Madagascar-Birds & Wildlife of Northern Madagascar

BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF NORTHERN MADAGASCAR
Visiting Antananarivo, the evergreen forests of Montagne d'Ambre, Perinet and Mantadia, the tsingy at Ankarana, and the exciting dry deciduous forests of Ankarafantsika (Ampijoroa). A great tour for lemurs -Sandford's Brown Lemur, Crowned Lemur, Indri, Coquerel's Sifaka, Golden-brown Mouse Lemur, Ring-tailed Mongoose and many others; and birds - including Madagascar Fish-eagle, White-breasted Mesite, White-throated Rail, Montagne d'Ambre Rock-thrush, Cuckoo-roller, Mad Jacana and much, much more. Good opportunity to get to grips with four of Madagascar's seven species of Baobab tree.

BIRDS AND WILDLIFE OF NORTHERN MADAGASCAR
Briefly - 13 days - the north

Day 1 Arrive Tana and overnight.
Day 2 Fly to Diego and drive to Ankarana for overnight camp.
Day 3 AM Ankarana; PM drive to Fontenay, Montagne d'Ambre.
Day 4 Day Montagne d'Ambre. Overnight Fontenay.
Day 5 AM Montagne d'Ambre; PM transfer Diego. Flight Diego to Majunga. Overnight Sunny Hotel.
Day 6 Drive Ampijoroa. Overnight Ampijoroa.
Day 7 Day at Ampijoroa. Overnight Ampijoroa.
Day 8 Drive Majunga. Fly Tana and overnight.
Day 9 Drive Perinet. Overnight Feon'Ny Ala (or equivalent).
Day 10 Day Perinet. Overnight Feon'Ny Ala (or equivalent).
Day 11 Day Perinet. Overnight Feon'Ny Ala (or equivalent).
Day 12 Morning at Perinet. Return to Tana and overnight.
Day 13 Flight outbound.
Price (2006) [subject to any airline ticket/fuel surcharges, adjustments for 2007 departures]
Minimum 6, Maximum 10 passengers
Per person double room sharing: Euro3685 ex Johannesburg
Per person double room sharing: Euro3550 ex Tana
Single room supplement : Euro355

PRICES INCLUDE
International flights Johannesburg to Anatananarivo return (economy class)
All domestic Malagasy flights as per itinerary
All airport assistance and transfers between airports and hotels; all excursions to reserves and other places of interest, with vehicles, fuel, drivers, entry fees and local reserve guide fees, all hotel nights with all meals throughout the tour. Services of English speaking Malagasy guide throughout the tour.

NOT INCLUDED
Personal expenses, drinks in hotels/restaurants including bottled water, coffee and tea with meals, tips, and travel insurance, visas, excursions not mentioned.

PLEASE NOTE: Costing subject to hotel/flight availability and currency fluctuations.
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FULL ITINERARY
Birds and Wildlife of Northern Madagascar
Dates: 06 to 18 October 2007

Madagascar evolved in isolation from other landmasses, giving rise to a large number of birds and mammals not found in any other parts of the world. Ninety per cent of Madagascar's forest birds are endemic, as are about half of the island's 260 recorded birds. In addition, most of the land mammals are unique to the island and include 30 species of lemur. Lemurs, being primates, might be described as distant relatives of Man, and we shall see several species, from the tiny nocturnal Mouse Lemurs to the impressive black and white Indri. Five families of bird are only found here; the rail-like Mesite that superficially resemble some Asiatic babblers; Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller that sweeps over the forests in elegant display-flight; the widely differing but beautiful Ground-Rollers that nest in burrows; the Asities or 'false sunbirds' and the Vangas, which are allied to the shrikes. Other wildlife is equally impressive with inordinate numbers of chameleon, geckoes, lizard, over 3000 species of butterfly (97% of which are endemic), and many weird and fascinating insects and plants. Man arrived in Madagascar between 500 and 900 AD, and since then 14 species of lemur and four species of ostrich have been extirpated. Forests are continually under pressure from slash-and-burn peasant farmers and the rapidly growing human population. Fortunately there are now many excellent, albeit small, reserves that look-after Madagascar's unique treasures. This tour visits the rich northern and eastern rainforest reserves of Montagne d'Ambre and Perinet/Andasibe, the recently proclaimed Mantadia National Park and the exciting dry deciduous forests of Ampijoroa on the west and the tsingy of Ankarana.
Day 1 (Sat): Arrive and overnight hotel in Antananarivo (Tana) (flight from Johannesburg 17h50/21h45).

Day 2 : Today we transfer to Tana airport for our local flight (11h20/1240) to the northern town of Diego Suarez (Antsiranana). On arrival we will then be transferred by vehicle southwards to Ankarana-est. Overnight pre-erected tented camp.

