Madagascar Tours & Vacations
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations
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Overview
For a true adventurer, a Madagascar tour is a necessity. Few places on Earth offer the scope and diversity of Madagascar - a stunning island off the south-east coast of Africa which affords a unique treasure trove of flora and fauna and an often-overlooked cultural legacy stretching back two millennia.
Home to some 5% of the world’s known animal and plant species, including a staggering 60% of all chameleon species, lemur, fossa and six endemic species of Baobab trees, Madagascar ...
For a true adventurer, a Madagascar tour is a necessity. Few places on Earth offer the scope and diversity of Madagascar - a stunning island off the south-east coast of Africa which affords a unique treasure trove of flora and fauna and an often-overlooked cultural legacy stretching back two millennia.
Home to some 5% of the world’s known animal and plant species, including a staggering 60% of all chameleon species, lemur, fossa and six endemic species of Baobab trees, Madagascar is arguably one of the most ecologically unique countries on Earth, and as a result of its separation from the Indian subcontinent 88 million years ago – stands as the oldest island on the planet.
Our Madagascar holidays explore these staggering landscapes of rainforest, white beaches, coral reefs, mountains and highland massif, all the while delving into the fascinating Malagasy culture and attempting to glimpse some of the country’s famous wildlife. Although its infrastructure can still be a challenge, the rewards for the traveller are bountiful, and for those willing to get off the beaten track, many of those rewards cannot be found anywhere else on the planet.
No conversation about Madagascar would be complete without at least mentioning its most famous resident, the lemur. There are over a hundred different species of lemurs on Madagascar, from the indri, which is the largest, to the ring-tailed, the most famous, and then to the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, the smallest. These amazing creatures have adapted to all of Madagascar’s environments, from the alien limestone forests of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, to the jungles of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.
Not every visit to Madagascar is all about the wildlife, however, and although humans only arrived on the island permanently less than 2,000 years ago, the variety of cultures and influences from Arabia, Southeast Asia, Africa and even Europe, can clearly be seen in today’s vibrant Malagasy culture. On our Madagascar tours, we will meet some of these amazing people, like the Mikea, forest dwelling hunter gatherers whose lifestyle has remained almost unchanged in millennia. Or, the famous Zafimanary ship builders whose legendary skills have seen them inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Any traveller should also take some time to explore Madagascar’s surprisingly cosmopolitan capital of Antananarivo, a real focal point for the melting pot that is modern Madagascar.
So come and discover extraordinary Madagascar for yourself with Wild Frontiers on one of our outstanding group or tailor-made tours.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Madagascar with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF MADAGASCAR
BEST EXPERIENCES
Track a variety of lemurs
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is home to nine species of lemur, you may see the indri, brown or bamboo lemurs, or the three nocturnal species. There is also a wide diversity of flora and fauna and several walking trails.
Relax on an island paradise
What would a trip to Madagascar be without a day relaxing on the white sandy beaches of the Indian ocean? Take a day to chill and enjoy the sunshine on the archipelago of Nosy, revelling in the paradise that resides here.
Go whale watching
The warm waters around Madagascar is where various species of whales call home from June to September. Humpback whales can be seen to gather in these waters to nurse and calf their young, and put on a spectacular display breaching and splashing just off shore.
Explore the landscape of Tsingy
The Tsingy de Bemaraha nature reserve is one of the natural wonders of the world. A UNESCO protected site, these jagged limescale peaks and magnificent Jurassic rock are a truly unique feature of Madagascar.
Take a Madagascan safari
The Masoala National Park is one of the most biodiverse areas of Madagascar with half of all its flora and fauna found here. Be guided through the park and its delicate ecosystem whilst learning of the considerate conservation efforts that have been made.
Discover Via Ferrata Canyon
Adventurous travellers will be thrilled to take a half hour trek up to the Via Ferrata Canyon for some incredible views. There is a climbing portion of this trek, and is suitable for all fitness levels, but those with a fear of heights should give it a miss.
Trek Through Andasibe's Reserves
The several walking trails around the national park offer a fun and interactive way to encounter the local lemur population. Take some time to walk through the lush green forest, tracking the lemurs and enjoying the fresh jungle air
See some of the rarest lemurs
The Masoala National Park has 19 species of lemur including the red ruffed lemur and the aye-aye. Take a safari with a local guide to track and see the Aye Aye, and learn about the conservation efforts to protect the national park and wildlife safe.
Scuba dive in paradise
Scuba divers will be in paradise in Madagascar, as the surrounding seas are full of life not found anywhere else. 34 types of whales and dolphins, 5 types of turtles, various shark species and 300 hard corals just waiting to be explored!
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Discover more
WHEN TO GO
Meet the Expert, Clem
Clem is our Sub Saharan African expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Clementine by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Madagascar though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in some parts of the country so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Madagascar the official unit of currency is the Ariary (MGA).
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
Language & Religion
In Madagascar, the major language is Malagasy along with some old style colonial French Religion is mainly Christian roughly divided between Protestants and Catholics. There are some Muslims and Hindus largely in the Asian communities. There are also the traditional beliefs or Fady which are taboos within the local communities, and this varies from tribe to tribe. Ancestor worship or Razana is also common and far from being a morbid preoccupation of the dead is a celebration of life of those members of the family who are still overseeing and participating in the family life.
Time
Madagascar is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
Food in the Madagascar is one of the biggest attractions for visitors and is amazing. There is a mixture of French cuisine, local Malagasy dishes, and seafood. Meat lovers will enjoy zebu steak. On the coast you will have opportunity to sample lobster and crayfish. The Malagasy people have the claim to fame of being the world’s largest consumers of rice – there are 3 crops a year to cater for this! Vegetarian food is also widely available. The national dish is romazava – a meat and vegetable stew with ginger and spices and healthy greens. Herbs and spices are in plentiful supply and really enhance the local dishes.
One of the favourite beers in Madagascar is THB Three Horses Beer although there are a variety available. Wine is produced in the Fianarantsoa region of the country and has varieties of blanc, gris and reserve. For some more local style tipples there is rum arrange which comes in various different flavours – vanilla rum being one of the most popular.