Full day dedicated to 2 royal hills Ambohimanga and Ilafy.Being a former summer residence of the reigning sovereign of Imerina, Ambohimanga palace contains many buildings and memorabilia dating back to royalty period. It helps to understand how and where build the relations of the kings-queen and people hundred years ago.
We have special lunch near the palace where an historian will continue to tell more stories about. Continuation till the site of Ilafy the capital of the kingdom of Andrianjafy. Ilafy is also the site of the first arms manufacture in Madagascar, established by Jean Laborde in 1833. Drive across the typical countryside of the highland where the rice field and the red chatted roof abounds.
The park is wonderful and makes you feel you were in the middle of the jungle (about 108 Km from the city of Diego-Suarez. It is a spectacularly eroded limestone fortress of sharp ridges, patches of dense tropical jungle, deciduous forest, deep caves and canyons (actually it is the biggest underground network of Africa) and rushing rivers.
With an annual rainfall of almost 2000 mm, the underlying rocks undergo a heavy erosion producing an amazing karst topography, being its most known result the fantastically eroded limestone spires, known as “tsingy”. Walking on the Tsingy is also a great and amazing experience. This reserve contains one of the highest density of primates of any forest in the world 4 species of lemurs, reptiles, bats and sometimes crocodiles.
The Three bays are a series of beautiful turquoise bays, lined with long white beaches that bear fascinating names such as the Pigeons’ Bay, the Dunes ‘Bay, the Sakalava Bay. Take your time on each beach especially “Dunes ‘Bay” and admire it.
Enjoy the opportunity that you have to Breath the winds and big waves of the Indian Ocean that make this place one of the best surfing spots in Madagascar. This military zone offers you its flora such as the famous “endemic baobab “of the region and it gives you magnificent view of the emerald sea. Then go on to the Cap Mine where a fantastic view of the Bay of Diego awaits you.
Tsimbazaza Zoo (known locally as Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza or PBZT) is a zoo and botanical garden in southern Antananarivo. It is the only zoo of its kind in Madagascar.There is a lot of greenery and nature (all kind of plant that exist in the Island) as well as the animals ( many species of lemurs, crodiles, reptiles and birds).It is a great way to get introduced to Madagascar (Biodiversity, culture, and history).
Lunch at the restaurant near the park. Continuation to visit the old city in upper town (“La Haute ville”) where is the Queen's palace, the ancient Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony palace, ancient Justice palace, cathedrals and the residential area ancient noblemen families worth a visit.
This national park is incredible...the area surrounding the park is a desert wasteland of poor environmental practices, which makes the park itself almost completely unexpected. It is lush and green and teaming with all kinds of flora and fauna.Discover the many waterfalls such as the Antomboka, the Antatakarana and the sacred waterfalls and the Mahasarika lake. The visit inside this paradise for birdwatchers gives an opportunity to find in tropical forest a lot of birds such as Malagasy kingfisher Alcedo vintsioides, Madagascar blue pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis, Madagascar paradise flycatcher Tersiphone mutata or Souimanga sunbird Nectarinia souimanga etc. You can find too reptiles little famous Gekos and lemurs as well.
Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar is divided into three levels: the downtown where is the lake Anosy and its monument in the middle of the waters, the intermediate level where boutiques and Shops abounds and the old city in upper town (“La Haute ville”) where Palaces the Queen's palace, the ancient Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony palace, ancient Justice palace, cathedrals and the residential area ancient noblemen families worth a visit.
We don't miss the artisanal metalwork factory where from Recycling of scrap metal to produce small wonders deco art (baobabs, lampshades busts, lamps, mirror). The Violette and Dieudonné iron work opens its doors to everyone who want to buy items for having an income from the sale of art objects. They are reinvested in the company which is totally self-funded to help disadvantaged people.
This tour will lead you to the first destination touristic of Madagascar: Nosy Tanikely marine park and Nosy Komba. A small dream island which is also a natural reserve, Nosy Komba is a postcard beach with crystal water and the forest just behind.
You can snorkel around and there are some nice fish like dolphins, shark whales. Highlights include a puffer fish and 3 turtles species. Beautiful beaches and a lovely climb up to the lighthouse to see the lemurs is well worth it. As for Nosy Komba, it is famous for the black lemur which live with the population in a lush vegatation. The embroideries nappins a worth a vist as well at the main village of Ambarovato.
Marofandilia Forest is composed of spiny dry forest and inland dunes. This area is home to endemic critters like the Verreaux’s sifaka, the red-tailed sportive lemur and smaller pale fork-marked lemur, as well as nearly 200 plant species and precious woods.
The wildlife here is simply unbeatable with Brown Lemurs, Grey Mouse Lemur,and the smal lemur microcèbus because they are endemic to this area. You can find also many species of birds like Iguanas, Crested Couas and much more. On the way back we can stop at the lovers and alley of Baobab. The baobab amoureux: lovers Baobab.Here two magnificent baobabs (Adansonia za) have twisted together, two such a giant twisted.
The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region.
The site is composed of beautiful eroded hills which worth the visit of this outstanding rock shapes with typical sensitive plants. Situated near the village of Irodo, it is about 50 Km from Diego-Suarez. When you walk through the Tsingy Rouge (Red Tsingy), you feel as if you're on another planet. The limestone looks unreal and it is such a unique place to visit. You should try to catch the sunset there so you can see the colours change from minute to minute.
This excursion is a sightseeing and Zoo experience. This tour is a discovery of the local population scenery (colorful public market of vegetable place, memorials buildings, traditional distilleries of essential oils..) and for the zoo 6 species of lemurs (Macaco, Fulvus, catta and more) and others animals (boars, crocodile, turltes, guinea fowl and more).After lunch at Hellville, continuation till Mont Passot, the highest pick of the Island. The tour ends with the vist of the famous sand of Andilana Beach.