November 8^th – Arrival to Antananarivo, transfer to Relais des Plateaux Hotel & Spa, a nice hotel near the airport. We can do some bird photography in the garden; the beautiful Red Fody is usually around.

November 9^th – After breakfast we will transfer to the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park area.  The National Park here has up to 14 species of lemurs.  The calls of the largest lemur, the Indri, echo through the area. Our lodge is the 4-star Mantadia Lodge. 

November 10^th-12^th – We will have 3 full days of photographing in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park,  Analamazaotra Special Reserve and the surrounding areas.  The more common lemur species we will photograph include the large Indri, Diademed Sifaka, Common Brown Lemur and Lesser Bamboo Lemur.  We will look for special birds like Couas, Ground Rollers and Asitys as well as photograph the more common species such as Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Magpie-Robin and Wagtail as well as Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher and Bulbul.  We will visit the Vakona Private Reserve to photograph habituated lemurs including the Black and White Ruffed and Red-beilied Lemurs.  Of course, we will also be on the lookout for the beautiful chameleons and do some macro photography of those unique reptiles.  We will also have a night walk to look for Mouse Lemurs, Owls, Nightjars and various frogs and chameleons.  Lodge:  Mantadia Lodge

November 13^th – One more morning of bird and lemur photography at Mantadia then we will return to the capital for an evening at the Relais des Plateaux. 

November 14^th – We will have a morning flight to Toliara on the southwest coast.  Then we have our longest transfer of the tour to the stunning Isalo National Park area (about 200km which takes about 6 hours usually).  We will settle into our nice lodge, Relais de la Reine and do some afternoon photography near the lodge.  Malagasy Coucal and Gray-headed Lovebird are two good birds often found near the lodge.   

November 15^th and 16^th – We will have two full days to explore Isalo National Park.  The most common lemurs in this park are the inquisitive Ring-tailed Lemurs.  We should also photograph Red-fronted Brown Lemurs and Verreaux’s Sifaka.  Open country birds such as Olive (Madagascar) Bee-eater, Madagascar Kestrels and Hoopoes are likely here, as well as Benson’s Rock Thrush.  Soulmanga and Malagasy Sunbirds are likely as well.  Night birding may yield photos of White-browed and Madagascar Scops Owls as well as nocturnal lemurs and chameleons.  Lodge: Relais de la Reine

November 17^th – We will check out and start our trip back to Ifaty on the coast.  We will stop on the way at Zombitse National Park.  This can be a good location for Giant Coua, it’s also a good spot to see and photograph Verreaux’s Sifakas.  Then in the late afternoon we will arrive to our lodge in Ifaty.  Hotel La Mira or similar. 

November 18^th – Today we visit the nearby Reniala Private Reserve which has a nice spiny forest environment with giant baobab trees.  Some of the special birds we hope to photograph here include the Long-tailed Ground Roller, Sickle-billed Vanga, Subdesert Mesite and Madagascar Harrier Hawk among others.  It’s also a great location for reptiles including Madagascar Iguanas, Radiated Tortoises and of course several Chameleon species.   Hotel La Mira or similar.

November 19^th – Today we will visit the Mosa Reserve in the morning, there are up to 6 species of Coua possible, the most common being Crested, Olive-capped and Running.  Other neat birds include Greater and Lesser Vasa Parrots and a wealth of endemic raptors.  In the afternoon we will visit the salt pans to photograph birds such as Madagascar, Kittlitz’s and White-fronted Plovers as well as endemic birds such as Humblot’s Heron and White-throated Rail.  Hotel La Mira or similar

November 20^th – We will have a bit of morning bird photography, then take a flight back to Antananarivo.  We will stay at the Radisson which is near a wetland park which has quite a few bird species.

November 21^st – We will have morning and afternoon sessions at the park.  Some of the endemic waterbirds we have a good chance to photograph here include Meller’s Duck, Madagascar Grebe, Malagasy Pond Heron and Malagasy Kingfisher.  Open country birds such as Madgascar Hoopoes, Kestrels and Bee-eaters are likely as well.  Hotel Raidsson.