madagascar:
the one & only
October 28 to November 11, 2023
(optional extension November 11 to 17, 2023)
(optional extension November 11 to 17, 2023)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Leaders: Adam Betuel (Director of Conservation, Georgia Audubon) and Josh Engel (Red Hill Birding)
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8 (can be run with a smaller group of 6 to 7 participants at an elevated price)
Main Trip Pricing:
- Member Price: $11,250* per person
- Non-member Price: $11,300* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
- Single Supplement for non-shared room: $920
- Registration: $2,670* per person (with 8 participants -- can be run with as few as 4 participants with elevated pricing)
- Extension Single Supplement for non-shared room: $250
Madagascar is one of the most unique places on the planet, no matter how you measure it. Ecologically, it is filled with diversity, uniqueness, beauty, and the strange. Despite its proximity to the African continent, Madagascar has been isolated for millions of years and was most recently connected to India and not its nearby neighbors. This distinctiveness has often led to Madagascar being called the 8th continent. This island, the world's fourth-largest, is home to five endemic bird families and 120 species found nowhere else on earth. Additionally, more than half of the world’s chameleons live here, as do over a hundred species of lemurs, odd insects, and stunning flora. Madagascar is a naturalist’s dream, filled with places and creatures unrivaled.
For this trip, Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, will team up with Josh Engel, owner and founder of Red Hill Birding. Josh has been guiding in Madagascar and southern Africa for over 15 years, leading roughly eight trips to the island. On this tour, we will likely encounter all endemic bird families, over 100 island and regional endemic bird species, and over 20 species listed as vulnerable. In addition to the avian life, we could tally up to 30 lemur species and will take time to enjoy all the wildlife and landscapes we encounter. Madagascar is also a fascinating place to travel. An island country, with strong ancestral influences from both Asia and Africa and a recent French colonial history, it is unlike anywhere else on earth. Traveling around the island, we will see regionally unique architecture, endless rice paddies, widespread environmental degradation, and pass through myriad villages. We will have local guides everywhere we are birding to introduce us to the forests they know so well and to the birds and animals that live there. This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Questions? Contact Adam Betuel by email or at 678-973-2437.
Credit card processing fees are included in the registration price.
Credit card processing fees are included in the registration price.
trip overview
Click on each day for more information.
day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
Today is the arrival day. We will spend the first night in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo (called Tana), on the central plateau. If people arrive in time, we may be able to visit the nearby Lac Alarobia, where ducks and other waterbirds gather in large numbers. This is a very good place to find Madagascar Pond-Heron and occasionally holds the rare Meller’s Duck. We could also see our first Madagascar Wagtail, Madagascar Munia, Madagascar White-eye, and Souimanga Sunbird of the trip.
days 2-3: Tana to Ifaty and birding around Ifaty
We will fly to Tulear, on the arid southwest coast of Madagascar, meet a vehicle, and drive about 2 hours north along the coast to the village of Ifaty. A few tourists come to this area for the beaches and snorkeling, but we are here to visit one of Madagascar’s unique habitats, the arid spiny forest. Here, strange octopus trees grow out of the sandy soil, and all of the plants have thorns. Baobab trees tower above the other vegetation. And the birding is superb.
We will be birding in a private reserve near the village, where a number of species live that are only found in this habitat. This includes Long-tailed Ground-Roller, our first ground-roller, one of Madagascar’s six endemic families of birds. We will also look for Subdesert Mesite, Subdesert Bush-Warbler, Thamnornis, Red-capped Coua, Archbold’s Newtonia, and Lafresnaye’s Vanga. In coastal grasslands and tidal flats nearby we will look for the endangered Madagascar Plover, rare Humblot’s Heron, and a variety of migrant shorebirds and terns. Other nearby wetlands host a variety of wetland birds, where we occasionally find Baillon’s Crake along with more common species like Common Moorhen and Black-winged Stilt.
We will be birding in a private reserve near the village, where a number of species live that are only found in this habitat. This includes Long-tailed Ground-Roller, our first ground-roller, one of Madagascar’s six endemic families of birds. We will also look for Subdesert Mesite, Subdesert Bush-Warbler, Thamnornis, Red-capped Coua, Archbold’s Newtonia, and Lafresnaye’s Vanga. In coastal grasslands and tidal flats nearby we will look for the endangered Madagascar Plover, rare Humblot’s Heron, and a variety of migrant shorebirds and terns. Other nearby wetlands host a variety of wetland birds, where we occasionally find Baillon’s Crake along with more common species like Common Moorhen and Black-winged Stilt.
