ENDANGERED LEMURS – 15 DAYS

From 2 to 12 persons.

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Lemuria, a lost continent in the Indian Ocean, of which Madagascar would be one of the last original gardens…

Indeed, this island with an extraordinary biodiversity shelters the majority of the present lemurs in the world. There are five families, 15 genera and 103 species and under species which represent an inestimable biological, cultural and economic richness.

These sociable and peaceful primates are essentially threatened by the destruction of their housing environment, the rainforest. They are part of animals the most threatened to the world today, although numerous actions are jointly led between Madagascar National Parks, the local communities, the non-governmental organizations and the researchers to contribute to protect them more effectively. THE UICN (International Union for the Preservation of the Nature) established a classification of the status of preservation of the species that is regularly updated in which 25 species of endangered lemurs.

We invite you to an unforgettable journey to meet these surprising companions, the perfect ambassadors of the peculiarity of the fauna of Madagascar

Highlights

  • An experienced and passionate guide
  • The meeting with a precious and fragile fauna
  • Sanctuaries of biodiversity at the heart of unique sites 
  • The Coast of Vanilla, luxuriant and secret
  • A rhythm of travel voluntarily slow

Travel identity card

  • Duration: 15 days
  • Participant: From 2 persons
  • Guiding: English-speaking Malagasy guide
  • Accommodation: Hotels standard
  • Transport: 4×4 
  • Period: from april to november
  • Effort = 2

    “Easy to moderate”Physical activity and / or punctual hiking occasional, 3 to 5 hours per day on good trails.
    Little or no gradients. You only carry your bag for the day.
    Madagascar is vast, the stages in the vehicle can sometimes be a little long.

  • Confort = 3

    “Bush”A few nights in tents (camping), and in simple and comfortable hotels or hostels.
    In bivouac, meals are prepared by the Malagasy Tours team with fresh products, even in trek.
    Attentive service in bivouac. Frequent showers, but not daily.
    Travel by minibus or all-terrain vehicle on tarmac roads and / or tracks.

Day 1: Antananarivo > Sambava

Flight to Sambava, one of the most biodiverse regions of the Big Island. Welcome by your guide at the airport.

Sambava is a small town with a scent of vanilla and a taste of rum… The vegetation is luxuriant and rich with orchards, jackfruit and mango trees. The town associates its name with vanilla of course, but it also produces coconuts, rice and coffee.

Stroll through town along the waterfront.

NB: The program might change depending on the flight schedule

  • Duration: 1h15 flight

Day 2: Sambava > Marojejy

We leave the coast and head inland to the Marojejy National Park. This 65,000 hectare park is covered by thick primary forest, dominated by a vast mountain whose peak reaches an altitude of 2132m. It is world-renowned for its spectacular biodiversity and scientific expeditions regularly discover new species, some of which are threatened. 

Accompanied by our porters and local guide, we walk quietly from the park entrance to the camp. 

A nocturnal visit is planned around the camp to see the red microcebe (NT), the great cheirogale (NT), the giraffe beetle, frogs, chameleons and geckos including the amazing Uroplatus. NB: Bring rain gear whatever the season.

  • Duration: +/- 2h driving and 3h walking

Day 3: Visit Marojejy National Park

We go to nearby Camp Marojejia, but before that we explore the area to meet the park’s pride and joy, the beautiful Silky Sifaka (CR). It is one of the three rarest and most endangered lemurs in Madagascar, along with Perrier’s Sifaka and the great Hapalemur. It is known as the “ghost of the forest” because of its long, silky, uniformly white coat and its leap from tree to tree of up to ten metres. 

Our trip to Camp Marojejia offers us beautiful views of the granite cliffs and mountains where the Grey Hapalemur, Indri Indri, Red-bellied Lemur and White-fronted Lemur hide. 

Marojejy’s rugged terrain offers a variety of habitats that support a wide range of life. In addition to the 11 species of lemurs, the park is home to the most forest birds with 115 species, including the beautiful Prevost’s Eurycere with its stunning pearly blue beak and the Firasabé or Madagascar Serpent. 

