Touristic circuits

South of Madagascar

South of Madagascar also known as the RN7, is a picturesque area rich in flora and fauna combined with different tours. You will visit FOUR National Parks such as Ranomafana National Park with its lemurs, birds, reptiles and the evergreen lush rainforest…; Isalo National Park and its biodiversity, stunning landscape and a very refreshing natural swimming pool and waterfall. At Isalo NP; you will discover the extraordinary sandstone rock formations and the sanctuary rare birds and some lemurs, baobab trees at the National Park of Zombitse. The second route is by a train journey between Fianarantsoa and Manakara which reveals a beautiful landscape. You will also have the opportunity to hike up to Peak Bobby (2^nd highest peak in Madagascar, with its 360° altitude) in the National Park of Andringitra. The highlight is the visit of Andasibe National Park before heading down South. This rainforest is located 130 Km East of Tana is the unique place to experience the morning call of the world biggest lemur called ‘’ INDRI INDRI’’. You will observe lots of wildlife; reptiles very close. After a first experience of the Malagasy wildlife, continuation down to the South where you will visit another NPs stated above; different landscape. Lemurs are easily visible in the NP of Isalo and at the private reserve of ANJA which is managed by the local villagers. After sightseeing to all of NPs, you can relax to one of the tropical beaches of Ifaty or Anakao located near Tulear. An addition of the trip is to visit the spiny forest of Ifaty at the private reserve of Reniala.

Itinerary

TANA – ANDASIBE – ANTSIRABE – RANOMAFANA – RANOHIRA – TULEAR – IFATY – TANA

Programs

DAY 1 : ANTANANARIVO or TANA

Arrival at the international airport of Madagascar, we will meet and welcome you at the airport of Antananarivo and will transfer you to your hotel. You will be briefed on your Madagascar guide at the comfort of your hotel. Overnight at your hotel on a full board basis.

Radisson Blu hotel
Maison Gallieni
Tamboho Suite
La Varangue Hotel

DAY 2 : TANA - ANDASIBE

We will meet you at your hotel after breakfast with your driver and an English-speaking tour guide then proceed along the RN2 to the east of Tana. We will stop at Pereyras Reptile Reserve to spot reptiles endemic of Madagascar. This is a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these amazing animals!! Lunch in Moramanga after a further 40km of driving. Arrival in Andasibe late in the afternoon. Settle in the hotel. Possibility to go at a night walk to spot the nocturnal lemurs known as the smallest of the lemurs in the world. Overnight at your hotel on a full board basis.

Mantadia Lodge
Manjarano Lodge
Vakoana Forest Lodge

DAY 3 : ANDASIBE NP

Andasibe-Analamazaotra national park is surely one of the most rewarding destinations. Frogs, reptiles and birds abound. However, on top of the bill is the indri, the largest of all living lemurs. These creatures sing a haunting song (reminiscent of whale song), which carries for miles across the forest. Afternoon visit of Vakoana Reserve known as the island of lemurs where you will get close to lemurs. Overnight at your hotel on a full board basis.

Mantadia Lodge
Manjarano Lodge
Vakoana Forest Lodge

DAY 4 : ANTSIRABE-RANOMAFANA:

Meet your driver and guide after breakfast and then continue to Antsirabe. Stop at Ambatolampy for a visit of a workshop working on recycled aluminum, a good example of Malagasy know-how and handicraft skills. Continue to Antsirabe; check in at the hotel upon arrival. Antsirabe is a thermal town also famous for the handicraft workshops. City tour to discover this former colonial town and its workshops. You can also go a little out of the city to the countryside to see its in-depth local life and markets. Overnight at your hotel full board basis.

Plumeria hotel
Arotel
Couleur Café hotel

DAY 5 : ANTSIRABE - RANOMAFANA

After breakfast and city tour with rickshaws known locally as push push, we will drive to Ranomafana NP.
We head to the beautiful and lush Ranomafana rainforest. The name means hot water, and relates to the natural hot water springs that you can experience here. We stop in Ambositra for lunch. This pretty little town is known as the capital of woodcarving; possibility to visit artisan markets, this is also a good place to buy souvenirs whilst you are in the capital. The National Park was created in 1991 in order to protect the newly discovered, unique « Bamboo lemur. Arrival in Ranomafana in the afternoon. Possibility to go at a night walk to spot nocturnal lemurs, chameleons & frogs. Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Thermal Hotel
SETAM Lodge

DAY 6 : RANOMAFANA NP

Exploring of Ranomafana. This is the best reserve for lemurs’ encounters; no fewer than 12 species are seen in the park. This includes the most notable two species: the golden bamboo lemur and the greater bamboo lemur. Other mammals include the Malagasy striped civet (strictly nocturnal) and Ranomafana NP is an excellent chance of seeing it, eastern ring-tailed mongoose belongs to the endemic subfamily Galidiinae.We will also see many species of birds, chameleons … Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Thermal Hotel
SETAM Lodge

DAY 7 : RANOMAFANA-RANOHIRA

Today we continue the trip along the National7; we pass through the capital of the Betsileo Tribe, Fianarantsoa, which means place of good learning. The Betsileo Tribe is well known for being invincible!!! We then head to Ambalavao, which is a very beautiful and quaint town. A visit to a local workshop gives you an opportunity to see the craftsmen and women at work. We will stop at ANJA Park, which is a sanctuary of ring- tailed lemurs and this reserve was created by the local village to protect the fauna in Madagascar. It’s a perfect opportunity to come close to the lemurs, take some great photos and witness how local villages can make a positive impact on protecting the environment. After lunch we continue our trip till Ranohira by passing through the non- man land plateaux of Horombe. Arrival at Ranohira by the end of the afternoon. Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Isalo Rock Lodge
Jardin du Roy
Relais de La Reine

DAY 8 : ISALO NP

Today we will explore the natural wonders of Isalo NP which includes canyons, trekking, natural swimming pools and waterfalls. You will see 3 kinds of lemurs, such as the Ring-tailed lemur, Brown lemur and the Sifaka. Birds include the Madagascar Wagtail and Benson’s rock thrush which is endemic in Isalo NP. There are also White throated rail, Madagascar kestrel and Madagascar coucal. Possibility to visit the natural rock windows for sunset photos. Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Isalo Rock Lodge
Jardin du Roy
Relais de La Reine

DAY 9 : RANOHIRA - TULEAR - IFATY

After your stay in Ranohira, you will head on to Tuléar; before you reach the city you will have a short detour at the private reserve of Arboretum of Antsokay which hosts 700 different species of endemic plants of Madagascar. After lunch, transfer to Ifaty following a visit of the Reniala reserve known as the baobab forest. Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Le Paradisier
Ifaty Beach Club
Les Dune de l’Ifaty

DAY 10 - 11 - 12 : IFATY

Day leisure at Ifaty. Overnight at your hotel on full board basis.

Le Paradisier
Ifaty Beach Club
Les Dune de l’Ifaty

DAY 13 : IFATY - TULEAR - TANA

Depending your flight schedule, you will be transferd to the airport of Tulear to fly back to Tana. Meet with Gassitours’ Team upon arrival at the airport of Tana. Overnight at your hotel on a full board basis.