South Madagascar Tour
Isalo, Ranomafana & Ifaty
From the tropical rainforest of Ranomafana to the Jurassic canyons of Isalo — to the turquoise waters of Ifaty lagoon
Dix jours along the legendary Route Nationale 7 — the quintessential South Madagascar tour. From the terraced rice fields of the Highlands to the Ring-tailed lemurs of Anja Reserve, through the red sandstone canyons of Isalo and its Natural Pool to the bottle baobabs and coral beaches of Ifaty lagoon. Dedicated French-speaking driver-guide, private 4×4, full board.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Ten stages along Madagascar’s most beautiful road, from the Highlands to the waters of the Mozambique Channel.
Day 1 – Arrival in Antananarivo · Tour Briefing
Ivato airport welcome · Private transfer · Welcome cocktailPersonalised welcome by the Lemur Safari team on your arrival at Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo). Private transfer to your superior-category hotel in the capital.
Check-in, welcome cocktail and detailed briefing with your French-speaking driver-guide covering the full logistics of your journey along the RN7, from Tana to Ifaty lagoon. Dinner and overnight in Antananarivo.
Day 2 – Antananarivo → Ambatolampy → Antsirabe
Artisan foundry · Rice-field landscapes · Colonial spa townMorning departure by private 4×4 heading south along the RN7. First stop at Ambatolampy to discover the ingenious craft of aluminium foundry work — an ancestral skill passed down through generations. Drive through the magnificent hills and terraced rice-field landscapes of the Highlands.
Arrival in Antsirabe, an elegant colonial spa town at 1,500 metres altitude. Afternoon exploring the town, visiting local workshops crafting zebu-horn carvings and aluminium miniatures. Option to tour the city by colourful rickshaw. Dinner and overnight in Antsirabe.
Day 3 – Antsirabe → Ranomafana · Night Safari
Ambositra · Zafimaniry crafts · Night Walking in the rainforestContinue south through Ambositra, Madagascar’s woodcarving capital and cradle of traditional Zafimaniry art, listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Vous Head east into the lush, tropical Ranomafana region, where primary forest reaches down to the roadside.
At nightfall, an exclusive guided Night Walking safari along the forest edge — torchlight exploration to observe mouse lemurs, endemic chameleons and tree frogs in their natural habitat. Dinner and overnight in Ranomafana.
Day 4 – Ranomafana National Park · UNESCO Rainforest
Golden bamboo lemur · Red-fronted lemur · Exuberant tropical floraMorning dedicated to a guided exploration of Ranomafana National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accompanied by an expert local tracker, you hike through this remarkably biodiverse tropical rainforest. This is the habitat of the Golden bamboo lemur, an extremely rare species discovered here in 1986, alongside the red-fronted lemur and a lush flora of orchids, tree ferns and endemic palms.
Afternoon: short drive to Fianarantsoa, the Betsileo cultural capital, known as the “good city for learning”. Visit the Upper Town with its cobbled streets and traditional historic architecture. Dinner and overnight in Fianarantsoa.
Day 5 – Fianarantsoa → Anja Reserve → Ranohira
Ring-tailed lemurs · Granite domes · Horombe Plateau · Gateway to IsaloEarly morning departure for the community-managed Anja Reserve, a wildlife sanctuary nestled at the foot of impressive pink granite domes. Guided visit to encounter large colonies of sociable Ring-tailed lemurs (Maki Catta), which approach with confidence and offer exceptional photographic opportunities.
Cross the “gateway to the South” at Ambalavao and continue across the vast, otherworldly Horombe Plateau, before arriving at the imposing red sandstone peaks of the Isalo massif. Dinner and overnight in Ranohira.
Day 6 – Isalo National Park · Canyons & Natural Pool
Full immersion · Canyon hikes · Natural pool swimFull day of hiking and exploration in Isalo National Park, a striking Jurassic geological massif. Walk through otherworldly ruiniform erosion landscapes to reach lush wooded canyons where rich greenery contrasts dramatically with the arid rock.
Refreshing swim in the famous Natural Pool with its translucent turquoise waters, and a visit to the Nymphs’ Waterfall. Late afternoon at the Isalo Window viewpoint for a spectacular sunset through this natural sandstone arch. Dinner and overnight in Ranohira.
Day 7 – Ranohira → Tulear · Arid Bush of the Deep South
Ilakaka · Mahafaly painted tombs · Antsokay ArboretumLeaving Isalo, cross through the sapphire-mining villages of Ilakaka and enter the arid, fascinating bush of the Malagasy Deep South. Along the way, spot the first wild baobabs and the impressive painted tombs of the Mahafaly people — true funerary artworks adorned with zebu sculptures.
Before reaching the coastal city of Tulear, guided visit to Antsokay Arboretum, an exceptional botanical garden with over 900 species of endemic medicinal plants and succulents from the South-West — a collection unique in the world. Dinner and overnight in Tulear.
Day 8 – Saint-Augustin Bay → Ifaty
Onilahy estuary · Sacred Sarodrano cave · Road to the lagoonMorning excursion to the historic Saint-Augustin Bay, where the Onilahy River flows majestically into the Mozambique Channel between towering white limestone cliffs. Visit to the sacred Sarodrano Cave, a remarkable freshwater spring right at the sea’s edge — a local pilgrimage site steeped in spirituality.
