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Holidays

Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur

Madagascar
5 reviews
Available Departures: Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov

15 days from

US$3,250

without flights
Walk & Trek
Guided Group
MODERATE MODERATE

A superb adventure holiday for the walking and wildlife highlights of Madagascar

Trip Code: MAD
Holiday Grades

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur

Highlights
  • Trekking through the spectacular landscapes of Isalo and Andringitra National Parks
  • Dawn views from Peak Boby (Imarivolanitra), 2nd highest peak in Madagascar
  • Walk through the lush rainforest of Ranomafana teeming with incredible and endemic flora and fauna
  • Unique wildlife spotting, especially the Indri Indri, the largest lemur only found at Andasibe

At a Glance
  • Group Size 4 to 14
  • 7 days trekking
  • Max altitude - 2658m
  • Join In Antananarivo

Accommodation & Meals
  • All meals included
  • 1 nights Hotel with swimming pool
  • 5 nights Hotel
  • 2 nights Bungalow
  • 6 nights Camping
Overview

This amazing adventure holiday combines the best of Madagascar's trekking with a chance to experience its cultural and natural variety. Travelling from Tulear on the south-west coast to the capital city of Antananarivo, our first walk is within the Isalo National Park, walking amongst dramatic rock formations, open grassland and forest. A transfer then brings us to the Andringitra Mountains for a 3-day trek and the opportunity to summit the huge granite dome of Peak Boby (2658m), Madagascar's second highest mountain.


We aim to get to the summit as the sun rises - an unforgettable experience. Continuing our journey north, we enjoy the contrast of a day-walk in the decidedly lush rainforest of Ranomafana, home to medicinal plants and several species of lemurs. Our last stop is in Andasibe/Perinet National Park to see the amazing Indri indri lemur with their distinctive call, an experience that can absolutely not be missed when going to Madagascar. Craft workshop visits, colourful produce markets and village walks allow plenty of opportunity to meet the friendly people of this engaging and little-known land. Providing an unbeatable mix of walking, sightseeing and wildlife this is the perfect holiday recipe for Madagascar. 

This is principally a walking holiday in Madagascar. In order to see as much of this diverse African country as possible, it is necessary to cover quite a bit of ground. The holiday includes 3 full days of driving and 2 shorter days. The drives are very scenic and we see much of rural Madagascar. On these days the driving will not be continuous and the journey will be broken with visits to interesting sites along the way. Some of the roads used to access the remote areas where we trek will be rough in parts. The walking days provide reasonably challenging walking through a wide variety of landscape. During these treks we will encounter rainforest, open grassland and rocky canyon-lands. You should be comfortable with walking for around 6-8 hours each day over several days, mostly on good trails but occasionally over rough and sometimes steep ground. The temperatures can be hot and humid. There are four nights on the holiday that are spent camping and two in a basic dormitory style mountain gite. Otherwise the accommodation for this adventure is in comfortable hotels and lodges and this is also reflected in the overall grade of the holiday.

Why KE?

The KE itinerary is unique as we include a very special visit to see the Indri-Indri lemur at Perinet. Pulling together the very of best Madagascar, this great value adventure holiday also includes all meals. Additionally the direction of travel allows the itinerary to flow very well. 

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Itinerary

Meet at the group hotel in Antananarivo (‘Tana’). A single, timed group transfer from the airport is provided. KE Land Only services begin with the evening meal that is followed by a briefing from our guide on the week ahead. Overnight Tana.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

D

An early transfer takes us back to the airport for the internal flight south to Tulear. On arrival we visit to the excellent Arboretum d'Antsokay, a botanic garden devoted to the conservation of the plants from the south west of Madagascar. We have lunch and then have the afternoon relaxing at our hotel and enjoying the pool.

