Southern Madagascar â Group Trip â Autumn 2012 - Audley Travel

CONTENTS: 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 

MAP OF MADAGASCAR 

DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF YOUR TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS 

QUOTATION 

WHY TRAVEL WITH US 

YOUR ITINERARY IN DETAIL 

ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

AITO QUALITY CHARTER 

Southern Madagascar – Group Trip – Autumn 2012

New Mill, our offices in the Windrush Valley 

on the edge of the Cotswolds 

We are proud to have received a number of awards over recent years. We have been the Daily 

Telegraph Ultra Travel Best Small Tour Operator winner and runner-up for the previous two 

years and, similarly, have been the winner or runner-up of the Guardian and Observer’s Best 

Small Tour Operator award for the past five years as well as featuring in Wanderlust magazine’s 

Top 10 Tour Operators for the past nine years. The readers of Condé Nast Traveller magazine 

have also voted us their Favourite Specialist Tour Operator 2010. 

These awards are widely recognised as being the most respected in the travel industry as they 

are professional surveys of the publications’ readerships. With over 500 tour operators for you 

to choose from in the UK alone, we hope you find these awards are an additional reassurance 

of the quality of service you can expect from Audley. 

*** 


AN INTRODUCTION TO SOUTHERN MADAGASCAR 

OVERVIEW 

Madagascar is one of the world’s most exotic and exciting 

islands. There are virgin rainforests full of endemic animals, 

open plains cut by deep canyons and a coastline with 

small fishing villages and idyllic beaches. 

This tour is designed to give a real feel for the country. 

Travelling by road you’ll explore not only the national 

parks but also enjoy local life, staying in small towns, 

stopping to explore pretty villages and taking fishing boats 

along the coast. 

The tour visits four reserves: Andasibe, Ranomafana, Anja 

and Isalo. Each has numerous lemur species which can 

readily be seen and photographed. Andasibe has the 

largest lemur species – the indri whilst Anja has troops of 

playful ring-tailed lemurs which can be viewed from close 

quarters. Night walks will reveal species such as mouse, 

dwarf and sportive lemurs. 

As well as lemurs you will be able to see brightly coloured 

chameleons, frogs as large as your hand and small as your 

thumbnail and some weird and wonderful lizards such as 

the leaf-tailed gecko which is hard to spot from even a 

foot away. 

The trip ends with two nights relaxing in a beautiful lodge 

on a remote beach. With a lovely location overlooking a 

calm bay you can happily while away the hours reading a 

book and watching the fishermen sailing past in their 

traditional pirogues. 

CLIMATE 

Madagascar experiences a subtropical climate, with a dry 

season from May to November. September to November is 

a lovely time to visit as the weather is dry and warm, skies 

are blue, the jacarandas are in flower and lemurs have 

babies (also lychees are in season). The lemurs tend to be 

active during these month and are readily seen. 

THE MADAGASCAR TEAM AT AUDLEY 

Each member of the Madagascar team has travelled 

extensively throughout the country and we have pooled 

their collective knowledge to create a trip that we think 

reflects the best of Madagascar. Your initial enquiry will be 

handled by Victoria, Zoe or Donna who will then proceed 

to be your main point of contact until you return from the 

tour. Please feel free to contact them at any time. 

GROUP SIZE 

The group size is kept to a maximum of 16, this ensures 

that the trip is a more personal experience and that you 

can hear and speak to your guides. The small group also 

ensures that your experience of a particular sight is not 

marred by the presence of too many people. 

TOUR HEALTH & FITNESS REQUIREMENTS 

To ensure that all participants get the most out of the tour, it is 

important that you are fully aware of the level of activity, fitness 

and medical health required to successfully complete this 

itinerary. Please read this dossier carefully prior to confirming your 

place on the tour. Having established the facts, it is your 

responsibility to contact us with any concerns regarding individual 

levels of fitness, health or ability. Please be aware that our tour 

leaders have the right to exclude customers from the tour if they 

feel they are not sufficiently fit, healthy or able to complete the 

tour without affecting its safety, comfort or smooth progress. If 

you would like to discuss any of these issues further please 

contact the Madagascar team on 01993 838585 

ACTIVITY LEVEL OF TRIP = MEDIUM-HIGH 

It is not possible to drive in Madagascar’s National Parks and 

therefore all the activities are on foot. There is a large amount of 

walking on this trip, some trips lasting three hours or more. Paths 

in the forest can be steep at times, with roots crossing them. 

Vegetation can be wet and slippery and the atmosphere is humid. 

Walking in virgin rainforest is an amazing experience however you 

do need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this trip. There is 

also driving on rough bumpy roads, and a couple of very long days 

as travel distances in Madagascar are large. We believe this is a 

wonderful trip, however it is for the active traveller with a good 

level of fitness. 

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS 

Special dietary requirements should be highlighted by you on the 

booking form. However you must be aware that it is unrealistic to 

expect specialist diets to be catered for in some of the 

destinations we will be visiting. We will advise hotels and airlines 

of your request but we cannot guarantee their availability. 

TOUR GUIDES 

You will be accompanied at all times by two experienced and 

knowledgeable guides who speak English. Please note that there 

is not a tour leader accompanying this group from the UK – your 

driver-guides will be leading the group as well as being your point 

of contact on the ground. 

SINGLE TRAVELLERS 

As a single traveller you have two options – you can choose to 

share a room with another single traveller on the tour and pay the 

standard tour price (this option will only be available if another 

single traveller of the same sex is also willing to share), or you can 

choose to guarantee the sole occupancy of your room, in which 

case a single supplement of £800 is payable. 

MEAL ARRANGEMENTS 

Breakfast and dinner are included throughout the course of your 

trip with the exception of Relais Des Plateaux in Antananarivo 

where just breakfast is included. Your tour guide will be able to 

make some good suggestions for lunch in the course of your trip. 


HOME TRUTHS 

We aim to provide accurate and detailed information to 

make you aware of all the aspects of the journey you are 

undertaking. Some facts that you should be aware of are 

outlined below: 

There are a number of early starts in the itinerary. This is 

done invariably in order to capture the best part of the day 

for a particular site, to avoid crowds, or if it is a busy 

excursion, to fit everything in to the day. 

Internal flight schedules are often changed at short notice. 

Generally times only alter by an hour or two, but changes are 

sometimes more serious. If any of your flights are changed after 

booking we will notify you and amend the itinerary accordingly. 

Serious changes can result in additional costs which in some 

cases will have to be met by you. 

Travelling in Madagascar requires flexibility, patience and 

understanding; arrangements often change at short notice, 

accommodation is simple and there are long drives on unsealed 

roads. Standards of accommodation and service aren’t always as 

polished as they are in other African countries that are more 

established for tourism. This is improving all the time but service 

remains reactive rather than proactive. 


MAPS OF THE REGION 


DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF 

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS 

DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 

1 Monday 05 

November 2012 

You will fly from London Heathrow to 

Nairobi. 

Overnight on aircraft 

2 Tuesday 06 


On arrival in Nairobi you will connect onto a 

flight to Tana. In Tana you will be met by 

your guides and taken to your hotel for the 

night. There will be a trip briefing and then 

you can either relax or be taken on a city 

tour. 

Relais des Plateaux, Antananarivo 

1 x Standard twin room for 2 (Twin) - 

Breakfast is included 

3 Wednesday 07 


After breakfast you will drive to Andasibe. 

The journey will take about 3-4 hours and 

will pass through a number of attractive 

villages. It will be possible along the way to 

stop, take photographs and soak up the 

local culture. You will arrive in the 

afternoon and will be taken out on a short 

night walk. This will give you the 

opportunity to view some of amazing 

nocturnal wildlife that inhabits this area. 

Vakona Forest Lodge, Andasibe- 

Mantadia National Park 

1 x Standard cottage for 2 (Twin) - 

Breakfast and dinner are included 

4 Thursday 08 


Today you will be taken into Andasibe. One 

of the major highlights is a sighting of the 

Indri. These are the largest of all the lemurs 

and have an amazing siren like call. In the 

evening you will be taken on a night walk 

into the Mitsinjo Reserve. 





5 Friday 09 


Today you will visit the Mantadia National 

Park, a 12,000 hectare mountain rainforest 

with wonderful vegetation and wildlife. The 

park is home of the rare diademed sifakas 

and feels more remote than nearby 

Andasibe 





6 Saturday 10 


This morning before heading off you will 

have the opportunity to view Lemur island. 

Here you will get the chance to see lemurs 

close up which provides fantastic 

photographic opportunities. You will then 

leave Andasibe and drive to Antsirabe. This 

trip takes most of the day. There will be a 

stop at Ambatolampy to visit a traditional 

blacksmiths workshop. Please note that 

Couleur Cafe has a series of different room 

types. These will be allocated at random. 

Couleur Cafe, Antsirabe 

1 x Standard for 2 (Twin) - Breakfast 

and dinner are included 



7 Sunday 11 


Today you will set off to Ranomafana driving 

past terraced rice fields that are typical of 

this Betsileo region. The journey takes 

around seven hours. You will stop in 

Ambositra, the woodcarving centre of 

Madagascar. You will then continue onwards 

to Ranomafana. You will arrive in the late 

afternoon and check into your hotel. 

Setam Lodge, Ranomafana National 

Park 

1 x Bungalow for 2 (Twin) - Breakfast 


8 Monday 12 


Today you will head into the park. The park 

is stunning set amongst a rolling series of 

hills and contains a dozen different species 

of lemur. The guides will vary the length of 

walk depending on your level of fitness. 

After a leisurely afternoon you will have the 

opportunity to go on a night walk. 

Setam Lodge, Ranomafana National 

Park 

1 x Bungalow for 2 (Twin) - Breakfast 


9 Tuesday 13 


This morning you will drive to Fianarantsoa, 

the second biggest town in Madagascar. You 

will have a short city tour before continuing 

on to Ambalavao. This afternoon you will be 

taken into Anja. This park is renowned for 

its ring tailed lemurs, arguably the most 

precocious species in Madagascar and you 

should be able to get some good photos. 

