Madagascar Immersive Birding Tours - 34 days
| Top targets | Schlegel’s Asity, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Velvet Asity , White-breasted Mesite, Subdesert Mesite, Brown Mesite, Bernier’s Vanga, Madagascan Fish Eagle, Long-tailed Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Scaly Ground-Roller, Pitta-like ground Ground Roller, Helmet Vanga , Red-shouldered Vanga, Van Dam’s Vanga, Blue Coua, Verreaux’s Coua, Madagascan Sandgrouse, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Madagascan Blue Pigeon, Madagascan Jacana, Torotoroka Scops Owl. |
| Habitats & land cover | Rainforest, deciduous woodland, spiny desert, wetlands |
| Best season | September to November – breeding seasons for most birds |
| Climate | From fair to hot weather. |
| Walking pace | Moderate to strenuous |
| Ease of birdwatching | Moderate to difficult especially the Bemanevika part and long road |
| Particularity | Mahavavy-Kinkony and Bemanevika are great birding destinations to observe rare and endemic birds |
| Other attractions | Wildlife viewing, landscapes |
| Group size | Private tour. |
| Accommodation: | Comfortable and basic hotels and lodges – as per availability in the area, camping |
Intensive and immersive, this is a full stack of off-the-beaten-track birding exploration .
Certainly a time-consuming tour program, but a very rewarding journey.
From north to south and west to east, Madagascar will be your playground and you will get familiar with almost the entire avifauna of the country. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the birdwatching time, the wildlife viewings, the diverse landscapes and the natural history of Madagascar itself.
You will also be immersed inside the everyday life of the Malagasy people and will see this big island through the local’s eyes both in culture and in birding sides.
You shall meet other local bird lovers and researchers to deepen your expertise on the birds of Madagascar.
EXPECTED TARGETS IN THE MAJOR SITES
1- Lake Mahery
Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Heron, Squacco heron, Green-backed heron, Great white egret, Cattle egret, Black Heron , African Pygmy-Goose, White-faced Whistling Duck, Red-billed Teal, Blue-billed Teal, Madagascar Buzzard, Black Kite, Common Moorhen, Madagascar Jacana, Kittlitz’s Plover, Rock Dove, Namaqua Dove, African Palm Swift, African Black Swift, Olive Bee-eater, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascar Wagtail, Common Stonechat, , Madagascar Cisticola, Crested Drongo, Pied Crow, Common Myna, House Sparrow
2- Bemanevika-Lake Matsaborimena
Meller’s Duck, Madagascan Grebe, Madagascan Rail, Madagascan Wood Rail, White-throated Rail, Short-legged Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Madagascan Spinetail, Nuthatch Vanga, Chabert’s Vanga , Pollen’s Vanga, Tylas Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, Blue Vanga, Crossley’s Vanga, White-throated Oxylabes, Ward’s Flycatcher, Red Fody, Forest Fody, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascan Starling, Madagascan Blue Pigeon, Madagascan Green Pigeon, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Rand’s Warbler, Common Jery , Green Jery, Striped-throated Jery, Wedge-tailed Jery, Madagascan Nightjar, Collared Nightjar, Red-fronted Coua, Blue Coua, Red Owl, Western Barn Owl, Rainforest Scops Owl , Madagascan Cuckoo, Broad-billed Roller, Cuckoo Roller, Common Newtonia , Red-tailed Newtonia, Nelicourvi Weaver, Schlegel’s Asity, Velvet Asity, Common Sunbird-Asity, Souimanga Sunbird, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Crested Drongo, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Malagasy Bulbul, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Madagascan Swamp Warbler, Long-billed Bernieria, Spectacled Tetraka, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Dusky Tetraka, Madagascan