ITINERARY
Welcome to Nosy Be! On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred by car to Hell-Ville where you will continue to Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge by boat. You will be spending the next 3 nights on Nosy Komba, the most beautiful island of the Nosy Be archipelago and also known as ‘Lemur Island’. This Madagascar beach lodge offers direct access to white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of the Indian ocean. This eco-paradise describes its own atmosphere as ‘the life in the slow lane’ giving you the perfect opportunity to simply unwind and relax.
Lemur Island
Hell-Ville
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of Tsara Komba Luxury Beach & Forest Lodge and transfer to the Nose Be airport for your departing flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival in Tana, you will be met by your Madagascar guide and will head to Andasibe Reserve through the green and luxuriant vegetation of the east. The second leg of this Madagascar safari brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forests and lakes. On arrival check into your hotel in Andasibe. At around 19h00 enjoy a night walk in the area of Andasibe to observe night active lemurs and other nocturnal animals with an expert Andasibe wildlife guide.
Antananarivo
Night Walking Safari
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After breakfast, we take a morning visit to the Special Reserve of Andasibe, where you will discover the many species dwelling in the forest. In particular, your guide will search for the Indri Indri, the largest lemurs on the island. This 810 ha reserve is unique with its endemic fauna and flora. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, and endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. We also visit the Orchid garden, after which we return to our hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit the V.O.I.I.M.A community reserve. This reserve provides a sustainable way of saving the remaining rainforests in the area by creating a livelihood for the local communities through reforestation projects. Here you will also come across a variety of wildlife, ranging from brown lemurs, indri, chameleons, geckos and birds.
Indri lemurs
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After breakfast, we head back to Antananarivo, stopping for lunch at the famous Reptile and Butterfly farm. The capital of Madagascar is also called the ‘City of Thousands’ and it is where the first Madagascar King started to unify the different kingdoms of the island. Embark on a short city orientation tour before you arrive at your Antananarivo hotel in the late afternoon.
Reptile and Butterfly farm
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After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred back to Ivato Airport for your 2-hour flight to Fort Dauphin. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local Madagascar guide and will have lunch in Fort Dauphin. From there we head west towards the famous Antandroy Spiny Forest. You will arrive at your luxury safari tented camp in the late afternoon, allowing you to settle into your accommodation and enjoy the breath-taking views of the Mandrare River.
Stop over at Fort Dauphin Town
Antandroy Spiny Forest
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Choose from a multitude of activities at Mandrare River Lodge including an exploration or the Antandroy forest to view ancient tombs on a guided excursion; lemur tracking and bird watching and enjoy a romantic sunset in the setting of the baobab trees of Madagascar.
Activities at Mandrare River Camp
Game drives in 4X4 vehicles
Walking Safari
Bird-watching.
Sundowner
Forest Walks
Cultural activities
ITINERARY
Drive to Fort Dauphin for your flight to Antananarivo and where this tour of Madagascar ends.
Accommodations Information
Day 1 to 3: Tsara Komba Luxury Beach and Forest Lodge, Nosy Komba or similar
Day 4 & 5: Andasibe Hotel or similar
Day 6: Palissandre Antananarivo or similar
Day 7 to 9: Mandrare River Camp, Ifotaka or similar
Tsara Komba Luxury Beach and Forest Lodge or similar
A Delightful Small Eco Lodge Set Amongst Lush And Tropical Trees And Foliage
Tsara Komba is a delightful small eco lodge set amongst lush and tropical trees and foliage. This is a lodge perfect for a standalone destination or a place to stay at the end of a holiday after exploring the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
It is privately-owned and the managers are wonderful hosts. Their style is evident everywhere you look, with each nook and cranny pleasing to the eye, nothing jarring it’s a blend of nature and style. This is one of those places that really soothes the soul, it is perfect for luxury holidays, honeymoons and family holidays alike.
Tsara Komba is also a member of the exclusive National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World Collection, a compilation of properties known for their high hospitality standards and pledge to sustainable development.
Nosy Komba or similar
Nosy komba Ecolodge is situated in Nosy Komba. Set on the beachfront, this property has a bar, a garden and a terrace.
The chalet is fitted with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views. For added convenience, the property can provide towels and bed linen for an extra charge.
Guests at the chalet can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast.
Ambatoloaka is 17 km from Nosy komba Ecolodge, while Hell-Ville is 11 km from the property.
Andasibe Hotel or similar
Conveniently located close to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Malagasy owned and run, this comfortable lodge is very conveniently located, just 300m from the national park entrance and 800m from Andasibe village.