Days 4-5: Ifaty to Tulear, La Table, and boat ride to Nosy Ve and Anakao
After a final morning in Ifaty to clean up on the local endemics, we will head south to the regional capital of Tulear, where we will stay for two nights. While here, we will bird the nearby scrublands at La Table, which look entirely unremarkable but are home to the rare Red-shouldered Vanga, only described to science in the 1990s. We will also look hard in this area for Verreaux’s Coua and will walk through nearby pastures hoping to find Madagascar Sandgrouse.
We will also take a day for a boat-ride adventure. Our first stop will be the tiny island of Nose Ve, home to Madagascar’s only breeding colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds. The birds here allow you to get very close as they sit on their nests. There is often a flock of shorebirds roosting here at high tide, including Crab Plovers. We will then move back to nearby mainland to look for Littoral Rock-Thrush, only found along the coastal strip of vegetation in the southwest corner of the island. All along the boat trip we will keep an eye out for Saunder’s Tern and the surprisingly uncommon Kelp Gull, which is sometimes split as Madagascar Gull, as well as for Humpback Whale.
We will also take a day for a boat-ride adventure. Our first stop will be the tiny island of Nose Ve, home to Madagascar’s only breeding colony of Red-tailed Tropicbirds. The birds here allow you to get very close as they sit on their nests. There is often a flock of shorebirds roosting here at high tide, including Crab Plovers. We will then move back to nearby mainland to look for Littoral Rock-Thrush, only found along the coastal strip of vegetation in the southwest corner of the island. All along the boat trip we will keep an eye out for Saunder’s Tern and the surprisingly uncommon Kelp Gull, which is sometimes split as Madagascar Gull, as well as for Humpback Whale.
Day 6: Tulear to Isalo via Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park
An early departure from Tulear will have us to Zombitse-Vohibasia Forest before the weather gets too hot and while birds and animals are still active. This isolated forest is most famous among birders for a bird that occurs only there, Appert’s Tetraka. We stand a high chance of finding the tetraka and a variety of other good birds, including Giant and Running Couas, Greater Vasa Parrot, and Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk. We may find Oustalet’s Chameleon here, one of the world’s largest, along with the stunning Standing’s Day Gecko. The Verreaux’s Sifakas here have become increasingly comfortable with visitors and we could find those and other lemurs as well. The local rangers sometimes know where owls are roosting, and if we are lucky we could see White-browed or Torotoroka Scops-Owls at their roosting sites.
We will finish the day in the rocky environs of Isalo National Park. The hotel grounds are home to White-throated Rail, which we will make an effort to see. It’s also a good area for Madagascar Partridge. At night, we will look for Madagascar Nightjar and White-browed Owl on the hotel grounds.
We will finish the day in the rocky environs of Isalo National Park. The hotel grounds are home to White-throated Rail, which we will make an effort to see. It’s also a good area for Madagascar Partridge. At night, we will look for Madagascar Nightjar and White-browed Owl on the hotel grounds.
Day 7: Isalo to Ranomafana via Anja Reserve
We will spend the early morning birding around our hotel, continuing to look for White-throated Rail and Madagascar Partridge if we have not seen them yet, as well as the recently-lumped Benson’s (now Forest) Rock-Thrush. After breakfast, we will start the long drive east to Ranomafana. We will stop in at the Anja Community Reserve, home to a habituated group of Madagascar’s most iconic mammal, the Ring-tailed Lemur. We will end the day in the mountain rainforests of Ranomafana, in an entirely different environment then where we started the day. If we have time, we will start our birding, perhaps looking along the roadsides for Dark Newtonia, Rand’s Warbler, Pollen’s Vanga, Forest Rock-Thrush, and (Common) Sunbird Asity.
Days 8-10: Ranomafana National Park and drive to Antsirabe
Ranomafana is one of Madagascar’s more important national parks, protecting a unique swath of montane rainforest. It’s not an easy area to get around, and we will be hiking on relatively steep, narrow trails, that are often muddy from rain. But we will hike slowly, birding the whole time, in search of some of the island’s top birds.
There are only few access points into the park, each one with different habitat and different birds, and we will visit them all in the two-and-a-half days we have here.
