ANTANANARIVO
Visit to the old city and the upper part of the city: you will see the palace of the queen, from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the capital from the highest point in the city.
Visit to the city center and business district: you will see the main commercial and administrative districts of the capital, which stretch from the Soarano railway station through Independence Avenue and the place where the Zoma Friday Market used to be held – the largest open-air market in the world. You will have the opportunity to climb one of the many stairs called “totobato”, which will lead you to the business part of the city, to the street of jewelers and to the presidential palace.
A visit to the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga: About 17 km north of Antananarivo is the Royal Hill of Abohimanga . Its territory consists of a royal city and a cemetery, as well as several sacred places. The hill is associated with a strong sense of national identity and has retained its spiritual and sacred significance for the past 500 years. It remains a place of worship, visited by pilgrims from all over Madagascar and beyond.
ANDASIBE
Pereira Butterfly Farm: This is a private zoo in Marozevo, 75 km east of Antananarivo, between the towns of Manjacandriana and Moramanga. It was founded and owned by the French entomologist and naturalist André Pereira, whose name the park later received. There are many reptiles (chameleons, iguanas, geckos, frogs), bats, crocodiles and butterflies. On the territory adjacent to the zoo, a population of families of resettled and accustomed to the presence of humans, sifak Verro and brown lemurs is maintained, which gives tourists the opportunity to observe them from a short distance when feeding.
Night visit to Woimma Park: After dark, you can go for a walk in Mitsinjo Park with headlamps and hand lanterns. In 2012, villagers from Andasibe established this park as an alternative to the area’s government-run national park. The local people wanted to manage their land on their own again and be part of the region’s ecotourism. Reptile and amphibian lovers will also enjoy the park, as the park’s crystal clear river is home to many frogs, and the forest is home to several species of chameleons. In addition, here you can meet a unique species – a fantastic flat-tailed gecko, as well as incredible insects – for example, the giraffe pipe-roller beetle.
Mantadia Park: These are virgin forests that cover an area of more than 15,000 hectares. The park has 108 bird species, some of which play an important role in plant conservation, such as the Madagascar paradise flycatcher. In addition, 14 species of lemurs, several species of reptiles, including the Madagascar tree boa, and 84 species of amphibians live in the park. This walking tour requires moderate to good physical fitness as the park has steep slopes and dense vegetation. It is also easy to meet indri lemurs in the park – the largest living lemurs and endemic to Madagascar, which keep in groups. Also in Mantadia, there are other representatives of endemic species – brown lemur, meek lemur, lepilemurs and the smallest primates in the world – mouse lemurs. The national park is also famous for its orchids.
Andasibe hamlet: A small hamlet with a population of approximately 5,000. Having visited it, you can observe the daily way of life of the inhabitants of this quiet and vibrant village, along with a guide, walk along narrow dirt paths along small stalls. There is an opportunity to interact with the locals and see how they earn their living and how they spend their free time. The walk will start or end at the old Alpine-style colonial railway station, which in the 1930s housed the then very fashionable Buffet de la Gare restaurant.
Wakona Lemur Island: Surrounded by fresh water, the vast area of Wakona Island is home to many species of lemurs such as brown lemur, meek lemur, wari lemur, diadem sifaka. On this island, tourists have a rare opportunity to get up close and interact with these amazing primates. At the end of this tour, all participants will undoubtedly have beautiful photographs and souvenirs. Also on the territory of the island there is a small lake where you can see a lot of crocodiles.
Analamazaotra Nature Reserve: there you will look for the largest lemur on. Madagascar – indri, which is also endemic to this area. You will have an easy walking tour of 2-3 hours, during which you will look for groups of indri lemurs. In addition, you will see representatives of other species of lemurs, birds, chameleons and more, as well as endemic flora, including various types of orchids and medicinal plants.
Mitsinjo Park Night Walk: After dark, you will go for a walk in the jungle of the park with headlamps and hand torches.
KIRINDI
Kirindi is a privately managed nature reserve and one of the most endangered ecosystems, dry deciduous forests.
Kirindi Forest: The Kirindi forest is home to the fossa, the largest carnivorous mammal in Madagascar. The forest is also famous for the Madagascan giant hamsters (voalavos), and it is also home to seven species of lemurs and a number of endemic reptiles.
