Marie - Pangalane - Sud

Arrival at Ivato International Airport. You will be welcomed by HT Agency Tours Staff. Once you have passed customs formalities, our Guide will smooth through the rest of the arrivals process - changing money, setting up your phone with the new SIM card, and anything else you need. We will provide 2 (two) SIM cards with Data + National Call + 5mn International call for your stay in Madagascar; it will make our contact easier. Transfer directly to the hotel in town for check-in “Antananarivo”. 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Sainte Marie Isle (In the East of 

Madagascar).  This day is dedicated to relax on the beach with enjoying the wonderful landscape of the area. According to one’s endurance and speed, opportunity to go to mountain by bike from the hotel to the Capital Ambodifotatra going through the pirates cemetery, the islet Madame (the former Palace of Queen Betty and Aquarium) and first church of Madagascar (1837).

After breakfast, transfer directly to the place for embarkation on the big ferry to go to Mahambo. The transfer will take around 2h30. On your arrival, check-in at the hotel, and then prepare oneself to start the surf activity, your guide will show you which place is better to do it. After surfing, you could walk around to discover this beautiful area. 

This day is dedicated to transfer you up to the capital of betsimisaraka Tamatave by car and then follow 

the Pangalane Chanel up to Palmarium by motor Boat. On this boulevard, we will cross barges, "bushboats" (taxis-bush fluvial), canoes ..., local transport ... Spontaneous greetings between sailors ... The shouts of joy of the children on the banks accompany us all along our navigation. We are spectators of unusual and unforgettable scenes of life.

In the morning, you will start a guided day walk at the Palmarium Reserve. It is a little island where inhabit ten species of lemur as Indri, Sifaka, Coronatus, Varécia, variegata, Propithèques, particularly the wellknown Aye-Aye. There is also the best and endemic Madagascar palm tree as Dypsis, Ravenea, Orania, Voanioala and Lemurophoenix). Around 6:30PM, you will start a guided night walk.

After breakfast, you will reach Andasibe by following the pangalane channel up to Manambato, then 

continue by car up to Andasibe. On your arrival, check-in at the hotel and then relax for the rest of the 

afternoon. 

After breakfast, Guided visit to Analamazaotra National Park (It is better to leave the hotel at 7:30AM). 

This morning you need an early start to catch the Indri-Indri and the Diademed Sifaka in their forest 

home. The visit takes about 4 hours. Within a mile of the park you can hear the peculiar call of the indri 

very early in the morning until noon and again in the late afternoon. Indris (called Babakoto in Malagasy) 

are the largest living lemurs at all reaching up to 1 meter. Andasibe is the best place to observe the Indris 

given that there are a couple of families habituated to humans. It lives in small groups and cannot survive 

in captivity. There are several legends trying to explain its origins since it is considered a sacred animal in 

the whole Madagascar. Apart from the Indri, another 13 lemur species inhabit these forests, such as 

woody lemur, grey bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse-lemur, red-bellied lemur, 

black and white ruffed lemur. Lunch.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy an amazing up close and personal experience with lemurs on the private 

Lemurs Island and then on to view many other species in the Vakona Reserve Zoo, where you will see 

many crocodiles in the huge river enclosure, native birds, and other wildlife in well-kept surroundings..

Around 6:30PM, beginning of the Guided night visits, the visit will take 1hour and half, and then drive 

back to the hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight TNR to the west coast of the island, destination to Morondava MOQ. On your arrival, drive directly to the North, about 42 km following the secondary road which a bit winding, to reach the famous Kirindy Park. Check-in at your hotel. Around 6:30 PM, beginning of the Guided night walks at Kirindy Reserve. Kirindy is the best place in the whole island to observe fosa. Other nocturnal species includes: the rare Coquerel's giant mouse lemur and pygmy mouse-lemur, fork-crowned lemur, grey mouse lemur, western fat-tailed dwarf lemur and red-tailed sportive lemur. Several bats, tenrecs, mongoose and rodents complete the mammal population.  