Accommodation

Hotel with swimming pool

Meals

B L D

Today we leave the coast and drive inland towards the Isalo National Park. We cross arid broad plains, pass baobab trees and visit the tombs of the Mahafaly. The Malagasy believe that after death, they will continue to be involved in the affairs of their family. Thus, dead family members are honoured for their continuing influence on family decisions. Malagasy tombs are usually far more elaborate than the homes of the living and are topped with carved wooden memorial posts called aloalo and often decorated with horns from a sacrificed zebu (a relative of the buffalo). We pass the ‘col de tapia’, an area of fire resistant trees, which have evolved to ‘use’ wild bush fires as a way to compete with other plants. In the late afternoon we arrive at our picturesque campsite at the foot of the Maki Canyon on the edge of the Isalo National Park. Approx drive time: 6 hours.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

This morning we will meet our local guides who will be experts in all the local fauna and wildlife and will point out things that we would never normally spot. We begin the first of our two 'day walks' from our fixed camp at Maki Canyon, with an explore of the Canyon des Rats and Canyon des Mikis. The bottom of these canyons are heavily forested and fed by beautiful clear streams, with natural pools and waterfalls, while high above the sheer rock walls are bare except for scrub and lichens. This is also a good opportunity for us to spot our first lemurs, which inhabit the deep canyon forests. Return to camp at Maki Canyon.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

630 M

Descent

630 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

10 KM

For our second trek in the Isalo National Park we head towards the far end of the park to be picked up late afternoon by our support vehicle. We walk across a unique wonderland of extraordinary plants and jagged rocks. In the morning we head towards the leafy canyon that hides the Cascade des Nymphes, a popular campsite within the park, which is the home to several families of very tame brown and ring-tailed lemurs. It is a fantastic place for lunch and the perfect spot to capture lemurs on camera! Climbing back onto the plateau we then reach the palm fringed Piscine Natural by early afternoon with time to swim in this beautiful mountain pool. It is then a short walk to meet our support vehicle and transfer to the delightful bungalows.

Accommodation

Bungalow

Meals

B L D

Ascent

600 M

Descent

525 M

Time

6 - 7 hrs trekking

Distance

14 KM

We leave Isalo today and drive across the rocky Horombe plateau to Ihosy in Bara country where we stop for a walk around this highland market town. We drop down to Ambalavao to visit the paper ‘factory’. The paper known as ‘Antaimoro’ is made from the bark of the Avoha tree. The paper is covered with dried flowers and leaves, which are glued in place by liquidised bark and then dried in the sun. Antaimoro paper is highly prized and sold all over the region. After lunch in a local restaurant, we transfer to 4x4 vehicles for the off road journey towards the spectacular mountains of the Andringitra National Park. The road becomes ever more rutted and bumpy as we near our final destination at around 1424m. Depending on conditions we may have to walk the last 2 to 3 km to our campsite in Ambalamanandray. We camp next to the gite and we can use the toilet and shower facilities. Approx drive time: 8 hours.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Distance

2 KM

The area of the Andringitra is one of the most biologically diverse in Madagascar, with over 100 species of birds, and over 50 species of mammals, many of which are endemic. The area was made a National Park in 1999 and is and is managed by the WWF in cooperation with Madagascar National Parks Association. With a local guide and using porters to carry our baggage and equipment we set off trekking, gradually ascending through a region of highland grass and shrub and on to the granite stunning towers and spires of the Andringitra ridge. Finally after 7 or 8 hours trekking, covering around 8 km and ascending 800 metres, we reach our base camp at the foot of Peak Boby also known as Mount Imarivolanitra. The altitude of this camp is 2100 metres.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

780 M

Descent

350 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

14 KM

The Andringitra Mountains are composed of ancient granite overlain with sediment which gives rise to spectacular outcropping of the granite. Our peak stands isolated, a granite dome just asking to be climbed! We set off in the cool of the pre-dawn morning and following the lights of our guides we make our way towards the start of the climb. The trail is relatively straightforward following natural steps and takes between 2 and 3 hours to the summit. We aim to reach the summit (2658m) in time to watch the sunrise paint in the magnificent landscape of the Andringitra National Park - an unforgettable experience. We return to camp for a late breakfast and spend the rest of the day chilling in magnificent scenery and we have an optional 2 hour walk in the afternoon.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

850 M

Descent

850 M

Time

5 hrs trekking

Distance

10 KM

We trek back to Ambalamanandray by a different route across the east flank of the mountain. Descending through a number of climatic zones each with their own ecosystem and plant and animal life, we enter the rain forest once again where we may be lucky enough to see brown lemur. Back at the campsite we have time to relax (and use the gite for a shower) and in the evening we will have a farewell party with our porters and trekking team.

