Wildlife Ifaty · Ranomafana · Ankarafantsika · Andasibe

Immersive Birding & Photography Journey

A 24-day adventure through Madagascar's landscapes and rich birdlife. From the spiny forests of Ifaty (Long-tailed Ground Roller, Red-capped Coua) to Zombitse-Vohibasia, Ranomafana, Ankarafantsika (White-breasted Mesite, Madagascar Fish-Eagle) and the remote Bemanevika Special Reserve — last refuge of the Madagascar Pochard and Red Owl — this expedition tracks the island's rarest endemics, ending amid the calls of the Indri lemurs in Andasibe-Mantadia.

Highlights

Andasibe & Ranomafana birds
Isalo's unique landscapes
Ifaty's endemic spiny-forest birds
Bemanevika hidden gem

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1
Arrival at Antananarivo
Highlights: Our agent greets you at the airport, assists with a SIM card and currency exchange, and transfers you to your hotel. Overnight at Le Grand Mellis or similar.
Day 2
Antananarivo → Toliara → Ifaty (flight + 1h)
Highlights: Fly to Toliara and transfer to Ifaty. Begin birding in the spiny forests of baobabs and octopus trees — a unique habitat for sought-after endemics such as the Long-tailed Ground Roller, Subdesert Mesite, Sickle-billed Vanga and Red-capped Coua. Overnight at La Bella Donna or similar.
Day 3
Andatabo & Ifaty
Highlights: Morning at Andatabo Forest ('La Table'), rich in aloes and euphorbias, seeking Verreaux's Coua and Red-shouldered Vanga. Back near Ifaty, explore the Mangily spiny forest and its baobabs, then a guided night walk for the Rainforest Scops Owl and grey mouse-lemur. Overnight at La Bella Donna.
Day 4
Ifaty → Zombitse → Ranohira (300 km, 6h)
Highlights: Head to Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, a dry deciduous forest and Important Bird Area with nearly 100 species — targets include Appert's Tetraka, Cuckoo Roller, Rufous Vanga and several couas. After a picnic lunch, continue to Isalo, watching for Madagascan Partridge and Malagasy Harrier. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.
Day 5
Isalo National Park
Highlights: Though not a top birding site, Isalo holds over 80 species, 70% endemic — Madagascar Bee-eater, Benson's Rock Thrush, Crested Drongo — alongside stunning canyon panoramas and ring-tailed lemurs. Overnight at Hotel H1 Isalo.
Day 6
Ranohira → Ranomafana (420 km, 8h)
Highlights: Cross the Ihorombe plateau (Malagasy Harrier, Madagascan Buzzard) and stop at Anja Community Reserve, home to the island's densest population of ring-tailed lemurs. Continue via Fianarantsoa down to Ranomafana for a guided night walk (golden-brown mouse-lemur, chameleons). Overnight in Ranomafana.
Day 7
Ranomafana National Park
Highlights: One of Madagascar's finest birding parks (over 115 species, 77% endemic). Targets include Yellow-bellied and Common Sunbird-Asity, Brown Mesite, Pollen's Vanga, Scaly Ground Roller and Velvet Asity, with lunch back at the lodge between morning and afternoon outings. Overnight at Centrest Séjour.
Day 8
Ranomafana National Park
Highlights: A second full day on the park trails, seeking raptors (Henst's Goshawk, Frances's Sparrowhawk), ground rollers, vangas, Blue Coua, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher and many endemic warblers and sunbirds. Overnight at Centrest Séjour.
Day 9
Ranomafana → Antsirabe (280 km, 7h)
Highlights: A final forest trail at dawn, then north to Ambositra — the woodcarving capital — for lunch, and on to Antsirabe in the highlands, scanning rivers for herons and Madagascan Wagtail. Overnight at Ecolodge Chambre du Voyageur.
Day 10
Antsirabe → Antananarivo → Mahajanga (flight)
