An undiscovered paradise of lemurs, baobabs, beaches and mountains for naturalists and adventurers.
April to December
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A Madagascar safari offers a completely unique experience. For a start; there are no game drives! You explore the extraordinary biodiversity on foot. The national parks and reserves protect lemurs, endemic plants and birds to delight nature lovers. Indeed 5% of the world's biodiversity is found in this one giant island, including 6 species of baobab tree and our smallest primate.
So a Madagascar holiday suits the more adventurous and curious traveller. Yet it also boasts some of the most unspoilt beaches in the Indian Ocean. Thus the classic combination of ‘bush and beach’ is definitely on the cards here!
Madagascar is like no other place on earth. This pint-sized ‘continent’ is neither Africa nor Asia. It split from Gondwanaland some 165 million years ago – a Noah’s ark, of sorts, sailing away to the east. This isolation led to a separate evolution of flora and fauna creating a paradise for safari visitors with over 20,000 species of flora and fauna, 80-90% of which are endemic to Madagascar.
So this unique island is an incredibly exciting wildlife destination, known for its lemurs, orchids (1000 species), chameleons (over half of the world’s population) and frogs (a mere 150 species!).
But Lemurs are the lure for most visitors, with nine-tenths of the world’s endangered lemurs only found on Madagascar. New species are being discovered still today.
We arrange mostly private tailor-made tours. Our visitors usually visit one or two of the prime wildlife areas such as Andasibe, the southern reserves of Ranomafana and Isalo, or the unique spiny forest of the south. Then they often end their Madagascar safari tour relaxing on one of the gorgeous tropical beaches. Pehraps Nosy Be, one of the northern islands or Ile Sainte Marie, for example. For our list of the top 10 things to see and do on the island, check out our article on Madagascar's attractions.
However, a Madagascar safari holiday is not for everyone! If you only like to stay at 5 star hotels. Or if you need a trip to unfold exactly as explained, then Madagascar may not suit you. However, if you have a spirit of adventure, are amused by the unexpected. And are willing to accept some irritations and some more simple hotels along the way, then Madagascar is a fascinating destination.
You experience the flora and fauna mainly by walking the forest trails, sometimes for several hours, sometimes in hilly terrain. So it’s best if you are reasonably active and mobile.
Our Madagascar safari tours use mostly simple hotels, tented camps and country lodges. However, standards are ever-improving, especially at the beach resorts where some deluxe options now exist.
Malagasy and French are the two main languages, though hotel staff and local guides all speak some English.
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