2022 ULTIMATE MADAGASCAR PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR
with DANIEL J. COX

October 30 - November 13, 2022 ITINERARY (13 days, 14 nights)

Sunday, October 30

Please Note: Flight arrival and departure dates will depend on which airline you choose to fly with. Some arrive in the afternoon/evening of October 30th and others early morning on October 31st. Please make sure your flight itinerary corresponds with the tour itinerary. Departure for Morondova is midday October 31st!

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Arrive in Madagascar’s capital city, Antananarivo (also called Tana), today and transfer to a nearby hotel. Spend the day relaxing and recovering from jet lag. Overnight Relais des Plateaux

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Monday, October 31 (B, L, D)

Flight to Morondava this afternoon. When we get to a small beach town on the delta of the Morondava River on the west coast, we’ll take a little time to settle into our hotel and have lunch.

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Late day we’ll load into 4x4s for an adventure to Baobab Alley. The giant baobab trees are an 800-year-old legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived here. Over the years, as the country’s population grew, the forests were steadily cut down, leaving only the baobab trees which the locals preserved for religious reasons.

Overnight Hotel Palissandre Côte Ouest

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Tuesday, November 1 (B, L, D)

Before breakfast, at sunrise, take an early morning walk on the beach to view local fisherman going out on their boats with handmade sails. Photograph locals in town and at fisherman’s wharf. Midday we have a special shoot with the local ladies dressed in their traditional clothing and faces painted with colorful mud.

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Take a walk on the beach in the late afternoon to photograph the locals and birds, followed by a sunset shoot.

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Overnight Hotel Palissandre Côte Ouest

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Wednesday, November 2 (B, L, D)

Enjoy some free time midday to take a swim at this beautiful resort or a walk through town. Overnight Hotel Palissandre Côte Ouest

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Thursday, November 3 (B, L, D)

Depart Morondava this morning on our private charter to Berenty Private Reserve. We will fly to Fort Dauphin and take a private bus to Berenty. The reserve is home to six species of lemur and has southern Madagascar’s largest colony of Madagascar fruit bats. The ease of observing ring-tailed lemurs and “dancing” Verreaux’s sifakas has turned this small protected area into one of Madagascar’s most popular destinations. Overnight Gite d’Etape (also known as Berenty Estate Guesthouse)

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Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5 (B, L, D)

We’ll spend the days wandering Berenty’s flat, broad trails and interacting with the friendly, abundant wildlife. The many lemurs seem happy to pose for photos. This will certainly be one of the highlights of our Madagascar adventure. Another is visiting the flying fox roost where about 300 of these impressive animals with 1.25-meter wingspans spend their day squabbling and presumably sleeping. Overnight Gite d’Etape

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Sunday, November 6 (B, L, D)

Before breakfast, we’ll spend one last morning photographing the lemurs, chameleons, birds, and spiny plants in Berenty before we return to Tana. This is a good day to regroup and get ready for the second half of our adventure. Overnight Relais des Plateaux

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Monday, November 7 (B, L, D)

Today we’ll drive three hours by bus to the Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve. Numerous varieties of colorful butterflies and chameleons can be found here along with geckos, frogs, crocodiles, and bats. In the afternoon, we’ll continue on to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Tonight we’ll take a walk to spot nocturnal animals. Overnight Vakona Forest Lodge

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Tuesday, November 8 (B, L, D)

Early AM visit to Lemur Island, where four species of lemur can be found, including the bamboo lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, brown lemur, and the diademed sifaka. The afternoon is free for a swim or catch up on editing images. Night walk before dinner. Overnight Vakona Forest Lodge

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Wednesday, November 9 (B, D)

Drive to Manambato (approximately five hours) and then take a boat (1.5 hours) to Akanin’ny Nofy, the “nest of dreams,” also known as the Palmairum Reserve. We’ll explore this paradise situated on the shores of Lake Ampitabe, separated from the Indian Ocean by sand dunes. Indris, Coquerall sifakas, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, crowned lemurs, mouse lemurs, and black lemurs are the most notable inhabitants of this private reserve. Overnight Palmarium Hotel

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Thursday, November 10 (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll head outside for a nature walk around the reserve with a local guide. Bring your camera to breakfast! Afternoon free time to hang out in the hammock on your deck or photograph around the lodge.

 

When night falls, we’ll take an excursion to seek out the very rare nocturnal aye-aye lemur. Overnight Palmarium Hotel

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Friday, November 11 (B, L, D)

Breakfast followed by a nature walk with a local guide. A full day to explore the wonders of Akanin’ny Nofy. Photograph the many lemurs, frogs, snakes, chameleons, geckos, and even iguanas that reside here. Sunbathe on the beach while enjoying some of the locally made rum, or take a swim in the warm waters of Lake Ampitabe. Free time to photograph around the reserve, repack, and get ready for the travel day back to Tana. Night walking tour. Overnight Palmarium Hotel

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Saturday, November 12 (B, L, D)

Early breakfast before departure at 8:00am for a 2-hour boat ride and then our private charter back to Tana. Upon arrival in Tana, we’ll have lunch. Day room at Relais des Plateaux for guests departing this evening or overnight for guests flying home tomorrow. Farewell dinner.

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Sunday, November 13 (B)

Depart today to arrive home on November 14th.

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PLEASE NOTE: Professional wildlife photographer Daniel J. Cox will be guiding this tour. Please visit his website Natural Exposures for additional trip details.

 

JOURNEY COST ​

11 Guests Maximum!

EXPLORER RATE: 10,900 USD

NON-EXPLORER RATE: ADD 1000 USD 

Prices per person based on double occupancy

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Single Supplement: 1100 USD

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$1000 per person deposit due at time of booking
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or US check accepted

Deposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.

 

INCLUDED

• Meals where indicated (B = Breakfast, L – Lunch, D = Dinner)

• Beverages (wine, beer, water, soft drinks, coffee, tea) with meals

• Use of cell phone to call home internationally (Wi-Fi will be available at some lodges)

• English-speaking guide throughout trip plus local guides at some locations

• Internal charter flights

• Transportation between locations by shuttle bus or 4×4 vehicles

• Arrival and departure airport transfers on scheduled itinerary days

• Accommodations indicated or similar

• Bottled water throughout the trip

• Park entrance fees

• Local guide fees

• Tourist levy

• VAT

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NOT INCLUDED

• International flights, departure taxes, visa fees (if any)

• Travel/medical evacuation insurance

• Miscellaneous personal expenses – laundry, spa, etc.

• Excess luggage fees

• Gratuities

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Flights to Book

Flight arrival and departure dates will depend on which airline you choose to fly with. Please make sure your flight itinerary corresponds with the tour itinerary.

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October 30/31, 2022
Arrive Antananarivo (TNR)
Arrive any time of day on October 30th. There may be some flights that arrive early morning October 31st. Overnight at Relais des Plateaux October 30th is included, group departs for Morondava midday October 31st!

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November 12/13, 2022
Depart Antananarivo (TNR)
Depart late evening on November 12th or any time of day on November 13th. Overnight at Relais des Plateaux is included on November 12th.

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Emergency Evacuation Insurance

All guests MUST carry emergency evacuation insurance. It is required by our tour operators and the information will be collected prior to trip time. We recommend InsureMyTrip.com and/or Global Rescue (use code natexp).

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Terms and Conditions

Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.

By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY.