Madagascar | Andasibe, Morondava and Nosy be

• International tickets flight
• Lunches
• Travel Insurance
• Drinks
• Gratuities

• • Your guide will manage all programs’ timing
  • During the trip, the following dietary requirement(s) are served: Regular (typically includes meat, fish, milk, sea food, …). If you have special dietary requirements it’s a good idea to communicate it to us
  • Please note that the feasibility of the tour will depend on the availability of the proposed accommodations
  • We do not take responsibility for any airline schedule changes that may occur after quoting or booking. We will do everything we can to alleviate any disruption of your itinerary or holiday but cannot be held responsible for any loss of funds, bookings, missed connections or other prebooked/paid services.

This tour will take you from Antananarivo to Andasibe, Morondava, Kirindy and Nosy Be

·        Andasibe – Mantadia National park

Andasibe – Mantadia National Park is about 150 km to the east from Antananarivo, along the RN2, and it can be reached in 3 to 4 hours by car. Comprising two distinct protected areas : Analamazoatra Special Reserve and Mantadia National Park, Andasibe-Mantadia National park is one of the most frequently visited site in the country, and one of the best places to observe lemurs in Madagascar. It is also one of the best primate-watching site in the world. This site is known to be the refuge for a wide variety of lemur species (14 diurnal and nocturnal species), including the famous Indri Indri, the Aye-Aye, the goodman’s mouse lemur, the Crossley’s dwarf lemur, the Eastern woolly lemur sifaka, and sometimes southern black-and-white ruffed lemur. 51 reptile species, 84 amphibian species, 72 mammal species, 117 bird species, and countless insectivorous bats that have been recorded. Mantadia is the one of the best birdwatching site on the Big Island. About the flora, with its lush and green vegetation this protected area contains a collection of evergreen vegetation epiphytic plants (plants living on other plants), palm trees, mosses, fern, bamboo, hardwoods, and precious woods, and pandanus. This park is also famous for its orchids with 120 inventoried species, entirely endemic. They bloom between September and January.

·        Baobabs Avenue

About ten trees 30 meters high border this avenue, of the species Adansonia grandidieri, endemic to Madagascar. Baobabs, over 800 years old, known locally as renala (in Malagasy for “mother of the forest”), are a heirloom of the dense tropical forests that thrived in Madagascar. The trees did not grow in isolation in this dry and bushy landscape but were part of a dense forest which has now disappeared (only 10% of primary forests remain in the country). Over the years, with the increase in the country’s population, forests have been cut down for agriculture, leaving only baobab trees, which locals preserve both out of respect and for their value as a source of food and materials of constructions.

·        Kirindy Reserve

Kirindy Forest or Kirindy Private Reserve is a vestige of primary dry forest located in the west of Madagascar, around 60 km northeast of the town of Morondava. It covers an area of 72 000 hectares. This site is part of the New Menabe Antimena Protected Area, located between the Tsiribihina River to the north and the Baobab Avenue to the south. Kirindy forest is home to a wide of animal species endemic to Madagascar, such a lemurs, crocodiles, bats, snakes, chameleons. The flagship species to see in Kirindy Forest is the Fossas. Several habituated individuals hand around the ecolodge, which makes for high quality viewing. However, fossas become more active from October onwards. There are also seven lemur species, including the dancing Verreaux’s sifaka and the red-fronted brown lemur. Night walk tend to be very productive and offer chances to see the Malagasy giant jumping rat, the red-tailed sportive lemur, the grey mouse lemur, thepale fork-marked lemur, and the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur. In addition to its wildlife, Kirindy Forest is also home to a luxuriant flora. Its tall trees are covered with mosses an epiphytes, creating a unique ecosystem.

·        Nosy-Be Madagascar

Situated in the Mozambique Canal, near the north-western coast of Madagascar, Nosy Be is called Ambariobe (“the great island”) by the inhabitants of the region. It is also called the Island of perfumes because of its scents of ylang ylang, sugar cane and spices. It is a land of dreams and adventure. It is famous for its dream beaches bathed by a transparent sea, its shallow seabed, its small islets which are sunny almost all year round… Nosy Be is known for its paradisiacs archipelago. The most famous are Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Sakatia, and Nosy Iranja. It’s a volcanic island, approximately 320 km². Nosy Be has a humid tropical climate, with a dry season between April and December and a wet season between December and March. Its annual rainfall is 2200mm, with an average annual temperature of 26°C. In general, the destination enjoys 320 days of sunshine per year.

·       CLIMATE

The climate is tropical, but cooler in the highlands (dropping as low as 5°C at night in July/August in Antananarivo and Andasibe). The dry season is March to October continuing into November in most areas. The east coast is best March-May and September-November, January-March is cyclone season. The south west area is hot, dry and semi-arid. March-April is the best time for flowers and reptiles. November (spring) is generally the best time for wildlife and birds, but lemurs can be viewed all year round. Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable.

·       ALTUTUDE

• Antananarivo : 1300m
• Morondava : 22m maximum and an average altitude above sea level of 6m
• Nosy Be : 455m maximum
• Andasibe : 964m

·        EQUIPMENT

HT Agency Tours offers torches for nocturnal wildlife walks, a water bottle. Please bring camera film (and spare batteries), binoculars and a beach towel and swimwear. Rain proof pants are very handy for walks in the rainforest. Walking poles maybe useful in Ranomafana NP and Andasibe NP. Lightweight walking bootshoes and trainers is recommended. Clothing should be lightweight, but a warm sweater or jacket is advisable as nights at altitude and under desert conditions can be very cold, even in summer and especially in July to September. Rainwear is highly recommended on all tours for the occasional shower. Warmer layers will be required during the winter months.

• For safe operation
• Given the fluid nature of local COVID-19 protocols, our itineraries are regularly reviewed and will be modified based on local requirements to ensure a safe experience. If a major change is necessary, we will let you know before departure.
• Our guide will use their judgment during the trip to modify the itinerary if physical distancing cannot be achieved
• Our guide will receive in-depth training on COVID-19 protocols and how to conduct our journeys in the “new normal”.
• Our guide will brief you upon arrival on the use of face masks and physical distancing during the trip, based on local government guidelines.
• Only restaurants with strict protocols that comply with local food hygiene and physical distancing requirements will be used. We will encourage outdoor dining areas where possible.
• All of our staff and third party suppliers will be continually informed of new health and safety protocols.

• Transportation Protocols
• Our drivers will follow local protocols on the use of face masks and physical distancing required.
• Our drivers will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizer and tissues in the vehicle and encourage customers to wash their hands when getting into the vehicle.
• All vehicles will be disinfected (seats, door handles, etc.) regularly throughout the day.

• Protocols for Hotels
• We will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines.
• We will ensure that these measures include; improved room cleaning, ventilation, physical distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff retraining and minimization of contact within properties

• If You Get Sick
• All of our leaders are trained to help any guest who becomes ill while traveling.
• We also have an “action plan” in case of suspected COVID-19 cases within the group and are ready to seek medical support at any time.
• Our guides are supported by our 24/7 based operations team and local partners across the country

• Our recommendations
• We recommend you to bring your own face masks (at least 2 reusable) and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• We recommend you to check with the airline for their individual COVID-19 requirements prior to departure.
• We recommend you to check your own government travel advice and meet entry requirements including, but not limited to, COVID-19 testing, pre-arrival health questionnaires, and tracking and traceability in the country, etc