For this workshop Create Away has partnered with friend and talented photographer, Andrew James, who will be leading this tour. Andrew has led numerous photo expeditions from the frozen wastes of the polar regions to the colourful streets of Cuba and he has over 30 years of photography expertise to help you get the most out of this spectacular trip!
Madagascar is unique and astonishing and this trip has been designed to be at an easy pace, with comfortable travelling conditions. October is a fantastic time to be there as the weather starts to warm up and wildlife comes out of hibernation and baby lemurs can be seen. We will pass through highland villages, rice paddies and rainforest-covered hills, with bustling market stalls and sometimes herds of zebu crossing the track. A photographic paradise!
You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the centre of Antananarivo. We will have a relaxing group dinner at the hotel garden restaurant.
We board a domestic flight for Tulear, then onwards by road to Ifaty. After checking into our hotel, we will head out for an afternoon guided walk in the Reniala Reserve. This protected spiny forest extends over 60 hectares and is mainly composed of exceptional baobabs and thorny trees, but we expect to find a variety of birds, reptiles, and lemurs too.
Later in the evening we will head back into the reserve for a nocturnal walk in search of mouse lemurs.
After breakfast we’ll head by car to Ranohira, passing through Madagascan villages and the city of IIakaka, known for its sapphires, before checking into our hotel and base for the next few days. Mid-morning we’ll head to Vohibasia National Park, a wild area filled with over 80 species of birds and home to many lemur species, such as the red-fronted brown lemur, Verraux’s Sifaka, ring-tailed lemur, and Hubbard’s sportive lemur. The area is also filled with numerous exotic plants that you’ll want to photograph.
First thing we’ll head off to the Isalo National Park, located in the Jurassic-era highlands of Madagascar’s Southwest. It’s a stunning and protected natural area of over 190,000 acres that’s dominated by a sandstone massif that’s been weathered into a unique collection of plateaus, canyons, gorges, and pinnacles. We expect to see and photograph lemurs here, as well as rare birds, butterflies, and lizards.
After breakfast we head North and stop for a walk at the Anja Community Park in the spectacular Andringitra Mountains. This rocky park is the best place to see troops of ring-tailed lemurs in their natural environment. We then drive on to Fianarantsoa to visit the upper town to see its old houses, soak up its unique atmosphere, and enjoy the views.
We head to Ranomafana National Park, home to 12 lemur species, where we trek part of the park in search of woolly lemur, red bellied lemur, eastern grey bamboo lemur, greater bamboo lemur, red-fronted brown lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur and brown mouse lemur crossing the woodland paths or amongst the forest.
After a rest at the hotel, we head out again for a special night walk to search for the wildlife in the upland rainforest, including various nocturnal lemurs, reptiles such as geckos, and tree frogs.
After breakfast we depart for a road trip that takes us on a fascinating journey through lush rainforest, high plateaus, and rugged mountain terrain. The views are spectacular and we’ll be stopping on the way to get images of the local rural way of life, including the town of Ambositra, known for its beautiful wood carvings, and Antsirabe, known for its thermal springs.
Today we’ll explore the fascinating city of Antsirabe, the third largest city in Madagascar which is bustling with life and peppered with colourful rickshaws. Its name means ‘where there is salt’, a nod to the large number of hot springs in the town.
We then head North by car to the rural Malagasy highland regions, arriving in Tana.
We embark on a scenic drive to Andasibe, travelling through numerous charming villages to gain an insight into the traditional Malagasy lifestyle, stopping to take photos as opportunities arise. You’ll love the landscape of golden grasslands, endless rice paddy fields, and unique red clay houses. We’ll take a break at Peyrieras Farm to see and photograph the incredible diversity of reptiles and chameleons.
Late afternoon we check in to our hotel, located 100 metres up on a hill overlooking the surrounding forest.
Today we’ll visit the Analamazaotra Special Reserve in the Parc National Andasibe Mantadia that is home to the rare indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur – its haunting wail can be heard emanating from the misty forest throughout the day and especially in the early morning. You may also see woolly lemurs, grey bamboo lemurs, red-fronted lemurs, black and-white ruffed lemurs and diademed sifakas.
In the afternoon and evening, we’ll visit the private Lemur Island to get an up close and personal experience with the local wildlife.
After an early breakfast, we leave the rainforest and drive back Antananarivo International Airport for flights home.
Please note that itineraries are subject to change, due to unforeseen circumstances
Create Away has partnered with friend and talented photographer, Andrew James, who will be leading this tour. Andrew has over 30 years of photography expertise to help you get the most out of this spectacular trip!
FLIGHTS IMPORTANT NOTICE
Please note we sometimes run this workshop back to front. Also, there is a minimum number of people required, so please do not book your flights until you have checked with us.
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