, but spend as much time on location in nature as you like. The small group is particularly important: only four travellers and one tour guide are on the Herps & Birds tour together. The following highlights are also part of this special trip:

Photographing in the best bird hot spots during the breeding season
Experience UNESCO World Nature Heritage Ranomafana
Excursion to the ring-tailed lemurs of the Anja Community Reserve
Macro photography special: Chameleons, frogs and other herps up close
Helmet Vanga watching in the Iaroka reserve
Nature experience Mantadia National Park
Indri and Diademed sifaka hike in Maromizaha
Boat trip on Canal des Pangalanes
Night expedition in search of Aye-Ayes
Safari to see Ground Rollers, Couas, Blue Vanga and other birds
Crested ibis and Kingfishers in Akanin’ny Nofy Reserve
Photo session at sunrise with fishermen on the Indian Ocean