The best way to visit Madagascar is by tour — that way, you can spend less time focusing on navigating the foreign terrain and more time on enjoying it. One superb choice of tour operator is Kensington: Their 9-day, immersive exploration of Madagascar’s rainforests and wilderness makes for a surreal adventure. The following is just a taste of what awaits should you decide to embark — and know that each and every Kensington itinerary can be customized to suit your interests, tastes and budget, ensuring authentic exploration on your own terms.
Waterfall in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
After landing in the capital of Antananarivo (and taking a day to get acclimated), embark on a one-of-a-kind dazzling drive to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park where you’ll be staying at the Manjarano Lodge. In the following days, you’ll crisscross this vibrant rainforest, each outing showing a new facet of its rich biodiversity — though the stars of the show are undoubtedly the lemurs.
A giant leaf-tailed gecko camouflaged on a bark and leaves
- Your first night there, undertake an evening walk through the reserve for the chance to spot some of the nocturnal denizens. Goodman’s mouse lemurs and greater dwarf lemurs trill, squeak and chirp throughout the rainforest, inviting you to play a nearly pitch-black game of Marco Polo. With every step through the foliage, you’ll also keep your eyes peeled for leaf-tailed geckos, tree frogs and chameleons — camouflage naturally makes it a challenge.
- Search the eastern rainforest with a local guide, be on the lookout for indri lemurs, the species known for their thick black-and-white coats and haunting songs that echo through the rainforest.
- Enjoy a visit via canoe to Vakona’s Lemur Island, a dedicated rescue reserve. Scores of species call this semi-wild environment home: brown lemurs, black-and-white-ruffled lemurs, bamboo lemurs and ring-tailed lemurs. Observing these curious primates up close is a bucket-list experience.
- When you’re not actively attempting to spot lemurs, guided walks through Andasibe or Mantadia National Park proper are a nature lover’s or naturalist’s dream come true: Countless bird, amphibian, reptile (and, of course, lemur) species flit through the rainforest canopy and scurry about the floor, a symphony of life few have the privilege to bask in.
Baobabs in the Anjajavy's Protected Area
Anjajavy
After returning to Antananarivo to catch a quick 1.5-hour flight, touch down in Anjajavy, home of the Anjajavy Reserve. A brief 4x4 jaunt deposits you at your retreat, Anjajavy le Lodge. This refined yet relaxed oceanfront property will serve as your home base for a variety of experiences over the next several days. You might:
A lemur in the Anjajavy Forest.
- Trek the Giant’s Walk, a winding path full of the stunning sights and the distinctive dry deciduous flora of western Madagascar. Catch a glimpse of towering tsingy walls, witness the scurrying of hairy-legged crabs and admire a four-century-old gray baobab tree. Every scene here is guaranteed to be unlike home; this is a locale wholly unique on Earth.
- Charter a vessel to go snorkeling around the isles of Moramba Bay. These unusual mushroom-shaped islands are home to particularly tranquil waters, teeming with diverse marine life. Pause intermittently from admiring the underwater world to cast a glance to the skies — you might spot the rare Madagascan fish eagle on the hunt.
- Take a guided night walk around the lodge to attempt to spot the many nocturnal species that roam the Anjajavy Forest when the sun goes down: Chameleons, night birds and lemurs galore for starters.
- Soak up tropical paradise at your resort, where a lovely stretch of white sand overlooks the clear blue waters. All non-motorized sports are complimentary, allowing you to enjoy the sea as you see fit.
The Ace Up Your Sleeve for a Madagascar Tour
All the above can be experienced with a Kensington tour, but the best way to travel with Kensington, to any of their 120+ destinations, is through a travel agent. Besides taking care of all logistics, our travel agents are rich with insider tips and open-secret recommendations you might miss on your own. Plus, our travel agents often have access to exclusive perks, amenities and discounts with the leading name brands of travel — making an already awesome bucket-list adventure even sweeter.