NB: Bring rain gear whatever the season.

  • Duration: 3 to 4h walking

Day 4: Visit Marojejy National Park

It’s another day in this exceptionally diverse park, a paradise for botany and mountain enthusiasts. Marojejy alone contains 33% of Madagascar’s known reptile and amphibian species. In this dense and humid vegetation, one can find numerous species of Mantellidae, a large family of frogs endemic to Madagascar, tiny chameleons such as Brookesia karchei, or Brookesia minima but also Uroplatus phantasticus and numerous geckos, without forgetting the butterflies, including the large Comet butterfly. The hot and humid wind blowing from the Indian Ocean provides a lot of rain to the park which has an extraordinary flora among which palm trees, bamboos, ferns, orchids… 

  • Duration: 3 to 4h walking

Day 5: Marojejy > Sambava

We make our way down to Camp Mantella and the park entrance and then head back to Sambava. Our afternoon is free to relax in the hotel’s beautiful tropical garden or to enjoy the beach. Otherwise, it is possible to go to the city center to meet the cosmopolitan and friendly population. It is also possible to visit a vanilla cooperative as Sambava is the centre of vanilla production and supplies a large part of the world’s vanilla.

  • Duration: 2h driving

Day 6: Sambava > Daraina reserve

A short walk in Sambava and then, with our 4×4, we continue to Vohemar. The village is located at the end of a pretty green bay, protected by a coral reef. 

Accompanied by a park guide, night visit.

  • Duration: 3h driving
  • Distance: 150 km 

Day 7: Daraina > Ankarana

This preserved forest is home to a rare species of lemur endemic to this region of Madagascar, the golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersalli). This is the main attraction of this site, which was created to protect and safeguard this animal, which is listed as one of the most vulnerable primates on the planet.

We leave Daraina to continue our journey north. Our route takes us through several villages where we discover the daily life of their inhabitants, full of life. We continue our journey towards Ambilobe, nestled in the heart of the Mahavavy valley where sugar cane is cultivated, before reaching Mahamasina at the entrance of the Ankarana National Park.

  • Duration: 5 hours drive
  • Distance: 150 km

Day 8: Visit Ankarana National Park

We spend the day walking in the park with our local guide through the Tsingy and the dry forest. The Ankarana Massif is a geological complex of coral origin which emerged from the water during the Jurassic era to form this atypical relief of sharp peaks produced by erosion and called Tsingy. In this fortress of stones, a unique flora and fauna flourish with a high rate of endemism. The vegetation, composed of a dry forest and a semi-wet forest, offers a great botanical richness with 554 species of which 400 are endemic to Madagascar. Its fauna is also impressive, there are 104 species of birds including the Varied Mesite (VU) which exists only in this reserve, 19 species of bats, and its rivers hide crocodiles as well as a troglodyte fauna. 18 species of lemurs, most of which are highly endangered, reside in the park including:

Diurnal: the Great Hapalemu, the Crowned Lemur, the Lepilemur ankaranensis, the Hapalemur occidentalis, the Sanford’s Lemur. Nocturnals: Northern Red Microcebe, Western Woolly Avahi, Aye-Aye. Perrier’s Sifaka may also reside here, as it has been observed in the forests near the park.

  • Duration: Full day
  • We organise your picnic lunch

Day 9: Ankarana > Andrafiamena Andavakoera

We leave the Ankarana towards the North to reach the Protected Area of Andrafiamena Andavakoera which is characterized by the dry climate of the northern part of the island. The site has an incomparable wealth of fauna but is threatened by the illegal exploitation of small gold mines. It is home to 6 species of amphibians, 69 species of birds, 5 species of bats and 9 species of lemurs including Phaner electromontis, Propithecus perrieri. The latter is endemic to these forests and is particularly threatened.

Possibility of a night visit of the reserve.

  • Duration: 3h
  • Distance: 100 km 
  • We organize your picnic lunch

Day 10: Andavakoera > Red Tsingy  > Joffreville

We get back in our vehicle and join the national road towards Joffreville. On the way we visit the remarkable site of Tsingy Rouges. We drive around the Amber Mountain massif. Numerous villages line the road.

