Spend 8 luxurious days exploring the pristine beauty and spectacular wildlife of Madagascar. Fly from Antananarivo to Fort Dauphin and begin your adventure in the Antandroy Forest, from observing lemurs, to visiting the tombs of the Antandroy ancestors. Choose from a variety of activities such as kayaking in the mangroves, cultural visits and strolling through the Baobabs, before ending your trip diving into the warm tropical waters of Manafiafy Beach
Itinerary Highlights
- Fantastic views over Mandrare River
- Visit the Sacred Forests & Ifotaka Tombs
- Enjoying the beach at Manafiafy, walks in the rainforest and exploring deserted beaches
- Whale viewing (June- December) and snorkelling opportunities
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
- Day 2: Antananarivo - Fort Dauphin
- Day 3-4: Mandrare River Camp - Morning & Afternoon Activities
- Day 5: To Manafiafy
- Day 6-7: Manafiafy - Morning & Afternoon Activities
- Day 8: Return to Antananarivo - Departure
Tailor Made Suggestions
- This tour also operates as an 11-day tour for travellers wishing to extend their trip in Madagascar. Ask us for details.
- Add in a 15-day complete discovery of the Best of Southern Africa and combine the highlights of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
- Stop by Ethiopia for a culturally enriching experience with an extensive history that dates back to the 12th century.
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1 - Antananarivo: Arrival
Arrival
Welcome to Madagascar! Once you arrive at Tana Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Antananarivo (known as Tana) means “City of thousands”. Its story began 500 years ago, the king Andrianjaka sent over 1000 soldiers to cut the forest and to conquer the land. Then the great King Andrianampoinimerina, attracted by the beauty of the city, decided to build a palace there, which became later his successor's main palace. From here the same king started to unify the different kingdoms of the island. During King Radama's reign Antananarivo became the capital of all Madagascar. Antananarivo is build on 3 levels: the high city where the queen's palace is situated, the first area occupied during the royal period, then the mid-city, the administrative area where all the better boutiques of the capital are found, then the low city which is the commercial area of the town.
Day 2 - Antananarivo: Departure / Fort Dauphin to Mandrare River Camp
Departure
At the appropriate time today you will be transferred from your hotel to Tana Airport for your departing flight.
Fort Dauphin to Mandrare River Camp
After an early lunch, you will be transferred to Mandrare River Camp (4 hours).
Day 3 - Antandroy: Antandroy Forest Visit
Antandroy Forest Visit
After breakfast on the banks of the river, we embark on a trip to Antandroy forest where we will see the tombs of the Antandroy ancestors as well as lemurs and many bird species while crossing the river on foot. In the afternoon, you can either relax at the camp or take part in our optional activities such as a trip to the giant sand dunes of Lake Anony or night walks in the forest.
Day 4 - Antandroy: Day at Leisure
Day at Leisure
Today will be spent enjoying the various activities located at and around our luxury tented accommodation, tailored to your interests. Some unique and fascinating forest areas in close proximity to the camp can be explored with permission from and being accompanied by one of the local village chiefs.
Day 5 - Antandroy: Transfer to Manafiafy
Transfer to Manafiafy
After our last breakfast by the river, we drive to Fort Dauphin, where we then continue onward through plantations of mango, citrus, pineapples and bananas to the ocean coast and Manafiafy. Situated on a beautiful white sandy bay your lodge offers barefoot luxury with wildlife and water on your doorstep.
Please note: Flying between Mandrare River Camp and Fort Dauphin is possible under certain conditions.
Breakfast included.
Day 6 - Manafiafy: Lodge Activities
Lodge Activities
Today you will embark on your choice of a wide range of wildlife and sporting activities which are included in your stay. Some of the options included are canoeing in the mangroves, early morning boat trips for wetland birding, snorkelling in the bay and nearby cove and visits to the local village and school.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8 - Manafiafy: Depart
Depart
You will drive back to Fort Dauphin and continue to the airport for your scheduled flight to Antananarivo, where you will connect with your departure flight.
Breakfast included.
Luxury Accommodation
Antananarivo, Madagascar - Le Pavillon de l'Emyrne
Antandroy, Madagascar - Mandrare River Camp
Manafiafy, Madagascar - Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge
What’s included?
- Accommodation and meals as mentioned in the itinerary or of similar standard
- All required transport in an air-conditioned vehicle in Antananarivo and in 4×4 vehicles in all other locations
- Services of an experienced professional Malagasy guide
- All excursions, park fees and community/environmental levies
What’s not included?
- International and domestic flights
- Pre and post tour accommodation
- Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the program
- Any beverages not included as per itinerary
- Personal expenses such as gradituities, curios, laundry etc
- Travel insurance and visas
Notes
*Airport transfers are only applicable on day or arrival and departure of the tour. Should you require transfers on preceding or subsequent days, please contact us for further arrangements.
We can book the internal flights Antananarivo - Fort Dauphin - Antananarivo for you for an additional cost, just let your Travel Designer know.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Africa
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