Hotel aux Bougainvillées, Ambalavao 





After a visit to the Antemoro paper fabric 

you will continue your journey to Isalo 

National Park. The journey takes around 

four hours. This afternoon you will be taken 

out to La Fenetre, which provides an 

excellent sunset viewpoint. 

Le Jardin du Roy, Isalo National Park 

1 x Standard room for 2 (Twin) - 


11 Thursday 15 


Today you will be taken into Isalo and trek 

up to Namaza. This is a beautiful trek up a 

leafy canyon. Along the way ring tailed as 

well as brown lemurs are occasionally 

viewed. In the afternoon you may want to 

relax or even go on a horse riding excursion. 

This can be arranged through the lodge and 

is payable locally. 




12 Friday 16 


Today you will have the choice of visiting 

the Piscine Naturale, a delightful fresh water 

swimming pool set in the heart of Isalo or 

driving for an hour to Zombitse. This park 

offers good sightings of sifakas or if you are 

lucky one of Madagascar`s rarest birds the 

Appert`s Greenbul. 




13 Saturday 17 


You will have a morning drive towards 

Tulear. This will take about four hours. 

After lunch you will take a boat to the 

village of Anakao where you will spend the 

next couple of nights 

Anakao Ocean Lodge, Anakao 

1 x Sea View Rooms for 2 (Twin) - 




14 Sunday 18 


You can spend the day relaxing if you would 

like or participate in an excursion to 

Tsimanampetsota National Park. The park is 

located about 90 minutes from Anakao on a 

rough road. The park contains a beautiful 

saline like as well some spectacular baobab 

trees. This is a rare opportunity to view the 

flora and fauna that is so typical of this 

incredibly arid region. 


1 x Sea View Rooms for 2 (Twin) - 


15 Monday 19 


Today you will take the boat back to Tulear 

where you will spend the night. If time 

allows you will have the opportunity to visit 

the Arboretum, a showcase of the flora of 

this region. 

Hotel Victory, Tulear (Toliara) 



16 Tuesday 20 


You have a very long day today. You will be 

taken to Tulear Airport and fly to Tana. You 

will check onto an international flight to 

Nairobi. On arrival in Nairobi you will clear 

customs and buy a visa - U$25. You will be 

met by our agents who will take you to the 

Carnivore Restaurant for an evening meal. 

After enjoying the meal you will return to 

the airport and check in for your 

international flight to the UK. 

Overnight on aircraft 



You will arrive back in the UK early in the 

morning. 


Chameleon, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar 

TOUR PRICE 

Arrangements as specified per person £3870 

Single Supplement £800 

Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements £730 

The deposit required is detailed above and relates to the itinerary detailed in this quotation. In most cases the 

deposit is 15% of the total cost or £200 per person (whichever is the greater), however in some instances a larger 

deposit is required in order to secure particular services. Please refer to the Important Information booklet and 

booking form for further details on our Terms and Conditions. Please note if you confirm your booking within 60 

days of your departure date full payment is required at the time of booking. 

AUDLEY PRICE POLICY 

We are confident that we offer excellent value for money and constantly monitor our prices to ensure we remain 

competitive. If another company quotes what appears to be a lower price then we are happy to review our price 

with you, however, in our experience when we examine alternative quotations we invariably find differences in the 

arrangements. These may be subtle or more fundamental, but the impact these can have on your enjoyment is 

considerable. If you are able to provide a copy of the other proposal (with the name of the tour operator omitted 

if you prefer) we will compare the arrangements and forward a detailed reply to you. 

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE 

• Local airport departure taxes - payable locally on 

each departure. 

• Where applicable, locally payable car hire related 

charges including optional excess reduction. 

• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, 

etc. 

• Meals not indicated within your itinerary. 

• Tips for your guide and driver (discretionary). 

• Any camera or video fees at any sites. 

• Entrance fees and other costs when on 'free time’ 

• Travel Insurance 

QUALITY OF SERVICE 

Most companies claim to offer first class service, but very few genuinely set out to achieve it. At Audley we are 

wholeheartedly devoted to offering you first class service from the moment we start planning your trip until after your 

return. If you feel that our standards at any time drop below your expectations or you have any suggestions about how 

we could improve our service, then please contact the Africa Safari Manager, Ruth Milligan on 01993 838 503 or e- 

mail ruth.milligan@audleytravel.co 


VISAS 

Kenya 

Visas are required for adults for entry into Kenya but not currently for children. We do advise 

that these are obtained in advance about 6 weeks prior to departure. Audley can pre-arrange 

visas for you at a cost of £52 per person and it is also possible to arrange them yourselves 

through the Kenya High Commission (www.kenyahighcommission.net/visas). However, it is 

also possible to get your visas on arrival for U$25 (please note that only new US dollar notes 

will be accepted, none that are damaged or torn & having the correct change is highly 

recommended). 

If you are getting your visas on arrival which is the cheapest option, do ensure your passport 

is valid for at least another 6 months after your date of departure from Kenya and you have 

at least 2 blank pages. Do also be prepared to queue for a while on arrival so if your itinerary 

has a tight connection we recommend getting your visa in advance. 

Please also note that if you have visited a yellow fever country, or are transiting through a 

yellow fever country on your way in to Tanzania, you will need to present your yellow fever 

certificate on arrival in Tanzania. 

Madagascar 

Visas are required for Madagascar, however until further notice, these can be obtained free 

of charge on arrival in Antananarivo. 

Please note that if you have visited a yellow fever country, or are transiting through a yellow 

fever country on your way in to Madagascar you may need to present your yellow fever 

certificate on arrival in Madagascar. 

Important Note: We cannot under any circumstances guarantee that your visa application for any country will be 

accepted. However, in our experience refusals are extremely rare. Visa information is given in good faith and is 

accurate to the best of our knowledge. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 

It is advisable to take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for predeparture 

cancellation from the policy issue date. This will, therefore, provide cover should you have to cancel 

your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious accident. 

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are adequately insured, protecting against 

unforeseen circumstances that could otherwise spoil your travels. Cover should include emergency medical 

expenses, personal accident and repatriation. In addition, we strongly recommend that you include baggage, 

personal liability and cancellation cover. 

We are working with Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited to offer you a range of excellent single and multi-trip 

policies. These include: 

• Personal accident cover 

• Repatriation cover 

• Baggage cover 

• Personal liability cover 

• Overseas legal expenses 

• Cancellation or curtailment charge cover 

These policies also cover over 80 sports and activities as standard and you can add cover for more adventurous 

activities such as white water rafting up to grade 4, trekking up to 6,000 metres and scuba diving up to 40 

metres, to name a few. 

This is only a summary of the cover provided. The policy document can be read in full on Endsleigh’s website, 

which can be accessed by following the link below. 

To receive a quote and to book your travel insurance online please go to www.endsleigh.co.uk/AudleyTravel or 

call our dedicated team at Endsleigh on 0800 028 0063. Please let them know you are travelling with Audley when 

you call them for a quote. 


HOW TO BOOK 

If you are happy with the arrangements outlined within this itinerary and would like to book, please forward your 

completed booking form and the deposit specified above. If you would like to revise the itinerary, feel free to 

contact me and I can prepare another version which will hopefully match your requirements. The deposit can be 

paid by cheque, bank transfer or credit / debit card. Please make cheques payable to Audley Travel. 

On occasions, we may be asked by suppliers to make payment to them earlier than normal. Such requests may, 

for example, be made in order to secure flights, accommodation and other services during periods of peak 

demand. Whilst suppliers may have no contractual right to make such requests, failure to comply with them may 

result in the loss of confirmed arrangements. Where this situation arises, we reserve the right to ask you to make 

payment of the requested sum within a stipulated period and prior to balance due date. We will of course 

endeavour to avoid doing so if we can. Any such part payment will be treated as part of your deposit for the 

purposes of our terms and conditions. 

PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD 

Please note that we do not charge a fee on deposit payments by credit card, except when a deposit is more than 

15%. In this situation a charge will apply. Credit card fees are detailed on the booking form. We charge a credit 

card fee due to the high fees charged to tour operators by the credit card companies. We have chosen to make 

this transparent rather than including it within the trip price. You may therefore wish to pay the balance by bank 

transfer, debit card or personal cheque. 


WHY TRAVEL WITH US 

REPUTATION & QUALITY 

Well over 80% of our clients have travelled with us in 

the past or have had Audley recommended to them. 

When you book with us you are assured of quality 

arrangements if only for the fact that we simply cannot 

afford to risk our excellent reputation. Our service has 

been recognised by the readers of well-known 

publications including the Guardian & Observer, the 

Daily Telegraph and Wanderlust magazine, where we 

have consistently featured in their ‘best tour operator’ 

awards for a number of years. 

PERSONAL SERVICE 

We are committed to offering you a very personal 

service, with all your arrangements being handled by 

one country specialist. They will remain your one point 

of contact and will take responsibility for the smooth 

operation of your trip. They are supported by a team of 

specialists for that region and a professional 

administration and management team. 

From the moment you contact us, we are here to 

answer your questions accurately and honestly, be 

they about specific arrangements or any more general 

queries you may have. We are experienced travellers 

with a thorough and in-depth knowledge of our 

specialist destinations, and the benefit of this 

experience is yours throughout. When we do not know 

the answer to a question we will endeavour to find out 

and get back to you as soon as possible. 

QUALITY SERVICE WHEN YOU ARE TRAVELLING 

We take a good deal of care when choosing our travel 

partners overseas, taking into account their quality of 

service, guides and vehicles. We have built up many 

long-standing relationships, ensuring that they deliver 

the level of service demanded by Audley clients. Our 

local guides and drivers, where appropriate, are the 

people you will meet. In many cases we know them 

personally, in all cases we ensure that they are of the 

highest calibre. They are there to do much more than 

show you specific sights and provide factual 

information. They will be able to tell you about local 

life, culture, cuisines and customs; and, where 

applicable, act as translator. In certain parts of the 

world a specialist guide is more appropriate, for 

example, a wildlife expert. 

A SMOOTH JOURNEY 

We have procedures in place for dealing quickly and 

efficiently with mishaps from minor flight time 

alterations to more fundamental changes. If problems 

do occur we will rapidly rearrange your itinerary to 

make best use of your time given the changed 

circumstances, not simply cancel part of your trip or 

leave you sitting in an airport waiting for hours for a 

rescheduled flight. Importantly, in these situations we 

will do everything possible to minimise any extra costs 

involved – in the vast majority of cases no extra 

charges will be made. If a problem does occur while 

you are travelling you can contact us on our 24 hour 

number. We will do everything in our power to rectify 

the problem immediately rather than allow it to spoil 

your trip. 

DETAILED TRAVEL DOCUMENTS 

Approximately two to three weeks before you travel we 

will send you all your travel documents presented in a 

convenient travel organiser. As well as your full 

itinerary and air tickets, there will also be additional 

information such as recommended restaurants and 

practical tips. A few days before you travel your 

specialist will call you to have a final talk through your 

itinerary and answer any last minute questions you 

may have. 

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL 

We have a firm commitment to minimising 

the environmental and social impact of 

travel, and strive to ensure that a visit 

from an Audley client has a positive effect 

on the destination. We have a 

firm commitment to the principles of ‘responsible 

travel’ and have been awarded AITO 5 star status (the 

highest achievable) for our policies and practises. We 

continue to work with AITO, and a number of other 

bodies, to improve our policies. For more details 

please refer to our website (www.audleytravel.com/rt) 

where you will find details of our responsible travel 

policy and also our Travellers’ Code. If you are 

particularly interested in these issues and wish to 

incorporate them into your itinerary, please do not 

hesitate to contact your country specialist: 

tom.weston@audleytravel.com 

LEGAL LIABILITY 

We are a UK company and hence must fully comply 

with English law. When booking with us you can rest 

assured that your arrangements are carefully planned 

as we have a reputation to maintain and are legally 

liable for any omissions or negligent acts. You may not 

find you have this level of reassurance if you make 

your own travel arrangements independently. 

First class guides 


CHARITY SUPPORT 

Audley has been supporting carbon reduction projects through Friends of Conservation since 2005 and in 

addition to this each individual department also supports a charity of their choice with a yearly financial 

donation. This charity is one that is close to their hearts and the team often chooses to fundraise to add to this 

amount. Please ask your specialist if you would like to find out more as in most instances they will have visited 

the charity themselves, or one of their colleagues will have. 

THE MARA RIANDA CHARITABLE TRUST 

Our friend and former colleague Ariana Grammaticas left Audley in 2007 to return to her home country of Kenya. 

In early 2008 she wrote to us about The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust. Set up by Richard Long, who visited Kenya 

in 2004, it supports the school and community in the wider Mara area. All the money Richard raises is used to 

provide this support, and he covers administration costs himself. So far the Trust has installed a borehole to 

supply fresh water, built five new classrooms provided bursaries for exceptional students to go to secondary 

school and paid the salary for one teacher. Though much has been achieved, there is always much more that can 

be done! 

Children drinking at the muddy spring ©Richard Long 

AUDLEY AND THE MARA RIANDA CHARITABLE TRUST IN THE FUTURE 

We initially became involved with The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust to help with its aim to bring clean drinking 

water to the children of Aitong Primary School, who were previously drinking from a muddy spring. Complications 

arose when it was discovered that the spring that the trust had hoped to tap for clean water dried up for three 

months of each year. After several meetings with the Maasai elders, it has now been agreed that the water can be 

taken from the main spring at Aitong village and be pumped over 1 kilometre to the school. This project is 

nearing completion, aided by donations from Audley and other organisations. Following on from this great 

success, Richard’s next aim is to install more latrines, new solar lighting, a new kitchen and rainwater harvesting 

equipment back at Mara Rianda Primary School. We are proud to support The Mara Rianda Charitable Trust, and 

look forward to supporting these excellent projects in the future. 

If you would like further information please speak to your Africa specialist on 01993 838 500. Alternatively, if you 

are going to Kenya and staying at any of the Governor’s Camps in the Masai Mara, do ask the staff to take you to 

visit! 


Frog, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar 

YOUR ITINERARY IN DETAIL 

Monday, 05 


LONDON TO NAIROBI 

Kenya Airways flight - Flight No: KQ101 - Dep: 2000 - Arr: 0630 - (next day); Class: 

Economy class; Non-stop flight; 

Tuesday, 06 


NAIROBI TO ANTANANARIVO 

Kenya Airways flight - Flight No: KQ756 - Dep: 0820 - Arr: 1140 - (same day); Class: 


Madagascar Introduction 

Madagascar is situated about 400km off the coast of Africa, south of the Equator. This 

huge island country is roughly 2.5 times the size of Great Britain and contains a rich variety 

of environments ranging from open plains, deciduous forests, dense rainforest, white sand 

beaches and lofty mountains. Cut off from mainland Africa for millions of years, the 

island's flora and fauna has evolved into unique species including 150,000 forms of life 

which are found nowhere else in the world, the most famous of which are the numerous 

species of lemurs. 

A trip around Madagascar is very different to a safari on mainland Africa. Madagascar is an 

undeveloped country and tourism is very new. Therefore, for any trip to Madagascar it is 

important to take both a sense of humour and adventure. Camps and lodges are full of 

character however they are not like the slick efficient camps you find on mainland Africa. 

The Madagascan people are friendly and welcoming but there may well be a language 

barrier as English is not always widely spoken. It is useful to have a basic grasp of French 

and take a phrase book. 

All internal flights are operated by Air Madagascar who have a reputation for delayed and 

cancelled flights. When flight changes happen it can seriously disrupt an itinerary as there 

is in some case no other flights or means of onward transport for the next 2-3 days. Air 

Madagascar have dramatically improved in recent years and over the past year we have 

found cancellations and changes to be an issue in less than ten percent of our clients’ 

itineraries, however it is still a risk. If flight problems do occur Audley and our ground 

agents will discuss the possible options with you and make new arrangements for you. 

Please be aware however that this can incur additional costs. If you have any queries 

about this please do ask your specialist for more information. 

The advantage of travel in Madagascar is that you are seeing a country that will not remain 

like this for long. At Audley we love the fact that every hotel is totally different, there are 

no chains here. We find the guides fascinating, wildlife exciting and we love to see a 

country before it has been properly ‘discovered’ by the masses. We think that now is the 

time to enjoy it, revel in the chaos, the colour and the wildlife, before others arrive. We 

have always found the people very welcoming, and as long as you have patience, a 

willingness to dust off your O Level French and some sign language you will have a trip you 

will never forget. 


Madagascar's Central Highlands Introduction 

Running down the spine of Madagascar are the Hauts Plateaux, or the Central Highlands. 

This is a spectacular area with mountains, ravines, hills and valleys. It is a relatively 

populated area and driving through the mountains you will see villages on hilltops with tall 

clay houses with thatched roofs. Some streets are cobbled and zebu cattle are plentiful as 

farming is prolific in the area. 

There are a number of towns in the Central Highlands not least the capital Antananarivo or 

Tana as it is commonly known. Set on a series of hills it has a fascinating atmosphere with 

French, Malagasy and Asian influences. 

The common way to explore the Central Highlands is by car, starting in Tana and then 

driving south all the way to Fort Dauphin or Tulear on the south coast. Places of interest 

along the way include Ampefy, 60 miles south of Tana and a volcanic region characterized 

by spectacular waterfalls and geysers. Further south, the town of Antsirabe is a town 

renowned for local handicrafts and its thermal spa. Also in the Central Highlands you find 

Andringitra National Park and Isalo National Park. Just below the highlands in the rainforest 

belt is Ranomafana. 

The central highlands are wonderful to explore by car and driving along you will pass many 

towns and villages. In the area surrounding Tana the majority of people are Merina, whose 

name means 'those from the country where one can see far'. The Merina are considered to 

be the most Asian of the Malagasy ethnic groups in terms of their physical characteristics 

and culture and many are rice farmers. It is common to see zebu-cattle aerating the fields 

and farmers sowing, reaping and grinding their rice. 

South of the Merina kingdom you find the Betsileo people. They are reputedly the best 

farmers in Madagascar, building rice terraces on the slopes of steep hills similar to those of 

Indonesia or the Philippines. 

South of the Betsileo live the Bara who are divided into five clans in the dry regions at the 

southern end of the central highlands. They keep large herds of zebu cattle and are the 

most pastoral people in Madagascar; they also have a reputation of being valiant warriors. 

Antananarivo Introduction 

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar. It is located in Antananarivo Province, and is 

most commonly known by its colloquial short-hand form Tana. It is situated in the centre 

of the island length-wise, and 90 miles away from the eastern coast. The city occupies a 

commanding position, being built on a series of hills. In years gone by the king used to 

occupy his palace on the tallest hill and from there he would look down over the smaller 

hills where all his wives lived. The city grew from there and modern day Tana now sprawls 

across the hills in a disorganised but not totally unattractive fashion. 

Looking down from the plane window as you approach you can see clusters of red clay 

houses and steepled churches on hilltops and a mosaic of fields. Dotted in the empty 

countryside are the white concrete Merina tombs from where the dead will be exhumed in 

the famadihana ceremony. 

Driving into town from the airport is fascinating. Whilst there is no doubt that you are in a 

working African city it is one of the more attractive ones. Taxi-brousses zip along the roads 

that are also home to zebu-carts, people pushing home-made wheelbarrows, street traders 

selling everything from bananas to brooms and more. The city is interspersed with paddy 

fields where zebu graze and cattle egrets mix with ducks and chickens. There are old 

colonial houses, cobbled streets, modern office blocks and grand French state houses. The 

city is very vibrant, very alive and has totally chaotic traffic and yet somehow it manages to 

look serene in the light of the sunset. 

Antananarivo was founded in about 1625 by King Andrianjaka and takes its name (the City 

of the Thousand) from the number of soldiers Andrianjaka assigned to guarding it. Until 

1869 all buildings within the city were of wood or rushes, but even then it possessed 

several timber palaces of considerable size. The city was captured by the French in 1895 

and incorporated into their Madagascar protectorate. Since the French conquest, good 

roads have been constructed throughout the city, broad flights of steps connect places too 

steep for the formation of carriage roads, and the central space, called Andohalo, has 

walks and terraces, flower-beds and trees. 