We go up on the foothills of the mountain to the village of Joffreville, at the gates of the Amber Mountain Park.

  • Duration: 3h
  • Distance: 120 km 
  • We organize your picnic lunch

Day 11: Visite Montagne d’Ambre National Park

In the company of a park guide we hike through the lush forest. This park is home to exceptional vegetation with tree ferns, palms, orchids and many exotic species, while beautiful coniferous avenues line the track leading to the forest station. Waterfalls and crater lakes enhance our walk. And of course, the Malagasy fauna with the friendly lemur. We meet the crowned lemur, Sanford’s lemur. 7 species share the area. We also meet chameleons, geckos and other uroplatus. The birds in the park are as numerous as they are colourful.

  • Duration: Full day
  • We organize your picnic lunch

Day 12: Diego Suarez > Antananarivo

Morning at leisure and transfer to Diego airport for the flight to the Malagasy capital. Welcome and transfer to the city and to the craft market.

  •  Duration: 1h15 flight

Day 13: Antananarivo > Andasibe

Meet our guide and get a briefing before heading east on the RN2. Our first stop is at the Pereyras Farm. This farm is dedicated, among other things, to the breeding of butterflies, but it also houses chameleons, frogs, snakes and bats.

After a picnic at the farm, we head towards the Andasibe Park.

Settling in at the hotel. In the early evening, we leave for a walking tour to meet the nocturnal fauna of the area.

NB: Bring a raincoat for the night visit.

Lemurs: Crowned lemur, Black and white Vari, Diademed sifaka. Nocturnal lemurs: the Microcebe (the smallest of the lemurs), the Golden Hapalemur or Bamboo Lemur.

Carnivores: The fossa which is the largest carnivorous mammal of Madagascar.

Amphibians: The tomato frog.

Reptiles: The Do or Boa of Madagascar (the largest snake on the island), chameleons, Nile crocodiles, tortoises.

Birds: Kingfisher, aigrets, parasols, Malagasy Drongo…

  • Duration: 4h
  • Distance: 150 Km

Day 14: Visit Analamazoatra National Park 

Early departure to visit first the Analamazaotra reserve, then the Mantadia National Park located in another part of the forest.

As in each of the parks we will visit throughout our trip, a guide specialised in his area accompanies us and lends a hand to our Malagasy Tours guide.

Here we are in the rainforest, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation with many species of ferns, sacred lianas, orchids and dwarf palms.

It is home to an abundance of wildlife including the famous Indri Indri. It is the largest of the lemurs and its very distinctive call can be heard several kilometres away.

Lemurs: Indri Indri, Maki, Sifaka, Macaco lemur, Woolly Avahi, Aye Aye (nocturnal).

Reptiles: Parson’s Chameleon, Geckos.

Amphibians: Mantella aurantiaca frog.

Birds: Blue Vanga, Crested Ibis, Parrots, Cuckoos, Rollers, Owls, Starlings, Weaverbirds…

Duration : Full day

  • We organize your picnic lunch

Day 15: Andasibe > Antananarivo

Road to Tana. We arrive at the end of the morning.

  • Duration: 4h
  • Distance: 150 Km

Include:

  • A guide  all along the trip,
  • A driver and his vehicle all along the trip,
  • Accommodation according your choice,
  • National parks and indicated sites fees,
  • Local guides in Parks,
  • All transfers.

Not include:

  • International and domestic flights,
  • Tips and drinks,
  • Your personal insurances,
  • The visa: +/- 35 €

RESERVATION – CONFIRMATION

Reservation: Please use the form below to book your trip or change this itinerary. We will respond within 24 hours.

Confirmation: It will be effective upon receipt of the completed registration form that we will send you, as well as a deposit of 30% of the total amount of the price of the travel.

Confirm a trip with SENSE OF OCEANS MADAGASCAR involves having read and accepted the Terms and Conditions.

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To prepare for your trip, we invite you to read our NEED TO KNOW section

Price for this trip: from 1 822 €

Price per person | For a group of 4 people

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