Madagascar Flying Safari | Lemurs & Baobabs

International flights.
Visas
Driver guide Tips and staff
Personal Gratuities
Other extras.

• • Your guide will manage all programs’ timing
  • During the trip, the following dietary requirement(s) are served: Regular (typically includes meat, fish, milk, sea food, …). If you have special dietary requirements it’s a good idea to communicate it to us
  • Please note that the feasibility of the tour will depend on the availability of the proposed accommodations
  • We do not take responsibility for any airline schedule changes that may occur after quoting or booking. We will do everything we can to alleviate any disruption of your itinerary or holiday but cannot be held responsible for any loss of funds, bookings, missed connections or other prebooked/paid services.

This tour will take you from Antananarivo to Andasibe, Tsingy de Bemaraha and Morondava :

• Andasibe – Mantadia National park

Andasibe–Mantadia National Park is about 150 km to the east from Antananarivo, along the RN2, and it can be reached in 3 to 4 hours by car. Comprising two distinct protected areas: Analamazoatra Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park, Andasibe-Mantadia National park is one of the most frequently visited site in the country, and one of the best places to observe lemurs in Madagascar.

Fauna

It is also one of the best primate-watching site in the world. This site is known to be the refuge for a wide variety of lemur species (14 diurnal and nocturnal species), including the famous Indri Indri, the Aye-Aye, the goodman’s mouse lemur, the Crossley’s dwarf lemur, the Eastern woolly lemur sifaka, and sometimes southern black-and-white ruffed lemur. 51 reptile species, 84 amphibian species, 72 mammal species, 117 bird species, and countless insectivorous bats that have been recorded. Mantadia is the one of the best birdwatching site on the Big Island.

Flora

About the flora, with its lush and green vegetation this protected area contains a collection of evergreen vegetation epiphytic plants (plants living on other plants), palm trees, mosses, fern, bamboo, hardwoods, and precious woods, and pandanus. This park is also famous for its orchids with 120 inventoried species, entirely endemic. They bloom between September and January.

• Tsingy de Bemaraha

Located in the western part of Madagascar, about 200 kilometers from Morondava, the protected area of Bemaraha covers more than 150,000 hectares. It is home to the famous Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, one of the most spectacular landscapes of Madagascar and even of the world. The famous Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is the first tourist attraction that makes the western destination of Madagascar a popular destination for tourists.

Tsingy

Indeed, the Tsingy are a group of limestone rocks whose formation began several million years ago when the sea still covered the region. Thus, corals and shells have stacked and welded together to form thick layers which have subsequently raised. In the open air, the limestone cracked to give rise to diaclases and canyons. Rainwater that has an acid characteristic has also contributed to erosion by shaping tapered slats and deep tunnels with concretions on the surface.

Limestone

It is a true limestone cathedral characterizing one of the most spectacular natural landscapes of the Great Island and even of the world, hence it’s inscription to the world natural heritage and national cultural heritage of UNESCO. Tsingy de Bemaraha is strongly regarded as a place of endemism because of their richness in plant and animal species where scientists have recorded a high level of endemism of around 80-90%.

Fauna

The protected area of Bemaraha is a true refuge for rare and endemic animal species. There are 17 rare species of reptiles, including the very small chameleon scientifically called the Brookesia perarmata and a species of rodents, Nesomys lambertoni, found only in the park. There are also 11 species of lemurs, six species of birds, and two species of local endemic amphibians.

On the flora side, the park abounds with more than 600 species of plants, but the baobabs, aloes and flamboyants remain the first stars.

• Baobabs Avenue

About ten trees 30 meters high border this avenue, of the species Adansoniagrandidieri, endemic to Madagascar. Baobabs, over 800 years old, known locally as Renala (in Malagasy for “mother of the forest”), are a heirloom of the dense tropical forests that thrived in Madagascar.

The trees did not grow in isolation in this dry and bushy landscape but were part of a dense forest which has now disappeared (only 10% of primary forests remain in the country).

Over the years, with the increase in the country’s population, forests have been cut down for agriculture, leaving only baobab trees, which locals preserve both out of respect and for their value as a source of food and materials of constructions.

• CLIMATE

The climate is tropical, but cooler in the highlands (dropping as low as 5°C at night in July/August in Antananarivo and Andasibe). The dry season is March to October continuing into November in most areas. The east coast is best March-May and September-November, January-March is cyclone season.

The south west area is hot, dry and semi-arid. March-April is the best time for flowers and reptiles. November (spring) is generally the best time for wildlife and birds, but lemurs can be viewed all year round. Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable.

• ALTITUDE

  • Antananarivo : 1300m
  • Andasibe : 964m
  • Bekopaka : 334m
  • Morondava : 22m maximum and an average altitude above sea level of 6m

• EQUIPMENT

HT Agency Tours offers torches for nocturnal wildlife walks, a water bottle. Please bring camera film (and spare batteries), binoculars and a beach towel and swimwear. Rain proof pants are very handy for walks in the rainforest. Walking poles maybe useful in Ranomafana NP and Andasibe NP. Lightweight walking bootshoes and trainers is recommended.

Clothing should be lightweight, but a warm sweater or jacket is advisable as nights at altitude and under desert conditions can be very cold, even in summer and especially in July to September. Rainwear is highly recommended on all tours for the occasional shower. Warmer layers will be required during the winter months.

For safe operation

• Given the fluid nature of local COVID-19 protocols, our itineraries are regularly reviewed and will be modified based on local requirements to ensure a safe experience. If a major change is necessary, we will let you know before departure.
• Our guide will use their judgment during the trip to modify the itinerary if physical distancing cannot be achieved
• Our guide will receive in-depth training on COVID-19 protocols and how to conduct our journeys in the “new normal”.
• Our guide will brief you upon arrival on the use of face masks and physical distancing during the trip, based on local government guidelines.
• Only restaurants with strict protocols that comply with local food hygiene and physical distancing requirements will be used. We will encourage outdoor dining areas where possible.
• All of our staff and third party suppliers will be continually informed of new health and safety protocols.

Transportation Protocols

• Our drivers will follow local protocols on the use of face masks and physical distancing required.
• Our drivers will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer and tissues in the vehicle and encourage customers to wash their hands when getting into the vehicle.
• All vehicles will be disinfected (seats, door handles, etc.) regularly throughout the day.

Protocols for Hotels

• We will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines.
• We will ensure that these measures include; improved room cleaning, ventilation, physical distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff retraining and minimization of contact within properties

If You Get Sick

• All of our leaders are trained to help any guest who becomes ill while traveling.
• We also have an “action plan” in case of suspected COVID-19 cases within the group and are ready to seek medical support at any time.
• Our guides are supported by our 24/7 based operations team and local partners across the country

Our recommendations

• We recommend you to bring your own face masks (at least 2 reusable) and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• We recommend you to check with the airline for their individual COVID-19 requirements prior to departure.
• We recommend you to check your own government travel advice and meet entry requirements including, but not limited to, COVID-19 testing, pre-arrival health questionnaires, and tracking and traceability in the country, etc