Lemur Trails | Journey Across West Coast of Madagascar

Picture a setting sun tinging the sky with hues of red, purple, and orange, the mighty baobab striking a squat pose against the sky, its plump trunk leading up to a few delicate flinger-like branches, making for one mystical sight. One Arabian legend says the devil plucked up the baobab, thrust its branches into the Earth, and left its roots in the air. A tree so distinctive they named it twice!

Easily recognized by their swollen base at the trunk which gives the tree a bottle-like appearance. They can be as short as 5 meters to as tall as 12 meters with the bottle-trunk up to 5 meters in diameter. With blooms in the spring of large white flowers which only open at night, these ancient trees have many tales to tell, given their estimated age up to 2,000 years!

Few places on Earth offer such an intense kaleidoscope of nature as Madagascar, from fertile hills cascading with terraced rice paddies, forests of every kind from wet & rainy to dry and spiny, and a laterite-rich soil which gives the country it’s nickname of “Red Island”. With thousands of kilometres of coastline, the sea is never very far, turquoise and idyllic, dangerous and mysterious, big adventure on the world’s fourth largest island.

There is no other place on Earth where you’ll find more lemurs because they’re only found in Madagascar! Endemic to the island and evolved from monkeys and apes, they once were as large as the male gorilla! There are now over 100 species of lemurs, in all shapes and sizes, from the pygmy mouse lemur to the long-tailed Indri.

And while the signature animal of Madagascar is the Lemur, there are many weird and wonderful creatures, from the eerie-looking fossa-fossa (a cat-dog crossover), colourful and camouflaged chameleons, oddly shaped insects, vivid frogs, graceful rays and turtles, several species of sharks, and humpback whales during the winter months.
Madagascar, from East to West, from Lemur to Boabab, on the road, the river, and the sea!

https://vimeo.com/292618272
https://vimeo.com/194405246
https://vimeo.com/224965822

Let's go!

Day 1 – Arrival in Tana, transfer to Antsirabe
Arrival, immigration procedure. We begin with the 5-hour scenic drive south to Antsirabe. Check in to a local hotel. Evening at leisure to rest from the journey.

Day 2 – Antsirabe to Miandrivazo, start boat trip
Early morning departure with breakfast on the way. Reach Miandrivazo by late morning, then drive 1 hour to the riverbank. Board the boat and begin the Tsiribihina River expedition. Lunch and dinner served on board.

Day 3 – Full day on the Tsiribihina River
Spend the entire day enjoying downstream on the Tsiribihina River, passing landscapes with waterfalls, gorges, birds, and village life along the banks. Breaks for swimming and photography. Overnight camp by the river.

Day 4 – End river trip, drive to Tsingy via Belo
Finish the boat trip in the morning and take a local ferry across the river at Belo-sur-Tsiribihina. Continue with a 4-hour off-road drive to Bekopaka, near Tsingy de Bemaraha. Check into the lodge.

Day 5 – Explore Tsingy de Bemaraha
Spend the day hiking in the UNESCO-listed Tsingy de Bemaraha. Walk along suspended bridges, stone pinnacles, and limestone forests. Although could be perceived as moderate level trek, the path is filled with incredible views and wildlife. Return to accommodation for overnight.

Day 6 – Tsingy to Kirindy via Belo, night walk in forest
Leave early for the journey back via Belo to Kirindy Forest (approx. 6 hours including ferry). Arrive in the afternoon and check in. After dark, join a guided night walk in the reserve to sneak on nocturnal lemurs, chameleons, and their friends.

Day 7 – Kirindy walk, sunset at Baobab Alley, drive to Morondava
Take a morning nature walk in Kirindy, a dry deciduous forest with rare species like the fossa. After lunch, head to the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs for sunset. Then continue the short 3-hour drive to Morondava. Check in and relax by the beach.

Day 8 – Flight to Tana
Today we fly back to Tana across Malagasy landscapes. Evening at hotel or optional group dinner.

Day 9 – City tour and departure
Airport transfer according to your international flight time. Bye, bye Mada x

Grade: Easy with elements of climbing (Tsingy Forest)

Activities: trekking, sightseeing, cruising.

Visas: Any passport can obtain a visa on arrival valid for 90 days. Stays up to 30 days are free of charge. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

Cost: 7,450 AED excl. flights until MAY 01. Past this date cost will change.

• Single room 1,650 AED extra.

Program is based on Ethiopian Airways schedule.
If you're flying on Emirates, you need to arrive day earlier.

Specifically excluded: Lunches and dinners in local restaurants.
Specifically included: Stay in local hotels, one way domestic flight, AC Minibus, 4WDs, motor boats, ferries, local English-speaking guides at the locations, entrance fees to national parks where applicable, encounter local tribes, customs and wild life with all its specifics.

Clips:
https://vimeo.com/194405246
https://vimeo.com/224965822

Trekkup Crew
Whatsapp 050484823 / docs@trekkup.com
[Find all trekkups at linktr.ee/trekkup](https://linktr.ee/trekkup)