The main area of the park is where we will look for the rare Brown Mesite, one of the harder birds to find on this route. We will also look for Henst’s Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Jery, Forest Fody, Gray-crowned Tetraka, Rufous Vanga, Velvet Asity, Crossley’s, Nuthatch, and Blue Vanga, White-throated Oxylabes, Red-fronted Coua, and many other birds here. We will also hit higher elevations, especially to look for Madagascar Yellowbrow, Cryptic Warbler (another species only described to science in the 1990s), Brown Emutail, and Yellow-bellied Asity. Marshes in the area are home to the Madagascar Snipe and the rare Gray Emutail, and the local guide may know where to look for Meller’s Duck, another endemic that is often difficult to track down.
Lemurs and other wildlife are also excellent in Ranomafana. It is home to two of the rarest lemurs, Golden and Greater Bamboo Lemurs, which, as their names imply, live in the extensive bamboo stands here. We may come across Ring-tailed Mongoose and we will no doubt see many other lemurs. A nighttime outing along the road should help us find multiple species of chameleons and leaf-tailed geckos.
After our final morning, we will start the long drive to Andasibe. We will break up the drive, stopping to do some souvenir shopping in Ambositra and spending the night in Antsirabe.
There are only few access points into the park, each one with different habitat and different birds, and we will visit them all in the two-and-a-half days we have here.
The main area of the park is where we will look for the rare Brown Mesite, one of the harder birds to find on this route. We will also look for Henst’s Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Jery, Forest Fody, Gray-crowned Tetraka, Rufous Vanga, Velvet Asity, Crossley’s, Nuthatch, and Blue Vanga, White-throated Oxylabes, Red-fronted Coua, and many other birds here. We will also hit higher elevations, especially to look for Madagascar Yellowbrow, Cryptic Warbler (another species only described to science in the 1990s), Brown Emutail, and Yellow-bellied Asity. Marshes in the area are home to the Madagascar Snipe and the rare Gray Emutail, and the local guide may know where to look for Meller’s Duck, another endemic that is often difficult to track down.
Lemurs and other wildlife are also excellent in Ranomafana. It is home to two of the rarest lemurs, Golden and Greater Bamboo Lemurs, which, as their names imply, live in the extensive bamboo stands here. We may come across Ring-tailed Mongoose and we will no doubt see many other lemurs. A nighttime outing along the road should help us find multiple species of chameleons and leaf-tailed geckos.
After our final morning, we will start the long drive to Andasibe. We will break up the drive, stopping to do some souvenir shopping in Ambositra and spending the night in Antsirabe.
Days 11-15: Andasibe area (Mantadia National Park & Analamazaotra Special Reserve) / end of main trip
We will have four nights to make the most of our visit to this spectacular region east of the capital. After a week-and-a-half in Madagascar, we will arrive with a list of birds that we will still want to see. This is prime ground-roller country, with all four rainforest species present, and we will look for all of them: Pitta-like, Scaly, Rufous-headed, and Short-legged. It’s no mean feat to find all four, often involving bushwhacking off-trail through the forest, but we will give it a go. We will be looking for many of the uncommon forest birds that we may not have seen yet, like Brown Emutail, Collared Nightjar, Madagascar (Crested) Ibis, Madagascar Wood-Rail, Madagascar Flufftail, Blue Coua, Nuthatch Vanga, Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, and Velvet Asity. The local guides often know where Madagascar Long-eared Owls are roosting. This area provides our only change to see Red-breasted Coua.
We will devote a full day to looking for Helmet Vanga, surely one of the world’s best birds. They were only recently discovered to be reliably found in a forest in this area, and we will make an effort to find them. It will take a long walk and a dedicated effort.
There are some important wetlands in the area, too, where we will look for Madagascar Rail, Madagascar Grebe, and Madagascar Swamp-Warbler. Like all the forests on Madagascar, there is awesome non-avian wildlife here. A highlight of any Madagascar trip is seeing Indri, the largest of all living lemurs, and hearing its incredible song ring out through the forest. This region is also good for the beautiful Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur and many other lemurs. We will have at least one nighttime outing here, to look for Goodman’s Mouse-Lemur, Malagasy Scops-Owl, chameleons, frogs, leaf-tailed geckos, and other nocturnal lemurs.
We will return to Tana on the afternoon of November 11. Those who are leaving that night will be transferred to the airport for their departure. Those who are continuing on the extension to the northwest will spend the night in Tana.