Accommodation

Camping

Meals

B L D

Ascent

275 M

Descent

925 M

Time

7 - 8 hrs trekking

Distance

17 KM

We say goodbye to our local guides and porters who were our companions on the trek into the Andringitra Mountains. We board our vehicles and return to Ambalavao. From Ambalavao we travel to the regional capital of Fianarantsoa where we take lunch in a small local restaurant. After lunch we continue through the terraced hillsides of the southern highlands to reach Ranomafana National Park where we check into our hotel. A total driving time today of approximately 6 hours. Overnight Ranomafana.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

We have a day of hiking in the Ranomafana National Park. Designated as a protected area in 1991 the area became the country’s fourth National Park. The Park is on the edge of Madagascar's High Plateau and contains mountain ranges varying in height from 600m to 1400m. This range of altitudes has produced different forest types, from the lowland rainforest to cloud forest and high plateau forest. The lush green of the area is in stark contrast to the granite and grasslands of our previous trek. Accompanied by local guides we will be able to learn about the flora and fauna of the rainforest and also have the best chance of locating the elusive lemurs. The park is home to several species of lemur, 100+ species of birds, plus various reptiles and endemic insects. Today’s trek will take approximately 5-6 hours, starting from the park entrance and following trails down through the jungle to the valley and back to our hotel in Ranomafana. We will only cover small distance today, but will spend lots of time observing the fantastic wildlife. Overnight Ranomafana.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

Ascent

200 M

Descent

200 M

Time

5 - 6 hrs trekking

Distance

6 KM

Heading on the route ‘Nationale 7’ we drive to Ambositra which is famous for being the capital of the craft industry especially for wood sculpture, furniture and marquetry. This is reflected in some of the houses of the village decorated with fine carvings. Traditionally the Zafimaniry, meaning, 'people of the forest' who live in the surrounding area, makes much of the furniture and carvings here. We will take our lunch in Ambositra and we have time to visit the shops here before continuing our journey along ‘Nationale 7’ to the elegant area capital of Antsirabe and our quiet hotel. A total journey today of 250km and approximately 7 hours driving.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

We continue our journey eastwards through Madagascar. After lunch we continue our drive to Perinet National Park (also known as Andasibe-Mantadia National Park) where we check into our comfortable bungalows just outside the park. With the park so close you can hear the sounds of the jungle and very probably the giant Indri indri lemurs call to each other through the evening and early morning. This evening we have a night walk in the Mitsinjo Community Reserve, a small restoration project just outside the main park. The guides will take you on the forest walk hopefully seeing interesting species such as the giraffe weevil and praying mantis. A night walk is always exciting as you see different nocturnal species including several little lemurs, such as the mouse-lemur. Approx drive time: 9 hours.

Accommodation

Bungalow

Meals

B L D

An early start will take us into the forest to see the Indri indri, the largest of all lemur species. These amazing creatures have one of the most remarkable call of any species on the planet. They are most active in the mornings so this is when we’ll visit them. After the visit we make the 160km return drive to Tana (approx 4hrs). Time dependent, we have a guided walking tour of the city and we will visit the artisan market - a great place for souvenir shopping for all manner of local craft products. In the evening, we have a final celebratory meal at the group hotel in Tana.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B L D

After breakfast there is a single group transfer to the airport where KE Land Only services end.

Meals

B
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The Route
Airport Airport
Point Point
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Internal Flight

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • An English-speaking local leader
  • Internal flights and associated transfers
  • Single timed group airport transfers on Day 1 and Day 15
  • All accommodation as described
  • All meals
  • All land transport involved in the itinerary
  • All park entrance and camping fees
  • During the trekking a full service including food and all equipment (excluding personal equipment)

  • Travel Insurance
  • Madagascar Visa
  • Tips for porters and other trek staff
  • Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc

A single transfer from Antananarivo (Tana) International Airport to the group hotel is provided on Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary. This transfer is timed to meet passengers arriving on the Air Mauritius from London Heathrow Airport and will normally be mid afternoon.
On the last day of the Land Only itinerary, there will be a single transfer back to Antananarivo International Airport timed to meet the afternoon Air Mauritius flight to London.

If your flight schedules do not fit with these singled timed airport transfers we can provide private transfers at an additional cost.

Hotel contact details and an emergency number will be provided with your booking confirmation.

All meals are included in the trip price from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 15.

It is not recommended to drink untreated water from the taps. If you are on a trekking or cycling holiday, water is supplied to fill up your individual bottles. This will be boiled, filtered or provided in large jerry cans or 5 litre bottles. Additionally you should take purification tablets or a filter bottle (such as a Water-To-Go bottle) to treat your water when in towns or where water is not supplied. We do not encourage the purchasing of single use plastic bottles.

