Be sure to check out Wolfgang's blog and photo gallery in Photographing Small Animals in Madagascar!

You are met by our representative and transferred to the hotel. No activities or meals are included this day.  O/N Hotel Colbert

Day 2, Monday, Sept. 3: Antananarivo

Morning R&R before briefing by Wolfgang and local staff; lunch on your own.  Afternoon city tour and evening welcome dinner.  O/N Hotel Colbert  -- B,D

Day 3, Tuesday, Sept. 4: Antananarivo/

Antsiranana (Diego Suarez)/ Ankarana

Mid-morning flight, with noon arrival.  Lunch at Allamanda overlooking the Bay of Diego followed by drive to Ankarana with a late afternoon arrival at our luxury tented camp. O/N Ankarana Lodge -- B,L,D

Day 4,Wednesday, Sept. 5: Ankarana

Full day to explore the Ankarana Reserve noted for its bizarre limestone pinnacles known as the “Tsingy” (translation: “to walk on tiptoes”).   We’ll visit the caves and grottoes inhabited by bats and sacred crocodiles and hopefully catch a glimpse of the crown lemur in the forest.  Be ready for encounters with several of the ten species of lemurs and more than 90 species of birds which call the Ankarana home.  O/N Ankarana Lodge -- B,L,D

Day 5, Thursday, Sept. 6: Ankarana National Park

We have another full day to spend in this spectacular environment teeming with wildlife. O/N Ankarana Lodge -- B,L,D

Day 6, Friday, Sept. 7: Diego / Antananarivo

Morning drive back to Diego and lunch prior to afternoon flight back to Tana.  O/N Hotel Colbert -- B,L,D

Day 7, Saturday, Sept. 8: Antananarivo / Morondava

Our mid-morning flight carries us to Morondava on the West coast of Madagascar.  Settle in at Palissandre West and in the mid-afternoon depart by 4 x 4 to arrive at Baobab Alley, a magnificent forest of Grandidier’s baobab trees for the sunset and glorious pictures. O/N Palissandre West -- B,L,D

Day 8, Sunday, Sept. 9: Morondava

We’ll make a day excursion with a picnic lunch to the Kirindy Reserve (dry deciduous forest of the West) and have our best chance to see and photograph a fossa in the wild. These relatives of the mongoose exist only on Madagascar and are the largest mammalian predator on the island. They are the most significant predator of lemurs.   O/N Palissandre West -- B,L,D

Day 9, Monday, Sept. 10: Morondava / Ft Dauphin / Berenty

Morning flight to Ft Dauphin, lunch at Le Dauphin and on to Berenty Private Reserve, some three hours by a primitive road. Our hotel lies at the very edge of the forest reserve. O/N Gite d'Etape -- B,L,D

Days 10, Tuesday, Sept. 11: Berenty

We’ll have a full day to visit the reserve with walks along the wide, well swept paths.  The lemur Catta Maki, better known as the ring-tailed lemurs, are very friendly and seem pleased to pose for photographs.  Be ready for surprise encounters with the beautiful sifaka lemur as they "dance" across the path.  Other species include flying foxes (a bat), lizards, chameleons, the endangered radiated tortoise and dozens of species of rare birds.   O/N Gite d’Etape -- B,L,D

Day 11, Wednesday, Sept. 12: Berenty / Ft Dauphin

We will have another day to enjoy the Lemurs. Late return to Ft. Dauphin for overnight.  O/N Crouix du Sud -- B,L,D

Day 12, Thursday, Sept. 13: Ft Dauphin / Tana / La Mandraka

Our morning flight back to Tana arrives just about noon, and we continue to La Mandraka - a chameleon and butterfly breeding farm where we have a great opportunity to photograph scores of species of outrageously camouflaged chameleons and colorful butterflies and moths.   O/N La Mandraka -- B,L,D

Day 13, Friday, Sept. 14: La Mandraka

We’ll have another full day at La Mandraka to enjoy the infinite variety of wildlife and have the time to photograph them at leisure.  O/N  La Mandraka -- B,L,D

Day 14, Saturday, Sept. 15: La Mandraka / Perinet - Andasibe National Park

Our early morning arrival in the park – altitude rainforest - finds us looking for the not-so-elusive Indri indri, largest of the lemurs who does not survive in captivity and can only be seen and photographed in the Malagasy forest. This evening we will have a nocturnal walk to enjoy the night.   O/N Vakona Forest Lodge -- B,L,D

Day 15, Sunday, Sept. 16: Mantadia National Park

Visit to Mantadia National Park, a primary rainforest and home to many species not found at Perinet.  The trails here are a little more rugged with greater variations in altitude and consequently a greater diversity of habitats and species.  Return to the Vakona for dinner and overnight.  O/N Vakona Forest Lodge -- B,L,D

Day 16,  Monday, Sept. 17: Perinet / Antananarivo / Home

Our last morning in the forest, last pictures and last lemur prior to drive back to Tana with an early evening arrival.  Day rooms and dinner at Relais des Plateaux before our transfer to the airport for flight home.

Day 17: Tuesday, Sept. 18 Depart Antananarvio: Our flight departs just after midnight.

Sunday, September 2, 2012 to Tuesday, September 18, 2012

$12,950 per person, based on double occupancy, from Antananarivo, Madagascar based on 4 passengers booking.

$10,950 per person for 6 or more passengers bookings. Single Supplement: $1,595 if available (there is limited space at the lodges). Includes most meals, unless indicated otherwise, from dinner on Day 1 to dinner on Day 17, all lodging, ground transportation, internal air flights, local services directly relating to the purpose of the tour, and guide and leader fees. Price does not include international air flights, visa fees. Price may be subject to change due to increases in fuel costs, taxes or large currency fluctuations.

Tour size: Limited to 14 participants. Minimum 10 passengers or small party supplement may need to be added.

Registration

To confirm your space on this tour, please send a $1000 deposit to our office. Balance is due 90 days prior to departure. The day-to-day itinerary is subject to weather, animal activity and the tour leader’s discretion. Neither IWA nor the ground operator is responsible for any additional costs due to delays.

Cancellation Policy

In the event you must cancel your reservation, refunds will be made according to the following schedule: Deposit $1000 USD nonrefundable. 90 to 61 days prior to departure, 50% of total is nonrefundable; less than 60 days prior to departure, 100% nonrefundable.

Insurance

Because many advance logistical arrangements have been made prior to the running of this trip, we must adhere to the above policy. In light of this, we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance. A form will be sent to you upon request.