The Great South Tour

THE GREAT SOUTH

DAY 1: TANA

Upon your arrival at the airport Ivato, a representative of us with Options welcomes you and arranges to transfer to your hotel of convenience: Overnight at the Hotel Chalet des Roses or Ribaudière (midrange) or Hotel du Louvre or Hotel Colbert (top) for overnight.

DAY 2: TANA - ANTSIRABE

Drive from Tana to Antsirabe, passing through the high plateau's landscape: ricefields, and mountains, and arrive in Antsirabe (3-hour drive). A visit to a volcanic lake called Andraikiba is recommended for its beautiful carved stone bazaar, as well as horseback riding or canoe touring the lake. A small lake called "Tritriva" is also worth seeing because of the panoramic view of the plain Vakinakaratra and the famous story of forbidden marriage.

DAY 3: ANTSIRABE - AMBOSITRA - RANOMAFANA

2 hours of driving on the N°7 south brings you to Ambositra, a city known for its wood crafts (carved wood), a short visit to a few crafts shops, continue to Ranomafana National Parks, 9 km before entering the town of Ranomafana, you will stop half an hour at the impressive views of the fall and mists of water from the river Namorona.

DAY 4: VISIT AT RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK

Visit accompanied by your local guide, Ranomafana National Park is where you can admire some twenty species of mammals including 12 lemurs namely the famous bamboo lemur lemurs. - 115 species of birds including thirty of them are strictly forest species.

- 90 species of butterflies,
- 98 species of amphibians,
- Some species of fish
- And 62 species of reptiles: Chameleons, and lizards, overnight at the hotel Centr’Est (high midrange) or Setam Lodge (top) or Cristo ( Moyen)

DAY 5: RANOMAFANA - ISALO

After breakfast, drive to Ambalavao spend a few minutes at the Bougainvillées to see the workshop on the Antemoro traditional paper, and move to Anja Park to meet the ringtail's lemurs, then continue to Ranohira where is Isalo National Park.

Isalo is part of the Common Ranohira in the region of Ihorombe. It is 279 km south of Fianarantsoa and 80 km from Ihosy. The park, crisscrossed by rivers and their tributaries, extends over 81,540 ha. This is a massive ruiniform sandstone plateau continental Jurassic. Heavily eroded, broken up only by the witnesses sandy valleys and canyons remained: a truly exceptional performance.

DAY 6: ISALO

Leave Ranohira to Isalo National Park for a day's visit from Namaza to the natural swimming –pool. Isalo animals are typical of the climate, vegetation, and geomorphology of the park. They are, overwhelmingly, endemic species. 77 species of birds live in the Isalo thrush or Pseudocosyphus Benson Benson, a species endemic to Madagascar, which is highly protected. There are also 14 species of lemurs and moths introduced with 8 and 7 endemics in Madagascar. Reptiles, amphibians, carnivores, insectivores, and rodents complete the list.

DAY 7: ISALO – TULEAR

Early in the morning, leaving Isalo we take a road lined with baobabs, and tombs decorated in Mahafaly tribe ways that are unique to their gender. Tuléar is 265 km from Isalo, a long drive toward the western capital of the Vezo fishing people. Along the way, just right after the Zombitse, on your way, you will see the fantastic baobabs that can be used as water reservoirs for the inhabitants. Between Tulear and Sakaraha are the famous big Mahafaly tombs, these are particularly interesting because of the sceneries representing the daily life of the deceased.

Overnight at the hotel Paletuvier or Victorie (high midrange)/ Hippocampo (top)

DAY 8-9-10: TULEAR-ANAKAO

Take the boat from Tulear to Anakao at 8 o'clock in the morning, it will take around one hour and a half to reach Anakao. It is a Vezo fishing village around fifty kilometers south of Tulear. The terrible roads heading south make boats the best way to reach Anakao and fleets of pirogues line the shore. The inaccessibility of the village means that modern development has largely been passed by Anakao.

Wildlife of Anakao

On the outskirts of Anakao village, you will find some interesting tombs, and once you are clear of the populated areas you start to see wildlife including ring-tailed lemurs, tortoises, chameleons, geckos, and other lizards. Three bays south of Anakao is an area of mangrove swamp that is rewarding for birdwatchers. You can often see Madagascar plovers, flamingos, hoopoes, bee-eaters, and vasa parrots. Overnight at the hotel Anakao Ocean Lodge (top) or Prince d'Anakao (midrange).

