Madagascar's Endemic Birds

Tour Code: MDG07

An 18-day birdwatching holiday to the rainforests, wetlands and deserts of Madagascar in search of the island's unique birdlife and other spectacular wildlife.

18 days from
£6,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£6,095
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

Madagascar’s unique wildlife is well documented. Most famous are its lemurs, but the island is also home to an impressive avifauna: four endemic families of birds (the mesites, ground-rollers, asities and the Bernieridae ‘warblers’), plus two additional families (the vangas and cuckoo-rollers) that occur only on Madagascar and the nearby Comoros Islands. On this tour we go in search of the island’s spectacular and unique birdlife, visiting the different regions of the country.

We start in the one of the best forests for lemurs, but just as good for birding - the rainforests of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. One of the main draws is the Indri that reside here, with their beautifully haunting calls resounding far and wide, but the birding is just as captivating with many species of newtonia, asity, jery, tetraka, vanga plus many more found here, with Scaly Ground-roller and Nuthatch Vanga particular species to look for. We will return to Tana for the night before flying to Mahajanga and the second part of this trip. We will head to the dry western forests of Ankarafantsika National Park, another unique habitat that is sure to yield more unique and exciting species such as Madagascar Fish Eagle and White-breasted Mesite. We then head back to Mahajanga and beyond for some wetland habitat, exploring the vast Betsiboka Estuary, and a night camping on the shores of Lake Kinkony to search for the incredibly rare Sakalava Rail. Flying back to Tana for another overnight, we then fly south-west to Toliara with time to look for Verreaux's Coua and Red-shouldered Vanga, and then to the spiny forest for Sub-desert Mesite, Sickle-billed Vanga and Long-tailed Ground-roller amongst others. We fly back to Tana for one last night before it is time to leave this amazing country. 

 

  • Madagascar is home to 36 endemic bird genera & about 120 endemic species
  • Andasibe-Mantadia National Park - Scaly Ground-roller and Nuthatch Vanga, along with Indri
  • Look for Schlegel’s Asity and White-breasted Mesite as well as lots of other specialities in Ankarafantsika National Park
  • Sakalava Rail at Lake Kinkony and chance of Madagascar Sacred Ibis and Humblot's Heron on the Betsiboka Estuary
  • Sub-desert Mesite, Sickle-billed Vanga and Long-tailed Ground-roller in the spiny forest
     

Grading

Grade B. Easy to moderate day walks, but some long journey days

The island of Madagascar is blessed with some of the world’s most unique and exciting wildlife. Over 80% of all life here is endemic, the legacy of 90 million years of isolation. Its birdlife is particularly special. Those few pioneer species that made it to the island in the distant past have, over many generations, evolved and diversified into the wonderful spectacle of Malagasy birdlife that we see today; each family and species has been moulded over the millennia by natural selection to fit its own unique niche and habitat. Today, Madagascar is home to four endemic families of birds (the mesites, ground-rollers, asities and the Bernieridae ‘warblers’), plus two additional families (the vangas and cuckoo-rollers) that occur only on Madagascar and the nearby Comoros Islands. In all, this ancient fragment of Gondwanaland can boast 36 endemic bird genera and around 120 endemic species!

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1/2
Depart London / Arrive Tana
Day 3/5
Andasibe & Mantadia National Parks
Day 6
Tana
Day 7/8
Ankarafantsika National Park
Day 9
Katsepy
Day 10
Lake Kinkony
Day 11
Katsepy
Day 12
Tana
Day 13
Saint Augustin
Day 14/15
Ifaty
Day 16
Tana
Day 17/18
Depart Tana / Arrive London
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    We stay in simple, but comfortable, hotels and eco-lodges. All rooms have private facilities, except at Ankarafantsika where they may be shared. We camp for one night under canvas at a campsite on the shores of Lake Kinkony, where facilities are shared. Camp chef and staff, and bedding supplied. 

  • Food:

    All food is included in the price.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 26th Sep – Mon 13th Oct SPACES £6,995
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£6,095
Room sharing options:
If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.
Female sharing available
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£675

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Fri 25th Sep – Mon 12th Oct SPACES £6,995
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£6,095
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£675 
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Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




Our specialist recommends...






"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
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  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

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