Indri at Andasibe, then four nights on the whale island of Sainte Marie, from Antananarivo.
This route pairs the rainforest with an island. You begin at Andasibe with the indri and a night walk, then fly to Sainte Marie, a long, thin island of palm trees and white sand, once a pirate base, where between July and September humpback whales come to breed and calve in the channel.
Four nights at Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa give you whale watching, snorkelling, cycling and the quiet of an island that few travellers reach.
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
Relaxed, fitness: easy.
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 east through the highlands and rice terraces to Andasibe and Mantadia Lodge, arriving for lunch and a first walk in the forest.
Overnight
Bungalows on a forested ridge a few minutes from Andasibe's indri.
Walk into the reserve at dawn to hear the haunting call of the indri, the largest lemur, then spend the afternoon on a second walk. After dinner take a night walk for mouse lemurs and chameleons.
Overnight
Bungalows on a forested ridge a few minutes from Andasibe's indri.
Drive back to Antananarivo and fly to Sainte Marie, then transfer to Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa, on the beach, for a first swim.
Overnight
Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A luxury beach resort on Sainte Marie, with bungalows, a spa and whale watching in season.
Take a boat trip into the channel to watch the humpback whales, with the time to stay with them, and snorkel on the way back.
Overnight
Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A luxury beach resort on Sainte Marie, with bungalows, a spa and whale watching in season.
Cycle through the villages and spice gardens, visit the pirate cemetery, and take a boat to the islet of Ile aux Nattes.
Overnight
Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A luxury beach resort on Sainte Marie, with bungalows, a spa and whale watching in season.
A free day on the beach, with the option of a spa treatment, a snorkelling trip or a whale-watching trip.
Overnight
Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A luxury beach resort on Sainte Marie, with bungalows, a spa and whale watching in season.
Take the morning flight to Antananarivo, landing by midday, in time for onward flights.
Bungalows on a forested ridge a few minutes from Andasibe's indri.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Princesse Bora Lodge and Spa (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A luxury beach resort on Sainte Marie, with bungalows, a spa and whale watching in season.
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 (Jul to Sep) | US$6,180 | US$5,240 | US$4,926 | US$4,926 | US$4,926 | US$4,926 | Get quote |
| Shoulder season (Jun, Oct) | US$5,430 | US$4,600 | US$4,324 | US$4,324 | US$4,324 | US$4,324 | 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. Whale sightings depend on the season, roughly July to September, and cannot be guaranteed.
Best time for this trip Jun 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.
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