September 16 - 17

Welcome to Nairobi!

Arrive NBO (Nairobi, Kenya), clear customs, collect your luggage and proceed to Arrivals where you will be met and provided with a transfer to your hotel where you will spend one night.

Settle in and rest after your long journey.

Overnight Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport

1 Night

September 17

At a time to be determined, you will use the hotel's airport shuttle for your transfer to the airport in time for you to check in for your commercial flight (not included, booked on own) to Madagascar.

September 17 - 19

Welcome to Madagascar!

Upon arrival in Antananarivo, clear immigration, collect your luggage and proceed to Arrivals where you will be greeted by your English-speaking guide who will provide you with a transfer to your hotel in the upper town of Antananarivo. ‘

Tana’ – as the locals call it has fascinating traditional architecture and a more Indonesian influence than the rest of Madagascar.

Your hotel, La Varangue is a restored colonial mansion in the heart of the old town with a newly built extension to house the accommodation. La Varangue is known as one of the top restaurants on the island combining the best of Malagasy ingredients with French inspired cuisine.

Stay at La Varangue

2 Nights

September 18

At a time to be determined, you will be met at your hotel by your Guide Helihanta. Helihanta is a Professor of History at the TNR University who will take you out for a tour around the area.

Return to your hotel afterwards, evening at your own leisure.

September 19 - 22

At a time to be determined, you will be provided with a transfer to Ivato Airport in time for your scheduled charter flight to Ifotaka (2 hours 35 minutes - included - 07:00 - 09:30).

Upon arrival at Ivato you will be met and transferred to the camp. Settle into your tent and enjoy the majestic views over the Mandrare River.

Around 5pm you will depart for a night walk in the Forest of Zenavo. This is a fantastic way to see diurnal lemurs bedding down, and the nocturnal lemurs begin to wake in the eerie and prehistoric spiny forest. Possible sightings: sifakas and sleeping white-foot sportive lemurs, two mouse lemur species, sleeping birds, chameleons, owls and now active sportive lemurs.

Stay at Mandrare River Camp

3 Nights

September 20

After breakfast you will head out to the stunning sacred gallery forest to the south of the camp.

Depending on the river depth, you will walk or take a boat across the Mandrare River to reach this largely deciduous forest. Inquisitive groups of ring tailed lemurs and the always entertaining Verreaux sifaka are the highlight of this excursion.

Return to camp for lunch and a relaxed afternoon by the pool. In late afternoon, head for a walk through the sacred spiny forest filled with the ancestral tombs of the local Antandroy tribe, as well as an extraordinary array of flora and fauna, unique to the spiny forest.

Your English-speaking guide and a tracker from the local community will give you an introduction to Antandroy culture and customs. Your visit is followed by sundowners on the Mandrare River banks.

September 21

After a cup of tea or coffee head to the Spiny Forest for an early morning walk. Witness the sunlight break through the octopus trees while looking out for the many endemic birds such as crested coua, a variety of vangas and the running coua.

Head back to camp for a sumptuous breakfast followed by a visit to the local market or the local village to meet the fascinating Antandroy tribe.

Lunch will be served at the camp followed by a relaxed afternoon watching life along the river from your tent terrace.

At 5pm, depart for a sundowner amidst the baobabs. Watching the sun set and moon rise with a view across the baobabs to the mountains beyond is a magical experience. In the evening the local village may come to perform beautiful traditional dances, accompanied by singing and music. Song and dance is at the heart of Antandroy culture and is used to accompany the major rituals and events of everyday life.

September 22 - 23

After breakfast, transfer to Ifotaka and board the scheduled charter flight back to Tana (3hrs 30 mins - included - 10:00 - 13:30).

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will spend the night.

Overnight Nosy Manga

1 Night

September 23 - 27

This morning you will be provided with a transfer to the airport in time for you to check in for the scheduled charter flight to the port town of Soalala (1hr 30mins - included - 08:00 - 09:30).

On arrival you are met by your guide and accompanied by vehicle to a beautiful picnic spot surrounded by mango trees.

After lunch and a short village walk, drive to the Namoroka Tsingy Camp (2hrs 30 mins) where you will spend the next four nights exploring. Settle in and enjoy your new surroundings.

Stay at Namoroka Tsingy Camp

4 Nights

September 24 - 26

Three days to explore the tsingy of Namoroka National Park and its surrounding areas.

This national park welcomes just 50 visitors per year due to the challenges of accessing it by road. It is one of the more pristine protected areas on the island with an incredible abundance of birds (81 species) and other wildlife.

There are 6 lemur species to see including the playful Von der Dicken’s Sifaka, Milne-Edwards Sportive lemur, the red lemur and the incredibly secretive Aye Aye.

Depart for an exploration of the unique cave system that stretches under the entire massif. Here, you will encounter rare fossil remains of species such as the Archaeolemur, a giant lemur species with a body mass of up to 26kg which went extinct, along with much of Madagascar’s megafauna about 1,000 years ago.

Picnic lunch in the shade of the Tsingy.

September 27 - 28

After an early breakfast, transfer by road to Soalala (2hrs 30 mins) in time for the scheduled charter flight to Antananarivo (1hr 30 min - included - 10:00 - 11:30).

You will arrive in Tana/TNR (land at approximately 11:30), met on arrival and provided with a transfer to your hotel where you will spend the night before heading off on your safari. Tonight, you will be dining at Le Marais (included), transfers to/from the restaurant will be provided.

Overnight Radisson Blu Hotel Antananarivo Waterfront

1 Night

September 28 - 29

At a time to be determined, you will be provided with a transfer to the airport in time for you to check in for your commercial flight (not included, purchased on own) to Johannesburg.

Welcome to South Africa!

Arrive JNB (Johannesburg), clear immigration, collect your luggage and proceed to Arrivals where you will be met and provided with a transfer to African Rock where you will stay for the night.

Enjoy a relaxing evening after your travels!

Overnight African Rock Hotel

1 Night

September 29 - October 4

At a time to be determined, you will be provided with a transfer to Lanseria airport in time for the scheduled charter flight (included - departs at 11:30) to Limpopo Valley airstrip which is located within Mashatu Game Reserve.

You will be met upon arrival at the airstrip, clear customs and then be transferred to Tuli Safari Lodge where you will be for the next five nights. Welcome to this little lesser known but very special area of Botswana! Settle in and enjoy the experience.

Stay at Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu

5 Nights

September 30 - October 3

Tuli offers horseback riding, mountain biking, photographic hide experiences, walks and game drives. So many different ways to enjoy the African bush and wildlife!

These activities are at an additional cost which has not been factored into the pricing. What is included are two game viewing activities (walk and game drive or two game drives) per day.

October 4

Lodge management will notify you the night before as to what time you will be departing today. A transfer to the airstrip will be provided in time for your departing scheduled charter flight to Lanseria. Arrive at the airport, collect your luggage and proceed to Arrivals where you will be met and provided with a transfer to JNB.

JNB hotel TBD - arrangements will be made for return transfer to the airport the following day.