BIRD PHOTO TOUR

Arrival at the capital’s airport, visa procedures, meet-and-greet with IndigoBe’s Spanish-speaking guide, transfer to the hotel, and a welcome meeting where we’ll review the itinerary, the target species, and some tips for making the most of your birdwatching and photography days.

Depending on our arrival time, we can get a first glimpse of the Malagasy capital or enjoy the gardens at our lodging, where it’s already possible to spot some of the most common birds of the Highlands, such as the Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis), the Red Fodi (Foudia madagascariensis), the Madagascar Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus), or the elegant Madagascar Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga).

Notable species: Madagascar Bulbul, Red Fodi, Malagasy Crested Drongo, Malagasy Sunbird.

• 
  • AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.

After breakfast, we’ll head east across the island through the fertile Central Highlands. The journey will take us past rice terraces, small traditional villages, and landscapes dotted with eucalyptus and pine forests before we enter the lush tropical rainforest of Andasibe, one of the most iconic spots for observing endemic birds.

After lunch, we’ll go on our first field trip. The trails surrounding the park offer excellent opportunities to spot such iconic species as the Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis), the Madagascar Blue Dove (Alectroenas madagascariensis), the Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata), the Malagasy Scops Owl (Otus rutilus), and the elusive Madagascar Cuckoo (Cuculus rochii).

As night falls, we'll head out once again in search of the island's extraordinary nocturnal wildlife. It will be time to discover tiny mouse lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos, endemic frogs, and some of the world's most amazing chameleons.

Notable species: Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Madagascar Blue Dove, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascar Cuckoo, Malagasy Scops Owl.

Other wildlife: Goodman's mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara), Parson's chameleon (Calumma parsonii), leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus).

• 
  • RELAIS DE MANTADIA 3*.
  • VAKONA FOREST LODGE 3*.
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Over the course of two full days, we’ll explore the primary forests of Analamazaotra and Mantadia, considered two of the best places in Madagascar for forest birdwatching. At dawn, the breathtaking call of the indri (Indri indri) will accompany our first hikes as we traverse trails surrounded by tree ferns, orchids, and centuries-old trees.

The extraordinary diversity of this ecosystem will allow us to spot some of the species most sought after by any birdwatcher: the Land Cuckoo-Pitta (Atelornis pittoides), the Scaly Ground Rat (Geobiastes squamiger), the spectacular Tylas's Vanga (Tylas eduardi), the Long-billed Bernieria (Bernieria madagascariensis), the Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea), the Blue Coua (Coua caerulea), the Spectacled Tetraka (Xanthomixis zosterops), and the tiny Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher (Corythornis madagascariensis).

Nighttime excursions will increase our chances of spotting the Collared Nightjar (Gactornis enarratus), the Madagascar Scops Owl (Otus rutilus), and an extraordinary variety of nocturnal amphibians, reptiles, and lemurs.

Notable species: Ground Pitta, Scaly Ground Pitta, Tylas's Vanga, Velvet Asity, Long-billed Bernieria, Blue Coua, Spectacled Tetraka, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher.

Other wildlife: Indri indri, Hapalemur griseus, Avahi laniger, Propithecus diadema.

• 
  • RELAIS DE MANTADIA 3*.
  • VAKONA FOREST LODGE 3*.
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Before leaving Andasibe, we’ll take one last walk through the forest, taking advantage of the early morning hours when bird activity is at its peak. This will be another opportunity to spot species that have been elusive during previous days and to observe the mixed flocks flying through the canopy.

We’ll be able to look again for the Climbing Vanga (Hypositta corallirostris), the White-headed Vanga (Artamella viridis), the Blue Vanga (Cyanolanius madagascarinus), the Dark Newtonia (Newtonia amphichroa), the Yellow-crested Jery (Hartertula flavoviridis), and the Forest Fodi (Foudia omissa). We’ll also keep an eye on the sky for the possible sighting of Henst’s Goshawk (Accipiter henstii), one of Madagascar’s most impressive forest raptors.

After breakfast, we’ll begin our return trip to Antananarivo. Along the way, we’ll make the necessary stops to rest and watch birds in the rice paddies, wetlands, and open areas of the Highlands.

Featured Species: Climbing Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Blue Vanga, Dark Newtonia, Jery Colicuña, Forest Fodi, Henst's Goshawk.

• 
  • AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Fort Dauphin, a city nestled between the Indian Ocean, the Anosy Mountains, and some of the last remaining rainforests in southeastern Madagascar.

Upon our arrival, we will continue by road toward the Berenty Reserve. The landscape will gradually change: we will leave the green coastal mountains behind and travel through a drier region dominated by sisal plantations, thorny scrub, and gallery forests along the Mandrare River.

During the tour, we’ll be able to spot some of the first birds characteristic of the south, such as the Giant Coua (Coua gigas), the Malagasy Lovebird (Agapornis canus), the Malagasy Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus), the Curl-billed Vanga (Vanga curvirostris), and the Frances’s Sparrowhawk (Accipiter francesiae).

Late in the afternoon, we’ll arrive in Berenty, famous for its ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux’s sifakas, but also for how easily you can spot and photograph numerous dry-forest birds there.

Notable species: Giant Coua, Madagascar Lovebird, Madagascar Ganga, Curl-billed Vanga, Frances's Sparrowhawk.