Stonechat, Madagascan Flufftail, Slender-billed Flufftail, Madagascan Owl, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Forest Rock Thrush, Madagascan Mannikin, Madagascan Wagtail, Squacco Heron , Striated (Green-backed) Heron , Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great White Egret , Western Cattle Egret, Purple Heron , African Darter , Red-billed Teal, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Madagascan Pochard, Madagascan Harrier-Hawk, Henst’s Goshawk , Madagascan Serpent Eagle, Madagascan Cuckoo-Hawk, Malagasy Harrier, Madagascan Buzzard , Yellow-billed Kite , Black-winged Kite, Madagascan Sparrowhawk , Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon , Sooty Falcon, Eleonora’s Falcon, Banded Kestrel, Malagasy Kestrel, Madagascan Partridge , Common Quail, Madagascan Buttonquail, Helmeted Guineafowl, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Madagascan Snipe , Alpine Swift, Malagasy Black Swift , Brown-throated – Plain Martin , Mascarene Martin , Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Malagasy Kingfisher, Olive Bee-eater, Madagascan Coucal, Grey Emutail, Malagasy white eye, Madagascan Hoopoe, Madagascan Lark, Madagascan Cisticola, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Madagascan Mannikin, Three-banded Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Common Myna
3- Maromizaha
Madagascan Ibis, Madagascan Harrier-Hawk, Madagascan Buzzard, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Madagascan Blue Pigeon , Malagasy Turtle Dove, White-throated Rail , Greater Vasa Parrot, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascan Cuckoo, Red-fronted Coua, Blue Coua , Madagascan Coucal, Rainforest Scops Owl , Madagascan Owl, Madagascan Nightjar, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Malagasy Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller , Short-legged Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Cuckoo-Roller , Velvet Asity, Common Sunbird-Asity , Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Nelicourvi Weaver, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Ward’s Flycatcher , Nuthatch Vanga , White-headed Vanga , Chabert Vanga , Blue Vanga , Red-tailed Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga , Tylas Vanga , Pollen’s Vanga , Dark Newtonia , Common Newtonia , Crossley’s Vanga , Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Long-billed Bernieria (Greenbul), Spectacled Tetraka , Grey-crowned Tetraka, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Common Jery , Green Jery, Stripe-throated Jery , Wedge-tailed Jery, Rand’s Warbler , White-throated Oxylabes , Madagascan Bulbul , Malagasy White-eye, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Souimanga Sunbird , Crested Drongo , Olive Bee-eater, Red Fody , Forest Fody
4- Lake Kinkony -Makary
Sakalava Rail, MadagascarJacana, Sacred Ibis, African Spoonbill , Pound Heron, Madagascar Pranticole, Madagascar Fish Eagle, Humblot’s Heron, Bernier’s Teal, Madagascar Sandgrouse, Black Egret, Little Bittern , Glossy Ibis,, Comb Duck,, Hottentot Teal, White-throated Rail, Purple Swamphen, Madagascar Swamp Warbler,, Banded Kestrel, Madagascar Green Pigeon, Long-billed Greenbul, Chabert’s Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Hook- billed,, Sickle-billed Vangas,, Sakalava Weaver
5-Ankarana
Sickle-Billed Vanga, Collared Nightjar, Spectacled Tetraka, Madagascan crested ibis, Schegel’s Asity, Henst’s Goshawk, And other 54 species of which 30 endemics
6- Mountain d’Ambre
Madagascan Ibis, Henst’s Goshawk, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Dark Newtonia , White-throated Oxylabes., White-throated Rail, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Cuckoo-Roller, Red-tailed Vanga, Blue Vanga, Ashy Cuckoo-shrike, Nelicourvi Weaver, Mountain d’Ambre Rock-Thrush, Little Grebe, Pygmy Kingfisher.
