Difference between revisions of "North Wildlife Photography Tour"

Revision as of 07:00, 17 June 2018

Amber Mountain National Park - Andrafiamena Special Reserve - Red Tsingy - Ankarana National Park - Tsingy of Ankarana East - Tsingy of Ankarana West - Nosy Komba
9 days & 8 nights

Highlights

Amber Mountain National Park: Observation of the Crowned lemur, Brown lemur and Sanford's brown lemur
Andrafiamena Special Reserve: Home of the endangered Black sifaka (Perrier's sifaka)
Red Tsingy: Visiting the interminably eroded limestone
Ankarana National Park: Observation of the Crowned lemur, Sanford's brown lemur, Ankarana sportive lemur, Northern rufous mouse lemur and Minute leaf chameleon (the smallest chameleon in the world)
Tsingy of Ankarana East: Observation of Ankarana sportive lemur and Northern rufous mouse lemur
Tsingy of Ankarana West: Visit of Big Tsingy and Lac Vert (Green Lake)
Nosy Komba: Observation of the 
Black lemur

Tour description

Day 1: Antananarivo - Diego Suarez - Amber Mountain National Park (B/L/D)

Flight to Diego Suarez and thereafter day transfer to Amber Mountain National Park. The Amber Mountain National Park is a volcanic and mountainous area. Founded in 1958, the 18,200ha park is home to seven species of lemurs, including the Crowned lemur, Brown lemur, Sanford's brown lemur, Northern rufous mouse lemur, Northern sportive lemur, Aye-aye and the Amber Mountain fork-crowned lemur (Montagne d'Ambre fork-crowned lemur). Amongst the mammals, the Ring-tailed mongoose is probably the most frequently observed. There are also many species of birds and the Brookesia minima, the smallest chameleon in the world. You will discover beautiful waterfalls and lakes, and beautiful views of the extreme north of the island. The park aims to preserve the unique flora and fauna of northern Madagascar. This mountain is home to a beautiful tropical forest preserved from any human impact. During this visit you will enjoy the various forms of vegetation: canarium, ficus, orchids, ferns. Picnic lunch at Station des Roussettes.
When the sun sets, we will do a night walk to search for some of the special lemurs, such as the Amber Mountain fork-crowned lemur, Arnhold's mouse lemur (Montagne d'Ambre mouse lemur) and for the beautiful, black-masked Furry-eared dwarf lemur. In this isolated treasure house of biodiversity there are also numerous reptiles, amongst them several of the fantastic leaf-tailed geckos and chameleons that co-exist on this mountain. Dinner and overnight in the lodge.

Day 2: Amber Mountain National Park - Andrafiamena Special Reserve (B/L/D)
To complete our trip we spend the entire morning to discover the other part of Amber Mountain National Park. This rainforest is impressively rich of birds such as the White-throated oxylabes, Short-billed greenbul, Hook-billed vanga, Madagascar magpie-robin, Pitta-like ground-roller and Forest rock-thrush. Lunch at the hotel and thereafter transfer from Amber Mountain National Park direction southeast. Short hike on the limestone ridges in the dry and deciduous forest of Andrafiamena Special Reserve. This reserve is the home of the critically endangered Perrier's sifaka.

Day 3: Andrafiamena Special Reserve - Red Tsingy - Ankarana National Park (B/L/D)

Breakfast and full morning to discover Andrafiamena Special Reserve in search of the endangered Black sifaka (Perrier's sifaka). There is also a possibility to find Sanford's brown lemur, Crowned lemur and many bird species in this reserve, including the Madagascar blue pigeon, Hook-billed vanga, Sickle-billed vanga, Red-tailed vanga, Common newtonia, Common jery, Lesser vasa parrot, Greater vasa parrot, Common Hoopoe and White-breasted mesite. 
Lunch at the hotel and thereafter transfer to Ankarana National Park. On the way there we will stop to visit the Red Tsingy.
 Dinner and overnight in a lodge in Ankarana.

Day 4: Ankarana National Park (East) (B/L/D)

After breakfast we spend the day discovering Ankarana National Park. We visit the bat cave and lost river and thereafter walk in the Tsingy Meva and Tsingy Rary. This park protects one of the largest stretches of Tsingy, Madagascar's most bizarre, wonderful, and out-of-another-world landscape. Ankarana is also the best place for observing lemurs such as Crowned lemur and Sanford's brown lemur. Sometimes the Crowned lemurs cross the jagged limestone of the Tsingy to search for food. There are several reptile species including the Oustalet's Chameleon or Malagasy giant chameleon (one of the biggest chameleons in the world), Petter’s white lipped chameleon, Panther chameleon, Minute leaf chameleon (the smallest chameleon in the world) and different gecko species like the Big-headed gecko. Many of the reptiles are endemic to Ankarana.
Ankarana is famous for birding. There are Madagascar blue pigeon, Hook-billed vanga, Sickle-billed vanga, Red-tailed vanga, Common newtonia, Common jery, Lesser vasa parrot, Greater vasa parrot, Common Hoopoe and White-breasted mesite. We return back to lodge. When the sun sets we may do a short night walk before dinner to search for Ankarana sportive lemur, Northern rufous mouse lemur, and perhaps some interesting gecko, frog or Madagascar scops-owl. Dinner and overnight in Ankarana National Park (East).

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