We will devote a full day to looking for Helmet Vanga, surely one of the world’s best birds. They were only recently discovered to be reliably found in a forest in this area, and we will make an effort to find them. It will take a long walk and a dedicated effort.
There are some important wetlands in the area, too, where we will look for Madagascar Rail, Madagascar Grebe, and Madagascar Swamp-Warbler. Like all the forests on Madagascar, there is awesome non-avian wildlife here. A highlight of any Madagascar trip is seeing Indri, the largest of all living lemurs, and hearing its incredible song ring out through the forest. This region is also good for the beautiful Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur and many other lemurs. We will have at least one nighttime outing here, to look for Goodman’s Mouse-Lemur, Malagasy Scops-Owl, chameleons, frogs, leaf-tailed geckos, and other nocturnal lemurs.
We will return to Tana on the afternoon of November 11. Those who are leaving that night will be transferred to the airport for their departure. Those who are continuing on the extension to the northwest will spend the night in Tana.
extension Days 16-18: Tana to Ankarafantsika National Park
The optional extension kicks off on November 11. On this first day of the extension, we head northwest from Tana, hitting the road early for the long drive to the dry forests of Ankarafantsika. The drive is mostly through disturbed grassland and agriculture. We will keep an eye out for Reunion (Madagascar) Harrier flying over the grasslands and for Madagascar Pratincole along the riverways. By mid-November, wintering Eleonora’s and Sooty Falcons will be arriving, so we will also watch out for those here and throughout the trip.
We will arrive to Ankarafantsika with a bit of time for evening birding, followed by another day-and-a-half of birding there.
This national park is home to the most accessible dry forest remaining anywhere in Madagascar, as well as some high-quality wetlands. We will have many target birds here, especially ones that cannot be found anywhere else on the tour: the critically endangered Madagascar Fish-Eagle, Madagascar Jacana, Schlegel’s Asity, White-breasted Mesite, Van Dam’s Vanga, and “Green-capped” Red-capped Coua. It’s also a great area to find Sickle-billed Vanga, Rufous Vanga (the western form here is a potential split form the eastern form we will look for elsewhere), Coquerel’s Coua, Cuckoo Roller, Banded Kestrel, Madagascar Buttonquail, France’s Sparrowhawk, Madagascar Green-Pigeon, Broad-billed Roller (a potential split from the mainland Africa form), and other more common species. Coquerel’s Sifakas are likely to bound through the campsite. We will do at least on nighttime walk here as well, to look for Torotoroka Scops-Owl and nocturnal lemurs like Western Avahi.
The accommodations and food here are simple, but are located right in the national park, on the edge of a lake, surrounded by great birds and wildlife.
We will arrive to Ankarafantsika with a bit of time for evening birding, followed by another day-and-a-half of birding there.
This national park is home to the most accessible dry forest remaining anywhere in Madagascar, as well as some high-quality wetlands. We will have many target birds here, especially ones that cannot be found anywhere else on the tour: the critically endangered Madagascar Fish-Eagle, Madagascar Jacana, Schlegel’s Asity, White-breasted Mesite, Van Dam’s Vanga, and “Green-capped” Red-capped Coua. It’s also a great area to find Sickle-billed Vanga, Rufous Vanga (the western form here is a potential split form the eastern form we will look for elsewhere), Coquerel’s Coua, Cuckoo Roller, Banded Kestrel, Madagascar Buttonquail, France’s Sparrowhawk, Madagascar Green-Pigeon, Broad-billed Roller (a potential split from the mainland Africa form), and other more common species. Coquerel’s Sifakas are likely to bound through the campsite. We will do at least on nighttime walk here as well, to look for Torotoroka Scops-Owl and nocturnal lemurs like Western Avahi.
The accommodations and food here are simple, but are located right in the national park, on the edge of a lake, surrounded by great birds and wildlife.
extension Days 19-20: Ankarafantsika to Mahajanga & Betsiboka Estuary boat trip
After a final morning of birding in the national park to ensure we’ve found all of our targets, we will drive 2.5 hours to the coastal city of Mahajanga for the night. The next morning, we will board a small boat and head into the Betsiboka River estuary that is adjacent to the town. There are two birds here that we won’t find anywhere else: Bernier’s Teal and the Madagascar subspecies of Sacred Ibis (considered a full species, Madagascar Sacred Ibis, by some authorities). It’s also good for wintering shorebirds, which, if the tide is right, will be present in good numbers. We may find Curlew Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Greater Sand-Plover, and others. Humblot’s Heron is occasionally seen here as well along with more common long-legged waders. We will return to Tana on the afternoon of the November 16 if possible, but it may not be possible until the morning of November 17.
extension Day 21: Departure
Today we say goodbye to Madagascar. If we have time, we may have another chance to visit Lac Alarobia, if we did not visit on the first day, and may have some time for souvenir shopping in Tana’s craft district.