Traditional Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. The Malagasy palette leans towards hot and spicy and dishes often include chillies. In Antananarivo you will find a wide variety of restaurants including Chinese and Vietnamese, and restaurants in the majority of towns in Madagascar will usually offer a variety of dishes, including more international cuisines.

Whilst we can cater for vegetarians, albeit sometimes with a more limited choice, we cannot always provide special diets.  Due to the nature of some of the trips that we operate and the countries in which we operate them, it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to cater for a wide range of dietary choices and you may have to supplement your diet with food/snacks from home.  If you have specific dietary requirements please do speak to our sales team and they will be able to advise you whether or not we will be able to offer your specific choice.  Please note that we are unable to provide separate menus and cannot accept liability for any problems arising from special dietary requirements or intolerances.

During this holiday the group will spend a total of 8 nights in comfortable tourist-class hotels and lodges/bungalows. Our hotel in Tana (for 2 nights) is central and of a good tourist standard. The hotel for 1night in Tulear has pleasant gardens and a swimming pool. The bungalows that we stay at in Isalo are very cosy and there is also a small swimming pool in the grounds. There are 6 nights spent camping. Campsites have set facility areas with drop toilets and running cold water for washing. The campsites also have thatched structures which provide shade for the picnic tables for eating as well as for the tents. In Ranomafana we have 2 nights at a simple hotel which is close to the park entrance and has good views of the forest and mountains. Our 1 night in Antsirabe we stay in a hotel with individual buildings for rooms. At Andasibe we stay in a forest lodge in individual cabins surrounded by pleasant grounds.

If you are travelling by yourself, you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. Single rooms and single tents are available at an additional cost.

Additional hotel nights in Antananarivo are also available.

The group will be accompanied throughout the holiday by an experienced English-speaking Malagasy leader. Whilst trekking, there will also be local guides. We will use porters to carry the group's equipment and personal baggage on those days involving overnight camps.

This holiday involves going to moderately high altitude.  During the course of your trip you will reach altitudes in excess of 2500 metres.  Most people will have no difficulty with this level of altitude but before coming on the holiday, we recommend you read the advice on trekking at high altitude.  You can also talk to one of our trekking experts if you have any concerns about altitude.

Approximately 200 Euros should be allowed for miscellaneous expenses including approximately 50-80 Euros for tips.  The easiest way to access your spending money is to use ATMs which can be found in Antananarivo and most of the larger towns visited on the trip. If you prefer to bring your spending money with you, Euros are most widely accepted for exchange in Madagascar. If you intend to bring your travel money with you, we recommend that bring this in the form of cash.

Tips are the accepted way of saying ‘thank you’ to your local guides and porters. They do not form part of their wages. KE always pays local crews the best rates of pay, no matter what country they are in and any tips they receive are seen as a personal thank you from group members. For our part, we advise local teams that tips are not a duty or a prerequisite but are a bonus and entirely dependent on the service that was given. For your trek crews we recommend that you give a tip if you feel that their services have met your satisfaction. As a rough guide we suggest you allow a total of Euro 50 for tipping your crew.

Our holidays are normally designed with minimal 'down time' at the start of the trip, but having a day or two at the beginning will have the additional benefit of allowing you time to get over the stress of a long journey or travelling across time zones, leaving you refreshed and ready for your holiday. We can easily arrange for you to have additional nights and airport transfers.

For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage, which should be a soft duffle bag and a daypack. This should not weigh more than 10kg for the trek. It is possible to leave clothes or other items not required on trek at the group hotel or with the support vehicle. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline.

For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in ‘Dates and Prices’ table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements.

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Visa Madagascar

A visa is required to visit Madagascar. The visa fee is €35 for 30 days there is also a €10 tourist tax fee which is payable on arrival.

You can apply for your visa online prior to travel via the Madagascar Government e-visa portal, or you can obtain a visa on arrival.

You should carry your passport with you at all times and ensure that you have a photocopy of your passport somewhere safe.

If you have a severe allergy please inform the KE office before you travel. We will do all we can to help, but we cannot guarantee an allergy free environment on KE trips. You will need to carry your own treatment for the allergy with you, as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' are not carried as standard by KE leaders and staff. You should inform your leader on arrival of your allergy, and let them know where you keep your adrenaline pen.

Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

VACCINATIONS

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you specific require any vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella), along with hepatitis A and typhoid. Malarial prophylaxis are required. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required if travelling from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and for travellers having transited for more than 12 hrs through an airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. On holidays to more remote areas you should also have a dentist check up. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro.

The unit of currency in Madagascar is the Ariary.

It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a trekking holiday getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. For this holiday you need to be aerobically fit and also comfortable with walking up to 6 hours in a day. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime leading up to your trip. Regular hiking in hill country is the best however running and swimming are also good for developing cardio vascular fitness and stamina. Before departure, we suggest that you try to fit in a number of long walks in hilly country.

Madagascar's climate is tropical, with two main seasons, rainy and dry.  During the dry season (Apr-Oct), Antananarivo and the west coast generally have a pleasant, temperate climate with a temperature range of 18°C to 22°C. However, it can get very hot in coastal areas in November with maximum temperatures in the high thirties. The highland areas are cooler and wetter than the coast and some rainfall can be expected here even in the dry season.  The island receives on average between 1000-1500mm of rainfall annually. At night in the highlands in August, it can be quite cold with temperatures dropping down to near freezing levels overnight. 

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware’ campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

  • Madagascar: Hilary Bradt (Bradt Guides) Madagascar & Comoros.

  • Lonely Planet Birds of Madagascar: Peter Morris

  • Madagascar Wildlife : Nick Garbutt & Hilary Bradt (Bradt Wildlife Guides)

  • The BBC Earth Wildlife DVD "Madagascar" narrated by David Attenborough is essential viewing (available though Amazon)

Reise Know-How Verlag. 1: 1,200,000

Double-sided map with topographic and tourist information. Topography is indicated by relief shading and spot heights. The map shows mountain passes, names of mountain ranges and plateaux, seasonal rivers and lakes, mangroves and coral reefs. Road information includes seasonal tracks and indicates intermediate driving distances on main and secondary roads. National parks and protected areas are marked and symbols highlight various places of interest: The map legend includes English.

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

Please try to keep the weight of your baggage to a minimum. See the ‘baggage allowance’ section for further details.

You should bring the following items:

  • Hiking boots (waterproof)

  • Gaiters

  • Trekking trousers & shorts

  • Underwear & socks

  • Thermal baselayer - Tops, leggings & gloves (August departure)

  • Warm hat (August departure)

  • T-shirts and/or casual shirts

  • Fleece jacket or warm jumper

  • Lightweight waterproof jacket & overtrousers

  • Sunhat

  • Sunglasses

  • Daypack 25 litres

  • Headtorch and spare batteries

  • Water bottles 1 Litre (x2) (or camelback / platypus type systems) - We encourage re-filling water bottles rather than single use plastic.

  • Water purification tablets

  • Sleeping bag (comfort rated -5°C) (camping mats are provided)

  • Antibacterial handwash

  • Small trek towel

  • Washbag and toiletries

  • Sun protection (including for lips)

  • Basic First Aid Kit including the following:- antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea.

The following items are optional:

  • Sleeping bag liner

  • Trekking poles

  • Insect repellent (DEET)

  • Mosquito Net (although nets are provided in your accommodation, it may be prudent to bring your own)

  • Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage)

  • Travel clothes

  • Camera

  • Swimwear

  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping (to avoid plastic bags)

Please note:

During the August departure, mornings and evening can be cool and nights can be very cold in the highland areas of the Andringitra. You must ensure that you have sufficient warm clothes and a good sleeping bag for the nights spent camping.

It is possible that in April and November you might be too warm in a sleeping bag comfort rated to -5°C and a lighter one may be taken.

A foam camping mattress is provided.

