Compare Madagascar Hidden Gems by Aardvark Safaris vs Backpackers Tanzania Safaris by Lights on Africa Safaris
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 11 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 6,496 | $ 1,194 |
| Price Per Day | $ 591 | $ 171 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Camping |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfast, 4 Lunch, 9 Dinner |
7 Breakfasts, 6 Picnic Lunches, 5 Dinners |
| Description |
Madagascar is home to an incredible diversity of habitat, scenery and wildlife, including several species of the much loved lemur. This comprehensive trip takes in the architectural attractions of the capital, the mountains and plateaus of the interior, isolated villages along the Pangalanes Canal, forest blanketed slopes, and a gem of an island that boasts one of Madagascar’s most breathtaking beaches, which is really saying something. Spot lemur in their native habitat, stay in a variety of fabulous properties, hike, and meet the locals to gain a better understanding of their everyday lives and vibrant culture. And, of course, be sure to soak up the sun on dazzling stretches of white sandy beaches and swim in sparkling warm water. |
Experiencing a Northern Tanzania safari is an essential destination on everyone's travel list. The Serengeti's Great Migration is one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles, whilst being on safari in the Crater floor of the extinct volcano at Ngorongoro is a game viewing environment that has no equal. Away from the tourist hotspots, quieter parks such as Tarangire are superb for game viewing yet often overlooked to their more famous neighbors. Lake Manyara's game concentrations are not nearly as high as surrounding parks but there are a number of unique species that provide a reason to safari here. Lake Manyara's tree climbing lions are the park’s main attraction. Why these lions habitually climb trees is still up for debate but viewing a pride relaxing in an acacia tree is an incredible site. |
Day 1: Lokanga Boutique Hotel - 1 night - Bed and Breakfast
Accommodation: Lokanga Boutique Hotel
On arrival into Antananarivo (Tana) today you will be met by an English speaking guide who will accompany you until you depart mainland Madagascar for Nosy Be. You will be driven to Lokanga Boutique Hotel where you stay the night on a bed and breakfast basis
This intimate and freshly renovated hotel is situated atop a hill close to the old Queen's Palace in Madagascar. Designed in the traditional Malagasy townhouse style, Lokanga Boutique Hotel is built on the site that once housed the Queen's musicians, and is named after the Malagasy violin. This prominent viewpoint looks out across the city and is the perfect spot from which to enjoy magnificent evening sunsets.
Set in an ancient part of this beautiful city, Lokanga Boutique Hotel comprises six comfortable bedrooms, complete with en-suite facilities, mini-bar, television, heating, and Wi-Fi. The luxurious rooms are all decorated on an individual theme and adorned with elegant antiques. Most suites have a balcony with fabulous vistas across Madagascar. Perfect for an overnight stay or longer.
Day 2 - 5: Vakona Lodge - 3 nights - Half Board
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Vakona Lodge
From Tana this morning you will be driven to Vakona Lodge which is a journey of approximately two and a half to three hours on reasonably well maintained roads. The drive itself is very scenic and gives you the opportunity to see more of Madagascar including rice fields, villages and markets. There is an option to break your journey at Marozevo/Madagascar Exotic, which is about half way. This is a breeding facility for Malagasy reptiles, amphibians and butterflies and gives you the opportunity to view some species you may not see in the wild.
You will be staying at Vakona for three nights on a half board basis to include breakfast and dinner. You will have the chance to visit Andasibe/Analamazaotra, Vakona Private and Mantadia Parks during your stay as well as do a night tour to spot nocturnal animals.
The spectacular Vakona Lodge is located in the center of Madagascar's Andasibe (Perinet) Forest. A stay here puts you near Mantadia National Park and just a three hour drive east to Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo.
Stay in one of 28 beautiful bungalows complete with en-suite facilities. Vakona Lodge also has a swimming pool, and comfortable bar and dining room in which you can share your adventures with friends over a meal and drink.
During your stay at Madagascar's Vakona Lodge, discover Andasibe (Perinet) National Park. Enjoy a day or night walking safari under the guidance of an expert ranger to learn more about this beautiful and world respected reserve. The area is famous for its wealth of diurnal and nocturnal wildlife, most notably the indri indri, the biggest member of the lemur family. You will almost certainly hear its haunting calls penetrating the forest canopy as day breaks.
Day 5 - 6: Bush House - 2 nights - Half Board
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Bush House Lodge
This morning you will be driven to Manambato from where you take a boat transfer to Akanin' ny Nofy. This is generally a lovely one and a half hour trip along the old shipping canal, but if the weather is wet or windy it can be a choppy journey.
You spend the next two nights at Bushhouse which is a small, secluded property overlooking Lake Ampitabe on the Pangalanes Canal. Your stay is on a half board basis to include breakfast and dinner.
Beautifully hidden amid lush forest on a hillside with spectacular views across Lake Ampitabe on the Pangalanes Canal in eastern Madagascar is exclusive Bush House. The property is reached by boat via an old shipping canal interspersed with vast lakes. Most of Bush House is hand built using locally sourced materials. All 11 bungalows and two comfortable rooms are uniquely decorated and equipped with en-suite facilities. The public space comprises a relaxing bar and a restaurant with a great traditional Malagasy, Creole and French menu.
