The Deep South
Day 1Arrival in Antananarivo
After your arrival at the airport of the capital of Madagascar, you will be greeted and accompanied to your hotel by your English speaking guide. You are free to spend the rest of the day as you please. (D)
Day 2 Flight to Toliary
In the morning, you fly from Antananarivo to Toliary, where you visit a botanical garden in Antsokay which was arranged by the Swiss botanist Herrmann Petignat. Petignat gathered the most endangered plant species of Madagascar’s south west regions and tried to protect and preserve them thanks to this garden. You can marvel at over 900 plant species, 90% of which are of endemic origin and 80% have a medical effect. (B, D)
Day 3 Trip to Ampanihy via Andranovory
We leave Toliary early in the morning. After the excursion in Andranovory, our trip continues through the land of the Mahafaly. The Mahafaly tribe is well known for its huge, colourful and magnificent tombs which you can also visit. (B, D)
Day 4 Ampanihy – Berenty
Today, you meet another tribe: the Antandroy. The Antandroy are a large tribe of nomadic shepherd-farmers and make up 5% of the Malagasy people. The tribe occupies the driest area of Madagascar and lives on sorghum, corn and cassava. There is not enough water to cultivate rice, which is generally the Malagasy main food. (B,D)
Day 5:Berenty
Today, you will hike in the imposing thorn and gallery woods of Berenty, a fascinating biotope with elephant food plant, baobabs and fig cactuses. The dancing white sifakas will make your stay in Berenty unforgettable. A night walk in the thorn woods is on the agenda before dinner. (B, D)
Day 6:Berenty – Faux Cap
Portuguese Sailors wrongly considered the Faux Cap as the southernmost point of Madagascar. Nevertheless, the region is full of beautiful coastline that invites you to dream and take a break. (B, D)
Day 7:Faux Cap
Guided walk through the special natural reserve of the Cap Sainte Marie. The southernmost point of the island continent is the Cap Sainte Marie with the special natural reserve in the south of Tsiombe that is said to exhibit the biggest turtle concentration in the world. Up to 3000 turtles were counted here in one square kilometre. The species commonly found here are the radiated tortoise and the spider tortoise. (B, D)
Day 8:Faux Cap – Lavanono
Lavanono is a small fishing village that has recently garnered attention thanks to surfing. The village of 450 inhabitants remained isolated from the other areas for a long time. In September and October, you can see humpback whales – still a special experience offered by this region. (F, A)
Day 9:Lavanono – Itampolo
On the road to Itampolo, time seems to have stood still. It is rare to come across another car and on the road you can see typical tombs with « Aloalo », local grave steles made of wood of the Antandroy and Mahafaly tribes. You can’t miss them! With a little luck, you can see radiated tortoises in their natural habitat. (F, A)
Day 10:Itampolo – Anakao
Today we are experiencing a landscape marked by sand dunes. Step by step, we leave the region of the Antandroy and Mahafaly tribes and drive into the area of the Vezos tribe. The Vezos are the children of the sea. They are a people who live on the sea and by the sea. Anakao is a popular fishing village where you will experience their way of life. (F, A)
Day 11:Anakao
You are free to spend this day as you please. There is the option to book a trip to the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park. The lesser flamingo, the big broad-striped Malagasy mongoose and the spider tortoise are part of the faunistic attractions of the national park. The lake Tsimanampetsotsa is also a part of the natural reserve. The azure blue water shimmers in magic blue tones due to the high concentration of calcium sulphate. (F, A)
Day 12:Anakao
You are free to spend this day as you please. Anakao is one of Madagascar’s best places for snorkelling and diving or you can drive across to Nosy Ve where red-tailed tropic birds brood. (F, A)
Day 13:Anakao – Toliary – Tana
In the morning you go by boat to Toliary from where you fly to Tana. In the afternoon you have the option to visit the lemur park in Arivonimamo which is found 22 km outside the city. (F, A)
Day 14:flight home (F)
Goodbye from Madagascar and hope to see you soon