7- Ifaty – Tulear
Thick-billed Cuckoo, Madagascan Cuckoo-Hawk, Hottentot Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Lesser Crested Tern, Saunder’s Tern, Greater Sandplover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Striated Heron, Humblot’s Heron, Great White Egret , White-throated Rail, Greater Painted-Snipe, Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Ruddy Turnstone, Hamerkop, Malagasy Harrier, Purple Swamphen
8- Near Tulear
Green-capped Coua, Madagascan Buttonquail, Saunder’s Tern, Greater Sandplover , Bar-tailed Godwit, Lesser Sand Plover, Humblot’s Heron, White-throated Rail, Greater Painted-Snipe, Madagascan Lark
9- Tsimanapetsotsa and surroundings
Madagascan Grebe , Dimorphic Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, African spoonbill , Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill , Lesser Flamingo , Greater Flamingo, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Red-billed Teal, Hottentot Teal, Bernier’s Teal, Knob-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Kite, Madagascan Harrier-Hawk, Madagascan Buzzard, Madagascan Cuckoo-Hawk, Henst’s Goshawk , Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Malagasy Kestrel, Banded Kestrel, Sooty Falcon, Peregrine Falcon , Eleonora’s Falcon, Common Quail, Harlequin Quail , Madagascan Partridge, Helmeted Guineafowl, Madagascan Buttonquail, White-throated Rail, African Swamphen, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Greater Painted-Snipe, Black-winged Stilt, Whimbrel , Eurasian curlew, Terek Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Marsh sandpiper, Black-bellied (Grey) Plover , Ruddy Turnstone , Curlew Sandpiper, Sanderling, Madagascan Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover , Three-banded Plover, Greater Sandplover , Lesser Sand Plover, White-fronted Plover, Kelp Gull, Caspian Tern , Lesser Crested Tern, Madagascan Sandgrouse, Namaqua Dove, Green Pigeon, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Grey-headed Lovebird, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Greater Vasa Parrot, Madagascan Cuckoo, Coquerel’s Coua, Crested Coua, Running Coua, Green-capped Coua, Giant Coua, Verreaux’s Coua, Madagascan Coucal, Malagasy Scops Owl, Western Barn Owl, White-browed Hawk-owl, Madagascan Owl, Madagascan Nightjar, Marsh Owl, Madagascan Spinetail, African Palm Swift, Alpine Swift, Malagasy Black Swift , Malagasy Kingfisher, Olive Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Cuckoo Roller, Madagascan Hoopoe, Madagascan Lark, Madagascan Wagtail, Mascarene Martin, Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Littoral Rock Thrush , Madagascan Stonechat, Subdesert Brush-Warbler, Madagascan Cisticola, Madagascan Swamp Warbler , Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Striped-throated Jery, Common Jery , Madagascan Bulbul , Thamnornis , Malagasy white eye, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Soimanga Sunbird, Chabert’s Vanga, White-headed Vanga , Blue Vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Red-shouldered Vanga, Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, Tylas Vanga, Common Newtonia, Dark Newtonia, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Crested Drongo, Pied Crow , Madagascan Starling, Common Myna, Sakalava Weaver, Red Fody
10- Zombitse
Appert’s Tetraka, Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Long-billed Bernieria, Coquerel’s Coua, Giant Coua, Crested Coua, Cuckoo Roller, Malagasy Sacred Ibis, White-browed Hawk-owl, Madagascan Cuckoo, Common Newtonia, Broad-billed Roller, Long-billed Bernieria/ tetraka / greenbul, Rufous Vanga , Red-tailed Vanga, Blue Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, Common Newtonia, Madagascan Buttonquail, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Namaqua Dove , Madagascan Hoopoe, White-browed Hawk-Owl, Olive Bee-eater, Malagasy Kestrel, Pied Crow , Madagascan Lark, Common Jery , Yellow-billed Kite , Greater Vasa Parrot, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Marsh Owl, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Madagascan Buzzard, Malagasy Coucal, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Madagascan Lark, Madagascan Cisticola, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Malagasy White-eye
11- Isalo
Forest Rock Thrush, Purple Heron, Madagascan Partridge, White-browed Hawk-owl, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Madagascan Lark, Peregrine Falcon , Scooty Falcon, White-throated Rail, Madagascan Coucal, Marsh Owl, Olive Bee-eater, Grey-headed Lovebird, Greater Vasa Parrot, Pied Crow, Malagasy Bulbul, Madagascan Cisticola, Common Myna, Madagascan Mannikin, Madagascan Hoopoe
12- Ranomafana
Madagascan Cisticola, Broad-billed Roller, Cuckoo Roller, Madagascan Cuckoo, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Madagascan Harrier-Hawk, Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Madagascan Mannikin, Madagascan Wagtail, Madagascan Flufftail, Malagasy Black Swift , Malagasy Bulbul, Madagascan Coucal, Malagasy Kestrel, Malagasy Kingfisher, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Ward’s Flycatcher, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Malagasy white eye, Rainforest Scops Owl, Red Fody, Forest Fody, Spectacled Tetraka, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Striated Heron, Hamerkop , Henst’s Goshawk, African Palm-Swift, Malagasy Black Swift, Crested Drongo, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Rand’s Warbler, Cryptic Warbler, Grey Emutail, White-throated Oxylabes, Forest Rock Thrush, Nelicourvi Weaver, Madagascan Wood Rail, Meller’s Duck, Mascarene Martin, Brown Mesite, Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity, Velvet Asity, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Common Sunbird Asity, Schlegel’s Asity, Rufous-headed Ground-Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Dark Newtonia, Common Newtonia, Blue Vanga, Pollen’s Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Tylas Vanga, Crossley’s Vanga, Blue Coua, Red-fronted Coua, Madagascan Blue Pigeon, Nelicourvi Weaver, Forest Rock Thrush, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Peregrine Falcon , Long-billed Bernieria, African Pygmy Goose, Striated Heron, Madagascan Buzzard, Common Jery , Green Jery, Striped-throated Jery, Wedge-tailed Jery, Madagascan Yellowbrow.