Number of bird species expected: 180-200
Number of mammal species expected: 25-35
Number of mammal species expected: 25-35
additional details
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Please read the additional information about this trip and traveling in Madagascar below. There are very important trip considerations you should see before registering.
Trip Payments:
Participants may elect to break the registration fees into multiple payments.
COVID-19 Considerations:
All participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they are at least two weeks past the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or at least two weeks past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
We will provide updates to organizational, airline, and national COVID-19 guidelines as the trip becomes closer.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by September 1, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between September 2, 2022, and December 1, 2022, a refund of the fees paid to date will be given only if the space(s) can be filled or in the event that the trip cannot proceed due to lack of participants, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between December 2, 2022, and May 31, 2023, a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given, unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given, less any non-refundable payments made to the local company. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation or other circumstances cause the cancellation/postponement of the trip past our refund period. There is a chance our ground agent will require insurance for this trip, and if this is the case, we will update you as soon as possible. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist. Madagascar does not have first world health infrastructure. For serious injuries or illness, you may need to be evacuated to South Africa or elsewhere at great expense. Canceled or delayed flights in Madagascar, lost luggage on internal flights, and other travel issues seem to happen more often in Madagascar than in most other countries. Travel insurance can protect you from costs associated with these issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Health Considerations:
It is best to check the Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) travel website and with your personal physician for the latest recommendations for vaccines and prophylaxis for your destination. Madagascar is a malaria-risk area, and taking anti-malaria pills is highly recommended. Otherwise, typical travel vaccines (Hepatitis A and Typhoid) are also recommended. Land leeches are present in the rainforests of Madagascar, especially after it rains. Although they can be annoying, causing bleeding when they detach, they do not carry diseases and are not dangerous.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically moderate, with some more difficult walks. This trip involves a lot of birding on forested trails. Some trails are quite easy, like in Ankarafantsika and Zombitse. Trails in Ifaty are flat but sandy. Some trails in Ranomafana and Andasibe are steep, narrow, and can be slippery, especially if it has rained recently. We will have an optional long hike to look for Helmet Vanga in potentially difficult terrain. Other trails, for example where we will be looking for Indri, are easier. We will often be on our feet for many hours at a time. Some birds, especially ground-rollers, often require a bit of bushwhacking, sometimes in steep terrain, even sometimes requiring walking through shallow streams. The bathroom has improved in recent years, though you should keep an open mind about bathroom facilities and often the best place to go is in the woods.
Pace:
The pace of the trip is moderate. We will generally have early starts to maximize our birding in the prime early morning hours. Some days, especially in the west where it gets very hot during the day, we will have an afternoon siesta. Some days will be full days in the field, with packed breakfast and/or packed lunches. There are some long drives and the conditions of the roads is not always great. There will be several opportunities for nighttime excursions, especially to look for whatever nocturnal birds we don’t find at daytime roosts along with nocturnal mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Hotels:
The hotels we use in Madagascar are generally good. The options in the areas where we will be going are fairly limited, but generally of high quality, and all will have en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and electricity. However, hot water and electricity can go out any time. The hotel in Ankarafantsika is more basic than other hotels on this trip. Wireless internet access will be limited on this tour and when it is available the quality may be unreliable. Most hotels will provide soap, but some will not provide shampoo.
About traveling in Madagascar:
Madagascar is a poor country, with little economic development. Travel in Madagascar does not always go as planned. Air Madagascar, the local airline, can be unreliable. We require two internal flights on this trip (included in the tour price); it’s best to go into those flights with an open mind about their timing. The tourist industry in Madagascar, while far less developed than in places like South Africa or Kenya, is generally good and is well-developed for eco-tourists. However, Madagascar is the sort of place where even the best laid plans can go awry. Fortunately, Madagascar is a very safe place to travel.