Day 3 & 4: Morning in the Ankarana area. After midday we will return by road toward Diego. Our target here is the Montagne d'Ambre National Park, a well preserved example of upland rain forest. The park is home to Amber Mountain Fork-marked Sportive Lemur, the diminutive nocturnal Brown Mouse Lemur and to the Northern Ring-tailed Mongoose. On the bird side the endemic Amber Mountain Rock-thrush, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Mad Magpie Robin, White-throated Rail, White-throated Oxylabes and Madagascar Crested Ibis are regularly recorded. Tiny stump-tailed Chamaeleons may be found underfoot and if your eyes are sharp the remarkable master of camouflage, the Leaf-tailed Gecko may spring into view. We have two nights in the Domaine d'Fontenay Lodge near to the reserve.

Day 5: Today we leave Diego (1450/1610) and fly to the dry west coast town of Mahajunga. We overnight at the Sunny Hotel near the airport.

Day 6, 7, 8: Today we head inland - it is about a two hour drive toward the hot western lowlands. Our target destination is the forest of Ampijoroa in the Ankarafantsika Reserve, one of the two best remaining examples of western Malagasy tropical dry deciduous forests. We have two nights here in the basic forestry bungalows (shared ablution facilities) to enable us to get the best out of this area. A night walk is usually exciting and rewarding and one could see Milne-Edwards Sportive Lemur, Western Avahi, Mongoose Lemur, Golden-brown Mouse Lemur and a selection of chamaeleons. During the day Coquerel's Sifaka and Brown Lemurs are commonly encountered. Oustalet's and Rhinoceros chamaeleon are likely as are the iridescent green day geckoes. Birds here include a host of vangas including Van Dam's, Sickle-billed, White-headed and Hook-billed, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Grey-headed Lovebird and Coquerel's and Red-capped couas. Later we return to the town of Mahajunga for our afternoon flight to Tana (13h50/14h55) where we overnight.

Day 9,10,11 : This morning we drive eastwards to the world-renowned upland rain-forest reserve of Perinet (Analamazaotra) - three hours east on a good road. Our time here will be spent in the Perinet reserve and the Mantadia National Park and our overnights at the hotel Feony'ala (or equivalent). The protected rain forest here exceeds 10,000 hectares and is vital for the survival of many of the island's unique species. The forest is characterised by humid climate, huge trees, and a lush, dense understorey, but there is good access along a number of footpaths. At Perinet the main attraction is the Indri, the world's largest (and noisiest) lemur, a tailless lemur found in family groups and often heard moaning and wailing. Among others, we may also see Grey Bamboo Lemur and Brown Lemur, as well as many birds - specials here include Madagascar Woodrail and Coral-billed Nuthatch Vanga. The bird-life includes six species of Vangas : Red-tailed, Hook-billed, White-headed, Chabert's, Blue and Nuthatch. Also likely to be encountered species include Madagascar Little Grebe, Madagascar Buzzard, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Blue Coua, Madagascar Spine-tailed Swift, Broad-billed Roller, Madagascar Bulbul, Ward's and Madagascar Paradise Flycatchers, Souimanga and Madagascar Green Sunbirds, Madagascar White-eye, Crested Drongo, Madagascar Starling and Nelicourvi Weaver. Reptiles abound, including Parson's chameleon and Madagascar Tree Boa. A night walk [a flashlight is essential] usually reveals four species of nocturnal lemur, as well as a plethora of reptiles and frogs - including chameleons galore. Trails into the forest are easy to negotiate and because the wildlife in Perinet is highly habituated, animals tend to allow close approach. In Mantadia, which is primary rain forest and home to many species not found at Perinet, the wildlife is more reclusive and the trails are more difficult. Star mammal attractions in Mantadia include the Diadem Sifaka and Ruffed Lemur, while sought-after birds include Pitta-like Ground-roller, Short-legged Ground-roller, Forest Rock-thrush, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-asity and Pollen's Vanga - among others.

Day 12 : Today we have some final time in the Perinet area before returning toward Tana. We may spend some time visiting marshes on the way back to Tana or alternatively we may have time in Tana to visit Lake Alarobia. This lake, on private land offers sanctuary to myriads of waterfowl, egrets, and some passerines. It is an ideal place to get to grips with Mad Pond Heron, Common Squacco Heron, Black-crowned Night-herons, and with luck the now very elusive Meller's Duck. Here we should also find Madagascar Kestrel, Madagascar Coucal, Madagascar Kingfisher, Madagascar Green Sunbird and Madagascar Red Fody. We overnight in a hotel Tana.

Day 13 (Thursday) : Transfer to the airport for your onward travel arrangements (or flight to Johannesburg (05h00/07h20).