Madagascar Combo Birding-Wildlife Tours - 21 days
Top targets | Brown Mesite, Subdesert Mesite, Long-tailed Ground Roller, Rufous-headed Ground Roller, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Banded Kestrel, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Coua, Running Coua, Crested Coua, Red-breasted Coua, , Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Schlegel’s Asity, Velvet Asity, Helmet Vanga, Bernier’s Vanga, Red-shouldered Vanga, Rufous Vanga, Pollen’s Vanga, Van Dam’s Vanga, Nuthatch Vanga, Crossley’s Vanga, Benson’s Rock Thrush, Madagascan Fish Eagle, Henst’s Goshawk, Madagascar Wood Rail, Red Ruffed Lemur, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Fossa, Verreaux’s Sifaka, White-backed duck |
Habitats & land cover type | Rainforest, Savannah, dry deciduous forest, spiny forest, transitional forest, wetlands |
Best season | September to November – breeding birds seasons for many species. |
Climate | Warm to very hot, cooler evening in the highlands, some rainfall possible |
Walking pace | Slow to Moderate |
Ease of birdwatching | Moderate to challenging in the rainforest |
Particularity | Offers a wide variety of birdlife and habitats ranging from rainforest to baobab and spiny area with many species and a good diversity of wildlife. This tour takes you to some of the best wildlife sites of Kirindy, Berenty and Masoala, each with something unique to offer |
Other attractions | Marine reserve, wildlife viewing, culture. |
Acommodation: | Comfortable hotels and lodges – as per availability in the area. |
Take full advantage of your birding tours and also experience the wildlife of Madagascar – which is found nowhere else.
While most of the birds are active early in the morning and late in the afternoon, the other animals, endemic to Madagascar like lemurs are active almost the whole day.
Priority will be given to birdwatching but the selected spots are also very relevant for wildlife safari as well.
Ranging from the deep rainforest habitat to the Baobab forest and dry deciduous forest to the spiny and bushland, you will enjoy the wealth and uniqueness of the nature of Madagascar.
EXPECTED TARGETS IN THE MAJOR SITES
1- Berenty
Malagasy Coucal, Western Cattle Egret, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Crested Coua, Red-capped Coua, Running Coua, Giant Coua, Madagascan Cuckoo, Torotoroka Scops Owl, White-browed Hawk-Owl, Madagascan Nightjar, Malagasy Kestrel, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Hook-billed Vanga, Lafresnaye’s Vanga, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Pied Crow, Malagasy Bulbul, Subdesert Brush Warbler, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Sakalava Weaver, Madagascan Sandgrouse, Grey-headed Lovebird, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascan Lark
2- 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.
3- Andasibe – Analamazaotra
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
4- 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
5- 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
6- 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<
7- Ifaty
Archbold’s Newtonia , Common Newtonia, Grey-headed Lovebird, Subdesert Brush-Warbler, Thamnornis (Kiritika), Lafresnaye’s Vanga, White-headed Vanga, Hook-billed Vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, Chabert’s Vanga , Red-tailed Vanga, Souimanga Sunbird , Malagasy Green Sunbird, Striped-throated Jery, Common Jery , Malagasy Turtle Dove, Namaqua Dove, Madagascan Hoopoe, Madagascan Cuckooshrike, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher , Sakalava Weaver, Madagascan Cuckoo, Madagascan Harrier-Hawk, Madagascan Cuckoo-Hawk, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Malagasy Kestrel, Banded Kestrel, Madagascan Nightjar, Madagascan Buttonquail, Malagasy Bulbul, Striated Heron, Olive Bee-eater, Scooty Falcon, Green Pigeon, Peregrine Falcon , Pied Crow , Madagascan Lark, Red Fody , Yellow-billed Kite , Bat hawk, Madagascan Magpie-Robin, Madagascan Buzzard, Crested Drongo, Madagascan Coucal, Greater Vasa Parrot, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Madagascan Swamp Warbler, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Little Grebe, Black-winged Stilt, Madagascan Plover, Crab-Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover , Three-banded Plover, Long-tailed Ground Roller, Subdesert Mesite, Running Coua, Red-capped Coua, Green-capped Coua, Crested Coua, Giant Coua, Cuckoo-Roller
8- Andatabo
Red-shouldered Vanga, Verreaux’s Coua, Subdesert Brush Warbler, Red-capped Coua , Madagascan Cuckoo, Madagascan Green Pigeon, Lafresnaye’s Vanga
9- 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
10- 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.
11- 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
12- Ampitolova
Pygmy goose, White-backed duck, Madagascar Jacana
13- Kirindy
ITINERARY OUTLINE
Fly to Mahajanga. Upon arrival, drive eastwards to reach Ampitolova for birding.
Then, drive to Ankarafantsika/Ampijoroa NP.
In the evening, short night walk.
Full day drive to Antananarivo. Birding on the way.
Drive eastwards to Andasibe/Périnet. Birding on the way. On arrival, birding at Analamazaotra National Park and/or VOIMMA Reserve.
Early in the morning, drive to Iaroka, a primary rainforest managed by local community run located on the south of Andasibe NP. This 6-hour hike is rather challenging but worth-it to spot the endemic Helmet Vanga.
Early morning depart to Maromizaha, a nearby Reserve to spot other species.
Then drive back to Antananarivo in the afternoon.
Fly to Fort-Dauphin. Upon arrival, drive westwards the semi-desert landascapes of the Southern Madagascar.
Drive back to Berenty and then fly to Antananarivo.
Fly to Morondava. Upon arrival, drive northwards through the Baobab Avenue to the Kirindy Reserve home for the famous Fossa and many other wildlife species and birds.
Morning walking safari and birdwatching inside Kirindy.
Return to Morondava. On the way, enjoy the sunset at the Baobab Avenue.
At dawn, return to the Baobab Avenue to enjoy the sunrise – Then full day drive to Antsirabe.
Visit of some handicraft workshops in Antsirabe then continue to Ranomafana.
Depart to the Great South of Madagascar. On the way, visit of the nature reserve of Anja to spot the famous Ring Tailed Lemurs. Continue southwards enjoying the landscapes and some birding spots.
Early morning depart. Birding at few spots in Isalo. Then reach Zombitse National Park.
Continue southwards to the Baobabs and savannah.
Birding at the Lake Belalanda before reaching Ifaty.
This program is subject to adjustment as per the
flight schedules . +/- 1 day to might be added consequently.
TOUR OPTIONS & EXTENSIONS
The spots below can be added to this tour according your targets and interests.
Top target: Madagascar Teal
Iaroka Reserve is an alternative to Masoala National Park.
Top targets: Helmet-Vanga, Nutach Vanga
Located in the very dry forest of the south home for several endemic species and water birds.
Top target: Verraux Coua, Madagascar Sandgrouse
Located in north of Antananarivo, in the eastern corridor rainforest.