• 
  • BERENTY LODGE
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

We will spend the day exploring the gallery forests and dry scrublands of the Berenty Reserve. The flat, open trails offer excellent conditions for wildlife viewing and photography.

Among the most distinctive birds, we’ll look for the Giant Coua (Coua gigas), which is often seen walking through the leaf litter; the tiny Madagascar Sandgrouse (Turnix nigricollis); the Thick-billed Roller (Eurystomus glaucurus); the Lesser Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis nigra), the Malagasy Crested Drongo (Dicrurus forficatus), and the Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone mutata).

Berenty is also one of the best places in Madagascar to photograph the Verreaux's sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi), famous for its sideways leaps on the ground, and the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), which moves through the forest in large groups.

At dusk, we'll go on a night excursion to try to spot the Torotoroka Scops Owl (Otus madagascariensis) and the impressive White-browed Owl (Athene superciliaris), as well as nocturnal lemurs, tenrecs, and geckos.

Notable species: Giant Coua, Malagasy Torillo, Thick-billed Roller, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Torotoroka Scops Owl, White-browed Owl.

Other wildlife: Verreaux's langur, ring-tailed lemur

• 
  • BERENTY LODGE
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

We'll take one last sunrise walk through the reserve—a particularly good time to photograph the sifakas as they come down to the ground and to observe the activity of the forest birds.

We will try to complete our sightings of species such as the Giant Coua (Coua gigas), the Curved-billed Vanga (Vanga curvirostris), the Madagascar Lovebird (Agapornis canus), the Madagascar Kestrel (Falco newtoni), and the Madagascar Bulbul (Hypsipetes madagascariensis).

Next, we'll drive back to Fort Dauphin to catch our flight to Antananarivo. The journey will give us another chance to appreciate the transition from the arid landscapes of the interior to the more humid vegetation of the southeastern coast.

Arrival in the capital and transfer to the hotel.

Notable species: Giant Coua, Curved-billed Vanga, Madagascar Lovebird, Madagascar Kestrel, Madagascar Bulbul.

• 
  • AU BOIS VERT LODGE 4*.
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

Transfer to the airport and flight to Tulear, on the southwest coast of Madagascar. From there, we’ll continue by road to Ifaty, passing through arid landscapes, salt flats, coastal scrublands, and small Vezo fishing villages.

This region is part of one of the most unique biogeographic zones on the planet. Its thorny forest, dominated by Didiereaceae, baobabs, and euphorbias, is home to numerous bird species found nowhere else in Madagascar.

Along the way, we’ll begin to spot species such as the Sakalava Weaver (Ploceus sakalava), the Madagascar Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus), the Madagascar Cisticola (Cisticola cherina), the Madagascar Dwarf Dove (Nesoenas picturatus), and the Madagascar Kestrel (Falco newtoni).

Depending on our arrival time, we’ll take an initial walk around the area near our lodging to get a feel for the thorny forest.

Notable species: Sakalava Weaver, Malagasy Bee-eater, Malagasy Cisticole, Malagasy Dove, Malagasy Kestrel.

• 
  • LE PARADISIER
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

We'll set out before dawn to explore the extraordinary thorny forest of Ifaty, avoiding the hottest part of the day and taking advantage of the time when the birds are most active.

Our main targets will be two of the most iconic species in southern Madagascar: the Long-tailed Ground Roller (Uratelornis chimaera), one of the most sought-after birds by ornithologists visiting the island, and the Subdesert Mesite (Monias benschi), restricted to a narrow strip in the southwest.

We will also seek to Lafresnaye's Vanga (Xenopirostris xenopirostris), the Archbold's Newtonia (Newtonia archboldi)the Thamnornis (Thamnornis chloropetoides), the Subdesert Warbler (Nesillas lantzii), the Running Coua (Coua cursor), the Crested Coua (Coua cristata), the Red-headed Coua (Coua ruficeps), and the Malagasy Hoopoe (Upupa marginata).

The unique shapes of the vegetation, the light of dawn, and the presence of many birds make this day one of the best of the trip for nature photography.

Notable species: Long-tailed Ground Roller, Subdesert Mesite, Lafresnaye's Vanga, Archbold's Newtonia, Thamnornis, Running Coua, Red-capped Coua, Malagasy Hoopoe.

• 
  • LE PARADISIER
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

We will leave Ifaty and head toward Tulear to board a boat bound for the small coral island of Nosy Ve. As we sail through the Channel of Mozambique, we’ll have the chance to observe seabirds and coastal birds before disembarking at one of the most unique birding destinations in southern Madagascar.

Nosy Ve is home to a large colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), an elegant seabird that nests directly on the sand and beneath the island’s low vegetation. We’ll be able to watch their acrobatic flights and, while always maintaining a respectful distance, photograph both adults and juveniles.

On the sandbars and in the intertidal zones, we’ll look for shorebirds such as the Madagascar Plover (Charadrius thoracicus), the White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus), the Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia), and the Common Turnstone (Arenaria interpres).

Notable species: Red-tailed Shrike, Madagascar Plover, White-fronted Plover, Common Sandpiper, Common Turnstone.

• 
  • ANAKAO OCEAN LODGE 3*SUP
• 
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner