Among giant tree ferns and bromeliads, a flash of orange darts through the green shadows. Hoots and shrieks echo through the canopy. Intrigued, you look up and spy a red-ruffed lemur. Deep within the primeval rainforests of Madagascar, an astounding menagerie of unique animals thrives, from these ancient primates that hop upright to foot-long panther chameleons that change color to match their surroundings. These creatures live among a multitude of unusual flora found nowhere else on Earth, products of biological isolation over eons. Alone in the Indian Ocean, the island of Madagascar is sometimes called the planet’s eighth continent—more than 90% of its species, many of which are rare and endangered, exist only here. Our itinerary reveals a rich sampler of the country’s highlights, as we travel by chartered aircraft and private launch into wild places that evoke the dawn of time.
Trip Highlights
Discover Rare Wildlife Found Nowhere Else
Madagascar holds a wealth of unique and endemic species including lemurs, chameleons and tropical birds, which we search for on rainforest forays
Explore Untouched Primary Rainforest
From a tranquil seaside lodge accessible only by boat or foot, plumb the depths of Madagascar’s largest rainforest preserve
Stroll the Avenue of the Baobabs at Sunset
View the distinctive silhouettes of Madagascar’s most famous trees—tall, cylindrical baobabs more than 800 years old—against the setting sun
The Ideal Addition to Your African Safari—Or a Great Adventure on Its Own
At just eight days, this compact yet diverse adventure offers you a rich experience of Madagascar in about a week—a much shorter duration than most other scheduled tours—making it a perfect extension to an African safari. Find out more about the benefits you'll enjoy on our carefully crafted itinerary:
Explore a Biodiversity Hotspot Before the Rest of the World Gets There
Nat Hab is one of few tour operators offering naturalist-guided trips to this less-discovered destination. Madagascar is a truly distinctive option to add to your safari or visit on its own—due to the island nation’s isolation in the Indian Ocean, 90% of the species here are found nowhere else! You’ll be astonished at the array of unique animals and plants, and you’ll witness firsthand how important your presence is to conserving Madagascar’s endemic wonders.
Chartered Flights are Key to a Superlative Experience
When you’re tight on time on your quest to see a solid swath of Madagascar in a short duration, chartered flights are the only way to go. The country’s national carrier has an abysmal track record for delays and cancellations, so we avoid them, instead arranging private chartered flights that work for our timing. That way, you don’t lose out on precious wildlife viewing! It’s a costly commitment, but charters ensure we get to where we need to be in a quick and convenient manner.A Very Small Group Ensures Intimate Wildlife Encounters
The best wildlife experiences are always more likely to occur in the presence of fewer people. We explore Madagascar with no more than eight travelers—likely the smallest group you'll find—ensuring a quieter, more wondrous experience in nature.
Travel with a Top Naturalist Expedition Leader
Compare the quality of guides and guest-to-guide ratio: You'll travel with a highly experienced Nat Hab Expedition Leader with outstanding knowledge of Madagascar’s nature and culture, with support from local guides at our destinations. Our Expedition Leader provides seamless tour management and the integrated perspective of a professional naturalist, while our Malagasy guides add in-depth local knowledge, helping to maximize our wildlife sightings. Our Expedition Leaders get training and resources from WWF scientists—a Nat Hab exclusive! See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.
Activities Tailored to Varied Physical Abilities
We often divide our groups on hikes and other outings in order to accommodate different physical capacities. Since we explore with a complement of guides, from our own Expedition Leader to various local guides in the places we visit, we're able to split up based on physical challenge, ensuring you won't feel let down or frustrated when other travelers' abilities may not match yours (though all guests must be able to meet our minimum physical requirements for this trip).
Distinctive Accommodations Close to Nature
You won’t get closer to nature than from our secluded ecolodges that are surrounded by it! Fronting a pristine beach, Masoala Forest Lodge lies within the dense primary rainforest of Masoala National Park, the largest of Madagascar’s conservation reserves. And on the west coast, offering access to the famous Avenue of the Baobabs, Hotel Palissandre features individual thatched beachfront bungalows shaded by palm trees.
Be Part of a Conservation Success Story
It's not an exaggeration to say that without our presence, and that of other eco-conscious travelers, most of Madagascar's remaining wild habitat would be gone. By demonstrating the economic value of nature tourism, bringing visitors to observe the intriguing species found in Madagascar's remarkably biodiverse forests, we show local communities the value of protecting their wild surroundings. Conservation travel is imperative to the future of nature in Madagascar. And when you travel with us, you're central to that mission.
Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Nature Adventure
With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.
Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.
Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
