Day 1: Depart for Madagascar
Depart from Johannesburg to Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. Arrival in Tana, meet and greet then transfer to hotel.
O/N IC Hotel (b & b)

Day 2: Tana to Andasibe
After breakfast depart on a city tour. Tana was built in 3 stages: the high city, the first area occupied during the royal period where the old queen’s palace is situated. You will see the “Rova”, the queen’s palace and the house of the first minister during this period. Then we drive down to the mid-city or the administrative area ending at the Rainiharo tombs, where all the chic boutiques of the capital are found. We then proceed to the low city, which is the commercial area with its magnificent “Avenue de l’independence” and its imposing “old railway station”. Depart in the afternoon to Andasibe through the green landscape of the east. En route stop in Mandraka to visit the private reserve of “Domaine Pyereras”. The reserve is home to different kinds of chameleons, snakes, lemurs and butterflies. Arrive and check-in at accommodation.
O/N Vakona Forest Lodge (b & b)

Day 3: Andasibe
Depart to the Andasibe National Park. Morning visit to the Special Reserve of Andasibe. Here you will see the Indri Indri the biggest lemurs on the island. The reserve also contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy forest and endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and a great variety of birds. Also stroll through the Orchidea Park to admire the beautiful flowers. During the afternoon, visit of Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village, the second largest tribe of the island. Also visit the private park of Vakona “l’îlot lémuriens” where 3 species of lemurs can be found. Return to hotel.
O/N Vakona Forest Lodge (b & b)

Day 4: Andasibe – Tana
After breakfast, we drive back to Tana, through the green landscape and luxuriant vegetation of the east. Along the way we’ll see Merina village on a hill … the Rocky Mountains.
Check in at hotel for overnight.
O/N IC Hotel (b & b)

Day 5: Tana – Diego
Transfer to the airport to fly to Diego.
Diego is situated in the north of Madagascar. It is also the place where the first Europeans landed. Surrounded by the “Mozambique channel” and the “Indian Ocean” it offers a spectacular sight with its numerous bays and beautiful beaches. This is the domain of Antakarana (Those-of-the-rocks) people.
Check in at hotel and then drive to Joffre Ville to visit the national park of “Montagne d’Ambre”. Situated in the high mountain of Ambre, the park has huge tropical forest and many waterfalls. Explore the park in the company of a special guide. The reptile fauna is impressive with stump-tailed chameleon, snakes and rich insect life.
Return to the hotel.
O/N Grand Hotel (b & b)

Day 6: Diego – Ankarana
After breakfast depart on a 3-hour drive to Ankarana. Explore “Tsingy Ankarana”. Here the limestone highland has been eroded and gives the impression that you are walking on a spiny land. The vegetation itself is as unusual as the Tsingy itself. The area consists of 18,225 ha covering a massif of Jurassic limestone rising abruptly from a surrounding savannas-like plain.
Check in at accommodation.
O/N Hotel Relais de L’Ankarana

Day 7: Ankarana – Ankify
We start our drive to Ankify around 08.00. The drive will take you through coffee, cacao and ylang ylang plantations. During the drive you will pass through the mountain chain of Tsaratanana, housing the highest peak on the island. Stop in Ambilobe to visit the picturesque market of this Muslim city.
O/N Le Dauphin Bleu

Day 8: Ankify – Tana
Return to Tana to check in for your return flight

Departure:  on request

No of people:  minimum 2

maximum 14

Cost:

From R18 550-00 per person sharing based on 2 people

Included:

Flight:  Johannesburg – Tana – Diego.   Tana – Johannesburg

Meet and transfer in Tana

2 x nights in Tana on b & b basis

2 x nights at Vakona Forest Lodge on b & b basis

1 x night at Grand Hotel on b & b basis

1 x night at Hotel Relais de L’Ankarana on b & b basis

1 x night Le Dauphin Bleu on b & b basis

Tana City tour

Transport with a private car.

Entrance fee in the Domaine de Pyereras

Entrance fee and local guide in the Special Reserve of Andasibe

Entrance fee and local guide in national park of Montagne D’Ambre

Entrance fee and local guide in Ankarana National Park

Excluded:

Airport tax (approx R1 880-00)

Optional excursions not included in itinerary

Drinks during meals and meals not specified

Travel, luggage and medical insurance

Visa, if required

Malaria precaution

Things of a personal nature.

To make a booking:  Contact Live the Journey

Tel +27 21 912 4090,  fax +27 21 912 4099,

e-mail:  info@livethejourney.co.za