Local lunch, then head north through Tulear to the white sandy beaches of Ifaty, the South’s leading beach resort, bordered by a calm, crystal-clear lagoon. Check-in to your beachfront lodge. Dinner and overnight in Ifaty.
Day 9 – Ifaty · Reniala Reserve & Beach Stay
Millenary bottle baobabs · Endemic birds · Free afternoon by the lagoonMorning guided excursion in the Reniala ecological reserve, an incredible dry forest sheltering millenary “bottle” baobabs (Adansonia za), succulents typical of the Deep South and rare endemic birds. A strange, bewitching atmosphere, radically different from the rainforests of Ranomafana.
L’afternoon is completely free to relax on Ifaty’s white sandy beaches or enjoy available water activities — snorkelling, traditional Vezo pirogue trip to the coral reef. Dinner and last overnight in Ifaty.
Day 10 – Ifaty → Tulear → Return Flight to Antananarivo
Private transfer · Domestic flightAfter breakfast at the waterside, private transfer to Tulear Airport to board your Tsaradia domestic flight to Antananarivo.
Welcome at Tana Airport by our team to assist with your international connection. End of Lemur Safari’s exclusive services.
Pricing & Inclusions
Full Board · Guides & Transport included · All entrance fees included
Not included
Important : The domestic flight Tulear – Antananarivo (Day 10) is not included in the price and should be booked separately. Book this flight at the same time as your tour to guarantee availability.
Terms & Cancellation Policy
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Time before departure |
Conditions |
|---|---|
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Confirmation de réservation |
Acompte de 30 % du montant total |
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Solde |
Dû le jour de votre arrivé à Madagascar |
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Annulation > 60 jours |
Remboursement de l’acompte, hors frais de dossier (70 €) |
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Annulation 45 – 60 jours |
Retenue de 50 % de l’acompte |
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Annulation < 45 jours |
Acompte non remboursable |
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Modification d’itinéraire |
Possible jusqu’à 30 jours avant départ, sous réserve de disponibilité |
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Garantie mauvais temps |
Activité alternative sans surcoût si conditions météo empêchent l’excursion prévue |
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Paiement |
Virement bancaire ou PayPal |
Conseil : Souscrivez une assurance voyage avec option annulation « toutes causes ». En cas d’annulation médicale, l’acompte sera remboursé par votre assurance — c’est la protection la plus efficace pour un voyage de cette valeur.
Terms & Cancellation Policy
|
Deadline before departure |
Conditions |
|---|---|
|
Booking confirmation |
Deposit of 30% of the total amount |
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Balance |
Due on arrival in Madagascar |
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Cancellation > 60 days |
Deposit refunded minus file fee (€70) |
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Cancellation 45–60 days |
Retenue de 50% of the deposit |
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Cancellation < 45 days |
Deposit non-refundable |
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Itinerary change |
Possible up to 30 days before departure, subject to availability |
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Bad weather guarantee |
Alternative activity at no extra cost if weather conditions prevent the planned excursion |
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Payment |
Bank transfer or PayPal |
Tip : Take out travel insurance with a “cancel for any reason” option. In the event of medical cancellation, the deposit will be refunded by your insurer — this is the most effective protection for a trip of this value.
Why Lemur Safari?
Local agency vs. European reseller — an honest comparison
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Criteria |
Lemur Safari |
European Agency |
|---|---|---|
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Location |
Toamasina, Madagascar |
Paris, London, Brussels… |
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Intermediaries |
✓ 0 — you speak directly with the field team |
1 to 2 subcontracting layers |
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Price |
✓ Direct, no reseller margin |
+15 to 30% commission |
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Responsiveness |
✓ Reply within 24h · WhatsApp |
2–5 day email delays |
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Flexibility |
✓ Changes up to D–30 |
Rigid conditions |
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Field knowledge |
✓ Guides who live in Madagascar |
Catalogue brochures |
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Local impact |
✓ 100% of spending stays in Madagascar |
Margin captured abroad |
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Exclusive access |
✓ Local networks |
Standardised package tours |
Passionate Local Guides
Born and trained on Sainte-Marie Island. They know every current of the channel, every whale migration route, every path leading to the northern natural pools.
100% Malagasy Agency
Registered in Madagascar, managed by a Malagasy team. Your money directly funds island families and communities — not an office abroad.
15 “Excellent” Reviews
Our travellers awarded the maximum rating across all their tours. Read their experiences on TripAdvisor before booking.
Responsible Tourism
We prioritise charming accommodation, eco-lodges and carefully selected local partners to maximise economic benefits for Malagasy communities.
What our travellers say
Best adventure
“This has been the best adventure I’ve been on so far. Ismail showed our group things in Madagascar that we would never have discovered on our own. Best tour guide ever! :)”
Sanja M · sept. 2024
A country to explore and a local guide to recommend
“We just returned from an unforgettable 7-day private honeymoon trip to Madagascar, and it truly was a dream come true. As a couple, we thoroughly enjoyed exploring stunning natural wonders such as the Baobab Avenue…”
Luca C · nov. 2025Perfectly tailor-made trip
“Ismaël is a great guide, we had an excellent time. Breathtaking places, quality information and impeccable support. I highly recommend. We laughed a lot and discovered so much.”
Princia R · dec. 2025
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