20 en-suite rooms are set in its original 12 bungalows. In 2016, simpler and smaller rooms were added in a single, new block. Rooms in general are spacious and airy but at night, do note that lighting can be dim. As is the case with all properties around Andasibe-Mantadia, it is of the no-frills variety. Facilities include telephone, TV, safe and rooms are equipped with heaters for cold winter nights. There is a swimming pool in attractive gardens. There is a good restaurant and, weather permitting, meals can be taken on the terrace.
The hotel has a small private forest at its rear with walkways throughout for exploring, as well as the Andasibe ('Perinet'), Analamzaotra Forestry Station and Mantadia National Park nearby. You can also head out onto the water for some kayaking.
Palissandre Antananarivo or similar
Hôtel & Spa Palissandre is located in downtown Antananarivo. It features an outdoor pool, a spa and a restaurant with terrace offering panoramic city views. Free WiFi access is available.
The rooms at Hôtel & Spa Palissandre contain wooden furniture. Each room is equipped with a TV, telephone, minibar and air conditioning. Featuring a bath or shower, the bathrooms also comes with a hairdryer and bathrobes. You can enjoy city and pool views from the room.
The restaurant serves local and French cuisine. The hotel's bar is equipped with sofas and overlooks the garden. Guests can enjoy drinks, cocktails and snacks.
Other facilities at the hotel include a fitness centre, a 24-hour front desk, a concierge service and meeting facilities. The property offers free on-site parking.
The hotel is a 15-minute walk from Lac Anosy and 17 km away from Ivato Airport.
Mandrare River Camp or similar
Learn more below about the Camp you will be visiting during your tour
LODGE DETAILS
Style
A luxurious tented camp where each tent features uniquely hand-carved furnishings. There is an intimate and friendly atmosphere here.
Setting
Located on the Southern tip of Madagascar, about 3 kilometres from Ifotaka - right on the banks of the Mandrare River. Access is via a 3 hour 30 minute drive or 40 minute light aircraft flight from Fort Dauphin.
Accommodation & Facilities
Rooms at Mandrare are set within East African style tents, however these ‘tents’ are complete with four-poster double beds swathed in mosquito netting, a private en-suite bathroom, private terrace with seating area, wardrobe and a dressing table. The tents each have a subtle theme based on the local wildlife and feature hand-carved wooden furnishings depicting the animal of that tent; chameleon, lemur, baobab, radiated tortoise and heron. Look out onto the incredible flora and fauna on the riverbanks against the backdrop of the mountain range. There is also 24 hour solar lighting and hot water.
The camp is situated on private land so there will be no competition to see the incredible wildlife here; don’t be surprised to find an unexpected visitor when you open your tent in the morning! Your private veranda is a wonderful spot for watching the world go by with a sundowner after an unforgettable day of exploring.
Dining
All meals are included during your stay at Mandrare with each course being made from as much locally sourced produce as possible. The food here is extremely fresh from the range of meats to the home baked breads.
Activities
Exploring the magnificent area is fantastic, especially on the day and night walks organised by your guide. Five different types of lemur have been recorded here including; white-foot sportive lemur, ring-tailed lemur, grey brown mouse lemur, grey mouse lemur and Verraux’s sifaka. Take a wander through the Spiny Forest and the ancient burial tombs during your stay. There will also be opportunities to visit local villages as well as the weekly market in the local town.
Child Policy
Children of all ages are welcome at Mandrare and an extra bed can be placed into your tent on request.
LODGE IMAGES
Ifotaka experience
Malachite kingfisher
Book-billed vangas
Scops owl
Lemur species
When is the best time to see lemurs?
The best time to see lemurs is from May to October, when the climate in Madagascar is drier & milder. Lemurs are born around September & October so this is a great time to see babies. Many species can be seen during the daytime but the smaller species tend to be nocturnal and can be seen on night walks. Look out for their shiny eyes in your torch ligh
Lemur viewing on safari
As lemurs spend most of their time in the trees, the way to see them is on foot. Treks range from challenging, in the dense rainforest regions, to more leisurely walks in the drier lowlands. The different national parks across the country offer unique experiences and different species can be see within the different parks.
Grey mouse lemur
The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), grey mouse lemur or lesser mouse lemur, is a small lemur, a type of strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing 58 to 67 grams (2.0 to 2.4 oz), it is the largest of the mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus), a group that includes the smallest primates in the world. The species is named for its mouse-like size and coloration and is known locally (in Malagasy) as tsidy, koitsiky, titilivaha, pondiky, and vakiandry. The gray mouse lemur and all other mouse lemurs are considered cryptic species, as they are nearly indistinguishable from each other by appearance. For this reason, the gray mouse lemur was considered the only mouse lemur species for decades until more recent studies began to distinguish between the species.
