Antsirabe, the rainforest at Ranomafana, the canyons of Isalo and the lagoon at Ifaty, by road.
This route follows the great southern road of Madagascar. It starts with the cool highland town of Antsirabe, goes on to the misty rainforest of Ranomafana for lemurs, crosses the high plateau to the sandstone canyons of Isalo, and ends on the beach at Ifaty.
The drives are long but scenic, with rice terraces, markets and villages along the way, and the lodges are comfortable.
Madagascar
Luxury safari
Handpicked luxury lodges and camps, chosen for their setting, service and guiding.
Private safari
Your own vehicle and guide for the whole journey, never shared with other travellers.
Made to measure
Change the pace, a lodge or an activity and we rebuild the itinerary around you.
Start any day
Travel on the dates that suit you, subject to lodge and permit availability.
Solo travellers welcome
Priced for one on request, with the single supplement shown under Rates.
Pace and fitness
Balanced, fitness: moderate.
Meet your driver at Antananarivo airport and transfer to the Palissandre Hotel and Spa, in the old town, for a quiet first night.
Overnight
A calm hotel in the old upper town of Antananarivo, with city views.
Drive south through the highlands to Antsirabe, a cool spa town of colonial villas, and settle in at the Hotel des Thermes, with a rickshaw tour and a visit to the craft workshops in the afternoon.
Overnight
A historic thermal hotel in the centre of Antsirabe, with a garden and spa.
Drive south to Setam Lodge, beside Ranomafana National Park, arriving in the afternoon for a first walk in the forest.
Overnight
Hillside bungalows close to the Ranomafana park entrance.
Walk into the rainforest in the morning with a guide to find golden bamboo lemurs and red-fronted brown lemurs, and take a night walk after dinner for nocturnal species.
Overnight
Hillside bungalows close to the Ranomafana park entrance.
Drive south through the high plateau and the grasslands to Isalo Rock Lodge, arriving in the evening for a sundowner among the sandstone.
Overnight
Isalo Rock Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A stone lodge built into the sandstone above the Isalo plains.
Hike into the canyons of Isalo with your guide, with a picnic lunch by a natural swimming pool, and ring-tailed lemurs on the rocks.
Overnight
Isalo Rock Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A stone lodge built into the sandstone above the Isalo plains.
Drive west to the coast at Ifaty and settle in at Les Dunes d’Ifaty, on the beach, with a first swim in the lagoon.
Overnight
Les Dunes d’Ifaty (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A small boutique hotel on the beach at Ifaty, with bungalows among the dunes.
Snorkel on the reef, take a sailing trip in a Vezo canoe, or visit the Reniala spiny forest in the early morning, before the heat, with long, quiet hours on the beach.
Overnight
Les Dunes d’Ifaty (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A small boutique hotel on the beach at Ifaty, with bungalows among the dunes.
A free day on the beach, with the option of a diving or whale-watching trip in season, and a last sundown over the lagoon.
Overnight
Les Dunes d’Ifaty (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A small boutique hotel on the beach at Ifaty, with bungalows among the dunes.
Drive to Tulear after breakfast and take the flight to Antananarivo, landing in the afternoon.
A historic thermal hotel in the centre of Antsirabe, with a garden and spa.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Isalo Rock Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A stone lodge built into the sandstone above the Isalo plains.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Les Dunes d’Ifaty (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A small boutique hotel on the beach at Ifaty, with bungalows among the dunes.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Important to know
Rates per person
| Season | Solo | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High season (Jun to Oct) | US$6,450 | US$5,470 | US$5,142 | US$5,142 | US$5,142 | US$5,142 | Get quote |
| Low season (Nov to May) | US$5,660 | US$4,800 | US$4,512 | US$4,512 | US$4,512 | US$4,512 | Get quote |
Prices are per person, in US dollars, and depend on the number of travellers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are sample rates for planning and will be confirmed when you enquire, as lodge and permit prices change each year. Lemurs are watched in the wild, never handled or fed, and sightings of any single species cannot be guaranteed. Madagascar’s roads are slow, and domestic flights can change at short notice, so we build in time.
Best time for this trip May to Oct
For gorilla and chimp treks, bring sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers you can tuck into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a light rain jacket and gardening gloves for grabbing vines. Porters are available at the trailhead and we recommend hiring one: it helps your trek and supports the local community.
Pack light, neutral colours for game drives, a warm fleece for early mornings, a sun hat and good sunscreen. Light aircraft have a soft-bag limit of 15 kg per person including hand luggage, so leave the hard suitcases at home.
Made to measure
Every Uwera safari is private. Slow the pace, add a night by a lake, swap a lodge or bring the children: tell us in your request and we will rebuild the itinerary around you.
Request a free quoteCookies
Essential cookies keep this site working. With your permission we also remember the safaris and places you have viewed. You can change your mind any time from Cookie settings in the footer.