Tana is one of the more attractive capitals in the developing world. In the evening sunshine it is 

particularly delightful with brightly coloured houses stacked up the hillsides, purple jacarandas and 

violet bougainvillea against the sky. Rice paddies are tended right up to the edge of the city and zebucarts 

rumble along the roads on the outskirts of town. As with all African cities the traffic can be 

interesting to say the least - we have found that the best thing to do is just not to look at the roads but 

instead let your driver navigate them, whilst you admire the scenery! 


Market in Antananarivo, Madagascar 

IVATO AIRPORT TO IVATO 

Group transfer with driver and guide 

The group will be driven from the airport into the Ivato Area of town, a quiet suburb nearby 

the airport. On arrival at your hotel your driver will assist you with your check-in. 


Breakfast is included 

Wednesday, 07 


ANTANANARIVO TO ANDASIBE 

group transfer with driver and guide 

The group will be driven from Tana to Andasibe. This journey takes between around 4 hours 

depending on traffic. You will cross the city of Tana first as the road to Andasibe is on the 

opposite side of town to the airport. Going through Tana you'll see paddy fields, zebu 

cattle, lively markets and all sorts of houses from faded colonial buildings to tiny huts. The 

traffic can be terrible with taxi-brousses, trucks, cabs and zebu carts all jostling for space. 

The Tokyo roundabout signals the end of Tana and you are then into beautiful rolling 

countryside. The drive is very picturesque as you pass through numerous small villages, 

paddy fields and forests. You'll see tiny stalls at the side of the road selling fruit so and 

there are plenty of beautiful photo opportunities and your driver will be happy to stop for 

you to take pictures. The road is pretty good, although it does have its fair share of 

potholes. The last half hour is on dirt track and will be much slower but the scenery and 

mountain air are wonderful. 

The Lowland and Montane Rainforests of Eastern Madagascar 

Introduction 

The Eastern rainforests stretch from the tiny town of Iharana on Madagascar's northeast 

coast to Fort Dauphin in the southeast tip of the country. As the name suggests they lie 

along the east coast, stretching along a long band known as the Madagascar Sylva. In years 

gone by these rainforests used to stretch continuously, however logging and slash & burn 

farming has fragmented them. Fortunately, much forest still remains and this forest is the 

most beautiful primary rainforest you will find anywhere on earth. 

At the coast the rainforest is lowland forest, beautiful thick vegetation dropping to idyllic 

sandy beaches. As the clouds sweep in off the sea they drench the forests with around 

3,500mm of rain each year. Much of this rain falls between January and March, however you 

can expect sudden downpours all year round. Once the rain clears, the sun comes out and 

the light flooding down between the leaves makes the forest magical. 

Lowland forest reserves include Masoala & Nosy Mangabe. The forests here are 

unparalleled in beauty. The thick vegetation is made up of huge trees with buttress roots, 

saplings, palms, lianas, ferns, orchids, mosses and more. Streams weave in and out of the 

trees and over moss covered boulders and the ground is covered in a thick spongy leaf 

litter. The forests are bursting with life. Walking along the narrow paths you encounter 

beautiful butterflies, chameleons, snakes, frogs and lemurs. Vasa parrots can be heard 

calling and if you look carefully you may spot the tiny Madagascar kingfisher. 


As you leave the coast and the land rises the forest turns to montane rainforest (800m to 

1,300m). Reserves that protect montane rainforest include Perinet, Amber Mountain and 

Ranomafana. Drenched by the rain but at a higher altitude the forest is still dense and 

bursting with life but with subtle differences. Bamboo is more common here and trees tend 

to have smaller tougher leaves. Mosses and epiphytes are abundant and shrubby 

undergrowth flourishes as more light filters through the trees. There are waterfalls and 

streams pouring down the mountainside. The climate is wet and you can expect a 

drenching at any time, however it is cooler and less humid than the coast. Wildlife is 

abundant with many lemur species, frogs varying in size from 6mm to 16cm, brightly 

coloured chameleons and much more. 

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park Introduction 

This area can cause confusion as it has so many names. The park is made up of two 

protected areas - the Analamazaotra (pronounced An-al-a-mazoo-tra) Reserve which is also 

known as Perinet and/or Andasibe which are the French and Malagasy names of the nearest 

town. The second protected area is the Mantadia National Park and this is located about 

40 minutes away from Perinet and fortunately only has the one name. Analamazaotra is the 

place to see and hear the indri, while down the road in Mantadia you find the diademed 

sifaka and black & white ruffed lemur. 

The Andasibe-Mantadia Calendar 

January, February and March are the cyclone season and therefore not a good time to visit. 

During April and May the reserve enjoys typical tropical weather with showers interspersed 

with sunshine. As it is warm, the lemurs are active during this time. From June to August 

the parks experience their winter and the cooler temperatures lead to the wildlife being 

less active. From September to December the rainfall is low and lemur viewing is good. The 

area receives 1700mm of rain so you can expect rain showers all year round. However, 

luckily the fauna is used to the rain and thus you can see wildlife all year round. 

Indri, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar 

NIGHT WALK BY ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK 

shared excursion with an English speaking guide 

Despite the National Parks and the Perinet Reserve being closed in the evenings it is still 

possible to see some of the nocturnal species by means of a night walk, accompanied by a 

local guide. The walk takes place along the main road that runs along the edge of the 

reserve; there are few cars at this time of the evening and therefore the only traffic you are 

likely to come across is other night walkers wielding torches! The road makes for easy 

walking and the proximity to the vegetation will mean that you are likely to spot something. 

Dwarf lemurs, woolly lemurs and mouse lemurs are commonly spotted as well as different 

species of frogs, chameleons and lots of insects. Your guide should provide you with a 

strong torch, but we still strongly recommend taking your own head torch with you. This 

will enable you to have a larger pool of light to catch glimpses of twinkling eyes and then 

you can focus in on the particular animal with the one provided or with the help of your 

guide's torch. The walk is easy, and a really nice way to spend an evening it should last 

about an hour. 


Parson's chameleon 

Vakona Forest Lodge, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park 


Thursday, 08 


DAY EXPLORING ANDASIBE-MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK 

shared excursion with English speaking guide 

The main draw to the Perinet Reserve is the chance of seeing and hearing the indri, the 

largest surviving lemur species. The indris are only found in this national park and 

therefore have lots of visitors and at times the park can be busy, but these rarities are still 

well worth a visit! The best way to visit the park and the indris is on foot in the early 

morning as this is when they are most active and are most likely to be calling, a very eerie 

noise that can be heard up to 3 kilometres away. You will have a guide at your disposal for 

the day to enjoy walks in the National Park. 

Everyone who enters the park has a pretty good chance of seeing the indri as they are fairly 

habituated and the guides are good at finding them. As well as the indris there are lots of 

other lemur species in the reserve including brown lemurs and possibly the elusive 

diademed sifaka alongside lots of other animal species and beautiful forest to enjoy 

walking through. 



Friday, 09 


DAY EXPLORING MANDADIA NATIONAL PARK 

shared excursion with your guide 

Located further away from the town of Andasibe means that the national park of Mantadia 

receives relatively fewer visitors. It takes around 1 hour to drive there. The trails are more 

rugged compared to the Perinet reserve, however for the wildlife enthusiast, you will be 

well rewarded. The park covers an area of 10,000 hectares and there are a handful of well 

constructed trails, so visitors will need to be prepared for an active search for the wildlife. 

The park is a home to the red bellied lemur and black & white ruffed lemur, neither of 

which are found in the Perinet reserve. The Park also has some great bird watching 

opportunities with the scaly ground-rollers and red breasted coua being just two that 

reside in the park. 



Saturday, 10 


ANDASIBE TO ANTSIRABE 


Your driver will take the group from Andasibe to Antsirabe. This is a relatively long drive, 

taking around 6 hours. However, there is plenty to look at along the way- rolling hills and 

terraced rice paddies, as well as lots of little farming villages. If you would like to stop 

during the journey to stretch your legs, take photographs or to visit some of the road-side 

stalls, do ask your driver. 

Antsirabe Introduction 

A few hour's drive south of Antananarivo, Antsirabe, is a cool and bustling town founded 

by Norwegian missionaries. Today it is home to the Merina people, but the legacy of 

colonial times can still be seen in the town's wide, leafy boulevards and grand public 

buildings. Arriving in town, you will also notice the hundreds of pousse-pousses racing 

along the town's streets, all brightly coloured, and each with their own name and number 

plate! 


While most people only spend the night here on their journey along RN7, Antsirabe is a 

pleasant town, with enough to do for a stay of a couple of nights. Interesting things to do 

in Antsirabe include a visit to the thermal baths where there is a wonderfully hot swimming 

pool full of people and friendly laughter. On Saturdays you can visit the market which is a 

huge bustling affair with one wall made up completely of barbers with small mirrors, chairs 

and pegs for your hat! It is possible to visit homes of craft workers or perhaps take a trip 

to the honey shop opposite Hotel Caleche. Here you can buy all sorts of things from 

eucalyptus honey to lychee jam and more. 

Local girl at Antsirabe, Madagascar 



Sunday, 11 


ANTSIRABE TO RANOMAFANA 


The group will set off on the RN7 road to the south. Along the way you'll cross several 

rivers, and on a sunny day you will see the women from the villages washing clothes and 

laying them out on the banks to dry. The landscape is typical of the high plateau, with 

rolling hills, rice paddies and tiny farming villages scattered across the countryside. 

After a few hours you will reach the small town of Ambositra. This is the centre of 

Madagascar's wood carving industry; even the houses have ornately carved wooden 

balconies & shutters. If you feel like stretching your legs, this is a good place to break 

your journey and learn more about this local craft. 

Heading south from Ambositra you pass into Betsileo country. The houses are built from 

mud and thatch rather than the ornate wood and brick buildings you see further north. 

Like the Merina of the high plateau, the Betsileo are enthusiastic rice farmers, so you will 

pass plenty of paddy fields in the valleys, with steep hills studded with granite boulders 

rising above. The road winds through a number of villages, where you will see the Betsileo 

at the market, in the fields, or herding zebu, many wearing straw hats, with lambas flung 

over their shoulders. From Ambohimahasoa it is around half an hour to Ranomafana. As 

the vegetation grows denser and the leaves greener, you will know you are soon to arrive in 

the rainforest. 