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

Reviews

5 out of 5 from 5 reviews

What an adventure! ★★★★★

I signed up for this trek wanting an adventure and excitement. It certainly delivered on both fronts! The scenery was truly varied, from the sandstone cliffs of Isalo, to the granite outcrops of Andrigitra to the ralnforests of Ranomafana and Andasibe. The drive days in between the different national parks gave the opportunity to see the rural areas and aspects of the everyday lives of the Malagasy people - sapphire mining, washing laundry in the rivers, growing rice and herding zebu. All really interesting and a great way to see the 'real' Madagascar which has a lot of corruption and poverty. The infrastructure of Madagascar is very poor, so that added to the four-wheel drive experiences when it came to crossing bridges and negotiating potholes. Hats off to our drivers and guides who got us safely across bridges with many missing planks! There were so many highlights on this holiday. We saw a stunning sunrise from the top of Peak Boby, an incredible number of different species of lemur, fantastic three course evening meals when camping, a great party with our porters and guides... The list could go on. Our main guide Niry was excellent, supportive, encouraging and knowledgeable. The guides we had in the different national parks made the effort to point out insects, chameleons and plants that we would otherwise have missed, and many of these are truly weird and only to be found in Madagascar. Initially looking for lemurs in Andasibe seemed like a wild goose chase, but then we would rush through the forest with our guide, only to spot an enormous number of different lemurs. Wow! My only recommendation for future participants is to do plenty of hill walking in preparation. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough.
By Julia Bristol | 12 December 2023

Superb hiking and experience of the 'real' Madagascar and its people. ★★★★★

Madagascar, island of contrast and majesty. From sprawling city mass, craggy mountain tops to stunning rice-growing terraces that sculpture the hillsides; along with deep valleys and luna landscapes and magical night skies. Creatures and sounds like nothing we've ever seen or heard before. And people so curious, generous and kind. Our guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable; keen to share the unique beauty of the land and its creatures and the way of life for the people of Madagascar. The cam ping and hiking experience was exceptionally well managed; with superb food and support at every point in our journey. The Guides were extremely careful to respond to the various abilities of each individual member of the group, ensuring the experience was both enjoyable and safe. An unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Many thanks to every single member of the various teams, porters, drivers, cooks, guides; each and every one playing a vital role, with good humour and determination and skill.
By Philip Rotherham | 28 November 2022

A super trip! ★★★★★

This was a fabulous holiday. A well-considered mix of trekking, wildlife watching and culture. November is the end of the dry season, and the combination of heat and humidity is quite tough at times - with thunder storms on a couple of afternoons. The (mainly) dry weather also meant a few changes to the itinerary, as both Isalo and Andringitra National Parks were spectacularly burning up. Fire is a management tool for Madagascan farmers, but it can get out of hand. However, despite a bit of disa ppointment that we didn’t manage to try Peak Boby (followed by intense relief when we heard about another group who did try and were surrounded by flames), the alternatives offered were excellent and didn’t diminish the trip. As a KE veteran, I have to say that sometimes your claims of the wildlife we’ll see are a bit fanciful – but we saw lemurs galore (12 species including the unforgettably loud Indri Indri) and loads of chameleons as well, with lots of time to take photos. Using local guides and spotters really works – and special praise must go to Niry who organised everything so well, despite being obviously devastated that we weren’t seeing his country as he wanted us to see it! His musical talents are also fantastic and much appreciated. Would I recommend this holiday? Yes. Madagascar is far more of a third world country than I’d realised (the main unit of measurement is a Carnation milk tin!), and this inevitably produces a few issues. The travelling days were quite long and the road is spectacularly bad for long stretches, but we stopped regularly at places of interest, and felt welcome everywhere. Other points? The standard of accommodation (bar one) including the tents was excellent, as was the food (and the nightly tot(s) of rum on trek). The rainforest at Ranomafana is unbelievably diverse. The nights in November can be very hot and sweaty! Our small group (6 people) really gelled and this enhanced the experience. Go KE!
By Catriona Kingussie | 19 December 2017

An African Adventure- a trip of a lifetime ★★★★★

Forget the myths and legends that surround Madagascar- this is poor nation with its problems of poverty, corruption, exploitation and environmental destruction. However, there are real nuggets of gold to be found in the wildlife parks and the people. As soon as you arrive there are airport staff looking to help you through KE representive who took us to the hote in Antananarivo. The hotel was clean and food was good. The adventure really states when we arrived in Tulear where we met our guides f or the trip: Nirli and Zoo. These two made the trip with their knowledge and guitar playing ! Especially of Madagascan favourites such as bob Marley. Our trip to the Isalo national park is not for the faint hearted with river crossings, bridges with missing planks and a 4x4 that was prone to stall (which we push startled numerous times) but we carried on undaunted - we were adventurers and pioneers! This part of the trip was the highlight - amazing scenary, amazing views and the local villages so welcoming. Never did so much in a few days - trekked across lunar landscapes, climbed Mnt Boby at night for the sunrise (when we got to the top it was misty, but hey ho! ) swam in the pools of canyons. On the final night had one heck of a party with our porters. We showed them some of our dance moves - rick astley eat your heart out. The food was good and plentiful - zebu kebabs just melted in the mouth. After this we visited two other national parks in Ranofana and Perinet on the hunt for lemurs - with the park guides rushing through the rain forest to catch a glimpse of these creatures - at first I thought it was a hopeless cause, but having seen them and being so close to them - this was a definite highlight. In conclusion I would recommend this trip - there are some long days travelling, but you see a lot of the country and you will see the things I mentioned in my first paragraph ( poverty and deforestation ) but I am glad I went and sampled what Madagascar has got to offer.
By Steven Brough | 24 April 2017