Because of some of the difficulties of traveling in Madagascar, we will have a local guide along to help with logistics. National parks in Madagascar require visitors to have certified park guides to enter the parks. We will have excellent park guides that specialize in birding but are also knowledgeable about other aspects of natural history. Tips for all of these guides are included in the price of the tour.
The national language in Madagascar is Malagasy, which is also the term for the people of Madagascar. There are also many local languages. French is widely spoken, especially in the tourist industry. English is not widely spoken, but is gaining traction in the tourist industry. Our assistant guide will speak English; local guides in the parks will speak some English.
Weather:
This trip coincides with the end of the dry season in Madagascar. Temperatures will be hot for the first part of the trip on the western side of the island, with much sun. Temperatures could reach 90 during the day and can stay quite warm at night. Rain is unlikely in this region. In the eastern part of the island, we will be at higher elevations in rainforest habitat. The weather here will be comfortable, with highs in the 70s or low 80s and cooler nights and early morning. Rain is possible at any time here.
Food:
The food is generally of a high standard on this tour. Most of our dinners will be eaten at the hotels; field meals will be packed by the hotels. Field meals will typically be quite simple. The food has strong French influences, so is generally familiar to Americans. There will be opportunities to sample more distinctly Malagasy foods and drinks, such as seafood, stews, and rice dishes. Vegetarian and other dietary restrictions are easily accommodated. Snacks are not widely available, so if there is a particular birding snack you like at home, feel free to bring some along. Local beer and imported wine and liquor is generally available at the hotels.
Additional questions? Please reach out to Adam Betuel by email or at 678-973-2437.
- One birding tour leader from Red Hill Birding (Josh Engel) and a co-leader from Georgia Audubon (Conservation Director Adam Betuel).
- Malagasy assistant guide throughout the trip and local guides in parks (as required by law).
- Accommodations in all destinations. A non-shared room is available for an additional fee.
- All transportation during the trip including pick-up and drop-off at the airport.
- Domestic flight(s) & boat trip(s).
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 15 (or breakfast on Day 21 if you join the extension), including soft drinks/coffee/tea with meals. Additionally, bottled water will be available throughout the trip.
- All entrance fees to parks and preserves.
- Tips for local guides, the assistant guide, drivers, boat captains, hotel staff, and luggage porters.
- Taxes.
Price does not include:
- Costs of obtaining passports and visas.
- International airfare and any accompanying baggage fees.
- Alcoholic or specialty drinks beyond what is described above.
- Snacks, beverages, room service, or sightseeing not specified in itinerary.
- Unforeseen costs, such as those due to flight delays.
- Souvenirs
- Laundry
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended, possibly required for this tour)
- Medical costs
- Costs associated with COVID-19 tests in country, should they be required
- Gratuities for Red Hill Birding guide
- Personal communications
- Any other incidentals that participants may wish to purchase
Please read the additional information about this trip and traveling in Madagascar below. There are very important trip considerations you should see before registering.
Trip Payments:
Participants may elect to break the registration fees into multiple payments.
- A deposit of $1,500 will be due upon registration to reserve spot on trip. ($1550 for non-members includes a 1-year membership).
- Half of tour cost (less your $1,500 deposit) will be due by December 1, 2022.
- Final payment of your tour cost balance must be made by June 1, 2023. The final payment would include your single supplement payment, if applicable.
- Georgia Audubon will invoice each traveler for payments using the payment schedule above.
COVID-19 Considerations:
All participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they are at least two weeks past the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or at least two weeks past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
We will provide updates to organizational, airline, and national COVID-19 guidelines as the trip becomes closer.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by September 1, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between September 2, 2022, and December 1, 2022, a refund of the fees paid to date will be given only if the space(s) can be filled or in the event that the trip cannot proceed due to lack of participants, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). If notice of cancellation is received between December 2, 2022, and May 31, 2023, a 50% refund of the fees paid to date will be given, unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee and all credit card fees). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a refund will be given, less any non-refundable payments made to the local company. Please contact Adam Betuel if you have any questions regarding the non-refundable payment schedule.
