Madagascar | Optional Post-trip Extension to Ankarafantsika National Park

Today’s activities and meals are included in the main program.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Mahajanga on the north coast. Travel to Ankarafantsika National Park (which used to be known as, and still incorporates, the Ampijoroa Forest Station). The area is home to eight lemur species and is the last refuge of several lemur and bird species, which is why protecting the park is so important. It is the only place where the golden-brown mouse lemur occurs. During day hikes, Coquerel’s sifaka are commonly seen, as well as mongoose and brown lemurs and the rhinoceros chameleon. At night, it’s possible to see the Milne-Edwards’ sportive lemur, mongoose lemur, western woolly lemur, grey mouse lemur, and fat-tailed dwarf lemur. Ankarafantsika is also the best place to see the spectacular Madagascar Crested Ibis, White-throated Rail, and a host of raptors. The star attraction, however, is the endangered Madagascar Fish-Eagle, now down to about 100 pairs. In the woods, you may also see Greater Vasa Parrot, Madagascar Lesser Cuckoo, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, and various vangas. A boat cruise on Lake Ravelobe offers sights of Humblot’s Heron, Madagascan Malachite Kingfisher, Madagascar Fish-Eagle, as
well as excellent views of many other water birds.

Spend a full day at Ankarafantsika, including a boat ride. Ankarafantsika National Park is famous for its special lemurs but it also has an impressive number of endemic and rare birds. About 130 species are found here; of these, 75 are endemic and about one-third start the common name with Madagascar. The park has nine species of vanga - including the Sickle-billed Vanga, Van Dam’s Vanga (EN), Madagascar Blue Vanga, and Nuthatch Vanga - Red-capped Coua, Coquerel’s Coua, White-breasted Mesite, Cuckoo Roller, Schlegel’s Asity, Velvet Asity, Madagascar Fish Eagle (EN), Madagascar Kestrel, Madagascar Harrier Hawk, Madagascar Buzzard, Madagascar Scops-Owl, Madagascar Grebe (EN), Madagascar Heron (EN), Madagascar Pond-Heron (EN), Madagascar Crested Ibis (T), and Madagascar Jacana (T), plus many others.

Continue exploring Ankarafantsika, including another boat ride. Ankarafantsika National Park is often called the "Kingdom
of Birds," but this dry tropical forest has an equally impressive number of woody plants. Over 800 species are present, many of them endemic to Madagascar. Notable examples include the flowering bush mpanjakabenitany (Baudouinia fluggeiformis), the katrafay (Cedrelopsis grevei) used in traditional medicine, the small tree lohavato (Hymenodictyon occidental), and sakoanala (Poupartia silvatica), a large tree with conspicuous flowers. It also has a good selection of reptiles and endemic frogs, including Nile crocodile, collared iguanid lizard, Oustalets’s giant chameleon, long-nosed chameleon, leaf-tailed geckos, spiny-tailed iguanas, the extremely rare Madagascan big-headed turtle, Antsouhy tomato frog, Madagascar bullfrog, Mascarene ridged frog, western bright-eyed frog, yellow striped reed frog, and tri-colored reed
frog. This is also an area where the enigmatic leaf-nosed snake has been found.

Spend a final morning in Ankarafantsika National Park, then travel back to Mahajanga for overnight.

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Antananarivo arriving in the evening.

Spend the day in Tana then transfer to the airport this evening for your flight home. Check out is at 11 pm.