Overview
Antananarivo * Antsirabe * Ranomafana National Park * Isalo National Park * Southern Coast * Optional extension to Andasibe National Park
This Southern tour focuses on the varying scenic delights of Eastern and Southern Madagascar. You head south through the lush central highlands visiting Ranomafana National Park (with its extensive wildlife, including the rare Golden Bamboo lemurs) and the very scenic Isalo National Park. Then it ends on the dry South-west coast of Madagascar for some days of relaxation at the beach. En route you visit charming Malagasy towns and villages and get a chance to immerse yourself in local Malagasy life and culture.
This is a wonderful mix of wildlife (with plenty of endemic species to be seen in Andasibe and Ranomafana), stunning scenery and relaxation. It also has quite a bit of walking. So we recommend that you are at least moderately fit as much of the wildlife-viewing in the parks is by foot.
Rainforests, Mountains & Beaches of Southern Madagascar (11 nights) at a Glance:
- 1 night Antananarivo, Maison Gallieni, Bed & Breakfast
- Head south to Antsirable, Overnight ay Couleur Cafe, Bed & Breakfast
- Continue to Hotel Artisan, Bed & Breakfast
- 2 nights Ranomafana National Park at Hotel Thermal, Bed & Breakfast
- 2 nights Isola National Park at Le Jardin du Roy, Bed & Breakfast
- 3 nights Southern Coast at Ifaty, Dunes D'Ifaty, Bed & Breakfast
- Fly back to Tana to overnight at Maison Gallieni again or Radisson Blu Waterfront if you prefer a change of scene
This itinerary is quite unusual in Madagascar in that you do not to keep returning to Tana during your tour. You are with your private guide from Antananarivo all the way through Southern Madagascar to the south-west coast and then you have a few days at the beach.
As always, this is a sample itinerary. And so it can be adapted to suit you with a couple of interesting variations. We show the 13 night version below. But you can also opt to leave out Andasibe National Park to make an 11 night itinerary, if you are short of time.
2 night extension to add on Andasibe (13 nights in total)
At the end, you can extend the trip by two days and then can travel direct back to Ivato Airport, with no need to spend a final night in Tana (unless you have a very early flight departure). It can be added at the start, on Day 2, but then you would need to make it a 3 night extension (ie 14 nights in total) and you would end up with three nights in Tana.
- Fly back to Tana to overnight at Radisson Blu Waterfront
- Road transfer to Andasibe National Park, Mantadia Lodge, Bed & Breakfast
- Return to Tana in time for your homeward flight