AUS GLOBAL SOFT ADVENTURE 24 DAY ITINERARY

TOUR COST $5300 Inclusive of accommodation, return airfares, domestic flight, boat tour, guides and National Parkes, taxi & car hire, public transport and most meals

THE TOUR: Is not physically demanding and suits active people of all age groups

AIRLINE : Air Austral (affiliated with Qantas) Ex Sydney

DEPARTURE DATE : Tuesday May 3 RETURN DATE : Friday May 27

Day 1 Melb, Sydney to Port Denison , Reunion Island

Day 2 Morning flight from Reunion to Antananarivo, Relaxing and dining, short city tour is possible

Day 3 City tour of the capital Antananarivo, a fascinating old city to explore, relaxing and dining

Day 4 Mini van or car to Andasibe to begin our National Park tours, afternoon tour and a night tour is possible.

Day 5 A fully guided tour of Park Mitsnjo and a possible night tour at Park Speciale (outstanding wildlife) Lots of Lemurs and the magical call of the Indri echoes through the forest, we may get to hand feed one of these spectacular animals

Day 6 A day tour of Park De Mantadia by 4 x 4 vehicle (A great day for scenery and wildlife) more Lemus and Indri and lots of birds

Day 7 Return to Antananarivo , relaxing and dining

Day 8 A drive south to Antsirabe and Mandrivazo to begin a 5 day package tour

Day 9 We begin floating down the Tsirbihina River with our guides enjoying the scenery , wildlife & culture, lots of beautiful children meet us as we depart, great photography, camping the night on a white sandy beach

Day 10 We continue down the river, enjoying the local culture and abundant birdlife, lots of colourful Kingfishers, Rainbow birds, herons, egrets, ducks and eagles, more children greet us

Day 11 On the river for part of the day stopping to swim at a beautiful waterfall for lunch and visiting a village we see lots more wildlife including Lemus and stay the night in a small village surrounded by rice paddy fields

Day 12 A drive, crossing a river by car ferry to the entrance of Park Des Tsingy De Bemaraha, we may also do a night tour, outstanding scenery, wildlife & culture, Lemurs, chameleons and birds

Day 13 A tour of both the Large and Petite Tsingy limestone formations (outstanding scenery & wildlife)

Day 14 A drive south to Morondava stopping for sunset at The world renowned Boabab Tree avenue, great scenery & culture, beautiful photography

Day 15 We fly to Toliary to enjoy the sites including a bird park & botanical garden (great for birds & plants)

Day 16 A drive north to the beach village of Ifaty to visit Reniala Nature Reserve (birds & plants, reptiles)

Day 17 we begin a drive in a private 4x4 to Isalo National Park (outstanding scenery)

Day 18 A tour of several parts of the National Park and may stay a second night

Day 19 We continue driving north stopping at Anja Reserve for lunch to enjoy a walk with the Ring Tail Lemurs and arriving at Ranomafana National Park for a 2 night stay

Day 20 Fully guided tours of the Ranomafana Park ,outstanding scenery, waterfalls, birds, Lemurs

Day 21 Return to Antananarivo by evening, great scenery of lush rice paddy fields

Day 22 Relaxing dining shopping and enjoying the sites of Antananarivo

Day 23 We fly to Reunion Island where a guided tour (optional) can be arranged. Relaxing and dining

Day 24 Flying to Sydney and Melbourne

THE ABOVE ITINERARY: Is a guide only and will vary depending on weather, road conditions and flexibility . There are sometimes long distances between villages and National Parkes We use a private car and 4x4 with an English speaking driver for most of our travel but we may use public transport on occasions.

MADAGASCAR is a vast country, some 1,600 kilometers long and 600 wide, it is not possible to see the whole country in just one visit but the above tour takes in many of the most outstanding features of the southern half, the centre, east and west coast and has been carefully planned to give maximum reward

THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN is French & Madagassy but our guides speak English and we hire a local English speaking park guide for every National Park we visit

THE QUISINE Is mostly French and Madagascan plus some standard western foods, generally excellent throughout the country, many restaurants in the cities and villages

THE WILDLIFE is outstanding. 90 species of Chameleon, 77 species of Lemurs and many bird species to name only some, there are different species of Lemur, Lizards, Butterflies, Chameleon and birds in almost every Park and Reserve we visit. Unfortunately much of the wildlife is vanishing at an alarming rate. The plants of Madagascar ore often strange and unique and like the wildlife are found nowhere else.

PHOTOGRAPHY Is breathtaking, not only the wildlife but the scenery and the people are colourful and obliging subjects, we meet many village children on our boat tour in particular. Clyde (your guide) throughout the tour is a professional wildlife and wilderness photographer and will be giving tuition, regardless of your camera type. Clyde will be using the highest quality camera equipment throughout the tour and a full colour (coffee table) book will be available after the tour

The climate is tropical to sub tropical only on the coast, inland it is temperate and can be quite cool at night

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Clyde on clydetheguide@gmail.com or ph 03 57562624 (all hours) but Please Note: I am often away so please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible

RECOMMENDED READING The Lonely Planet Guide MADAGASCAR & COMOROS