The drive will take around 6 hours, however this will depend on the number of stops you 

make. 

Ranomafana National Park Introduction 

In colonial times, visitors flocked to the small town of Ranomafana to take water at its 

thermal springs. Today, most find the lush rainforest of the national park a far greater 

attraction. Bamboo thickets are mixed with moss covered trees, orchids, and tree-ferns 

stretching to reach the forest canopy. The Namorona River runs through the park, and the 

steep hillsides and towering trees are broken by tumbling waterfalls and tiny trickling 

streams running down to meet the river. 

The park was gazetted in 1991 in order to protect the golden bamboo lemur, but it is just 

one of twelve species of lemur in the reserve. By day it is also possible to spot the Milne- 

Edwards sifaka high in the trees, pairs of red-bellied lemurs, and red-fronted brown lemurs 

snacking on juicy millipedes. Also present are black-and-white ruffed lemur, and greater 

and eastern grey bamboo lemurs. At night visitors may see the greater dwarf lemurs, woolly 

lemurs, sportive lemurs, and tiny brown mouse lemurs leaping from tree to tree. The 

extraordinary looking nocturnal aye-aye can also be found in the park, but sightings of it 

are very rare. 


For keen birders, the park has a huge amount to offer, with over a hundred different bird 

species. Thirty-six of these are endemic to Madagascar, so it's certainly worth keeping a 

pair of binoculars handy; a flash of colour amongst the trees could be a sunbird asity, a 

flicker of movement on the forest floor a pitta-like ground roller. 

The Ranomafana Calendar 

Ranomafana is part of the Eastern rainforest belt, and as the name suggests, it is one of 

the wetter areas of Madagascar. It is the rain however which brings life to the forest, and 

the wettest months to visit can be some of the most rewarding. The main rainy season is 

from mid November till around March. This is a wonderful time to spot frogs- they are best 

seen in hopping on the forest floor or sheltering amongst pandan leaves by day, and heard 

calling to one another by night. This is also an excellent time to see orchids in flower. 

February to April is when the guava trees bear fruit and red bellied and red fronted brown 

lemurs are frequently to be found snacking here. On the downside, the steep pathways of 

Ranomafana are harder to navigate during the rains, and it is particularly important to keep 

an eye out for leeches at this time. April and May are drier months, while the winter rainy 

season comes in June and July. During these two months, look closely at the sifakas; you 

may well see tiny heads peeking out, as newborns cling to their mothers' stomachs. The 

warmer months between September and January are when the birds and the animals of the 

forest are most lively. Red bellied, mouse, and red fronted brown lemurs tend to have their 

young in November and December, while the bamboo lemurs give birth during December 

and January. Birds are at their most busy and flirtatious during the breeding season of 

September and November, and the forests reptiles come out to bask in the summer heat. 

Red bellied lemur, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar 

Setam Lodge, Ranomafana National Park 


Monday, 12 


WALKING IN RANOMAFANA 


Walks in Ranomafana are a good opportunity to see lemurs feeding amongst the trees in 

the morning or snoozing later in the day. The main paths are fairly well maintained, but 

often steep, so you will need to be fairly fit to get the most out of your walk. You may also 

find yourself heading off piste for particularly special sightings of lemurs. At times your 

guide may leave you in the forest for a few minutes to catch your breath and enjoy the 

birdsong. Meanwhile, he will be racing all over the hillside in search of lemurs. Red bellied 

and red-fronted brown lemurs are most often spotted, but you also have a good chance of 

seeing golden and greater bamboo lemurs as well as sifakas. 

Night walks are also an option at the park. These follow a fairly set pattern, as you walk up 

and down the road adjacent to the park (the park itself is closed at night time). During the 

night walk your guide will be on the look out for mouse lemurs, which are the smallest 

species of lemur and chameleons which turn white in the dark, so are more easily seen than 

in the daytime when their colour changes and they are camouflaged. As all of the night 

walks focus around this one area, it can get busy. 




Tuesday, 13 


RANOMAFANA TO AMBALAVAO 


Driving from Ranomafana to Ambalavao takes around four hours. For the first half an hour 

or so the road twists and turns through the rainforest and plantations of pine and 

eucalyptus trees. The road then opens out into terraced farmland and rice paddies 

studded with the occasional village. At Alakamisy the road joins RN7, taking you down to 

Fianarantsoa (commonly known as Fianar). Although not a particularly attractive town, this 

is a good place to break your journey, stopping to buy water, petrol and snacks and stretch 

your legs. After Fianar the hillsides become more barren, and enormous granite boulders 

jut through the grassy slopes. The views are most breathtaking just before Ambalavao, 

where the road turns a corner and drops down, leaving you with incredible views across 

the countryside to the hills beyond. 

Ambalavao Introduction 

Ambalavao is a small town, typical of the Central Highlands. The old part of town has 

wooden balconies with elaborate carvings, tiled roofs and people carrying pails of water. 

The town is known for its paper making and is the home of the Malagasy 'Antaimoro' paper 

which is papyrus based paper with wild flowers in. You can visit the factory which is mostly 

flowerbeds and have a small tour and visit the shop. Another local produce is silk and you 

can learn more about the interesting production methods, this is also a great opportunity 

to support this local craft. There is a lively cattle market on Thursdays on the outskirts of 

town. This starts at 3am so you are unlikely to see the beginning but you will see a large 

number zebu and herdsmen on the roads. 

Ambalavao, Madagascar 

EXPLORING ANJA PARK 


Anja is a community owned park, so the local people benefit directly from people who pay 

to visit the park. The park covers and area of 50 hectares and there are some superb views. 

The main attraction are the 40 different families of ring tailed lemurs that call the park 

home. The region is sacred to the Betsileo who have always considered it 'fady' (meaning 

unlucky or frowned upon) to hunt lemurs, allowing them to flourish. 



Wednesday, 14 


AMBALAVAO TO ISALO NATIONAL PARK 


Leaving Ambalavao you'll head south west towards Isalo, passing huge granite rocks jutting 

through the grassy plains. The largest of these is the "Gateway to the South", and beyond 

this you'll see the landscape and house change as you pass from Betsileo to Bara country. 

After around two-and-a-half hours you will come to Ihosy, the capital of the Bara tribe. 

This is a good place to stop to break your journey before continuing south. From here it 

takes another hour and a half to Isalo, crossing the empty savannah of the Horombe 

Plateau. In the hazy distance you'll see sandstone cliffs rising from the plains- this is the 

Isalo Massif. 


Spiny Forests of the South Introduction 

In the far south of Madagascar there is a belt of land that is perhaps the most unusual and 

peculiar area in Madagascar. It stretches from Morombe in the southwest to Fort Dauphin 

in the southeast - spreading in an arc along the coastline. This area is arid and is dotted 

with euphorbias, bottle trees and elephant foot plants. It is known as Madagascar's spiny 

forest. 

Reserves that are found in the spiny forest region include Ifaty which is on the southwest 

coast and has some beautiful bottle trees and Berenty, in the southeast of the country and 

which is famous for its lovely walks and habituated ring-tailed lemurs. 

Isalo National Park Introduction 

Isalo is one of Madagascar's most beautiful and diverse national parks. Towering 

sandstone outcrops rise from parched grassy plains, which themselves fall into damp, fern 

covered canyons. 

Approaching the park, the savannah of the Horombe Plateau is home to Bara tribe, and as 

well as the butterflies and dragonflies that flit amongst the grasses, you may also spot 

grazing zebu. Higher on the massif aloes and elephant's-foot plants cling to rock face, and 

tapia trees are amongst the few that survive the frequent bush fires. Isalo is sacred to the 

Bara tribe, and amongst the rock formations piles of stones in crevices high in the cliff face 

mark traditional burial sites. 

The arid rocky landscape is broken by deep canyons, where waterfalls tumble into clear 

tropical pools and ferns cling to the moist rocks. In the deciduous woodland around the 

canyons ring-tailed and red-fronted brown lemurs can be spotted, as well as Verreaux's 

sifaka. Birding is also rewarding, and visitors have a good chance of spotting the endemic 

Benson's rock thrush. 

The magnificent landscape of Isalo is best seen on foot. There are hiking trails for almost 

all levels of fitness, and this also gives the best chance to appreciate the wildlife. 

Isalo Calendar 

From mid-November till early May the rains fall in Isalo. While it is not as wet here as 

amongst the rainforests of the East coast, the risks of high water and rock falls make it 

impossible to visit the canyons at this time. Elsewhere in the park, paths are slippery and 

some of the easiest walking is to be found amongst the tracks of the Horombe Plateau. 

The rains bring the grasslands to life, so may is the time to see rich new growth and enjoy 

the park at its greenest. June and July are cool months, so are ideal if you plan to do 

longer hikes during the day. July is also the time to watch out for young sifakas in the 

park. August sees Isalo in bloom, aloes sprout stems of red flowers, and yellow petals 

appear on the elephant's foot plants. September through till December are the warmest 

months in the park, and are best for seeing wildlife at their most active. Snakes bask in 

the warm sun, migrant birds arrive from Europe, and the lemurs give birth in September. 

During this summer season it extremely hot in the middle of the day, so some of the 

longest walks in the park are particularly challenging. 

Hoopoe, Isalo National Park, Madagascar 




Thursday, 15 


EXPLORING ISALO NATIONAL PARK 


Hiking in Isalo is superb. Exploring the Canyon des Makis there is a chance of seeing ring 

tail lemurs grazing amongst the deciduous forest, and is a relatively flat and easy walk, 

although once in the canyon it is necessary to clamber over some rocks. More challenging 

is the visit to the Piscine Naturelle. The first half an hour is a steep hike up the massif 

wall, rewarded by breathtaking views over the rocky valleys below. A walk in this area also 

allows you to see the Bara burial sites in the rock face. It is useful to be aware that it is 

taboo to point with a straight finger at the tombs and instead the location is indicated with 

a curled finger aimed in the direction of the tomb. A beautiful oasis amongst the rocks, the 

piscine itself can be busy, but a dip in the cool water is the perfect way to relieve Isalo's 

heat. Another pretty, but challenging hike is through the Namaza Valley, where you can 

climb up to see the waterfall and the so called black and blue pools. The slippery paths 

lead deep into the gorge, heading over, around and through the streams. 

