Brochure IMMERSION MADAGASCAR

145Kms, around 4-hours-drive
After breakfast, we take the National 2 heading east to Andasibe, visiting on the way the Exotic Reserve of Mr. Peyrieras in Marozevo, well-known as insects and reptiles’ farm. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel. Get settle into your bungalow.
In the afternoon, we make a visit to the private reserve of Vakona: the crocodile park and the lemur island where you can certainly enjoy your first contact with the friendly lemurs. You can also take a canoe ride on the lake or horseback ride to explore the forest.
Lunch, dinner and overnight at VAKONA FOREST LODGE
https://hotelvakona.com 

Breakfast and morning visit to Andasibe National Park. The primary forests of Andasibe contains a dense humid forest covered with lians, moss, fern tress and more than hundred orchids species blooming between September and January. The Park is well-known for its Indri-Indri, the biggest lemurs of Madagascar, whose wail can be heard emanating from the misty forest throughout the day, most commonly in the early morning. The Park is also home to the endemic palm tree Ravenea louvelii found nowhere else on the island, and several species of birds.
Afternoon free and relax. In the evening, departure for night walks tour to spot the nocturnal animals: lemurs, chameleon, frogs, etc. Lunch, dinner and overnight at VAKONA FOREST LODGE

315Kms, around 8 hours-drive
After breakfast, we continue on our way back to Antananarivo. Once there, you will be escorted to a local restaurant for lunch.
In the afternoon, we take the National 7 towards Ambatolampy then make a quick visit to an aluminum pot workshop. After that, we continue heading south to Antsirabe, seeing on the way an amazing landscape such as rice field and typical villages of the Merina ethnic group with houses in red brick.

Dinner and overnight at COULEUR CAFÉ HOTEL
www.couleurcafeantsirabe.com

22Kms, around 30 minutes
We dedicate this day to solidarity tourism. After breakfast, drive for some kilometers heading west to Betafo, from here you will be greeted by a local guide, and then walk through rural landscapes towards Andranomafana village. The history of the village dates back to the ancient kingdoms of Vakinankaratra in the 18th century. In a landscape of hills, cultures and streams you can explore the cabins of the small local thermal centre. Discover with the Loharanosoa team: the daily life of the village of Anjazafotsy, the hot springs in the fields, the cultures diversity, the use of medicinal and aromatic plants, and the manufacture of flours with high nutritional values.
The Loharanosoa association will warmly welcome you to its large traditional house (lodging), to the rhythm of the songs and dances of its composition, and offering you quality meals for a lunch of the spot, where you can share conviviality and simplicity moments.
In the middle of afternoon, return to Betafo then you will board the vehicle to be transferred back downtown Antsirabe. Dinner and overnight at COULEUR CAFÉ HOTEL

After breakfast, we will have a little city tour in rickshaw, followed by a visit to the zebu horns transformation and traditional sweets workshop. Antsirabe is best-known for its thermal springs.
The city itself is full of life; it is a beacon of industry in Madagascar: the town has large textile, food and drink factories. After the tour, you will be escorted to ZANDINA Restaurant for lunch.
In the afternoon, we continue to Ambositra, located in the centre of a picturesque valley lined with rice paddies and ringed by verdant peaks. The main interest of Ambositra lies in the art. The proximity of the Zafimaniry region and the eastern green forest has made this region the carpentry capital. The cultural influence Zafimaniry and Betsileo is very important and can be seen through
traditional and geometric motifs in their art related to everyday life. There are several workshops specialized in wood carving and incorporation work. After a short visit to the wood-carving handcraft market, transfer to your hotel and get settle into your room.
Dinner and overnight at ARTISAN HOTEL

45Kms, around 1.5 hours, track
After breakfast, we take the track towards Antoetra. Once there, immerse yourself for a new
experience into Zafimaniry village with your packed lunch. A trip in this corner will take you to the
heart of Madagascar’s largest artisanal center. Visiting these landlocked villages, lost between the
mountains, will bring you into an ancestral landscape, truly traditional. The atmosphere is so
different so you feel like going back in time. A walking tour will also give you the opportunity to
discover the daily life of the inhabitants of the region: men and women in fluorescent striped and
very colorful clothes usually working together in the rice fields.
In the middle of afternoon, head back to Ambositra and transfer to your hotel. You will be
escorted to GRAND HOTEL Restaurant in the evening for a memorable dinner, animated by a local
band of folkloric music and dancers. Overnight at ARTISAN HOTEL

160Kms, around 4 hours, paved road & track
After breakfast, drive heading south to Sahambavy, along a spectacular landscape to admire such as flat rice fields, Betsileo traditional houses with its walls of puddle clay washed by the rain. Once there, get settle into your bungalow and enjoy the majestic view over the lake.
In the afternoon, we visit the famous tea plantation, where you can follow the whole tea sector, from the harvest to the tasting. Accompanied by a local guide, you will meet the gatherers then you will go around the factory where the tea is pre-dried, fermented, roasted, sifted and finally packaged.