A great combined cultural, trekking and wildlife spotting adventure ★★★★★

This trip has something of everything - trekking, cultural immersion, wildlife spotting. The chameleons are amazing and lemurs are a lot of fun to see, and occasionally they come very close to you. Be prepared with the camera at all times that you're in the jungle! The food can be a bit heavy if you're not used to eating as much rice as the Malagasy do. Be sure to try out the hot sauce at every restaurant - they all make their own and they are each unique (and VERY hot).

By Venkatadri Toronto | 20 April 2017

Traveller Reviews
5 out of 5 from 5 reviews

What an adventure!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I signed up for this trek wanting an adventure and excitement. It certainly delivered on both fronts! The scenery was truly varied, from the sandstone cliffs of Isalo, to the granite outcrops of Andrigitra to the ralnforests of Ranomafana and Andasibe. The drive days in between the different national parks gave the opportunity to see the rural areas and aspects of the everyday lives of the Malagasy people - sapphire mining, washing laundry in the rivers, growing rice and herding zebu. All really interesting and a great way to see the 'real' Madagascar which has a lot of corruption and poverty. The infrastructure of Madagascar is very poor, so that added to the four-wheel drive experiences when it came to crossing bridges and negotiating potholes. Hats off to our drivers and guides who got us safely across bridges with many missing planks! There were so many highlights on this holiday. We saw a stunning sunrise from the top of Peak Boby, an incredible number of different species of lemur, fantastic three course evening meals when camping, a great party with our porters and guides... The list could go on. Our main guide Niry was excellent, supportive, encouraging and knowledgeable. The guides we had in the different national parks made the effort to point out insects, chameleons and plants that we would otherwise have missed, and many of these are truly weird and only to be found in Madagascar. Initially looking for lemurs in Andasibe seemed like a wild goose chase, but then we would rush through the forest with our guide, only to spot an enormous number of different lemurs. Wow! My only recommendation for future participants is to do plenty of hill walking in preparation. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough.
By Julia Bristol | 12 December 2023

Superb hiking and experience of the 'real' Madagascar and its people.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Madagascar, island of contrast and majesty. From sprawling city mass, craggy mountain tops to stunning rice-growing terraces that sculpture the hillsides; along with deep valleys and luna landscapes and magical night skies. Creatures and sounds like nothing we've ever seen or heard before. And people so curious, generous and kind. Our guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable; keen to share the unique beauty of the land and its creatures and the way of life for the people of Madagascar. The cam ping and hiking experience was exceptionally well managed; with superb food and support at every point in our journey. The Guides were extremely careful to respond to the various abilities of each individual member of the group, ensuring the experience was both enjoyable and safe. An unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Many thanks to every single member of the various teams, porters, drivers, cooks, guides; each and every one playing a vital role, with good humour and determination and skill.
By Philip Rotherham | 28 November 2022

