Madagascar wildlife tour 7 days: Lemurs rainforest Antananarivo

Walk into primary forest where a dozen lemur species live wild around you

A seven-day wildlife and culture tour from Antananarivo that moves through Madagascar's eastern rainforest reserves by car, on foot and by boat, visiting Andasibe and Mantadia National Parks where you observe the Indri indri—the largest living lemur—plus Vakona Private Reserve and the Pangalanes Channel. Private transport, all park tickets, accommodation and a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French are included; children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Antananarivo city tour and transfer

• Visit Queen's Palace
• Visit craft market
• Drive to Andasibe National Park
• Stop at Marozevo reptile farm

Day 2 — Mantadia National Park exploration

• Walk in Mantadia National Park
• Observe lemurs and wildlife
• Picnic lunch
• Return to hotel

Day 3 — Analamazaotra and Vakona Reserve visit

• Visit Analamazaotra National Park
• Visit Vakona Private Reserve lemur island

Day 4 — Travel to Manambato and Akanny Nofy

• Drive to Manambato
• Lunch at Manambato
• Boat transfer to Akanny Nofy
• Check in at Palmarium Hotel

Day 5 — Leisure and local village visit

• Visit Palmarium private reserve
• Visit fishermen village
• Observe nocturnal Aye-Aye lemur

The Experience

How do you get close to lemurs without a car, a guide and someone who knows where to find them? This tour handles the logistics: you leave Antananarivo and drive four hours through paddy fields and Malagasy villages to reach Andasibe National Park, where the real walking begins. The route takes you through the eastern rainforest on foot, into Mantadia National Park's primary forest where you spend a full day among over twelve lemur species—the black and white ruffed lemur, the Diademed Sifaka, the Brown Lemur, the Bamboo Lemur—and the Indri indri, the largest living lemur in Madagascar, whose call carries through the canopy.

Day four shifts the experience: you visit Analamazaotra National Park in the morning, then move to Vakona Private Reserve in the afternoon, where lemurs live in an open area and you can have them on your shoulders. The afternoon of day five takes you east toward the coast through evergreen forest dominated by Ravinala—the Traveler's Palm. You travel by boat to Akanny Nofy and stay at Palmarium Hotel for the remaining nights. Day six is unscheduled: you can visit the private reserve again to spot more lemur species and endemic plants, or walk to a fishermen's village to watch how local people live. In the evening, you can search for the Aye-Aye, the most endangered nocturnal lemur, which few travelers ever see.

The tour opens in Antananarivo with a city visit—the Queen's Palace and a craft market—before the drive east. Transport is private throughout; snacks are provided during the days. Park entry tickets, accommodation at Vakona Forest Lodge and Palmarium Hotel, and a guide who speaks your language are all arranged before you arrive. Lunch is included on the walking days; dinner and travel insurance are not.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the seven days.
• snacks during travel and walking days.
• entry tickets to Andasibe National Park, Mantadia National Park, Vakona Private Reserve and Palmarium Reserve.
• accommodation at Vakona Forest Lodge for three nights and Palmarium Hotel for three nights.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.
• pickup included.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Nature & Culture Madagascar. Local Expert. Your Host in Madagascar.

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language you choose at checkout, so the commentary reaches you clearly whether you are a native English speaker or more comfortable in another tongue. The pace is set by a professional who knows the forest and the animals, which means you spend your energy on walking and watching, not on finding your way or wondering what you are looking at.

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Top questions

What is the Indri indri and why is it worth the trip to Andasibe?

The Indri indri is the largest living lemur in Madagascar, found in the rainforest of Andasibe and Mantadia National Parks. It is distinctive for its loud, haunting call that carries through the canopy and its striking black and white fur; seeing one in its natural forest habitat is the centerpiece of this tour.

How much time do I actually spend walking in the rainforest?

Day three is a full day walk through Mantadia National Park's primary forest; day four includes a half-day visit to Analamazaotra National Park plus an afternoon at Vakona Private Reserve. Day six is free, so you can choose to walk the private reserve again or visit the fishermen's village instead.

Can I interact with the lemurs, or do I just watch them from a distance?

At Vakona Private Reserve on day four, lemurs live in an open area where you can get familiar with them up close and have them on your shoulders. In the national parks, you observe them in the wild during guided walks, which is a different experience—you are in their forest, not theirs in an enclosure.

What languages does the guide speak?

The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or one additional language; you choose which one at booking.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Children are welcome from age 5. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the city tour and transfers; specialized infant seats are available in the vehicle. The full-day forest walks on day three are more demanding for very young children.

What happens on the free day at Akanny Nofy?

Day six is unscheduled: you can visit Palmarium Private Reserve to spot a dozen lemur species and endemic plants, or walk to a nearby fishermen's village to meet local people and see how they live. In the evening, you have the chance to search for the Aye-Aye, a nocturnal lemur that is rarely seen.