Wild Earth

In a land as diverse and varied as Madagascar there is so much to see and do in a relatively small area and while the infrastructure is improving this is still a land living close to the tourism frontier. A well developed domestic flight service allows us to leapfrog around the island to different areas of significance. During the course of our expedition we will visit and sample a wide range of habitats, often these habitats are separated by only small distances but what a huge difference that distance makes with completely different species of plants and animals.
We begin our exploration of Madagascar in the south, based in Vinanibe we explore the coastal mangrove environment with an opportunity to go snorkeling in the Indian Ocean off Madagascar’s east coast. The highlight of our time in this region is however Berenty National Park, with its soaring forests in immediate proximity to the amazing spiny forest we are on the lookout for White-footed Sportive Lemur and the diminutive Grey Mouse Lemur. Crossing to the western coastline we change landscape, habitat and species entering the dry sandy landscape of the west, here an early morning walk in Parc Moussa Mangily rewards us with sightings of such rare birds as the Grey-headed Lovebird, Souimanga Sunbird and both Madagascar and Kittlitz Plovers. The nearby Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park is an excellent example of dry land forest and an incredible 82% of all plant species in this forest have medicinal uses.
Travelling towards Ranomafana NP we pass through some wonderful and dramatic landscapes of highland plateau and mountains, where the land is green and lush. Ranomafana Np is home to the Golden Bamboo Lemur, the world’s rarest lemur and during an early morning visit to the park we will search for this as well as both Greater and Grey Bamboo Lemurs, we return to the park after dark in search of nocturnal creatures. We have a private flight transfer to Antananarivo before continuing northwards to the rainforest and islands of northern Madagascar where a whole new world awaits. On Nosy Mangabe we enjoy the beautiful sandy coves and marvelous trees while on the lookout for White-fronted Brown Lemurs and the nocturnal Aye-Aye. The rainforests of the north have amongst the highest botanical diversity in the world, we explore this area on foot and by boat as we make our way back towards Antainambalana in the Bay of Antongil. Returning to the capital Antananarivo we have a final mornings bird watching at Tsarasoatra, a protected lake within the city limits that abounds with birdlife.