REMOTE MADAGASCAR – Red Owl, Madagascar Pochard, Helmet Vanga, Sakalava Rail, Tsingy Wood Rail, Aye-aye and more

PRICE INFORMATION

Birdquest Inclusions: Our tour prices include transportation, accommodations, meals and entrance fees.

We also include all tipping for local guides, drivers, boatmen and accommodation/restaurant staff.

Deposit: 20% of the total tour price. Our office will let you know what deposit amount is due, in order to confirm your booking, following receipt of your online booking form.

TO BOOK THIS TOUR: Click here (you will need the tour dates)

The single supplement will not apply if you indicate on booking that you prefer to share a room and there is a room-mate of the same sex available.

This tour is priced in US Dollars. Amounts shown in other currencies are indicative.

REMOTE MADAGASCAR BIRDING TOUR: DETAILED ITINERARY

Remote Madagascar: Day 1

Our tour begins this morning in Antananarivo.

(If you are not arriving in Antananarivo early this morning, we can  arrange hotel accommodation on request.)

From Antananarivo Airport, we will take a flight to Sambava, situated on Madagascar’s northeastern coast. From Sambava, we will drive to the Marojejy National Park for a three-night stay. At the park headquarters, we will hand over most of our luggage to our team of porters.

Marojejy National Park is one of the finest birding sites in Madagascar. Its diverse habitats, ranging from lush lowland rainforest to high-altitude cloud forest, support an exceptional array of endemic species. The park is dominated by an ancient granite massif that rises steeply from the surrounding lowlands to peaks exceeding 2,000 metres (6,560ft). This striking elevational range creates a variety of microclimates and habitats, supporting an exceptional diversity of birdlife and mammals, and harbouring three key species: Helmet Vanga, Bernier’s Vanga and Silky Sifaka.

From Manantenina village, we have a slow and steady 6km (3.6 miles) walk to our base for the night, deep within the lush forests of this remote area. During the first few kilometres, adjacent to cultivations, we may encounter Madagascar Coucal, Malagasy Kingfisher, Cuckoo-roller, Souimanga Sunbird, Madagascar Starling, Madagascar Fody and Madagascar Mannikin. As soon as we enter the park’s primary forest, we will hope for our first encounters with Green Jery, Stripe-throated Jery, Rand’s Warbler, Madagascar White-eye, and vangas comprising Red-tailed, Blue, Hook-billed, Tylas and Rufous as they roam about in their mixed flocks. White-fronted Brown Lemurs and the delightful Ring-tailed Vontsira may be encountered at or near the accommodations, as will an impressive abundance of chameleons and frogs, for which this park is famed.

Remote Madagascar: Days 2-3

Helmet Vanga, with its superlative features, makes it one of the country’s, if not the world’s, most iconic bird species, and we have a near-certain chance of finding this true wonder of nature. Locating a group of White-headed Vangas increases our chances further for the Helmet, as they form mixed flocks.

Red-breasted Coua, Bernier’s Vanga, Short-legged Ground Roller and Velvet Asity are all likely too.

The Critically Endangered Silky Sifaka, with a population size of only 300 mature individuals, is best found at Marojejy. Our local team of trackers will hopefully have found a group of these stunning animals for us to enjoy. Based at ‘Camp 2’ (not a camp as such but rather a simple lodge, as in the French ‘campement’), Eastern Bamboo Lemurs will be conspicuous, as will Eastern Woolly Lemurs once darkness has arrived. For those wishing to go out, a night walk may produce both Giant Leaf-tailed Gecko and perhaps Lined Leaf-tailed Gecko, plus many other wondrous nocturnal delights!

If our Helmet Vanga quest is successful in short order, you can opt for a steep hike up to the ridge, but this is a serious ascent. Both Common and Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asities use this narrow ridge, Dark Newtonia are common here and White-throated Oxylabes, Spectacled and Grey-crowned Tetrakas, Wedge-tailed Jery and Long-billed Bernieria roam the understory.

Marojejy also boasts historical records of the recently-described Dusky Tetraka (found only a couple of ridges away), but we would be incredibly lucky to rediscover the species during a short visit to Marojejy!

Remote Madagascar: Day 4

We will depart Marojejy this morning and drive to Daraina, where we will have two nights, arriving mid to late afternoon (stopping for Madagascar Jacana along the way), but certainly in time to have our first of two attempts at finding the incredible Aye-aye, one of the world’s most sought-after primates! With the excellent help from local trackers in locating an active Aye-aye nest during the day, we hope to obtain intimate views as one emerges from its nest, before it heads off into the darkness. Any encounter with an Aye-aye will surely be a very memorable experience!

