Birdwatching Tour in Madagascar

Arrive in Antananarivo, the capital perched on the Highlands. Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel for rest and briefing. Evening at leisure or optional short city stroll.

Cityscape panorana sunset Antananarivo

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Louvre Hotel & Spa (★★★★) – Elegant central hotel with spa & pool.

• Hotel Palissandre (★★★★) – Boutique charm with panoramic city views.

After breakfast, drive east (3–4h) through lush highlands and rice terraces to Andasibe. Stop by the Mangoro River for birding (Pratincole, Falcon, Coucal). Night walk after dinner to spot mouse lemurs, chameleons and owls.

A bright green frog with vivid eyes sitting on a lush green leaf in the rainforest of Andasibe-Mantadia.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Vakôna Forest Lodge (★★★) – Private forest reserve with lemurs & lake.

• Mantadia Lodge (★★★★) – Modern ecolodge overlooking the rainforest.

Morning exploration in Analamazaotra for the Indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur. Listen to their haunting calls echoing through the canopy. Spot red-fronted couas, nuthatch vangas, and Ward’s flycatchers. Optional evening frog walk.

A small flycatcher bird perched gracefully on a branch in the rainforest of Andasibe-Mantadia.

An Indri Indri lemur standing on a tree trunk in the rainforest of Andasibe-Mantadia.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Vakôna Forest Lodge (★★★) – Private forest reserve with lemurs & lake.

• Mantadia Lodge (★★★★) – Modern ecolodge overlooking the rainforest.

Venture into Mantadia National Park’s deeper forest in search of ground rollers, helmet vangas, and brown mesites. Return to Antananarivo in the late afternoon.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Louvre Hotel & Spa (★★★★) – Elegant central hotel with spa & pool.

• Hotel Palissandre (★★★★) – Boutique charm with panoramic city views.

Depart south along the RN7 through scenic highlands. Stop in Ambatolampy for craft workshops, then continue to Antsirabe, known for its lakes and colonial charm. Evening stroll by Lake Tritriva.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Couleur Café (★★★) – Peaceful garden bungalows.

• Plumeria Hotel (★★★) – Modern comfort downtown.

Drive south to Ambositra (visit Zafimaniry woodcarvers), then descend toward Ranomafana, one of Madagascar’s richest biodiversity parks. Arrive late afternoon and rest at your forest lodge.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Setam Lodge (★★★) – Panoramic view over the rainforest.

• Hotel Thermal Ranomafana (★★★) – Historic spa hotel near park entrance.

Full day exploring the rainforest. Look for pitta-like ground rollers, velvet asity, yellow-browed oxylabes and red-tailed newtonias. Night walk for mouse lemurs and chameleons.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Setam Lodge (★★★) – Panoramic view over the rainforest. – setamlodge.com

• Hotel Thermal Ranomafana (★★★) – Historic spa hotel near park entrance.

Drive through rolling hills and rural villages. Stop at Anja Community Reserve to see ring-tailed lemurs among granite boulders. Continue to Ambalavao for overnight.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Betsileo Country Lodge (★★★) – Peaceful lodge surrounded by vineyards.

• Tsienimparihy Lodge (★★) – Simple local guesthouse with scenic views.

Pass through the Ihorombe plateau, dotted with zebu carts and southern hills. Arrive at Isalo in the afternoon, check into your lodge and enjoy the desert landscape.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Relais de la Reine (★★★★) – Classic comfort near the park.

• Le Jardin du Roy (★★★★) – Stone-built elegance by the canyon

Explore the Isalo canyons — the Natural Pool, Nymphs’ Cascade and “Window of Isalo.” Search for Benson’s Rock Thrush and Verreaux’s sifakas. Sunset view over the sandstone cliffs.

A hoopoe bird perched on a tree trunk in the rocky landscapes of Isalo National Park, Madagascar.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Relais de la Reine (★★★★) – Classic comfort near the park.

• Le Jardin du Roy (★★★★) – Stone-built elegance by the canyon

Early drive to Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. Birding walk for Appert’s greenbul, giant couas and several vangas. Continue to Tulear by late afternoon.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Moringa Hotel (★★★) – Comfortable city hotel near sea.

• Victory Hotel (★★★) – Simple hotel with rooftop views.

Short coastal drive to Ifaty. Afternoon free by the beach. Evening sunset over the Mozambique Channel.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Paradisier Ifaty (★★★) – Beachfront ecolodge.

• Bamboo Club Ifaty (★★★) – Friendly local atmosphere.

Early walk in Reniala Reserve for sub-desert mesite, long-tailed ground roller and running coua. Afternoon snorkeling or rest by the beach.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Paradisier Ifaty (★★★) – Beachfront ecolodge.

• Bamboo Club Ifaty (★★★) – Friendly local atmosphere.

Drive back toward Tulear to visit Antsokay Arboretum, famous for its spiny flora and endemic birds. Afternoon at leisure by the coast.

A Madagascar bee-eater perched on dry branches in the southern region of Madagascar.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Moringa Hotel (★★★) – Comfortable city hotel near sea.

• Victory Hotel (★★★) – Simple hotel with rooftop views.

Morning boat transfer (1h) to Anakao fishing village. Afternoon excursion to Nosy Ve Island — sanctuary for red-tailed tropicbirds.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Anakao Ocean Lodge (★★★★) – Beachfront comfort.

• Peter Pan Lodge (★★★) – Simpler eco-option.

Free day: swim, snorkel, or explore Vezo fishing life. Optional boat trip or diving.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Anakao Ocean Lodge (★★★★) – Beachfront comfort.

• Peter Pan Lodge (★★★) – Simpler eco-option.

Morning boat to Tulear, then short flight to Antananarivo. Lunch en route and evening at leisure in the capital.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Louvre Hotel & Spa (★★★★) – Elegant central hotel with spa & pool.

• Hotel Palissandre (★★★★) – Boutique charm with panoramic city views.

Visit the Tsarasaotra Bird Park, a UNESCO-listed private wetland inside Antananarivo, home to herons and ducks. Afternoon visit to the handicraft market or Queen’s Palace.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Louvre Hotel & Spa (★★★★) – Elegant central hotel with spa & pool.

• Hotel Palissandre (★★★★) – Boutique charm with panoramic city views.

Relaxing morning at your hotel, optional spa or local markets.

Accommodation (Half board)

• Le Louvre Hotel & Spa (★★★★) – Elegant central hotel with spa & pool.

• Hotel Palissandre (★★★★) – Boutique charm with panoramic city views.

Transfer to the airport for your international departure. End of our unforgettable birdwatching adventure through Madagascar’s forests, deserts, and coasts.