Like all mouse lemurs, this species is nocturnal and arboreal. It is very active, and though it forages alone, groups of males and females form sleeping groups and share tree holes during the day. It exhibits a form of dormancy called torpor during the cool, dry winter months, and in some cases undergoes seasonal torpor (or hibernation), which is unusual for primates. The gray mouse lemur can be found in several types of forest throughout western and southern Madagascar. Its diet consists primarily of fruit, insects, flowers, and nectar. In the wild, its natural predators include owls, snakes, and endemic mammalian predators. Predation pressure is higher for this species than among any other primate species, with one out of four individuals taken by a predator each year. This is counterbalanced by its high reproductive rate. Breeding is seasonal, and distinct vocalizations are used to prevent hybridization with species that overlap its range. Gestation lasts approximately 60 days, and typically two young are born. The offspring are usually independent in two months, and can reproduce after one year. The gray mouse lemur has a reproductive lifespan of five years, although captive individuals have been reported to live up to 15 years.
Although threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and live capture for the pet trade, it is considered one of Madagascar's most abundant small native mammals. It can tolerate moderate food shortages by experiencing daily torpor to conserve energy, but extended food shortages due to climate change may pose a significant risk to the species. Credit Wikipedia
Verraux’s sifaka Lemur
White-foot sportive lemur
Ring-tailed lemur
The ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a large strepsirrhine primate and the most recognized lemur due to its long, black and white ringed tail. It belongs to Lemuridae, one of five lemur families, and is the only member of the Lemur genus. Like all lemurs it is endemic to the island of Madagascar and endangered. Known locally in Malagasy as maky ([makʲ] (listen), spelled maki in French) or hira, it inhabits gallery forests to spiny scrub in the southern regions of the island. It is omnivorous and the most terrestrial of extant lemurs. The animal is diurnal, being active exclusively in daylight hours.
The ring-tailed lemur is highly social, living in groups of up to 30 individuals. It is also female dominant, a trait common among lemurs. To keep warm and reaffirm social bonds, groups will huddle together. The ring-tailed lemur will also sunbathe, sitting upright facing its underside, with its thinner white fur towards the sun. Like other lemurs, this species relies strongly on its sense of smell and marks its territory with scent glands. The males perform a unique scent marking behavior called spur marking and will participate in stink fights by marking their tail with their scent and wafting it at opponents.
As one of the most vocal primates, the ring-tailed lemur uses numerous vocalizations including group cohesion and alarm calls. Experiments have shown that the ring-tailed lemur, despite the lack of a large brain (relative to simiiform primates), can organize sequences, understand basic arithmetic operations and preferentially select tools based on functional qualities.
Despite reproducing readily in captivity and being the most populous lemur in zoos worldwide, numbering more than 2,000 individuals, the ring-tailed lemur is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List due to habitat destruction and hunting for bushmeat and the exotic pet trade. As of early 2017, the population in the wild is believed to have crashed as low as 2,000 individuals due to habitat loss, poaching and hunting, making them far more critically endangered. Credit Wikipedia
Grey brown mouse lemur
The gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), grey mouse lemur or lesser mouse lemur, is a small lemur, a type of strepsirrhine primate, found only on the island of Madagascar. Weighing 58 to 67 grams (2.0 to 2.4 oz), it is the largest of the mouse lemurs (genus Microcebus), a group that includes the smallest primates in the world. The species is named for its mouse-like size and coloration and is known locally (in Malagasy) as tsidy, koitsiky, titilivaha, pondiky, and vakiandry. The gray mouse lemur and all other mouse lemurs are considered cryptic species, as they are nearly indistinguishable from each other by appearance. For this reason, the gray mouse lemur was considered the only mouse lemur species for decades until more recent studies began to distinguish between the species.
Like all mouse lemurs, this species is nocturnal and arboreal. It is very active, and though it forages alone, groups of males and females form sleeping groups and share tree holes during the day. It exhibits a form of dormancy called torpor during the cool, dry winter months, and in some cases undergoes seasonal torpor (or hibernation), which is unusual for primates. The gray mouse lemur can be found in several types of forest throughout western and southern Madagascar. Its diet consists primarily of fruit, insects, flowers, and nectar. In the wild, its natural predators include owls, snakes, and endemic mammalian predators. Predation pressure is higher for this species than among any other primate species, with one out of four individuals taken by a predator each year. This is counterbalanced by its high reproductive rate. Breeding is seasonal, and distinct vocalizations are used to prevent hybridization with species that overlap its range. Gestation lasts approximately 60 days, and typically two young are born. The offspring are usually independent in two months, and can reproduce after one year. The gray mouse lemur has a reproductive lifespan of five years, although captive individuals have been reported to live up to 15 years.
Although threatened by deforestation, habitat degradation, and live capture for the pet trade, it is considered one of Madagascar's most abundant small native mammals. It can tolerate moderate food shortages by experiencing daily torpor to conserve energy, but extended food shortages due to climate change may pose a significant risk to the species. Credit Wikipedia