13- Ranomafana mid-altitude
Pitta-like Ground Roller, Madagascan Wood Rail, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Velvet Asity, Wedge-tailed Jery, Rand’s Warbler, White-throated Oxylabes, Ward’s Flycatcher, Henst’s Goshawk , Madagascan Snipe, Madagascan Brush-Warbler, Grey Emutail, Madagascan Yellowbrow, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Cryptic Warbler, Crossley’s Vanga , Madagascan Rail, Sooty Falcon, African Palm Swift, Madagascan Buttonquail, Common Myna, Common Newtonia, Crested Drongo, Forest Fody, Greater Vasa Parrot, Hamerkop
14- Vohiparara
Rufous-headed Ground-Roller, Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity, Madagascan Snipe, Blue Vanga, Pollen’s Vanga, Tylas Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Pollen’s Vanga, Brown Emutail, Grey Emutail, Green Jery, Striped-throated Jery, Wedge-tailed Jery, Common Jery , Common Sunbird Asity, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Cryptic Warbler, Dark Newtonia, Cuckoo Roller, Forest Fody, Forest Rock Thrush, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Madagascan Cuckoo, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Madagascan Flufftail, Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Madagascan Yellowbrow, Madagascan Brush-Warbler, Malagasy Bulbul, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Cryptic Warbler, Rand’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Madagascan Flufftail, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Forest Fody
15- Betsiboka Delta
Bernier’s Teal, Madagascan Ibis, Terek Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Whimbrel , Common Sandpiper, Dimorphic Egret, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Great Crested (Swift) Tern , Saunders’s Tern, Lesser Crested Tern, Sandwich Tern, Sanderling, Malagasy Kestrel, African Openbill , Crab-Plover
16- Anakao
Littoral Rock Thrush, Caspian Tern.
17- Andasibe
Little Grebe, Squacco Heron, Madagascan Wood Rail, White-throated Rail, Malagasy Sacred Ibis, Malagasy Scops Owl, Madagascan Owl, Rainforest Scops Owl, Collared Nightjar, Madagascan Nightjar, Red-breasted Coua, Blue Coua, Madagascan Cuckoo, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Malagasy Kingfisher, Spectacled Tetraka, Short-legged Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground-Roller, Scaly Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Nelicourvi Weaver, Velvet Asity, Common Sunbird Asity, Souimanga Sunbird, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Tylas Vanga, Hook- billed Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Crossley’s Vanga, France’s Sparrowhawk , Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Ward’s Flycatcher, Olive Bee-eater, Madagascan Flufftail, Sooty Falcon, Madagascan Coucal, Dark Newtonia, Common Newtonia, Crested Drongo, Malagasy Bulbul, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Cryptic Warbler, Rand’s Warbler, Common Jery, Green Jery, Stripe-throated Jery, Madagascan Cisticola, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Madagascan Stonechat, Long-billed Bernieria, Madagascan Mannikin, Madagascan Wagtail
18- Mantadia
Meller’s Duck, Madagascan Grebe, Madagascan Rail, Madagascan Wood Rail, White-throated Rail, Short-legged Ground Roller, Scaly Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Madagascan Spinetail, Nuthatch Vanga, Tylas Vanga, Red-tailed Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Blue Vanga, Forest Fody, Greater Vasa Parrot, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascan Starling, Madagascan Blue Pigeon, Rand’s Warbler, Striped-throated Jery, Wedge-tailed Jery, Collared Nightjar, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-breasted Coua, Red-fronted Coua, Blue Coua, Red owl, Brown Mesite , Madagascan Cuckoo, Broad-billed Roller, Green Jery, Cuckoo Roller, Common Newtonia, Dark Newtonia, Common Sunbird-Asity, Souimanga Sunbird, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Crested Drongo, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Malagasy Bulbul, Rand’s Warbler, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Madagascan Swamp Warbler, Brown Emutail, White-throated Oxylabes, Spectacled Tetraka, Dusky Tetraka, Madagascan Stonechat, Nelicourvi Weaver, Madagascan Flufftail, Rainforest Scops Owl, Madagascan Owl, Mascarene Martin, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Forest Rock Thrush, Madagascan Mannikin, Madagascan Wagtail
19- Tsarasaotra
White-faced Whistling-Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Malagasy Pond Heron, Squacco Heron, Black Heron, Dimorphic Egret, Great White Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Comb Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Red-billed Teal/ Duck, White-throated Rail, Madagascan Swamp Warbler , Hottentot Teal, Red Fody, Madagascan Coucal, Madagascan Wagtail, Malagasy Kingfisher, Malagasy white eye, Yellow-billed Kite, Madagascan Mannikin, Malagasy Kestrel, Mascarene Martin, Meller’s Duck, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Common Moorhen, Long-tailed Cormorant, Madagascan Cuckoo, African Pygmy Goose, Baillon’s Crake, Common Myna, Madagascan Stonechat.