For fit walkers, there is a walk across the massif from the Piscine Naturelle to the Namaza 

Valley. All together this walk is about 10km and includes walking across an open flat area 

as well as plenty of step climbing! The Piscine Naturelle and black and blue pools provide 

excellent refreshment and if staying for three nights an enjoyable itinerary is to the full day 

loop to the Piscine Naturelle and Namaza Valley on the first day and then the shorter 

Canyon walk the following day with time either time to relax in the afternoon or enjoy an 

alternative activity such as horse riding, which can be arranged locally. 

For those wanting a more sedate activity, the Isalo information centre on RN7 has some 

interesting displays on the Bara, as well as explanations about the flora, fauna and geology 

of the park. 

In the late afternoon your guide may suggest visiting the natural rock window to watch the 

sunset. This can be a very busy spot, and as there are incredible views all over Isalo, we'd 

recommend asking your guide to take you elsewhere, or even find a quiet spot in your 

lodge to sit with a cold drink and watch the rocks turn orange. 



Friday, 16 


EXPLORING ISALO NATIONAL PARK 




Saturday, 17 


ISALO NATIONAL PARK TO TULEAR 

group transfer with your driver and guides 

Driving from Isalo to Tulear, you'll feel as if you are in Madagascar's wild west. The 

canyons and cliff faces of the park give way to grassy open plains, broken only by the 

occasional sapphire mining towns. Hopeful prospectors have built these towns almost 

overnight, and gems are for sale in every other shop. Moving on from the sapphire area 

you'll pass through the forest of Zombitse National park, you may be able to see white 

sifaka just walking along the road next to the park. The landscape becomes greener, and 

you'll see the first baobabs of the south. Along the drive you will pass from Bara to 

Saklava country, and you'll notice their large square tombs beside the road. The journey 

should take around fours hours in total, all of it on a good tarred road. 

Tulear (Toliara) Introduction 

Tuléar lies on the southwest coast of Madagascar, around 950 km from Antananarivo. 

Tulear's history is centred on St Augustine's Bay which was at first a trading post and then 

a hideout for pirates. The town itself is fairly modern and was designed by a French 

architect. It is not particularly attractive but there are numerous tamarind trees which give 

gentle respite from the blazing sun. 

There are a number of reasons to visit Tulear. There are Mahafaly and Masikoro tombs and 

a museum on Boulevard Philbert Tsiranana which has some fascinating marks and tomb 

sculptures. There is also a lively market. 

Finally, there are some beautiful places north and south of town where you find idyllic 

beaches, fringed by palms and with offshore coral reefs for snorkelling and diving. 

Climate 

From May to October the nights in Tulear can be very cold indeed. In the hotter months 

(November to April) everything stops for a siesta at midday from 1pm to 3pm. 


Tulear (Toliara), Madagascar 

TULEAR TO ANAKAO 

shared boat transfer 

You will have a speedboat transfer from Tulear down to Anakao. Unless you are travelling 

at very high tide you will be carried out to the boat by zebu cart. The transfer from Tulear 

to Anakao can take anything up to an hour and a half, depending on the conditions of the 

sea. 

Anakao Introduction 

Anakao is a Vezo fishing village around fifty kilometres south of Tulear. The terrible roads 

heading south make boat the best way to reach Anakao and fleets of pirogues line the 

shore. The inaccessibility of the village means that modern development has largely 

passed by Anakao. During colonial times, Anakao was a busy fishing port, and this remains 

the main occupation of the villagers today. Shortly after dawn each morning you'll see the 

fishermen putting out to sea, and tens of tiny sails flutter across the water. 

Anakao has some pretty beaches, and offshore lies Nosy Ve. This tiny island has a white 

sandy shoreline, and is home to hundreds of tropic birds. The reefs off Anakao offer good 

diving and surfing. While snorkelling it is possible to see a myriad of fish including surgeon 

fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, groupers and rays. You will also find enormous rock lobsters 

although shark sightings are not common. Anakao is also a good base to use for visits to 

Lake Tsimanampetsotsa. On the outskirts of Anakao village you will find some interesting 

tombs and once you are clear of the populated areas you start to see wildlife including 

ring-tailed lemurs, tortoises, chameleons, geckos and other lizards. Three bays south of 

Anakao is an area of mangrove swamp that is rewarding for birdwatchers. You can often see 

Madagascar plovers, flamingos, hoopoes, bee-eaters and vasa parrots. 

Anakao beach, Madagascar 




Sunday, 18 


EXCURSION TOTSIMANAMPETSOTA 


Tsimanampetsota is a fantastic park located around ninety minutes on a rough road from 

Anakao. The park is home to some of the most striking dry and spiny forest in the country. 

The guide will take you walking through the spiny forest where you will get the opportunity 

to view some of the most bizarre shaped baobab trees. Some of these are reputed to be 

3000 years old. Nearby there are some beautiful caves, one of which harbours an endemic 

species of fish that is entirely blind. From the top of the ridge there are spectacular views 

over a saline lake that for much of the year contains a number of flamingos. Please be 

aware that this is one of the hottest parts of Madagascar so take a sun hat as well as high 

factor sun cream. 



Monday, 19 


ANAKAO TO TULEAR 

shared boat transfer 

A speedboat will collect you from the beach in Anakao and take you to Tulear. The journey 

can take up to an hour and a half depending on sea conditions. Unless it is very high tide, 

a zebu cart will come out to collect you from the boat and carry you and your bags to 

shore. 



Tuesday, 20 


TULEAR TO ANTANANARIVO 

Air Madagascar Flight 

You will bid farewell to your Madagascar guides today and the group will fly from Tulear to 

Ivato Airport in Antananarivo. The flight will take between an hour and two hours 

depending on the plane you are in. Please check your ticket for the exact timings of this 

flight. At Tana there will be a representative from Setam available to assist you with 

transferring to your onward flight. 

ANTANANARIVO TO NAIROBI 

Kenya Airways flight - Flight No: KQ757 - Dep: 1240 - Arr: 1600 - (same day); Class: 


Jomo Kenyatta Airport to the Carnivore Restaurant and back transfer by private vehicle 

NAIROBI TO LONDON HEATHROW 

Kenya Airways flight - Flight No: KQ102 - Dep: 2345 - Arr: 0645 - (next day); Class: 


Wednesday, 21 


Arrive back in the UK in the early morning 

IMPORTANT NOTES 

• Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing are subject to change. 

• Transfer times are approximate and subject to local conditions at the time of travel. 

• All flight times are local. 


ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION 

Your accommodation is described on the following pages. Please do not hesitate to call us if you require any 

further information about any of the properties. We classify accommodation into the following categories. These 

are for your guidance only, they are based on the opinions of our staff and are therefore quite subjective. 

OUR ACCOMMODATION GRADING SYSTEM 

Basic: 

Simple: 

Medium: 

First Class: 

Deluxe: 

Opulent: 

Very primitive accommodation where we are not aware of anything better. 

Clean and simple but limited facilities. 

A good standard of accommodation, reasonable range of facilities. 

A high standard of accommodation with a wide range of facilities. 

Superb accommodation with facilities and service to match. 

The world’s most unashamedly luxurious hotels and resorts. 

RELAIS DES PLATEAUX, ANTANANARIVO 

Simple 

The Relais des Plateaux is a relatively new 

guesthouse near to Ivato Airport. It is built in the 

style of a simple motel with rooms in one-story 

blocks with space for parking in-front. The rooms are 

large but fairly simple with double/twin beds, minibar, 

TV and en-suite bathrooms with showers. All 

have air-conditioning. With tiled floors and basic 

furnishings they feel comfortable, but not luxurious. 

The hotel has a small boutique, good sized pool and 

bar and restaurant. The staff do not speak much 

English, however they endeavour to be helpful. 

Overall the hotel is fine for an overnight stop near 

the airport, however for a longer stay we would 

recommend one of the more luxurious options in the 

centre of town. 


Our opinion: The Relais de Plateaux is a basic hotel 

which is good for an overnight stop due to its 

proximity to the airport. The hotel doesn't do room 

service though so if you're arriving very late and will 

miss dinner we recommend you eat earlier in the 

evening or buy some snacks to take with you. 


VAKONA FOREST LODGE, ANDASIBE- 

MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK 

Medium 

Vakona Forest Lodge is owned by a graphite miner 

and as such is situated near his mine. This is not 

ideal however the hotel is the best option in the 

park. It is situated on a hillside that drops down to a 

lake and the combination of luxuriant vegetation, 

fresh mountain air and only the sounds of the frogs 

to disturb you is lovely. 

The main building has an octagonal reception area 

and large dining room with huge windows overlooking 

the small lake. The service is slow in the restaurant 

however when the food arrives it is usually both 

plentiful and good. There is a log fire in the centre 

which is very nice in the cold season. 

Dotted around the hillside up steep steps are the 28 

bungalows which have been built in a Madagascan 

style. Each of the bungalows has its own terrace. 

Inside the rooms are basic but comfortable. There 

are beds with mosquito nets and en-suite bathrooms 

with piping hot showers and plentiful water. There is 

a pool and sun deck and a number of paths and signposted 

trails lead you to the middle of the primary 

forest. 

Our opinion: Vakona is a fairly basic no-frills lodge 

but is the best place to stay in the Andasibe area. 

The rooms are clean and there is lots of hot water in 

the showers but there isn't much in them apart from 

the essentials. The dining room is large and service 

can be slow so we recommend you pre-order your 

dinner. The location is lovely however, up in the 

fresh mountain air surrounded by forest. 




COULEUR CAFE, ANTSIRABE 

Medium 

The five brick bungalows are located in a pleasant 

garden and the main building has a communal lounge 

and dining table. There is also a small shop, where 

you can buy souvenirs. The rooms have high ceilings 

and are light and airy. Each has an en-suite 

bathroom with a shower and there is also a fire 

place, which is very welcome in the colder winter 

months! Please note that over the coming months a 

few more rooms are being built and this should take 

the overall number up to ten in total. 


