Madagascar is such a diverse and interesting country that tourism is really starting to take off. Famous for being the only country in the world where you can see lemurs in the wild, Madagascar also has many endemic reptiles and plants that also act as a huge draw.

To make visiting this stunning landscape more affordable, we have put together our first group tour that will take in 5 of the national parks including Perinet, Berenty and Ranomafana. During this trip you will see many different species of lemur but also take in the different cultures and landscapes that make up this land.

The group tour will start in the capital and Antanarivo from there a domestic flight to Fort Dauphin and a visit to the famous Berenty National Park. You’ll fly to Tulear and travel up through the middle of the country along the Route Nationale 7 visiting towns and national parks along the way. Including Isalo National Park, Andringita national park, Ranomafana national park with its stunning rivers and waterfalls – see the bamboo lemur here. The final national park is Antsirabe where you can see the Indri Indir lemur before returning to Antananarivo or you may like to take a three night extension to the island of Ile Sainte Marie, as it is whale watching season. The tour will have a maximum of 14 and be guided throughout so you’ll see it all!

Depature date: 24th September 2010

Interested in this? Find out more and download the full itinerary

A brand new offer from Worldwide Holidays……..Discover the incredible, versatile country of Madagascar from as little as £1350pp. This great offer includes spending some time at Andasibe National Park, home of the Indri Indri lemur before relaxing on the beautiful island of St Marie. For more details on this tour or about visiting Madagascar in general, call Sam on 01202 606160.

Air Madagascar have recently launched a brand new route to enable you to get to the beautiful beaches of Nosy Be even quicker. From May 2009, you can now fly direct from Paris into Nosy Be – omitting the need to have an overnight in the capital Antananarivo.


Of all Madagascar, Nosy Be was the original tourist resort. Whilst it can be more commercial and touristy than other parts of the country, for travellers looking to experience Madagascar with ’softer edges’, Nosy Be offers a taste of everything that makes this country special; Wonderful beaches, lemurs, chameleons, and excellent food. There are also several islands surrounding Nosy Be which offer barefoot luxury.

Nosy Be was traditionally referred to as the ‘Isle de Parfum’ – the perfume island as it was, and still is, the source for many fragrances including Ylang-ylang, vanilla and pepper.

To entice visitors further the €56 entry visa has been waived until December this year.

Eden Lodge embodies a new concept for luxury accommodation in Madagascar. The real luxury of Eden Lodge is simply being there, residing in comfort whilst immersed in the diverse and untouched lush natural habitat of Madagascar.

Eden Lodge is equipped with solar power, which provides 90% of its energy needs. Only half an hour from the island of Nosy Be, in the North West of Madagascar, the view as you arrive by boat is breathtaking: a beach of pure white sands, bordered by lush virgin forest and dotted with majestic baobab trees, hundreds of years old.

With no roads, no cars and only a tiny Madagascan village in proximity, you’re immediately plunged into the middle of an Eden of relaxation.

Each Lodge offers spacious accommodation where you can relax in complete privacy. Local materials have been used in the construction of the lodges, and the innovative architecture of these beachfront lodges allows air to circulate freely, thanks to a ravinala roof and a tent canopy that with large openings protected by mosquito nets. A spectacular bathroom opens out onto a terrace where residents can enjoy massage and other beauty treatments (each lodge is equipped with a massage table in the privacy of the garden).

The bedroom also has its own private balcony, an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the ocean-view.

The bar and restaurant are housed in a magnificent and spacious lodge, situated on the beach and are designed to be the perfect place to relax – you can lie back on one of the sun-loungers, read, play a Madagascan board game or simply contemplate the ocean. You can even connect to the Wifi Internet, if you don’t mind that the connection isn’t broadband!

The elegant cuisine, made from fresh produce, is inspired by Madagascan and Oriental flavours and spices. Naturally there is a wide variety of seafood on offer, but the specialities for which Madagascar if famed have not been forgotten – foie gras, filet of zebu and a large selection of exotic fruits.

Sea kayaks, pedalo and snorkels and masks are free to hire, as well as windsurfing boards and a hobbycat. A visit to Eden Lodge allows the visitor to observe up close the extraordinary wildlife. You can watch species of lemurs, including the nocturnal lemur, crowding the lodges’ fruit trees, along with exotic birds native to Madagascar. That is when you’re not being regaled by the sight of dolphins, and even migrating whales, swimming just a stone’s throw from the shore.

As for the 23 spectacular baobabs dotted throughout the grounds, they alone are sufficient reason to come to Eden Lodge. Nowhere else in the Nosy Be islands is it possible to encounter these trees. Great care has been taken to ensure that Eden Lodge exists in harmony with this exceptional environment, and that any adverse effects are kept to the very minimum.

A new species of palm tree has been found in Madagascar – one which grows for as long as 50 years and as high as 60-feet high, bursts into flower and then dies. Named Tahina Spectabilis which is Malagasy for ‘blessed’ or ‘to be protected’, the new Palm is so massive it can be seen in Google Earth.

Madagascar is a treasure for wildlife enthusiasts and wildlife viewing here is effortless. With over 200,000 plant and animal species and 80% of them endemic, you’ll not only see some of the 51 varieties of Lemur’s for which Madagascar is famous for, but reptiles, birds and plants that are not found anywhere else on earth.

Waiting to be Discovered

I recently returned from Madagascar in December 2006, which the newest edition in our portfolio of countries. I can only describe this island as incredible and during my visit was surprised to discover just how unspoilt it is. Visitors can explore beautiful beaches, rainforests and deserts, many of which are keen to go whale watching or catch a glimpse of the famous lemurs living on this amazing island.

During my visit I was able to travel across the country, which is testament to the impressive internal flight system operating in the country. The highlight of my visit to Madagascar was spending two days on the beach at the Anjajavy Hotel, a famously isolated boutique lodge only accessible by plane. I highly recommend this as a must for anyone who yearns for the perfect retreat surrounded by nature.