A super trip!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This was a fabulous holiday. A well-considered mix of trekking, wildlife watching and culture. November is the end of the dry season, and the combination of heat and humidity is quite tough at times - with thunder storms on a couple of afternoons. The (mainly) dry weather also meant a few changes to the itinerary, as both Isalo and Andringitra National Parks were spectacularly burning up. Fire is a management tool for Madagascan farmers, but it can get out of hand. However, despite a bit of disa ppointment that we didn’t manage to try Peak Boby (followed by intense relief when we heard about another group who did try and were surrounded by flames), the alternatives offered were excellent and didn’t diminish the trip. As a KE veteran, I have to say that sometimes your claims of the wildlife we’ll see are a bit fanciful – but we saw lemurs galore (12 species including the unforgettably loud Indri Indri) and loads of chameleons as well, with lots of time to take photos. Using local guides and spotters really works – and special praise must go to Niry who organised everything so well, despite being obviously devastated that we weren’t seeing his country as he wanted us to see it! His musical talents are also fantastic and much appreciated. Would I recommend this holiday? Yes. Madagascar is far more of a third world country than I’d realised (the main unit of measurement is a Carnation milk tin!), and this inevitably produces a few issues. The travelling days were quite long and the road is spectacularly bad for long stretches, but we stopped regularly at places of interest, and felt welcome everywhere. Other points? The standard of accommodation (bar one) including the tents was excellent, as was the food (and the nightly tot(s) of rum on trek). The rainforest at Ranomafana is unbelievably diverse. The nights in November can be very hot and sweaty! Our small group (6 people) really gelled and this enhanced the experience. Go KE!
By Catriona Kingussie | 19 December 2017

An African Adventure- a trip of a lifetime
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Forget the myths and legends that surround Madagascar- this is poor nation with its problems of poverty, corruption, exploitation and environmental destruction. However, there are real nuggets of gold to be found in the wildlife parks and the people. As soon as you arrive there are airport staff looking to help you through KE representive who took us to the hote in Antananarivo. The hotel was clean and food was good. The adventure really states when we arrived in Tulear where we met our guides f or the trip: Nirli and Zoo. These two made the trip with their knowledge and guitar playing ! Especially of Madagascan favourites such as bob Marley. Our trip to the Isalo national park is not for the faint hearted with river crossings, bridges with missing planks and a 4x4 that was prone to stall (which we push startled numerous times) but we carried on undaunted - we were adventurers and pioneers! This part of the trip was the highlight - amazing scenary, amazing views and the local villages so welcoming. Never did so much in a few days - trekked across lunar landscapes, climbed Mnt Boby at night for the sunrise (when we got to the top it was misty, but hey ho! ) swam in the pools of canyons. On the final night had one heck of a party with our porters. We showed them some of our dance moves - rick astley eat your heart out. The food was good and plentiful - zebu kebabs just melted in the mouth. After this we visited two other national parks in Ranofana and Perinet on the hunt for lemurs - with the park guides rushing through the rain forest to catch a glimpse of these creatures - at first I thought it was a hopeless cause, but having seen them and being so close to them - this was a definite highlight. In conclusion I would recommend this trip - there are some long days travelling, but you see a lot of the country and you will see the things I mentioned in my first paragraph ( poverty and deforestation ) but I am glad I went and sampled what Madagascar has got to offer.
By Steven Brough | 24 April 2017

A great combined cultural, trekking and wildlife spotting adventure
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This trip has something of everything - trekking, cultural immersion, wildlife spotting. The chameleons are amazing and lemurs are a lot of fun to see, and occasionally they come very close to you. Be prepared with the camera at all times that you're in the jungle! The food can be a bit heavy if you're not used to eating as much rice as the Malagasy do. Be sure to try out the hot sauce at every restaurant - they all make their own and they are each unique (and VERY hot).

By Venkatadri Toronto | 20 April 2017

DATES & PRICES

Private Departure?

Gather a few friends, family or club and take over your own departure.

2024

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

Status

More Information

  • Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: MAD /02/24/
  • This trip begins on Sat 27 Jul and ends on Sat 10 Aug
  • This departure is guaranteed. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Single Supplement Price: US$475 - Single supplement includes 8 hotel nights.
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$65
  • Download Trip Notes

More Information

  • Trek Madagascar, The Land of the Lemur
    Without Flights
  • Departure Reference: MAD /04/24/
  • This trip begins on Sat 26 Oct and ends on Sat 9 Nov
  • This departure is available to book. Secure your place today with a deposit of US$750
  • Single Supplement Price: US$475 - Single supplement includes 8 hotel nights.
  • Single Tent Upgrade: US$65
  • Download Trip Notes

Land Only Information

The LAND ONLY dates and prices are for the itinerary joining in Antananarivo, Madagascar. For clients making their own flight arrangements, Antananarivo International Airport is the most convenient for transfers to the group hotel. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details.

Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'.

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE


Changes to flights

Please be aware that the flight industry is experiencing a high level of service fluctuation and changes to your flights may occur. This may also require amends to the transfers and joining arrangements. Thank you all for continuing your patience and understanding.

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


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