Dining area at Couleur Cafe, Antsirabe 


SETAM LODGE, RANOMAFANA NATIONAL 

PARK 

Medium 

Arriving at the Setam Lodge on the edge of 

Ranomafana National Park, the first thing you will 

notice (providing it is daylight!) are the magnificent 

views of the mountains and rainforest. The lodge has 

been built to make the most of its location, so the 

restaurant has huge windows to allow in as much of 

the view as possible and all of the rooms have small 

terraces facing down over the valley. In the warmer 

months, lunch is often taken outside the restaurant 

so that you can enjoy the view and fresh air. 

Guests first come to the main lodge building housing 

the bar and restaurant. From here stone steps lead 

up the hillside to ten chalets, each containing two 

bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. The décor of the 

rooms is fairly simple; as the lodge is built in the 

middle of the forest, the ceilings, wardrobes, desks 

and beds are all made from pine, and the walls are 

painted white. The rooms have everything you will 

need, though not much beyond this, but they are 

spotlessly clean, and have heaters for the cooler 

winter months. 


Our opinion: Though fairly simple and a bit lacking in 

character, Setam is the closest lodge to the national 

park, around five minutes away from the gate, and 

this is one of our favourite options in the area. 

Bungalow, Setam Lodge, Ranomafana National Park 


HOTEL AUX BOUGAINVILLÉES, AMBALAVAO 

Simple 

Hotel aux Bougainvillieés is in the heart of 

Ambalavao, and is easily spotted as much of the 

hotel is painted in a striking orange colour. The 

rooms are built in rows of four or five around the 

grounds and of course, bougainvillea grows 

everywhere. 

The standard rooms are basic, with double or twin 

beds, a luggage rack and a bedside table. All have 

ensuite bathrooms with shower and loo. Decoration 

is simple, with tiled floors, white walls and strip 

lighting. There are also four bungalows, which are 

slightly newer than the standard rooms, and though 

decorated in the same style, feel a little cosier. 

Downstairs in the bungalows is a double bedroom, 

and up some steep stairs is a cosy twin bedroom. 

The main lodge houses a bar- restaurant, serving a 

mixture of French and Malagasy food. Dinner is 

eaten here, while breakfast is often taken in the 

sunny verandah. 


Our opinion: This is a simple hotel, really only one 

step above a backpackers lodge, but it is currently 

the best option in town. 

Standard, Hotel aux Bougainvillées, Ambalavao 


LE JARDIN DU ROY, ISALO NATIONAL PARK 

First Class 

Le Jardin du Roy is on the edge of Isalo National 

Park, a few miles outside of Ranohira. Built from 

granite to blend in with the landscape, the main 

lodge looks down over a long stretch of lawn, which 

ends in towering sandstone cliffs. Inside the lodge is 

a restaurant with a fireplace, and a cosy bar with 

billiards and board games. All across the front of the 

building are huge windows to let in as much of the 

view as possible. 

Four buildings on the edges of the lawn house the 22 

luxury rooms. The inside of these very much echoes 

the landscape outside, with polished wooden floors, 

granite walls and deep red fabrics reflecting the 

bougainvillea in the garden. All of the rooms have a 

small sitting area outside where you can relax with a 

drink or a camera and watch the cliffs as they catch 

the light of the setting sun. 

To one side of the lawn a rough pathway runs 

through the kopjes to nine low, round bungalows 

built in a clearing amongst the rocks. These are 

slightly smaller than the luxury rooms, but still very 

pretty, with stone wall, thatched roofs and 

bougainvillea growing around the door. 

If you're not exploring the national park, there is 

plenty to do in the lodge. There is a good size 

swimming pool, tennis and riding can be organised, 

and a masseuse on hand. 

Our opinion: Most guests come to Jardin du Roy for 

only one or two nights to visit the park, but if you're 

keen to ride, or simply relax in beautiful 

surroundings, it's certainly worth a longer stay. 




ANAKAO OCEAN LODGE, ANAKAO 

First Class 

Anakao Club Resort sits perched on a long sandy 

beach, a ten minute boat ride from the village of 

Anakao. The lodge has 24 standard rooms (including 

three family rooms) as well as one suite. The 

thatched stone rondavels are built in two rows along 

the beach. All are made from local materials, with 

palisander wood floors, shutters and doors, and 

bleached sandstone walls. Inside, the rooms are 

decorated in cool neutral colours, with double or 

twin beds, a small dressing area, and a bathroom 

tucked away at the back. The family rooms have a 

mezzanine floor with twin beds upstairs, while the 

suite also has a large sitting area. The main lodge, is 

a large, round, stone building housing the bar and 

restaurant under a soaring thatched roof. From the 

restaurant, it's possible to see straight into the 

kitchen, where the chef cooks delicious French and 

Malagasy food, often fish from the sea nearby. 

Outside there is a small terrace, where guests eat 

lazy lunches and listen to the waves. 

As you would expect at a seaside hotel, activities 

focus on watersports; kayaking, windsurfing, and 

fishing can all be organised from the lodge, as well as 

speedboat and pirogue trips. Quad bikes are 

available for those who wish to explore the nearby 

villages, and excursions are also offered to the 

nearby islands of Nosy Satrana and Nosy Ve. For 

those who just want to relax, a spa has recently been 

opened at the lodge. 




HOTEL VICTORY, TULEAR (TOLIARA) 

Simple 

Hotel Victory is located in the town of Tulear. 

Although the town itself is not the most exciting, 

Hotel Victory is a good hotel for a one night stop 

over before continuing your onward journey. The 41 

rooms are all ensuite with a mini bar. The rooms 

overlook the central pool and restaurant area. The 

staff are welcoming and hospitable and will do their 

best to cater to ones needs. 


Standard Room, Hotel Victory, Tulear (Toliara) 


GENERAL INFORMATION 

TRAVEL INSURANCE 

It is advisable to take out your travel insurance at the time of booking your trip as cover will commence for predeparture 

cancellation from the policy issue date. This will, therefore, provide cover should you have to cancel 

your trip for an insured reason such as illness or serious accident. 

We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are adequately insured, protecting against 

unforeseen circumstances that could otherwise spoil your travels. Cover should include medical expenses and 

repatriation in the event of accident or illness. In addition, we strongly recommend that you have cover for 

personal belongings, delay at your outward or homeward point of departure, personal liability, overseas legal 

expenses and cancellation. If you are undertaking any sports or adventurous activities, including trekking, on 

your trip you should also make sure that your policy covers these. Please also ensure you read the policy 

conditions and exclusions. 

The type of trips we create and the requirements of Audley clients vary greatly. We have therefore listed below a 

number of providers who offer policies which may suit these varying requirements. You can find a more 

comprehensive list, including links to the providers' websites, at www.audleytravel.com/insurance. Other 

providers and policies are also available. We are unable to provide you with more detailed information and you 

should contact the provider concerned directly for this. Please note, this is general information only. We are not 

providing any specific advice on travel insurance or recommending any particular policy or insurer. 

Trips of up to £5,000 pp 

A large number of companies offer insurance policies which include cover for cancellation charges of up to the 

full holiday cost. American Express (0800 028 7573), Insure and Go (0844 888 2787) and the Post Office (0800 

294 2292) all have policies that you may like to consider. This information can also be found at 

www.audleytravel.com with links to the insurers’ websites. 

Trips over £5,000 pp 

It can be more challenging to get insurance which includes cover for cancellation charges of up to the full 

holiday cost for higher value trips. A number of providers do, however, offer such policies. Bowlin Insurance 

(01832 272 888) offers a totally bespoke service, tailoring a policy to your specific requirements, American 

Express (0800 028 7573) offer cancellation cover up to £12,500 per person and Insure and Go (0844 888 

2787) offer cancellation cover up to £7,500 per person. This information can also be found at 

www.audleytravel.com with links to the insurers’ websites. 

Clients over 65 years of age 

Many companies now offer cover to people over 65 years of age. However, if you are finding it difficult to get 

cover you could try Age UK (0845 600 3348) or Saga (0800 015 8055) both of whom currently have no upper age 

limit on their policies. See also the companies referred to under pre-existing medical conditions below. This 

information can also be found at www.audleytravel.com with links to the insurers’ websites. 

Pre-existing medical conditions 

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, there are a number of companies that may be able to help you. P J 

Hayman / Free Spirit (0845 230 5000) will consider most pre-existing medical conditions and they have no upper 

age limit on single trip policies. Age UK (0845 600 3348) and Insure and Go (0844 888 2787) will also consider a 

number of preexisting conditions and may be able to help. Cancer Travel Insurance Services (0845 880 0163) 

specialise in travel insurance for people with non-terminal cancer and have no upper age limit on their policies. 

This information can also be found at www.audleytravel.com with links to the insurers’ websites. 

Non-UK residents 

If you are not a UK resident you will usually need to get insurance in your country of residence. Some insurance 

companies, such as Colombus Direct (0870 033 9988), however, will consider policies for non-UK residents. This 

information can also be found on our website www.audleytravel.com with links to the insurers’ websites. 

Once you have a travel insurance policy in place, please let your specialist know who your provider is and your 

policy number. The above information is provided in good faith and is correct to the best of our knowledge as at 

July 2011. No liability is, however, accepted for any errors and all information must be checked directly with the 

insurance provider.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION 

We hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL number 4817). 

When you buy an ATOL protected air inclusive holiday* from us, you will receive a confirmation invoice 

from us (or via our authorised agent through which you booked) confirming your arrangements and your 

protection under our ATOL. In the unlikely event of our insolvency the CAA will ensure that you are not left 

stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. 

*The air inclusive holidays we arrange are ATOL protected providing either the person who pays for the booking 

is present in the UK when the booking is made or the first leg of any flight or flights we arrange for you 

commences in the UK. For further information, visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk 

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Those 

arrangements which are not protected by our ATOL are covered by insurance arranged by AmTrust Europe Ltd. 

This insurance means your money will be refunded or you will be returned to the starting point of your 

contracted arrangements if already abroad in the unlikely event of our being unable to provide your holiday due 

to our insolvency. Please ask us to confirm what protection will apply to your booking. 

