| Leading Tours since 1987
Itinerary: Day 1: We have a morning flight to Paris with a connection to Antananarivo (Tana), the capital of Madagascar. Arrival is later the same day. Day 2: An internal flight to Maroantsetra, the entry point to Masoala National Park. In the afternoon, we take a boat trip up a forested river. Wires hold Madagascar Bee-eater and dead snags Frances's Sparrowhawk. Depending on water levels, we may find Madagascar Jacana and Allen's Gallinule. Rice paddies are an integral part of Maroantsetra attracting Madagascar Heron, Diamorphic Egret and White-throated Rail. After dinner, a short excursion is planned for Greater Dwarf and Brown Mouse Lemurs as well as Panther and Carpet Chameleons. Overnight at Maroantsetra. Days 3-4: An early start with a boat transfer to Ambanizana and Masoala, the largest tract of protected rainforest left in Madagascar today. Entering Antongila Bay, we should encounter Humpback Whales. Our base for the next two nights is a lodge located on a remote beach. Common birds around the lodge include Greater and Lesser Vasa Parrots, Madagascar Kingfisher and Madagascar Magpie Robin. In the afternoon, we wander around forest trails looking for feeding flocks. Our prime targets are three rare endemics - Helmet and Bernier's Vangas and Brown Mesite. Other spectacular species we may encounter include Madagascar Wood Rail, Tylas, Red-tailed and White-headed Vangas, Madagascar Green and Madagascar Blue Pigeons, Ashy Cuckoo-shrike, Common Newtonia and Common Jery. At dusk we should hear and hopefully see the recently split Torotoroka Scops Owl. Early on one morning we visit a reliable spot for Scaly Ground and Short-legged Ground Rollers and the shy Madagascar Sparrowhawk. Day 5: Before leaving for Maroantsetra, we take another walk into the forest looking for Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher. An afternoon flight to Tana via Toamasina, the latter having Madagascar Fody and Madagascar Munia. Night in Tana. Day 6: Morning flight to Mahajanga and then by road to Ampijoroa Forest Station. The journey to Ampijoroa takes us through an extremely barren and arid area holding Madagascar Lark and Madagascar Cisticola. Birding around the lodge at Ampijoroa can be productive for Crested Coua and Grey-headed Lovebirds. Later we walk along sandy trails searching for White-headed and Blue Vangas, the scarce Banded Kestrel and fascinating ground-loving White-breasted Mesites. As dusk falls, we watch for roosting Sickle-billed Vangas and the possibility of Madagascar Scops Owl and Madagascar Nightjar. Day 7: Nearby, a lake should have the critically endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle. We visit a section of dry woodland searching for the spectacular White-winged Ibis, Schlegel's Asity, Madagascar Button-quail, Coquerel's and Red-headed Couas and the extremely rare Van Dams Coua. Return to Mahajanga via an area of flooded rice paddies with Madagascar Little Grebe, Madagascar Pond Heron, Red-billed Duck, Hottentot Teal and migrant shorebirds from further north. Night in Mahajanga. Day 8: A later start today with a boat trip to an area of mangroves up river. This is the only reliable area for Madagascar Sacred Ibis and Madagascar Teal. Other species present may include Lesser Flamingo, Madagascar Harrier Hawk and Madagascar Swift. In the afternoon, we fly back to Tana for an overnight stay. Day 9: Morning visit to a private wetland in Tana for herons, egrets and ducks. Surrounding bushes should produce Madagascar Brush Warblers. Afternoon flight to Fort Dauphin and on to Berenty where we are welcomed by Ring-tailed Lemurs. After dinner, we take a night walk for Grey-brown Lemurs and White-browed Owls.
Day 11: Flight down to Tulear in extreme southwest Madagascar where we visit an exposed mudflat for shorebirds. After lunch we travel north to Ifaty and the unique spiny forest. En route, Madagascar Plover and Three-banded Plovers should be present on flooded pasture land. Two-night stay at Ifaty. Day 12: Just after dawn, we take a walk in the spiny forest with our local guides for a unique birding experience. Exposed snags attract Lafresnaye's Vanga and Sakalava Weavers but our interest is on the sandy forest floor. Our main target birds are Long-tailed Ground Roller and Sub-desert Mesite, both range-restricted endemics. Also present are Archbold's Newtonia, Madagascar Coucal, Madagascar and Souimanga Sunbirds. Return to base for brunch. Later in the afternoon, we revisit the forest for Running and Green-capped Couas and the little known Thamornis Warbler. Day 13: Today we make the short journey to St Augustine, an area of thick scrub and brush. Our main interest is Red-shouldered Vanga which was first described as recently as 1977. Also present are Madagascar Hoopoe and Verraux's Coua. Nearby there is an area of mudflats and the possibility of Crab Plover and Madagascar Heron. Return to Tulear for our last night in southern Madagascar.
Days 15-16: We have two full days exploring the forested tracks of Perinet, a superb forest for birds and lemurs. On the first morning we walk to a remote part of the forest, a reliable spot for roosting Collared Nightjars. Overhead Cuckoo Rollers give their distinctive calls and in the forest itself there are noisy Madagascar Lesser Cuckoos. Feeding flocks are a feature of Perinet and often include Blue, Nuthatch and Red-tailed Vangas, Madagascar White-eye, Madagascar Starling, Dark Newtonia, Velvet Asity, Spectacled Greenbul and Nelicouvri Weavers. In the afternoon, a walk along the entrance road may produce Madagascar Buzzard, Stripe-throated and Green JeryÕs and, at dusk, Madagascar Long-eared Owl. Nearby, a marsh is excellent for Madagascar Rail, Madagascar Flufftail and Madagascar Swamp Warblers. On another morning a different section of forest is visited for Pitta-like and Red-headed Ground Rollers, Crossley's Babbler, Forest Fody, Cryptic Warbler and Wedge-tailed Jery. Later in the day, we revisit forest trails for Red-breasted and Red-fronted Couas and mixed feeding flocks. Day
17: A last morning in Perinet looking for anything
we may have missed earlier. Drive back to Tana and check in
at a hotel to freshen up and have a farewell meal with our guides.
In the early hours we check-in at Tana airport for our international
flight back to London via Paris. Arrival is later the same day. * * * * *
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Madagascar,
located off the coast of mainland Africa, is the fourth
largest island in the world. Although much of the island
is degraded, pockets of protected national parks and reserves
hold many of the endemic species on the island. Our tour
starts with a visit to the northeast where several rare
endemic species reside including Helmet Vanga. From here,
we move to the northwest and the field station at Ampijoroa,
home to Madagascar Fish Eagles. In the south we visit
Berenty, a privately run reserve, giving us an opportunity
to study lemurs in their natural surroundings. We should
connect with the beautiful Long-tailed Ground Roller in
the unique spiny forests of the south. Our final destination
is Perinet, another superb forest location. During our
travels on the island, we should encounter many endemic
species in addition to the lemurs for which Madagascar
is famed. 
Day
10: An early morning walk around the extensive trail
network looking for the specialities of Berenty - Giant Coua
and Hook-billed Vanga. Near the river we may find Madagascar
Sandgrouse and, in mature trees, Madagascar Kestrel and Madagascar
Cuckoo Hawks. Return to Fort Dauphin for an overnight stay.
Day
14: A travelling day back to Tana and on to Perinet.
En route we should find African Stonechat and Plain and Mascarene
Martins. We eventually arrive at Perinet for a stay of three
nights. |