Travel Insurance:
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation or other circumstances cause the cancellation/postponement of the trip past our refund period. There is a chance our ground agent will require insurance for this trip, and if this is the case, we will update you as soon as possible. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist. Madagascar does not have first world health infrastructure. For serious injuries or illness, you may need to be evacuated to South Africa or elsewhere at great expense. Canceled or delayed flights in Madagascar, lost luggage on internal flights, and other travel issues seem to happen more often in Madagascar than in most other countries. Travel insurance can protect you from costs associated with these issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Health Considerations:
It is best to check the Center for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) travel website and with your personal physician for the latest recommendations for vaccines and prophylaxis for your destination. Madagascar is a malaria-risk area, and taking anti-malaria pills is highly recommended. Otherwise, typical travel vaccines (Hepatitis A and Typhoid) are also recommended. Land leeches are present in the rainforests of Madagascar, especially after it rains. Although they can be annoying, causing bleeding when they detach, they do not carry diseases and are not dangerous.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically moderate, with some more difficult walks. This trip involves a lot of birding on forested trails. Some trails are quite easy, like in Ankarafantsika and Zombitse. Trails in Ifaty are flat but sandy. Some trails in Ranomafana and Andasibe are steep, narrow, and can be slippery, especially if it has rained recently. We will have an optional long hike to look for Helmet Vanga in potentially difficult terrain. Other trails, for example where we will be looking for Indri, are easier. We will often be on our feet for many hours at a time. Some birds, especially ground-rollers, often require a bit of bushwhacking, sometimes in steep terrain, even sometimes requiring walking through shallow streams. The bathroom has improved in recent years, though you should keep an open mind about bathroom facilities and often the best place to go is in the woods.
Pace:
The pace of the trip is moderate. We will generally have early starts to maximize our birding in the prime early morning hours. Some days, especially in the west where it gets very hot during the day, we will have an afternoon siesta. Some days will be full days in the field, with packed breakfast and/or packed lunches. There are some long drives and the conditions of the roads is not always great. There will be several opportunities for nighttime excursions, especially to look for whatever nocturnal birds we don’t find at daytime roosts along with nocturnal mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Hotels:
The hotels we use in Madagascar are generally good. The options in the areas where we will be going are fairly limited, but generally of high quality, and all will have en-suite bathrooms, hot water, and electricity. However, hot water and electricity can go out any time. The hotel in Ankarafantsika is more basic than other hotels on this trip. Wireless internet access will be limited on this tour and when it is available the quality may be unreliable. Most hotels will provide soap, but some will not provide shampoo.
About traveling in Madagascar:
Madagascar is a poor country, with little economic development. Travel in Madagascar does not always go as planned. Air Madagascar, the local airline, can be unreliable. We require two internal flights on this trip (included in the tour price); it’s best to go into those flights with an open mind about their timing. The tourist industry in Madagascar, while far less developed than in places like South Africa or Kenya, is generally good and is well-developed for eco-tourists. However, Madagascar is the sort of place where even the best laid plans can go awry. Fortunately, Madagascar is a very safe place to travel.
Because of some of the difficulties of traveling in Madagascar, we will have a local guide along to help with logistics. National parks in Madagascar require visitors to have certified park guides to enter the parks. We will have excellent park guides that specialize in birding but are also knowledgeable about other aspects of natural history. Tips for all of these guides are included in the price of the tour.
The national language in Madagascar is Malagasy, which is also the term for the people of Madagascar. There are also many local languages. French is widely spoken, especially in the tourist industry. English is not widely spoken, but is gaining traction in the tourist industry. Our assistant guide will speak English; local guides in the parks will speak some English.
Weather:
This trip coincides with the end of the dry season in Madagascar. Temperatures will be hot for the first part of the trip on the western side of the island, with much sun. Temperatures could reach 90 during the day and can stay quite warm at night. Rain is unlikely in this region. In the eastern part of the island, we will be at higher elevations in rainforest habitat. The weather here will be comfortable, with highs in the 70s or low 80s and cooler nights and early morning. Rain is possible at any time here.
Food:
The food is generally of a high standard on this tour. Most of our dinners will be eaten at the hotels; field meals will be packed by the hotels. Field meals will typically be quite simple. The food has strong French influences, so is generally familiar to Americans. There will be opportunities to sample more distinctly Malagasy foods and drinks, such as seafood, stews, and rice dishes. Vegetarian and other dietary restrictions are easily accommodated. Snacks are not widely available, so if there is a particular birding snack you like at home, feel free to bring some along. Local beer and imported wine and liquor is generally available at the hotels.
Additional questions? Please reach out to Adam Betuel by email or at 678-973-2437.