HEALTH 

It is essential that you see your GP or a travel clinic before travelling to make sure that you have taken all the 

necessary health precautions. Some vaccinations require more than one visit with a period of weeks between 

injections. You should visit your GP at least six weeks before departure. For up to date medical advice you may 

wish to call the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). 

MASTA Traveller’s Health Line 

Before travelling abroad, you can telephone 0906 550 1402 (premium rate call 60p/minute) to obtain a ‘Health 

Brief’ specifically tailored to your journey. Your brief will give information about immunisation and malaria as well 

as any Foreign Office advice and the latest health news. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

MASTA, 52 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SQ. Internet: www.masta-travel-health.com 

Other health information services are available, including www.nathnac.org/ and www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk. 

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 

The majority of international airlines now issue advice on how to lessen the risk of DVT, however, if you have any 

concerns, we recommend that you consult your doctor. 

Pre-existing medical conditions/Disabled passengers 

It is essential that you advise us before booking if you have any disability or pre-existing medical condition which 

may affect your holiday or any special requirements as a result of any disability or medical condition (including 

any which affect the booking process) so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements 

and/or making the booking. 

Full details must be confirmed in writing at the time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or 

disability occurs. You must also promptly advise us if any medical condition or disability which may affect your 

holiday develops after your booking has been confirmed. The nature of many of the destinations featured within 

our brochures means that in the majority of cases they are unsuitable for those who are wheelchair bound or 

have a lack of mobility. We will be delighted to discuss the feasibility of creating a tailor-made itinerary for you 

that takes into consideration your level of mobility. 

On our escorted group tours the Tour Leader is, unfortunately, unable to offer additional assistance to 

passengers with limited mobility and all such assistance will need to be provided by whoever the passenger is 

travelling with. We may request that you provide a letter from your doctor confirming your fitness to travel. 

High altitude 

Your itinerary may include sections where the altitude exceeds 10,000 feet (3,048 metres). If you suffer from 

circulation, heart or respiratory problems we advise that you consult with your doctor before confirming your 

booking. 

SMOKING 

Airlines do not permit smoking on the aircraft. At the request of the majority of our clients we do not allow 

smoking on any form of transport used for our escorted group tours. Stops are regularly made where you will be 

able to smoke. For smokers travelling on a tailor-made tour we request that you check with your driver or guide 

whether smoking is permitted in the vehicle.

HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS 

Each country has its own regulations and enforcement levels relating to health and safety standards. These do 

not always match the very high standards we are used to in the UK. We therefore recommend that you follow a 

few precautionary safety procedures. Always check where the nearest fire exit is and how to raise the fire alarm. 

Do not enter a swimming pool before checking the water depth first. For more suggestions please see the 

Important Information section in your Travel Organiser. 

PASSPORT AND VISA INFORMATION FOR BRITISH CITIZENS 

Passengers must hold a passport which is valid for at least six months following the return date of your holiday. 

British passport holders (full British Citizens) currently require visas, in advance of travel, for the following 

destinations featured in our brochures: Australia, Bhutan, Burma, China, Cuba, India, Iran, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, 

Madagascar (not currently necessary for 2011 travel), Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal (also available on arrival), 

Libya, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea (also available on arrival), Russia, São Tomé & Príncipe, Syria*, Tanzania, 

Tibet, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam**, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Visas may be required for other countries but can be arranged on arrival 

*Visitors to Syria can obtain a visa on arrival but we will need to forward your passport details prior to travel. 

**Visitors to Vietnam can obtain a visa on arrival but require a letter of authorisation from ourselves – please 

speak to your specialist. 

We are normally able to obtain visas on your behalf, please ask for details at the time of booking. Non-British 

passport holders should check with the relevant embassies as visa requirements may be different to those of 

British passport holders. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation and visa 

stamp(s). Failure or inability to obtain all required visas for whatever reason does not entitle you to cancel 

without paying the applicable cancellation charges. 

TRAVEL ADVICE 

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice Unit monitors all overseas destinations and offers safety 

advice to British travellers. You can contact the service on 0845 850 2829 or visit www.fco.gov.uk/travel 

CARBON OFF-SETTING 

Please let your specialist know if you would like to carbon offset your flights. We work with Friends of 

Conservation and all offsetting payments are donated through them. For more details visit 

www.audleytravel.com/offset. The suggested amounts are in line with the DEFRA’s current guidelines for the cost 

per tonne of carbon. If you wish to ensure that Gift Aid is included please donate directly via 

www.audleytravel.com/offset 

FLIGHTS AND AIRLINES 

The difference between a direct flight and a non-stop flight can cause confusion. To clarify, on a direct flight no 

change of aircraft is scheduled but touchdowns will be made en route either to refuel or to board or disembark 

passengers. On non-stop flights no change of aircraft is required and no stops are made en route. Virtually all of 

the flights that we use are direct and many are non-stop. Exact details will be given with your itinerary. 

Premium economy, business and first class 

If you require business or first class flights these can be arranged on most airlines at very competitive rates. 

Premium economy can be arranged on certain airlines, please call us for details. 

Specific seat requests 

We will do all we can to try to reserve a specific seat for you, if you have a preference. However, whilst airlines 

may allow us to request seats, they will not guarantee any specific seat reservation. If this is important to you, it 

is always best to arrive for your flight early, regardless of having made this request in advance. Please make it 

clear on your booking form if you have a specific request. 

Flight amendments 

We generally use special „inclusive tour‟ fares when we purchase your air tickets from the airlines. While these 

fares are very good value they are inflexible in terms of changes and offer no refunds once the tickets are issued. 

Once your flight is confirmed the airlines will charge an amendment fee or insist on the purchase of a completely 

new ticket if you make changes. 

Internal flights 

Smaller local airlines are often more likely to change their schedule at short notice. We will endeavour to inform 

you of any changes in advance of travelling but this may not always be possible. 

Frequent flyer clubs 

If you collect points through any of the airline frequent flyer clubs please provide your membership details on 

the booking form and we will ensure that these are recorded against your flight reservation. Please note that on 

some of our specially negotiated ‘inclusive tour’ fares points are not always awarded.

UK AIRPORT HOTELS, CAR PARKING AND LOUNGES 

We are able to arrange airport hotel accommodation, car parking, meet and greet services and airport lounge 

access in the UK, subject to availability. To arrange any of these services please call our Reservations 

Administration Team on 01993 838 051. 

HOTEL INFORMATION 

There is frequent confusion over the terminology used for bed arrangements in hotel rooms. A „double‟ is 

recognised as meaning a room with a double bed, this may be two single beds pushed together. A „twin‟ is a 

room with two single beds. Please note that all rooms are allocated at the discretion of the hotel and cannot be 

guaranteed. 

Single rooms 

Single rooms tend to be smaller than double or twin rooms, however, many hotels do not have single rooms, in 

which case you will be allocated a twin or double room. 

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS 

Special diets should be requested on the booking form, however, it is unrealistic to expect special diets to be 

catered for in some of the destinations we feature. We will advise the hotels and airlines of your request but we 

cannot guarantee their availability. 

BROCHURE AND ITINERARY ACCURACY 

We thoroughly check all the information that is included within our brochures and individual tour itineraries, 

however, changes do occur and errors are occasionally made. Airlines may change their schedules, roads may 

close and government regulations may alter. Should there be any changes to the travel arrangements you have 

booked we will do our best to keep you informed of the situation prior to departure. 

TRAVEL IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD 

Many of our destinations are in the developing world where attitudes, infrastructure, priorities, lifestyles and 

cultures are very different from our own. This is often the very reason to visit the destination but certain aspects 

may be frustrating. We always advise that the first thing you should pack is your sense of humour. This can prove 

invaluable when travelling over rougher roads, waiting for a delayed aircraft and communicating with hotel staff 

whose first language is not English. 

DATA PROTECTION ACT 

We will hold your name, address and any other details you supply us with on our database. This information will 

be used to make your travel arrangements and to send you information about Audley Travel. In order to make 

your travel arrangements we will need to pass your details to companies and individuals outside the EC where 

less stringent data protection controls may be in place. We will not pass on your details to third parties for any 

other purposes.

AITO QUALITY CHARTER 

THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT TOUR OPERATORS 

AITO is the association for independent and specialist holiday companies. Our member companies, usually 

owner-managed, strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared concern for 

quality and personal service. The Association encourages the highest standards in all aspects of tour operating. 

EXCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP 

AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, finance and quality which must be satisfied before new companies are 

admitted to membership. All members are required to adhere to a Code of Business Practice which encourages 

high operational standards and conduct. 

FINANCIAL SECURITY 

An AITO member is required to protect money paid by customers to the member for any holiday sold under the 

AITO logo. This protection applies to customers who are in the UK at the time of booking or to overseas 

customers who have booked directly with the member. Members have to comply with UK Government Regulations 

in this respect. Members submit details of their bonding and guarantee arrangements to the Association on a 

regular basis. 

ACCURATE BROCHURES AND WEB SITES 

All members do their utmost to ensure that all their brochures and other publications, print or electronic, clearly 

and accurately describe the holidays and services offered. 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS 

All members are committed to high standards of service and believe in regular and thorough training of 

employees. Members continually seek to review and improve their holidays. They listen to their customers and 

always welcome suggestions for improving standards. 

MONITORING STANDARDS 

AITO endeavours to monitor quality standards regularly. All customers should receive a post-holiday 

questionnaire the results of which are scrutinised by the Association. 

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM 

All members acknowledge the importance of AITO‟s Responsible Tourism guidelines, which recognise the social, 

economic and environmental responsibilities of tour operating. Those demonstrating their achievements beyond 

the pure acceptance of this principle are recognised by the award of 2 or 5 star status. 

CUSTOMER RELATIONS 

All members endeavour to deal swiftly and fairly with any issues their customers may raise. In the unlikely event 

that a dispute between an AITO member and a customer cannot be settled amicably, AITO’s low-cost 

Independent Dispute Settlement Service may be called upon by either side to bring the matter to a speedy and 

acceptable conclusion. Audley is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. To contact the 

Association, visit www.aito.co.uk or call 020 8744 9280.

Southern Madagascar â Group Trip â Autumn 2012 - Audley Travel

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