Investigate the exotic and beautiful area surrounding Madagascar's Bush House by boat, and take a relaxing walk through the local reserve that is home to a variety of endangered species, including lemur (crowned, red-bellied, ring-tailed, black and white ruffled), chameleon and radiated tortoise. Water based activities, including canoeing, are also available.
Day 7 - 10: Tsarabanjina - 4 nights - Full Board
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will continue along the Pangalanes Canal on another boat journey of around three hours. You will be met and driven to Tamatave Airport in time to take a scheduled flight departing for Tana.
On arrival you will connect onto the scheduled flight to Nosy Be. You will be met on arrival into Nosy Be and transferred by boat to Tsarabanjina where you spend the next four nights on a full board basis to include all meals.
Famous for providing the exotic backdrop to a BBC castaway island series, Tsarabanjina is a small private island fringed by white sandy beaches, mature forest and the azure sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.
The island is set to the northwest of Madagascar's coastline in the Nosy Be area. Tsarabanjina comprises 25 luxurious rooms traditionally constructed from thatch and woven reeds. Each room is equipped with en-suite bathroom and has a fabulous terrace with hammocks in which you can look out across the soft white sand to the blue Ocean. Enjoy a delicious evening meal and sundowner drinks in the dining room and bar.
During your stay at this Madagascan paradise, you can enjoy the fantastic diving and snorkeling for which this area is renowned. You can also organize deep sea fishing, sailing, boat cruises and waterskiing, which are on offer from local operators.
Day 11: Fly Nosy Be to Antananarivo
Today you will be flown by scheduled flight back to Tana. From here you will take an international flight, or continue with another African adventure.
Day 1: Arrive to Tanzania
Upon your arrival meet at Kilimanjaro international Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha for bed and breakfast B/B. Pamoja expedition Lodge.
Day 2: Arusha National Park
In the morning drive to Arusha national park with your packed lunch for game viewing. Break for a picnic lunch then continue with game viewing at Arusha National Park. Dinner and overnight at Outpost Lodge Full board (FB)
Day 3: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast transfer to Tarangire national park with your packed lunch for game viewing, enjoy a picnic lunch at Tarangire then continue with your game viewing until late evening, dinner and overnight, / Kigongoni Campsite. FB. One of the most noticeable things on entering the park are the baobab trees that rise up form the grass.
With their massive trunks, they are instantly recognizable. There are animals that usually move northwards of the park during the wet season including the wildebeests, zebras, Thompson's gazelles, buffalos, elands and hartebeests. The elephant population in this park was estimated to be around 6'000 in 1987, but numbers are believed to have fallen since then due to poaching. The number of birds recorded in Tarangire National Park has been estimated at approximately 300. These include migrants that fly south to spend October - April away from the winter of the northern hemisphere. Here, you may spot various species of herons, storks and ducks, vultures, buzzards, sparrow hawks, eagles, kites and falcons, as well as ostriches. Other areas of interest within the park include the Lake Burungi circuit, the Lemiyon area, the Kitibong Hill circuit and the Gursi & Lamarkau circuit.
Day 4: Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast transfer to Lake Manyara national park for game viewing, lunch then after lunch drive to the park again for a second half game viewing. Dinner and overnight, Twiga Campsite. FBA major attraction of the Lake Manyara National Park is the tree - climbing lions. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that you will spot them. However, there are other things to see - elephants, hippos, zebras, impalas, buffalos, baboons, plains animals as well as huge variety of birdlife, both resident and migratory.
Day 5: Serengeti National Park
After breakfast transfer to Serengeti national park via Ngorongoro conservation area, with your lunch box and game en-route. Dinner and overnight, Seronera Campsite FB Serengeti is perhaps most well known for the annual migration that takes place across the great Savannah plains. This is a phenomenal sight: thousands upon thousands of animals, particularly wildebeests, as far as the eye can see. During the rainy season (from November to May), the wildebeests, whose population has been estimated at around 1'500'000, are found in the eastern section of the Serengeti and also the Masai Mara in Kenya to the north. When the dry season begins at the end of June, the annual migration commences as the animals move in search of food pasture. The Serengeti is also famous for cheetahs, leopards and lions, some of which migrate with the wildebeests while others remain in the central plain.
Day 6: Serengeti/ Ngorongoro
After breakfast with your packed lunch drive and game en route to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Pass by Olduvai Gorge a historical site whereby the early man lived its your option whether you pass by the Maasai boma if you are interested in the real African life tradition and culture for extra costs, After your lunch en route adds to the crater rim for your dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite. FB
Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater - Arusha
After breakfast, with packed lunch descend into the crater for a full day game viewing. Have your picnic lunch in the crater at hippo pool or Lerai forest. Evening drive back to Arusha for dinner and overnight at your Hotel/Transfer to the Airport for your flight back home.