After breakfast, around 7:00 AM, beginning of the Guided day visits at Kirindy reserve. Kirindy Reserve is home to seven species of lemur. The most common are the common brown lemurs and the Verreaux's sifakas. These long-legged, seven-pound lemurs, white with dark patches, leap among tree trunks high in the canopy, propelled by their powerful hind legs but continually maintaining an upright posture. 40 bird, 50 reptile and 15 amphibian species are also found in this magnificent forest. After Kirindy’s Reserve visit, back to the road to Morondava, and we stop at the most scenic road in Madagascar: Baobab Avenue. Stuning, this is the popular attraction all day long. However, sunset is the best and most popular time of the day. Arrival in Morondava at the end of the afternoon, transfer to the hotel.

Today, you will have a very long drive, so it is better to leave early Morondava (7:00AM). After breakfast, drive directly to Antsirabe with enjoying the beautiful landscape of the Menabe area, through the spectacular red hills. Some stops could be done on the road for pictures and breaks if it is necessary. Lunch in Miandrivazo, and then continue to Antsirabe. Our destination is the highland town of Antsirabe, with its wide colonial streets, volcanic lakes and colourful rickshaws. "The Place of Salt" is the centre of beer making in Madagascar and is known for its handicrafts. Founded by Norwegian missionaries in 1856, it is the only place which really feels and looks like a European city – with its elegant spa and the railway station. It has a temperate climate and so fruits and vegetables which grow in cooler parts of the world are grown here. Check-in at the hotel

This morning we search Ranomafana National Park's rainforest for lemurs, accompanied by our local 

naturalist guide. This is a high-altitude rainforest reserve where the Golden Bamboo Lemur was 

discovered in 1986. The forest is home to 11 other lemur species, endemic chameleons, Leaf-tailed 

Geckos, Mantella Frogs and a myriad of birds. We embark on a quest to see the fabled "Hapalemur 

aureus" – the Golden Bamboo Lemur – which is only found in Ranomafana. We will also see many 

different species of birds, such as Ground Rollers. The park is particularly rich in flora and features many 

plant varieties unknown elsewhere, including different types of orchids and ferns. The approximately 

40,000 ha of Parc National de Ranomafana, with its rain forest-covered hills and abundant wildlife, has 

long been considered one of Madagascar's highlights. Altitudes in the park range from 800 to 1,200 

metres above sea level. In addition to its densely-forested hills, Ranomafana's terrain is characterised by 

numerous small streams which plummet down to the beautiful Namorona River. Although much of the 

region has been logged, the park retains relatively large areas of primary forest. This day includes 

strenuous walks in the rainforest.

In the afternoon we visit the orchid arboretum located near the village. Here we find many orchid species, 

but also reptiles such as chameleons and geckos. We also visit a village of the Tanala ethnic group, the 

forest people of southeastern Madagascar. Then, starting the  night walk to try and spot the Rufous Mouse Lemur, the Greater Dwarf Lemur and some of the other nocturnal wildlife.

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Départ matinal en direction de Fianarantsoa, capitale culturelle des Hautes Terres Centrales, pour rejoindre l'agréable ville rurale d'Ambalavao.

d'Ambalavao. C'est là que se tient l'un des plus grands marchés aux bestiaux du Sud (uniquement le mercredi matin).

mercredi matin uniquement). Nous visitons une cave locale et un atelier de fabrication du papier Antemoro, qui est fabriqué à la main à partir de l'écorce d'un arbre.

à la main à partir de l'écorce d'un arbre local, selon une méthode héritée de la culture arabe. Nous visitons également une fabrique de soie

Nous visitons également une fabrique de soie en ville et découvrons la manière locale de fabriquer des tissus à partir de fils de soie et le processus de teinture avec des colorants naturels.

avec des teintures naturelles. Nous continuons ensuite vers la réserve communautaire d'Anjar pour une courte promenade, au cours de laquelle nous aurons la chance de voir des animaux de Madagascar.

Nous avons la chance de voir l'animal emblématique de Madagascar - les lémuriens à queue annelée (Lemurian Catta.) Dans le passé, les visiteurs nourrissaient les lémuriens, de sorte que les lémuriens se nourrissaient de leur nourriture,

Dans le passé, les visiteurs nourrissaient les lémuriens, de sorte que la majorité des animaux n'ont pas peur de s'approcher de nous pour poser pour des photos.

photos. Nous continuons vers Ihosy, capitale des tribus Bara, qui sont des éleveurs de zébus. Plus loin

nous passons les pics volcaniques du massif de l'Andringitra, qui sert de transition entre les verts

Le massif de l'Andringitra sert de transition entre les hautes terres verdoyantes, avec leurs formations rocheuses granitiques très spectaculaires, et le sud aride. Notre voyage vers le sud nous mène

à travers un paysage de formations rocheuses typiques du Grand Sud sec, dont certaines sont sacrées. Nous

Nous passons par la légendaire "Porte du Sud" et traversons l'étendue désolée du Plateau de Horombe avec son sol rouge profond.

Nous arrivons en fin d'après-midi à Ranohira, porte d'entrée du parc national de l'Isalo.

Today we explore the stunning desert plains, deep canyons, sandstone formations, grasslands and palmlined oases of Isalo National Park. We hope to encounter the 3 lemur species that are found here – Redfronted Brown Lemurs, Ring-tailed Lemurs and the loping, bipedal Verreaux's Sifaka. We will also see vegetation such as Uapaca bojeri, Pachypodium rosulatum or 'elephant's foot' and Aloe isaloensis, a native species of aloe endemic to Isalo. The eroded mountains also served as a place where the Bara people kept their dead before they could bury them in their actual tombs. This day includes strenuous walks. “Picnic lunch in the park”. In the evening, drive back to the hotel with one stop at the famous window of Isalo to appreciate a breathtaking and spectacular sunset. 

This part of our journey continues down the paved RN7 to its end in Tulear on the Southwest coast, introducing us to new scenery among the dry forests of the west and the spiny desert of the south. We 

pass through the sapphire mining boom town of Ilakaka, a frontier town vaguely reminiscent of the Wild 

West. En-route today we see the locations of different ornate hillside 'Mahafaly Tombs', which were built 

for chiefs and kings and are covered in stones, sculptures and horns. The more important the deceased,

the more horns and statues the tomb is adorned with. One of the largest tombs has over 700 horns of zebu 

cattle! As this is a sacred site we will just be passing by. Photography is not permitted. We also pass the 

area of the 'Antandroy Tombs'. This is the driest part of the country - called the "Deep South" – where the 

landscape is dominated by cactus-like, spiny forests of different euphorbias. In this area giant baobab 

trees, which can be hundreds of years old, grow. For most of the year these hardy trees have no leaves, so 

their bare branches look like roots – giving them the name "upside-down trees." This is an area of dry and 

sandy soil where the local people battle to find drinking water.

Cette journée est consacrée à la détente et à la plage. Dans l'après-midi, visite guidée de la réserve de Reniala (visite de la forêt de baobas, de la forêt d'épineux, ...).

(visite de la forêt de baobas, de la forêt épineuse, ...), une forêt sèche typique du sud sec, où l'on rencontre la diversité de la faune et de la flore de la région, y compris les variétés de baobabs.

faune et de la flore de la région, dont les variétés de Baobab. Détente sur la plage pour le reste de la journée.

Après le petit-déjeuner, transfert direct à l'aéroport de Tuléar pour votre vol à destination d'Antananarivo.

09:35am, arrivée à 11:35am). A votre arrivée, vous serez transféré en ville pour faire du shopping et acheter des souvenirs au marché artisanal.

quelques souvenirs au marché artisanal. Ensuite, transfert direct à l'aéroport pour votre vol international,

selon l'horaire de votre vol.

After breakfast, drive back directly to the capital with one stop at the Pereyras reserve. The fascinating park owned by the Peyrieras family, to see Cocquerel's Sifaka, and chameleons and many other reptiles, and some other Malagasy animals such as butterflies, moths (the giant Atlas Moth) and tenrecs. Then continue to Antananarivo. After Lunch in town, 45mn visit in the Queen’s Palace (Rova Manjakamiadana) on the top of the hill, you could have an amazing view of the capital there. The rest of the day is free.

After breakfast, we will do a small city tour in Antsirabe by Rickshaws (Visit: the railway station, the Independence Avenue and the famous Hotel des Thermes). Direction towards the South enjoying the beautiful landscape Betsileo composed of terraced ricefields. Main stop at Ambositra for lunch, followed by a small tour of the city to discover the typical Malagasy craft of the region. We’ll workshops of Zafimaniry artisans – skilled sculptors working on marquetry rosewood and ebony.