Madagascar Adventure: We move it, move it through the land of lemurs!

Tonga Soa! Welcome to Madagascar. You'll start your journey in the country's capital – the bustling Antananarivo, surrounded by rolling hills. If you arrive early, maybe head to Analakey to visit the street markets or seek out a cafe to soak up the local atmosphere. You might also like to check out the Musee de la Photographie – a small museum showcasing the history of Madagascar between 1850 and 1870 through a series of old photographs assembled into short videos. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight. After, why not keep the introductions going with an optional dinner with your group at a local restaurant.

Start your day with an early morning flight to Tulear, where you'll head straight to Reniala Private Park for a memorable breakfast beneath the majestic baobab trees. Afterward, a local guide will lead you on a walk through the Spiny Forest, one of the last remaining areas of primary forest in southern Madagascar. Along the botanical trail, you'll encounter fascinating trees, including the towering baobabs with varieties like the 'dwarf,' 'teapot,' and 'rhinoceros,' some reaching over 13 meters in circumference. Birdwatchers can look forward to spotting rare species such as the Long-tailed Roller and Red-headed Coua among the 65 bird species in the reserve. During your walk, you'll also learn about Madagascar's unique flora, their traditional uses, and the vital importance of preserving this fragile ecosystem. The reserve further contributes to the local community by creating employment opportunities, particularly for women.

Depart from Ifaty in the morning and make your way to Tulear. Here, your leader will show you the sites and sounds of Tulear with its charming buildings, wide lanes, and vibrant rickshaws (pousse-pousse) zipping through the streets. Locals prefer rickshaws over cars, keeping the air refreshingly clean for a city of its size. Explore tree-lined avenues with tamarind and flamboyant trees, and enjoy the lively atmosphere created by its diverse community. Afterward, pick up some food for lunch and continue to Isalo National Park.

Today, you’ll say goodbye to Isalo National Park and hit the road for Fianarantsoa – a colourful town known for its heritage site. Along the way, you’ll stop at the Anja Community Reserve. The forest in Anja was designated a protected area by the Government of Madagascar in 1999. The reserve extends over 30 hectares and is enriched with all kinds of flora and fauna, most notable for its dense population of semi-tame ring-tailed lemurs. Anja has become a vital example of how community management of natural resources can effectively protect the area and benefit the community. Based on their individual skill sets, some locals work as guides and spotters or they perform administrative tasks for the reserve. The villagers will be your guides as you explore the reserve this afternoon. Tonight, you’ll stay at Ecole Hoteliere La Riziere at the foot of Fianarantsoa’s Old Town. This hotel sits above the town on a hill, providing views of the community and the rice fields below. It also doubles as a school, providing basic hospitality training to young people in the community, 65% of whom are female. Their education includes learning the challenges of sustainable development and the income from the establishment finances this training, making it possible to reduce the tuition fees for disadvantaged students.

Today you’ll explore the long, paved roads, twisting alleys and old houses of Fianarantsoa. Wander past tiled roofs and flower-studded balconies, then visit a typical Malagasy village for an insight into how most of the island's population live. Explore the surrounding countryside, dotted with rice paddies and vineyards that produce Fianarantsoa's famous wine. You'll get a chance to sample the local cuisine with a lunch stop in the village. In the afternoon, travel to Ranomafana National Park. This area is a haven for small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects, as well as palms, bamboo, orchids and carnivorous plants. This park is also home to 13 species of lemur, including the famous golden bamboo lemur, which was first reported in the area in 1985. Its presence is one of the main reasons why the government decided to protect this forest. With your free time later this afternoon, maybe visit the thermal springs the town is named after – located across the Namorona River. The outdoor swimming pool fed by the springs is a popular spot to take a dip.