A Madagascar family holiday offers a really different and unique family experience. Whilst the country does not offer the concentrations or magnificent large animals that a traditional African luxury bespoke safari does, it does offer the most amazing holiday imaginable! One needs to be focused, as being the fourth largest island in the world, travel can be long, although we tend to use the local airline where possible.
There are two very obvious, major attractions. The first is the lemurs – over 70 different species and some are habituated, which means that they will come to you and sit on your shoulder for a ride through the forest! The indri indri is the largest lemur; it can be found in Andasibe-Mantadia and this is the first port of call. A stay here is like having the most interesting biology lesson ever! We have sourced the very best English-speaking guides (a difficult thing to come by), who reveal the fascinating world of smaller species. From the magnificent indri indri, to all sorts of chameleons, insects, frogs, snakes, butterflies – it is like being in a dreamland, with just so much to see everywhere you look! Walk through the forest and learn about the trees, plants and birdlife.
Then you can visit the Pangalanes, which is just like a delta, taking a boat trip to a palmarium. The accommodation here is quite basic, but this is where the brown lemurs and sifakas come and walk with you – and on you! Visit the Masoala Biosphere, which has been replicated at Zurich Zoo. Outside of Papua New Guinea, more species are discovered on an annual basis in Madagascar than anywhere else!
Here one can walk through forests and sea-kayak. Then visit Île Sainte-Marie, where one can stay at a wonderful beach lodge for a beach holiday in Africa. The main reason is the humpback whales that come here in July and August. You can go out with scientists by boat and listen to the whales communicate with hydrophones. You can also go out with scientists who are researching turtles.
There is plenty of walking and even the desert to explore.
Finally, take a private catamaran with a private skipper and sail for a week or even just three nights, visiting different areas, fishing, snorkelling and enjoying full freedom and beautiful beaches. Perhaps stay at a chic, luxury Robinson Crusoe retreat which offers all the watersports in the world, or for the ideal experience, take a catamaran and spend the last few days here. Alternatively, for those wanting greater luxury, we have a lovely Relais et Châteaux property where one can see the grey tsingys (sandstone formations), see lemurs, have access to five private beaches, a huge swimming pool and a host of watersports, including scuba diving, for the perfect luxury holiday to Madagascar.
Highlights of our Madagascar family holidays:
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By Marcela Kunova - 20th April 2017
Nicola Shepherd, founder and CEO of The Exploration Company, organises unusual trips for HNW and UHNW clients ranging from birthday parties at an Indian Maharajah's palace to reliving Sir Vivian Fuchs's 1950s expedition to the South Pole. Citywealth caught ...
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