The tour ends with a local tea tasting. Lunch, dinner and overnight at LAC HOTEL
www.lachotel.com

300Kms, 5/6 hours, track and paved road
After breakfast, drive to Ambalavao, by way of Fianarantsoa, well-known as the capital of Betsileo ethnic group. Ambalavao is famous thanks to Antemoro paper, handmade with Avoha bark (Papyrus), worked and
decorated with natural flowers. It is also known for the famous «Zebus market» which takes place every Wednesday: it is the most important sale of cattle on the market in Madagascar. Continuing the descent towards the south, we will stop in the ANJA forest which will give you the opportunity to
know and see an important colony of Maki Lemurs.

The Anja Forest will also allow visitors to see chameleons and other reptiles of Madagascar. Lunch in a local restaurant!
After lunch, we continue to Ranohira, the country of the Bara ethnic groups, the gateway to the Isalo Park. Once there, get settle into your bungalow. Dinner and overnight at SATRANA LODGE
www.satranalodge-madagascar.com

After breakfast, transfer to the park entrance then stroll in one of the most beautiful Malagasy landscapes with your packed lunch. This rocky valley dated Jurassic gorges carved by generations by deep canyons, such as the Maki canyon and Mice canyon, forming strange environments. We can see a natural pool, waterfalls etc. Isalo National Park is a world heritage classified park.
Though wildlife is here not as prominent as in other parks of the country, there is still a couple of species worth to look out: 80 species of birds including the rare Benson’s rock-thrush; 35 species of reptiles and several endemic frogs. The flora is indeed more interesting than the fauna. There are several local endemic plants among the 500 species which are found within Isalo, such as the elephant´s foot and some rare palms and aloe species. The Park also contains numerous sacred sites of Bara tribe who bury their dead in caves of the canyon.
In the end of the afternoon, you can admire a beautiful sunset at Isalo window or return directly to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at SATRANA LODGE

After breakfast, departure for a new visit to Isalo National Park, especially the new ANTSIFOTRA
circuit with its beautiful natural swimming pool. This circuit requires a good physical fitness.
During the visit, you can meet reptiles and lemurs species like catas and ruffus fulvus. Picnic lunch!
At the end of the tour, visit the village of Andriamanero, with traditional representations and
ceremonies of the Bara ethnic group. After that, head back to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at SATRANA LODGE

270Kms, 5-hours-drive, paved road
After breakfast, drive heading south to Zombitse National Park, and then visit the spiny forest,
where we will spot the endemic animals, including birds. After that, we take the road towards
Toliara, passing through a spectacular landscape of the arid vegetation of the region: baobabs,
thorny forest and typical tombs. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to LE JARDIN Restaurant for
lunch. In the afternoon, we continue for some kilometers heading north to Ifaty. Once there, get
settle into your bungalow and enjoy the majestic view over the Mozambique Canal.
Dinner and overnight at LES DUNES D’IFATY HOTEL
https://www.lesdunesdifaty.com

One of Madagascar's least-known yet most accessible
parks, Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park is a surprise
packet. The park's 36,300 hectares are all that remain a
forested island in what has become a denuded semi-desert
landscape. There are some real highlights here, including
strangler figs and the occasional baobab.
The park's relict forest shelters an astounding 85 recorded
bird species. Commonly sighted here are the grand and
Coquerel's coua, white-browed owl, black parrot and blue
vanga. Lemurs are also an attraction here with eight
recorded species. Most are nocturnal, but you're pretty
likely to come across skittish bands of Verreaux's sifaka and
the oh-so-cute (and endangered) Hubbard's sportive lemur.
The latter is nocturnal but is commonly seen resting in tree
hollows by day.

Days at leisure on half-board basis at LES DUNES D’IFATY HOTEL
We dedicate these two beautiful days to rest after the long adventure. You can also enjoy activities on site. The hotel is
located opposite a lagoon where the clear sea offers its shades of blue and green. Numerous excursions are offered,
such as a visit to the nearby forest and private park, whale watching (between June and September), snorkeling,
fishing or diving

25Kms, around 40 minutes
After breakfast, drive back to Toliara, and then continue directly to the airport for check-in.
09.30 Leave Toliara by TZ 713.
11.10 Arrive in Antananarivo. You will be greeted at Ivato airport and escorted to one of the
many lovely restaurants in town for lunch.

In the afternoon, we will have a city tour: from the lower to the
upper town, visiting the handcraft market for eventual shopping.
Tana, as the capital is universally known, is all about eating,
shopping, and history and day trips. The town centre itself, with its
pollution and dreadful traffic, puts off many travelers from staying,
but bypassing the capital altogether would be a mistake: Tana has
been the home of Malagasy power for three centuries and there is a huge amount of history and
culture to discover. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight at AU BOIS VERT HOTEL

Enjoy your last breakfast. After that, you will be transferred back to the airport. This is how will
end your beautiful adventure in the Malagasy land.
Check-in and leave Antananarivo according to your international flight schedule.