Stage 1: Antananarivo – Ambositra
Our team welcomes you to the red island and picks you up at Antananarivo airport. We will take you to a nearby hotel. There you can relax after the long journey and get your first impressions of Madagascar. The very next morning, straight after breakfast, it’s off to the south. The first chameleons – and they are not just carpet chameleons – can already be spotted on the way between the characteristic rice terraces of the highlands. Towards evening you reach Ambositra, the town of woodcarvers. You will spend the night in a small boutique hotel.

Stage 2: Ranomafana
From Ambositra, we continue through the highlands to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ranomafana rainforests, where we can use the evening to search for reptiles in the dark on the edge of the national park. There are already plenty of photo opportunities – the beautiful Oshaughnessys chameleon in particular is a common find – and we take plenty of time to get the perfect shot of the animals. Over the next few days, we go on several excursions into the jungle. We are not just looking for the largest chameleon, Calumma parsonii parsonii, but also one of the most beautiful leaf-tailed geckos, Uroplatus phantasticus. With a bit of luck, we might spot the flagship species Mantella baroni and one of the many variants of Boophis albilabris. And if one of the endangered Edwards’ sifakas or a golden bamboo lemur crosses our path on the way, the cameras certainly won’t say no to it. At a waterfall in the middle of the jungle, we examine branches groaning with lichen for geckos and encounter colourful snakes like Pseudoxyrophus triteniatus. We go to bed late at night – our memory cards are full to the brim.

Stage 3: Ranomafana – Antsirabe – Andasibe
We return from the rainforests of Ranomafana to the central highlands. Our destination for the day is Antsirabe. On the way, we head off the road in search of chameleons, which are only found in small fragments of forest. We are sure to spot a curious snake or two along the way. A day later, we embark on a longer journey past rice terraces, rivers and towns to the eastern highlands. In the late afternoon, we reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Andasibe-Mantadia rainforests. We reside with a view of the rainforest and can go on our first night stalk along the road in the evening. A number of new frog species have already been described along this very road – one even bears the name of our hotel.

Stage 4: Analamazaotra
The calls of the Indris get us in the mood for the day as we enjoy a delicious breakfast. Today we visit part of the national park, the Analamazaotra forest area. And it’s not just the largest of all lemurs and the endangered diademed sifakas that you can observe here. This rainforest is also home to a large number of chameleons and geckos. In addition to the ubiquitous short-horned chameleons Calumma brevicorne and the second subspecies of the Parson’s chameleon, Calumma parsonii cristifer, tree boas Sanzinia madagascariensis, moss frogs Scaphiophryne marmorata and day gecko Phelsuma lineata are among the most common motives. Analamazaotra is one of Madagascar’s herpetofauna hotspots and is particularly famous for its many frogs. We therefore use the evening for a night stalk in a small rainforest tended by villagers. Under the starry sky, the rainforest reveals a completely different side!

Stage 5: Maromizaha
Although only a short distance from Andasibe and with similar lemurs, the rainforests of Maromizaha and Vohidrazana are home to completely different reptiles and frogs. And that is exactly where we are heading today. The protected area is rarely visited, although only a few years ago a new chameleon was discovered here, Calumma roaloko. We venture into the depths of the rainforest and into the home of Calumma malthe and Calumma cucculatum. From a viewpoint in the middle of the rainforest, we have a fantastic view over the treetops. In the evening, we head back to Maromizaha – this time in search of frogs and leaf-tailed geckos. They only become active in the dark and then go hunting for insects. The perfect opportunity for great photos!

Stage 6: Vohimana

You’ll need an adventurous spirit to get there today, as we drive along the winding roads to a small village and then walk to the Vohimana reserve, crossing a river and walking along railway tracks for a while until we reach an enchanted rainforest. Another colour variant of the Parson’s chameleon lives here, as well as the tiny but all the more photogenic Pinocchio chameleon Calumma gallus. It is also one of the few places in the highlands where the colourful panther chameleon can be found.

Stage 7: Andasibe – Antananarivo
One last breakfast with a view of the rainforest, then it’s time to return to the capital. In the colourful hustle and bustle of Antananarivo, we visit the local craft market, where you can stock up on spices and souvenirs. We use a last dinner together to reminisce about the last two weeks. The next morning, it’s time to say goodbye to new friends and this fantastic country. Veloma, Madagasikara! Maybe we’ll see you next time?

Tour itinerary
Scales & Tales
On this trip you will experience several rainforests with the most diverse herpetofauna in Madagascar. In Ranomafana, you will experience deep gorges along waterfalls and a wonderland full of chameleons and leaf-tailed geckos. In Analamazaotra and a small community park in Andasibe, the region with the most frog species in Madagascar and the home of the indri awaits you. Our insider tip Maromizaha surprises with many other chameleons and geckos in the middle of a fantastic rainforest backdrop. And finally, we visit the Vohimana Experimental Reserve, another refuge for rare reptiles and amphibians. The trip is specially designed for herping, includes extra extensive day and night excursions and guarantees a maximum of reptiles and amphibians in just 12 days on holiday in Madagascar.

Travel period
Diese exkusive Fotoreise bieten wir nur von End of December to mid-April . This is the main activity and breeding season for almost all of Madagascar’s reptiles and amphibians. They are particularly active then, chameleons are more colourful and frogs are easier to spot. This trip can also be organised individually for groups of two or more.

Next date for a group trip:
04th to 16th January 2027

Can it be a group trip?
‘Group holidays, they’re just coffee trips with strange 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 who share similar interests and are just as nature-loving and open to new things as we are. Our small groups of a maximum of ten people – or even just four persons on exclusive safaris – bring humour and a good mood. They help and support each other in exploring the red island, familiarising themselves with foreign cultures and 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 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 30 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 tour offers plenty of time for photography with intensive herping – a downright paradise for every reptile and amphibian enthusiast! 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 here: only four travellers and one guide are on the Scales & Tales travel together. The following highlights are also part of this special trip:

Photographing in the best herping hot spots during the rainy season
Extensive night excursions in all destinations
Reptiles of the highlands between the rice terraces
Several excursions in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Ranomafana National Park
Search for Parson’s chameleons in Ranomafana
Chameleon walk at night near Ranomafana (approx. 3-5 h)
Day excursion in the Andasibe-Mantadia UNESCO World Heritage Site
Night safari in the V.O.I.M.M.A. Community Park (approx. 2-4 h)
Expedition to the Maromizaha protected area
Night hike in the Maromizaha nature reserve (approx. 3-5 h )
Nature experience in the rainforest of Vohimana