20- Ampijoroa
White-faced Whistling-Duck, White-throated Rail, Purple Heron, Malagasy Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Madagascan Jacana, Humblot’s Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Olive Bee-eater, Crested Drongo, Mascarene Martin, Broad-billed Roller, Chabert’s Vanga, Van Dam’s Vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, Blue Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Rufous Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, White-breasted Mesite, Schlegel’s Asity, Coquerel’s Coua, Crested Coua, Madagascan Hoopoe, Cuckoo Roller, Red-capped Coua, Madagascan Fish Eagle, Malagasy Kingfisher, Allen’s Gallinule, African Darter, Banded Kestrel, France’s Sparrowhawk , Sakalava Weaver, Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Grey-headed Lovebird, Madagascan Nightjar, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Madagascan Buzzard, Madagascan Buttonquail, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Souimanga Sunbird, Long-billed Bernieria, Sooty Falcon, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Greater Vasa Parrot, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Madagascan Coucal, Madagascan Cuckoo, Common Newtonia, Malagasy Bulbul, Mascarene Martin, Madagascan Swamp Warbler , Common Jery , Torotoroka Scops Owl, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher
21- Ampijoroa
White-faced Whistling-Duck, White-throated Rail, Purple Heron, Malagasy Sacred Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Madagascan Jacana, Humblot’s Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Olive Bee-eater, Crested Drongo, Mascarene Martin, Broad-billed Roller, Chabert’s Vanga, Van Dam’s Vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, Blue Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Rufous Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, White-breasted Mesite, Schlegel’s Asity, Coquerel’s Coua, Crested Coua, Madagascan Hoopoe, Cuckoo Roller, Red-capped Coua, Madagascan Fish Eagle, Malagasy Kingfisher, Allen’s Gallinule, African Darter, Banded Kestrel, France’s Sparrowhawk , Sakalava Weaver, Madagascan Magpie-Robin , Grey-headed Lovebird, Madagascan Nightjar, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Madagascan Buzzard, Madagascan Buttonquail, Malagasy Green Sunbird, Souimanga Sunbird, Long-billed Bernieria, Sooty Falcon, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Greater Vasa Parrot, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Madagascan Coucal, Madagascan Cuckoo, Common Newtonia, Malagasy Bulbul, Mascarene Martin, Madagascan Swamp Warbler , Common Jery , Torotoroka Scops Owl, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher
22- Antsohihy
Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Heron, Squacco heron, Green-backed heron, Great white egret, Cattle egret, Black Heron , African Pygmy-Goose, White-faced Whistling Duck, Red-billed Teal, Blue-billed Teal, Madagascar Buzzard, Black Kite, Common Moorhen, Madagascar Jacana, Kittlitz’s Plover, Rock Dove, Namaqua Dove, African Palm Swift, African Black Swift, Olive Bee-eater, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascar Wagtail, Common Stonechat, , Madagascar Cisticola, Crested Drongo, Pied Crow, Common Myna, House Sparrow
23- Iaroka
Madagascar Buzzard , Lesser Vasa Parrot , Blue Coua, Malagasy Coucal , Madagascar Cuckoo, Velvet Asity, Olive Bee-eater , Broad-billed Roller, Cuckoo-Roller, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Common Jery, Rand’s Warbler, Malagasy Brush-Warbler , Malagasy White-eye, Common Newtonia , Blue Vanga, Chabert Vanga, Madagascar Cuckooshrike, Malagasy Bulbul, Tylas Vanga, Malagasy Paradise-Flycatcher, NuthatchVanga, Crested Drongo , Madagascar Starling, Blue pigeon, Helmet Vanga (* on strenuous walks).
