Madagascar Best Birding (Birdwatching) and Panoramic Photography Tour (The Grand Bird Tour of Endemics)

(South West + East + West + North East)

Highlight Hubs: Tulear area, the Andatabo spiny forest, the Anakao area, the Nosy Ve
island, the Tsimanampetsotsa national park, the Mangily spiny forest, Ifaty area, the
Zombitse forest, the Isalo national park, the Ranomafana national park, the
Sahamalaotra forest, the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Analamazaotra reserve, the
Torotorofotsy Marsh, the wetland of Tsarasaotra, the Ankarafantsika National Park,
the Masoala national park, all the endemic birds (as much as possible), lemurs, reptiles,
amphibians, baobabs …The works!

YOU WILL COVER ALL NATURAL SECTORS HERE DIVIDED BY SUBSECTORS OF THE ISLAND

BIRDING IN THE SOUTH & SOUTH WEST AREAS:

Day 1: Morning transfer to the airport, internal flight from Tana to Tulear

Visit of the Andatabo forest: for the Red shouldered Vanga and the Verreaux

Coua

Hotel Morenga or similar

Day 2: Speedboat transfer, birding on Nosy ve:

Red Tailed Tropic bird, Crab Plover, Terns

Birding around Anakao: Littoral rockthrush

Hotel Anakao Ocean Lodge or similar

Day 3: Visit of the Tsimanampetsotra Lake:

Birds: Madagascar Cuckoo Hawk, Madagascar Sandgrouse, the Verreaux Coua,

Black Kite

Madagascar Plover, Lesser and Greater Flamingoes...

Hotel Anakao Ocean Lodge or similar

Day 4: Morning speed boat transfer to Tulear

Drive to Ifaty, Birding on the way: Madagascar Plover, Hotentot Teal

          Afternoon birding in Ifaty: Sub desert Mesite, Long tailed ground Roller 
 

Hotel Les Dunes d’Ifaty or similar        

Day 5: Birding in Ifaty at the mangily spiny forest. Birds: Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Sub

desert Mesite,

Long-tailed ground Roller, Archbolds Newtonia, Tharmornis Wabler, Banded

Kestrel Madagascar

Harrier Hawk, Madagacsar Cuckoo Hawk …

Night walk: White footed sportive Lemur, African Marsh Owl

Hotel Les Dunes d’Ifaty or similar      

Day 6: Drive to the Isalo national park,

Birding in the Zombitse forest: Couas, Tetrakas, Cuckoo roller …

Birding on the way (savanna): Madagascar Partridge, Madagascar Harrier

Hotel Jardin du Roy or similar

Day 7: Visit of the Isalo national park 
         

Birds: Benson's Rock thrush, Hook billed Vanga, White Browed Owl

Night walk in the area: for the White Browed Owl
         

Hotel Jardin du Roy or similar

Day 8: Drive to the Ranomafana national park, visit of the Anja Park on the way:

This is for the Ring-tailed Lemurs

Arrival in Ranomafana national park before sunset

Guided night walk: for the mouse Lemurs, some Chameleons and frogs …

Hotel Setam Forest Lodge or similar

Day 9: Birding at the sahamalaotra forest: rain forest of high altitude

For the Asities, Ground Rollers, Tetrakas, Oxylabes, Emutail …

This forest is a great habitat for most of the Bernierideas, for the Ground

Rollers, and the Asity

Hotel Setam Forest Lodge or similar

Day 10: Birding in the Ranomafana national park: rain forest of mid-altitude

The Ranomafana national park is home to most of the endemic rainforest

species

You need to pack picnic lunch and get ready for a long day of birding

For the Vangas, Tetrakas, Mesite, Ground Rollers …

Hotel Setam Forest Lodge or similar

Day 11: Morning birding at the Sahamalaotra forest

Today, the bird guide will focus on the missed species, leave the national park

of Ranomafana

Drive to Antsirabe through the highland:

Hotel Plumeria or similar

NEXT PART - BIRDING IN THE EAST:

Day 12: Drive to the Andasibe national park, afternoon birding around the national

park:

Looking for some flocks and roosting Owls

Guided night walk: for the mouse Lemurs, the Dwarf Lemurs, some

Chameleons and frogs

Hotel Vakona Forest Lodge or similar

Day 13: Early morning drive to and birding in the Mantadia national park

Birding on the way for any species. Birds: Ground Rollers, Vangas, Tetrakas,

Meller's duck,

Madagascar Little Grebe, Flufftail, Rails...

Afternoon birding at the V.O.I forest Crested Ibis, Couas, Lemurs …

Hotel Vakona Forest Lodge or similar

Day 14: Second morning visit of the Mantadia national park:

A second visit of Mantadia for the missed species: Ground Rollers

Afternoon visit of the Andasibe national park

Birds: Rails, Couas, Vangas, the Madagascar Crested Ibis,

Hotel Vakona Forest Lodge or similar

Day 15: Morning visit of the Torotorofotsy marsh

Birds: Grey Emutail, Madagascar Rail, Madagascar Snipe, Flufftail

Drive back to Tana

Afternoon birding at the tsarasaotra wetland:

Birds: Mellers Duck, Malagasy Pound heron, other common endemics

Hotel Palissandre or similar

Day 16: Drive to the Ankarafantsika national park

At the Betsiboka bridge: Madagascar Pratincole

Guided night walk: mouse Lemurs, Dwarf Lemurs, Chameleons...

Hotel Blue Vanga or similar

BIRDING IN THE WEST:

Day 17: Birding at the Ankarafantsika national park:

Schelegel’s asity, Couas, Mesite, Van Dams Vanga …

Birding on the Ravelobe Lake: Madagascar fish Eagle, Painted Snipe, Lesser

Galinule

Hotel Blue Vanga or similar

Day 18: Drive back to tana

Birds on the way: Madagascar Harrier

BIRDING IN THE MASOALA NATIONAL PARK: NORTH EAST

Day 19: Morning transfer to the airport, flight to Maroantsetra

Speed boat to the Masoala peninsula

Start to bird in Masoala in the afternoon

Birds: Helmet Vanga, Bernier’s Vanga, Ground Rollers, Tetrakas, mesite...

Hotel Dounia Forest Lodge or similar

Day 20-21-22: Full day birding in the primary rain forest of Masoala

Birds: Helmet Vanga, Bernier’s Vanga, Ground Rollers, Tetrakas, mesite …

Guided night walks on the 1 st day: Owls, reptiles, amphibians, mammals

Hotel Dounia Forest Lodge or similar

Day 23: Morning speed boat transfer to Maroantsetra

Transfer to the airport, flight to Tana.

Hotel Palissandre or similar

Day 24: Transfer to the airport for the flight out

END OF SERVICES

INCLUDED

- Transfer airport - hotel – airport

- Transfer port – hotel - port

- 4wd with driver speaking English and fuel during all the tour

- Hotel with breakfast during all the tour

- Lunch on days 3-8-9-10

- Full board on 19-20-21-22

- Entrance fees and local guide in national park and reserve mentioned on the

program

NOT INCLUDED

- National and international flight

- Lunch and dinner

- Drinks

- Tips

- Personal expenses

- Visa and airport taxes