Highlights: Cross the highland plateau back to Antananarivo with birding stops, then a flight to Mahajanga on the north-west coast. Overnight at Coco Lodge.
Day 11
Mahajanga → Ankarafantsika (125 km, 3h)
Highlights: Drive to Ankarafantsika, stopping at Lake Amboromalandy and rice fields for Madagascar Jacana, Malagasy Pond Heron and Humblot's Heron. Around the lodge and Lake Ravelobe, watch for the Madagascar Fish-Eagle; a night walk follows for nightjars, owls and nocturnal lemurs. Overnight at Tia Asity Lodge.
Day 12
Ankarafantsika National Park
Highlights: A full day across the park's sections, a stronghold for endangered endemics — White-breasted Mesite, Schlegel's Asity, Van Dam's and Sickle-billed Vanga, Coquerel's Coua — plus Madagascar Ibis and Fish-Eagle, and Humblot's Heron and Madagascar Jacana at the dam. Overnight at Tia Asity Lodge.
Day 13
Ankarafantsika → Antsohihy (340 km, 10h)
Highlights: A long drive north via Ambondromamy across open, palm-dotted grasslands (satrana fan palms) to the town of Antsohihy. Overnight at Hotel Sofia Bellevue.
Day 14
Antsohihy → Bealanana → Bemanevika (200 km, 9h)
Highlights: A 4WD journey to the remote Bemanevika Special Reserve, last refuge of the critically endangered Madagascar Pochard and the elusive Red Owl. Lunch in Bealanana before reaching camp by evening. Overnight camping.
Day 15
Bemanevika
Highlights: Hike through varied habitats for White-throated Rail, Meller's Duck and Malagasy Kingfisher, with the forest quest for the rare Red Owl. At 'Pochard Lake', watch for Madagascar Grebe and Rail; night excursions for nightjars and scops owls. Overnight camping.
Day 16
Bemanevika
Highlights: A second full day for the area's specialities — Madagascar Pochard, Madagascar Serpent Eagle, Red Owl and Slender-billed Flufftail — across wetlands and marshes, with further night outings. Overnight camping.
Day 17
Bemanevika → Antsohihy (200 km, 9h)
Highlights: Return to Antsohihy; time to explore the town and its craft workshops. Overnight at Hotel Sofia Bellevue.
Day 18
Antsohihy → Ankarafantsika (340 km, 10h)
Highlights: Drive back south across the satrana grasslands via Ambondromamy to Ankarafantsika. Overnight at Tia Asity Lodge.
Day 19
Ankarafantsika → Mahajanga → Antananarivo (flight)
Highlights: Final 'cleanup' birding in the dry forest, then drive to lively Mahajanga and fly to Antananarivo. Overnight at La Résidence Lapasoa.
Day 20
Antananarivo → Andasibe (170 km, 4h)
Highlights: Morning at Lake Tsarasaotra, a refuge for endangered waterbirds — Madagascar Little Grebe, Meller's Duck, Madagascar Pond Heron and Humblot's Heron — then drive east to Andasibe. Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.
Day 21
Mantadia National Park
Highlights: A full day in Andasibe-Mantadia (over 100 species): Red-breasted Coua, Scaly and Short-legged Ground Roller, Madagascan Ibis, Crossley's Vanga and more, plus a night walk for the streaked tenrec, owls and geckos. Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.
Day 22
Iaroka Forest
Highlights: Bird the community reserve of Iaroka, famous since the discovery of the Helmet Vanga in its deep forest. A challenging walk may reward you with Helmet and Bernier's Vanga, Brown Emutail and Rufous-headed Ground Roller. Overnight at Andasibe Lemurs Lodge.
Day 23
Analamazaotra → Antananarivo (170 km, 4h)
Highlights: A final morning in Analamazaotra, best known for the Indri — Madagascar's largest lemur, whose haunting call echoes at dawn — and 13 other lemur species. Lunch, then transfer back to Antananarivo. Overnight at La Résidence Lapasoa.
Day 24
International departure
Highlights: Your tour comes to an end. We arrange your transfer to Ivato Airport. Safe travels!