Description
This exciting and adventurous itinerary takes you to some of Madagascar's remotest areas, staying in excellent little camps and exploring.
After your Kenya Airways flight into Antananarivo, you will connect with a flight down to Fort Dauphin on Madagascar's south coast, from where you will be collected and transferred to Mandrare River Camp. This super little camp overlooks the Mandrare River, a mecca for wildlife, and from here you will be able to walk and drive to see some of Madagascar's endemic wildlife. Choose to visit the Spiny Forest where you could spot the lemurs leaping from tree to tree, go and see the famous Baobabs, take a walk through the Deciduous Gallery Forest and the Littoral Scrub Forest, or scramble up the massive sand dunes at Lac Anony. Or spend some time with the Antandroy, the local people who have made this area their home.
The camp itself is beautiful, spread out under the shade of Tamarind trees overlooking the Mandrare River with views to the rugged mountains beyond. Tents are spacious and en-suite, with beautiful wooden furniture and four-poster beds, and each depicts a different animal - from lemurs to chameleons!
Leaving Mandrare, you will travel to Fort Dauphin for lunch before travelling onwards (a fascinating journey) to Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge. This lodge is beautiful and secluded - set in rich vegetation right on a curving beach with crashing waves, and with beautifully appointed, large en-suite rooms. From here you can take a boat trip (canoe or motorboat) into the mangroves, where the birdwatching is spectacular. At certain times of the year the humpback whales pass by on their migration, and the lodge has a special whale-watching boat which is deployed the moment the whales are sighted. Guests have a chance to see the whales breaching and "tail-slapping" as they pass through. Snorkelling and swimming are also offered inside the natural "bay" created by large granite outcrops stretching into the sea.
The lodge itself is beautifully appointed and the guiding is superb. Guests can also choose to take a night walk in a local area of forest, to spot the nocturnal lemurs, night moths, night birds and other Malagasy specialities. Spend five nights here exploring the area and enjoying Madagascar's legendary hospitality before transferring back to Fort Dauphin and flying back to Antananarivo.
Fly back via Antananarivo Airport and connect with your international flight back home.
Guide price
£3,955 per person
£3,955 per person, based on 2 people sharing and includes international flights and taxes.
Itinerary
When to travel
Any time of year is fine for a visit except from December to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas can make some roads all but impassable, and when there’s a high risk of cyclones in the east and northeast. In general, the best time to travel in most areas is April and October/November. The coolest time to travel anywhere is during the dry season (May to October).
Average maximum temperatures vary from about 30°C in coastal areas (higher in summer) to around 25°C on the hauts plateaux. In Antananarivo and other highland areas, temperatures during winter can drop to 10°C and even lower during the night.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
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Nov
Dec
Best time to visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Not applicable
Location and directions
Madagascar
Located in the South of Madagascar near Fort Dauphin, Mandrare River Camp is spread out in the shade of tamarind trees, all with breathtaking views across the tranquil water to the sacred mountains beyond. Two and a half hour drive from Fort Dauphin in the village of Manafiafy, is Manafiafy Beach & Rainforest Lodge a tranquil setting on the South East Coast of Madagascar.
How to get there
13-hour international flight (one stop) to Antananarivo Airport, with Kenya Airways flight. From Antananarivo, it's a 1-hour 30-minute flight to Fort Dauphin. The lodge is a 3-hour 30-minute drive from Fort Dauphin.