Remote Madagascar: Day 5

The highly biodiverse region of Daraina, supporting both transitional and dry deciduous forest, and savannah, offers diverse birding, with endemics comprising Cuckoo-roller, Grey-headed Lovebird, Madagascar Hoopoe, Sakalava Weaver, Sickle-billed Vanga, Madagascar Cisticola and Madagascar Lark.

We won’t fail to miss groups of the Critically Endangered Golden-crowned Sifaka, a highly localised species. Encounters with the yet to be described ‘Daraina’ Fork-tailed Lemur, and Daraina Sportive Lemur, in addition to another Aye-aye, will be hoped for during our second night walk.

Remote Madagascar: Day 6

We depart early for our drive to Amber Mountain, where we will spend the night. Amber Mountain, situated 40km south of Antsiranana, is a volcanic massif shrouded in lush rainforest, so very different to the dry lowlands surrounding it, and supports its own endemic, the Amber Mountain Rock Thrush.

Amber Mountain Rock Thrush has had a mixed taxonomic past, but is now a full species, and we should encounter a few individuals along the network of trails here, or quite possibly, in the accommodation grounds. Other endemics typically found amongst the excellent forest here are Madagascar Ibis, Forest Fody, Nelicourvi Weaver, Madagascar Starling and Malagasy Brush Warbler.

Sanford’s Brown Lemurs are readily viewable along many of the forest trails or openings, where we will no doubt encounter many endemic birds.

Remote Madagascar: Day 7

This morning, we start our journey south to Antsohihy, the launch pad for Bemanevika, where we will spend the night.

Providing time allows, we will stop at Andrafiamena Forest to admire a group of the Critically Endangered Perrier’s Sifaka. Again, with the help of local trackers, locating a group should be relatively straightforward.

We will then continue south to Antsohihy, where we should arrive in the early evening, but not before having a quick stop along the main road for the charming Blue-eyed Black Lemur at one of its favoured haunts.

Remote Madagascar: Day 8

From Antsohihy, we will drive into the remote Bemanevika area, the place where the Madagascar Pochard was rediscovered, for a four-night stay at the edge of a superb area of forest.

It is quite an adventure to reach the site, as the roads in this last stretch are pretty rough and almost non-existent in places. Indeed, a longer length of stay here is not only merited by the time it takes to get to the area, but also by the fact that some of the specialities often take time to find.

We will make a few stops at wetlands on the way, where we are likely to find a few new species such as the declining Malagasy Harrier, Blue-billed (or Hottentot) Teal, Madagascar Martin, Madagascar Cisticola, Madagascar Mannikin and, with luck, Baillon’s Crake.

Remote Madagascar: Days 9-11

The amazing rediscovery of this thought-to-be-extinct species has to be one of the most exciting ornithological moments of recent times. A quirk of nature left the Madagascar Pochards’ remote lake with no apparent commercial value (there are no fish, and it is too steep for rice growing). However, since Birdquest helped to establish the local conservation body, the lake now has value as an ecotourism resource and hopefully will be kept pristine. We should have little difficulty seeing this critically endangered species, and at this time of year, they may have broods of small young. The population has now increased to 50 or more.

Whilst looking for the pochard, we should also find the increasingly rare Meller’s Duck and Madagascar Grebe, as well as Red-billed Teal and Red-knobbed Coot.

The surrounding forest also holds some very special endemic species, foremost of which is the amazing Red Owl, which can often be seen at its daytime roost. (If not, we will go out at night to find one.) The rather elusive Madagascar Owl occurs in the same area.

The impressive but rare Madagascar Serpent Eagle is the avian monarch of these forests, and we will surely spend a lot of time looking for this iconic bird. With persistence, we have a good chance of a sighting.

Other birds of particular note present in the forest and adjacent open areas include Malagasy Harrier, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, the splendid Red-fronted Coua, the arboreal Blue Coua, the hyper-active Common Sunbird-Asity, the trunk-loving Grey-crowned Tetraka, Tylas Vanga (which may actually be an oriole!), Rand’s Warbler and Stripe-throated Jery (the two often singing from adjacent song-posts!), Green Jery, Forest Rock Thrush, Madagascar Starling and the declining Forest Fody.

Other species found in the area include Frances’s Sparrowhawk, Madagascar Cuckoo, Rainforest Scops Owl, Alpine and Malagasy Black Swifts, Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher, Pitta-like Ground Roller, Cuckoo-roller, Broad-billed Roller, Mascarene and Brown-throated Martins, Madagascar Cuckooshrike, Spectacled Tetraka, Red-tailed, Hook-billed, White-headed, Blue and Crossley’s Vangas, Madagascar Stonechat, White-throated Oxylabes, Grey Emutail, Malagasy Brush Warbler, Dark Newtonia, Madagascar Cisticola, Madagascar White-eye and Nelicourvi Weaver.

