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A brief on Madagascar Tours Departing from Antananarivo

More than an island, Madagascar has been isolated for millions of years, creating a natural world found nowhere else. Madagascar’s wildlife, landscapes and ecosystems make it one of the most distinctive travel destinations on Earth.

The majority of Madagascar tours depart from Antananarivo, commonly called Tana. You can take the East, West, North or South route according to your choice. The East is lush with rainforests, waterfalls and misty mountains. The West is known for vast plains, winding rivers, dry forests and baobabs. The South features semi-desert landscapes, spiny forests and unique rock formations.

In the brief below, we outline what you can experience on the tour of your choice.

Eastern Tour

The Eastern tour departs from Tana to Andasibe and ends at Sainte-Marie.

Wildlife, biodiversity and Lemurs

Andasibe is the most visited park in Madagascar and includes Analamazaotra Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park. The latter is a paradise for nature lovers. Its dense primary rainforest is home to endemic species including the black-and-white ruffed lemur, red-bellied lemur and charismatic diademed sifaka. More than 100 bird species live here, many endemic, while ancient tree ferns, orchids, pandanus and medicinal plants line the trails. The eastern rainforest is also home to the indri lemur.

Baobab

You cannot see baobabs on this tour.

Beach

At the end of the tour, we bring you to relax on the beaches of Sainte-Marie.

Île Sainte-Marie (Nosy Boraha) & Madagascar Whales

Sainte-Marie combines palm-lined beaches with authentic charm. It is especially known for its whale season from July to September, when humpback whales surface to breathe and communicate.

Western Tour

Biodiversity, Baobabs & Scenery

The tour departs from Antananarivo and ends at Morondava. It combines the famous Tsingy de Bemaraha and the beautiful Avenue of the Baobabs. The Tsingy is a must-see and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tsingy of Bemaraha Park

The Tsingy form an immense stone maze, crossed by narrow passages, suspended walkways and aerial viewpoints. Visitors can safely explore panoramic views of the Manambolo River and surrounding plains. The park is rich in lemurs, endemic birds, reptiles and rare plants.

Baobabs Alley

On the way back from the Tsingy, discover the legendary Avenue of the Baobabs. Known as the “Trees of Life”, baobabs can live for over a thousand years, storing water and providing shelter, food and spiritual meaning to local communities. Grandidier’s baobab is the tallest species in the world and forms the famous avenue near Morondava.

Lemurs

Visitors encounter lemurs around the Tsingy and during the river descent.

The Northern Tour

It departs from Antananarivo to Diégo-Suarez and ends at Nosy Be.

Tsingy, Wildlife and Lemurs

This tour leads to the Tsingy of Ankarana. The 18,220-hectare reserve features a razor-sharp limestone massif, vast caves, underground rivers and deep gorges. Its unique ecosystem shelters lemurs, bats, reptiles and endemic birds. Walkways, suspension bridges and viewpoints open panoramic views over the canyons and dry forests.

Red Tsingy

On the way, discover sedimentary formations layered in colors from white to red. Formed by erosion of red sandstone rather than limestone, these structures resemble a natural sandcastle.

Baobab

In Ankarana National Park you can see Adansonia perrieri, the rarest baobab species in the world.

Beach

We bring visitors to relax on the beaches of Nosy Be.

Southern Tour

The Southern tour departs from Tana to Tuléar and explores two major national parks: Ranomafana and Isalo.

Lemurs

Ranomafana is famous for more than 12 recorded lemur species, including the critically endangered golden bamboo lemur and greater bamboo lemur, Milne-Edwards’s sifaka and the red-bellied lemur. Isalo is home to ring-tailed lemurs, Verreaux’s sifaka and red-fronted brown lemurs.

Biodiversity

The parks are rich in reptiles, chameleons, geckos and skinks. More than 80 bird species have been recorded, alongside colorful butterflies, beetles and endemic invertebrates.

Baobab

Visitors on this tour can see baobabs in Ifaty at the Reniala Reserve.

Beach

At the end of the tour, relax on the beaches of Ifaty or Ambatomilo.

Makay Massif Trek

The Makay Massif tour departs from Antananarivo to the South. This still largely unexplored region is often described as Madagascar’s last great wilderness. Accessible only on foot, it consists of sandstone massifs, spectacular gorges, rivers and year-round waterfalls. These isolated ecosystems hold endemic plants, lemurs, reptiles, amphibians and rare birds.

Makay offers a unique expedition far from roads, villages and mass tourism. Several days of trekking are needed to explore it, camping in pristine nature, crossing rivers and walking through narrow canyons. After the trek, we recommend resting on the beaches of Ifaty, Ambatomilo, Sainte-Marie, Nosy Be or Anjajavy.

Group Tours

Our group tours comprise around 18 people, with smaller groups of 8 to 12 also available. The itineraries and facilities remain the same. These tours are called GIR (Groupe d’Individuels Regroupés).