DAY 11: ANAKAO - ITAMPOLO

Leaving Anakao down further south to Itampolo, Itampolo is about 150 km south of Toliara. It is very famous for its beautiful beaches with pinkish-colored sand; it is also a good place for surfing. Overnight at the hotel Sud-Sud (low midrange). Itampolo is a beautiful beach although a bit of a low standard for accommodation.

DAY 12: ITAMPOLO – LAVANONO

Drive from Itampolo to Lavanono, Lavanono is another village of fishermen that lies on the way to CapSainte Marie, Lavanono is a beautiful beach but the accommodation is low standard like in Itampolo, so this is just a place to stay a night because the next destination is still far. Overnight at the hotel chez Gigi(low midrange)

DAY 13: LAVANONO- CAP SAINTE MARIE

Leave Lavanono to Capsainte Marie for a short visit. The index of the fauna of the Reserve of Sainte Marie is fairly small. But some endemic species and endangered emerge from the share. Among the birds that count 14 species, we can find the Verreaux’s Coua and Monticolla emeritus. It is besides in this Reserve that we can see the traces of the famous elephant bird, Aepyornis sp. The whales are also part of the treasures of Cape Sainte Marie. Every year, from August to November, Hump Backed Whales with their young pass through this south-extreme tip of Madagascar.

DAY 14: CAPSAINTE MARIE - BERENTY

After breakfast leaves Capsainte Marie to the reserve of Berenty: Berenty Reserve. Berenty is a privately owned reserve that lies about 80 km from Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro). It is among the most tourist-oriented destinations in Madagascar.

There are species of plants that serve as habitats for a variety of wildlife. More than 100 ring-tailed lemurs are in the reserve; the dancing sifakas are the most interesting animals to spot in Berenty. The trails are flat and broad, the wildlife (most people come for the lemurs) is friendly and abundant, and the facilities are up to Western standards (if you leave your door or windows open you may have lemurs come into your room for a visit).

Day 15: BERENTY

A full-day visit to the reserve with walks along the wide, well-swept paths. The lemur Catta Maki known as the ring-tailed lemur is very friendly and seems very happy in photographs. Sifakas are also the main attraction due to their beautiful dancing performances, as well as some red-fronted brown lemurs, which were introduced to Berenty. At night, look for the white-footed sportive lemur, the Grey mouse lemur, and the newly recognized red-and-grey mouse lemur.

Walking through the reserve will also grant you the opportunity to see some of the 103 bird species, 56 of which breed here, and observe many prolific reptiles (various chameleon species, lizards, the endangered radiated and spider tortoises, and the Madagascar ground boa).

Day 16: BERENTY – ANDOHAHELA – FORT DAUPHIN

After breakfast, drive to the National Park of Andohahela where the last remnants of rainforest on the southern coast of Madagascar are in the area. Andohahela shelters 12 species of lemurs, five amongst them are lemurs of the dry forest; 129 species of birds, 69 species of reptiles, and 49 species of amphibians, four of which live in the dry forest. The lemurs are the most sought by tourists.

But the Maki, known as the Lemur catta takes back the charts. Gray with an arranged tail in a ring of white and black, and 50 cm high, the Maki, lives in a large family group (multimale and female social structure with 1 alpha female)... After the visit, continue driving to Fort Dauphin. Overnight at Hotel Lavasoa or Hotel Croix du Sud (top), Kaleta Hotel (top)

Day 17: FORT DAUPHIN – TANA

Fly from Fort Dauphin to Tana, overnight at the Hotel Chalet des Roses (top/midrange) or Tana Hotel (top).

Day 18: TRANSFER AND FLY HOME

Includes :

4WD with a driver

Fuel

Transfer

Hotel and breakfast (half board in Berenty)

Entrance fees to the parks

Driver’s meals and accommodation

Tour guide or driver who speaks English

Tax

Local guide (Berenty)

Excludes:

Tips

Drinks

Lunch

Dinner

Local guide

Other insurance types

Other activities which are not mentioned above