Whilst travelling to and from the lake, we may well see Madagascar Buttonquail and perhaps even the scarce Madagascar Partridge, whilst a foray into one of the marshes at Bemanevika could well yield views of the furtive Madagascar Flufftail and Madagascar Rail, as well as Madagascar Snipe. With persistence and a bit of luck, we will come across the rare Slender-billed Flufftail.

Remote Madagascar: Day 12

Today, we will return to Antsohihy for an overnight stay, making a few short birding stops en route.

Remote Madagascar: Day 13

Today, after a long drive, we will reach Madagascar’s west coast and the town of Majunga (or Mahajanga), where we will overnight.

Along the way, we will stop at a wetland where we are likely to find African Pygmy Goose and perhaps White-backed Duck and Allen’s Gallinule.

Remote Madagascar: Day 14

Today, we will take the ferry across the broad mouth of the Betsiboka River to Katsepy. Once at Katsepy, we will board our 4×4 vehicles and make our way to Lac Kinkony. This is a truly remote area that can only be reached with 4×4 vehicles and then a boat trip. It is also one of the most intact wetlands in western Madagascar and holds a number of rare and threatened species.

We will arrive this afternoon at our comfortable camp, where we will spend two nights.

During the day we may well encounter such interesting birds as Malagasy Kestrel, White-fronted Plover, Madagascar Pratincole, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Malagasy Coucal, Malagasy Palm Swift, Olive (or Madagascar) Bee-eater, Madagascar Lark, Madagascar Wagtail, Crested Drongo, Madagascar Bulbul, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Madagascar Cisticola, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Souimanga and Malagasy Green Sunbirds, Madagascar Mannikin, the colourful Sakalava Weaver and Red Fody. Dimorphic Egret and Madagascar Sandgrouse are also possible.

Widespread species that may well encounter include Squacco and Black Herons, Western Cattle and Great Egrets, African Openbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, White-faced Whistling Duck, Black Kite, Namaqua Dove, Pied Crow and the introduced Helmeted Guineafowl and Common Myna.

Remote Madagascar: Day 15

In 2002, the poorly known Sakalava Rail was discovered in the remote wetlands around Lac Kinkony, south of Majunga, confirming that the species was still extant. This poorly known species was only reliably recorded five times in the 20th century, and until very recently, had been seen by a western ornithologist only briefly! Today, we will explore the tall Phragmites-choked wetlands by pirogues (dug-out canoes), and as we pick our way through the numerous small channels, surrounded by tall reeds, we should soon find the furtive Sakalava Rail.

We are also likely to encounter such interesting birds as the Madagascar subspecies of the Little Bittern, Humblot’s Heron, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Madagascar Buzzard, White-throated Rail, Madagascar Jacana, Madagascar Green Pigeon, Red-capped and Crested Couas, Torotoroka Scops Owl, Madagascar Nightjar, Malagasy Kingfisher, Madagascar Hoopoe, Greater and Lesser Vasa Parrots, Grey-headed Lovebird, the wonderful Sickle-billed Vanga, Chabert Vanga, Common Newtonia, the vocal Madagascar Swamp Warbler, Long-billed Bernieria and Common Jery. More uncommon species of interest include Malagasy Sacred Ibis, Malagasy Pond Heron and Giant Coua.

More widespread species we are likely to find at Lake Kinkony include Little Grebe, Reed (or Long-tailed) Cormorant, African Darter, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated, Purple and Grey Herons, African Spoonbill, Knob-billed Duck, African Swamphen, Common Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Whiskered Tern. Less common species include White-backed Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-billed (or Hottentot) Teal and Allen’s Gallinule.

Lemurs found in the area include the attractive Von der Decken’s Sifaka, Grey Mouse Lemur and Mongoose Lemur.

Remote Madagascar: Day 16

After some final birding at Lac Kinkony, we will make our way back to Majunga for an overnight stay.

En route, we will make a small detour to Katsepy lighthouse to see the delightful Crowned Sifaka (or we may do this on the outbound journey to Kinkony). Depending on the tides, we may be able to look for the rare Bernier’s (or Madagascar) Teal.

Remote Madagascar: Day 17

Today, we will return to Antananarivo for an overnight stay.

Ideally, we will be able to fly, but there are rather limited flights between Majunga and the capital, and they have an annoying habit of suddenly changing the schedule, so we might have to drive. In that case, it is a long travel day, but we could see the uncommon endemic Madagascar Partridge along the way.

Remote Madagascar: Day 18

This morning, we will take a flight to Morondava and transfer by road to Kirindy Forest for an overnight stay. We will make a brief stop at the famous Avenue of the Baobabs en route.

Once we arrive at our accommodation, we will search for the ever-declining Banded Kestrel and superb White-breasted Mesite, and we will surely want to set eyes upon the country’s largest carnivore, the Fosa, which is frequently sighted in this area. