Rainforest to Reef

Day 1: Fly from Johannesburg, South Africa across the Mozambique Channel to Antananarivo in the central highlands of Madagascar, a bustling city full of historical treasures like the Queens Summer Palace.

Day 2 & 3: Fly North-east to Maroansetra and charter a boat to the nearby island of Nosy Mangabe, sanctuary to pristine rainforest, the elusive Aye-aye, leaf-tailed geckos – the masters of camouflage, ancestral tombs and ancient rock inscriptions.

Day 4 – 10: Charter across the Baie d’ Antongil to the mountainous Masoala Peninsula, where rainforest meets reef. Spend idyllic days cruising from marine reserve to marine reserve, snorkeling among the coral, walking through the forest, relaxing on the beach, fording the rivers, braving the mangrove swamps and enjoying the company of friendly villagers.

Day 11: Return to Maroansetra and fly to Antananarivo for the night.

Day 12 & 13: Take a beautiful drive through the rolling highlands to the Andasibe-Mantadia Special Reserve, a peaceful montane forest and one of the last strongholds of the largest surviving lemur, the Indri. Perinet, as the reserve is often still called, is also home to a variety of other lemurs, chameleons and endemic birds. This tranquil setting, with its excellent guides, wonderful forest trails and haunting cries of the Indri is the ideal place to reflect on your Madagascar experience.

Day 14: Drive back to Antananarivo for a last round of shopping.