24 Masoala
Helmet Vanga Bernier’s Vanga, White-headed Vanga , Blue Vanga , Nuthatch Vanga , Chabert’s Vanga, Rufous Vanga , Tylas Vanga , Hook-billed Vanga , Red-breasted Coua, Brown Mesite , Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Short-legged Ground Roller, Scaly Ground Roller, Madagascan Serpent Eagle, Red Owl, Dusky Tetraka, Scooty Falcon, Rainforest Scops Owl, Common Jery, Green Jery
ITINERARY OUTLINE
Meet and greet at the airport. Transfer to your hotel and check in. Tour briefing.
Drive eastwards to Andasibe/Périnet. Birding on the way. On arrival, birding at Analamazaotra National Park and/or VOIMMA Reserve.
Transfer to Mantadia Reserve to spot birds and other wildlife.
Early morning depart to Maromizaha, a nearby Reserve to spot other species.
Then drive back to Antananarivo in the afternoon.
Fly to Tulear. Then drive to Ifaty. On the way, birding at Belalanda Lake.
Drive back Tulear and boat transfer to Anakao.
Drive southwards to the village of Ambola. In the afternoon, drive to Tsimanapetsotsa National Park for birding.
Drive back Tulear and boat transfer to Anakao.
Drive southwards to the village of Ambola. In the afternoon, drive to Tsimanapetsotsa National Park for birding.
Return to the Park for birding and drive back to Anakao.
In the afternoon, boat transfer to Nosy Ve for birding
Boat transfer to Tulear and drive to Zombitse National Park. Stop and birding.
Continue to Isalo.
Early morning birding in the park and continue to Ranomafana. On the way, short visit of Anja Reserve for the famous Ring-Tailed lemurs.
Whole day to enjoy the wildlife and birds at the Park.
Another day to explore the park
After an early breakfast, drive back to Antananarivo. En route, visit of small fragment of native rainforest and marsh on occasion, holds some species of birds.
Fly to Mahajanga.
Drive to Ampitolova for birding.
Return to Mahajanga.
Boat/ferry transfer to Katsepy and drive southwards off-road to Makary at Kinkony Lake . Start birding in the afternoon. Night at camping.
Birding on board dugout canoe on the Lake.
Return to campsite.
Early morning depart and drive back to Katsepy. Boat transfer to Mahajanga.
River boat trip upstream the Betsiboka River to Bombetoka islet for birding and then return to Mahajanga.
Drive eastwards to Ampijoroa/Ankarafantsika National Park.
Birding immersion at Ankarantsika. Morning and afternoon hikes.
Long day drive to reach Antsohihy through out valleys and mountains. Birding on the way.
Drive eastwards through mountains to get to Bealanana and then off-road to Bemanevika base camp.
Reach the forest edge and start birding in the forest and around the lakes and marshes. Full day birding.
Drive back to Antsohihy and relax.
Continue upnorth to through the valley of Sambirano and then to Ankarana National Park.
Birding and wildlife viewing at Ankarana.
Continue driving to Mountagne d’Ambre.
Birding in the rainforest of the park – then down to the Lake Mahery.
Early depart to Antsiranana.
Continue to the Three bays to observe some shorebirds.
Possibility of beach activities like Kite surfing or just swimming.
Fly back to Antananarivo. Birding at Tsarasaotra Lake.
Transfer to the airport and fly to Maroantsetra. Due to the tide and wind in the afternoon, the transfer to Masoala should be the next day.
Boat transfer to the Masoala peninsula. Birding inside teh park.
Continue exploring the park. After the lunch, transfer to the Marine Reserve and enjoy the lagoon and birding in the surrounding forest.
Early morning boat transfer to Maroantsetra and fly back to Antananarivo
End of the tour.
This day of the program can be removed depending on the flight schedules.
TOUR OPTIONS & EXTENSIONS
The spots below can be added to this tour according your targets and interests
Iaroka Reserve is an alternative to Masoala National Park.
Top targets: Helmet-Vanga, Nutach Vanga
Baobab Avenue and Birds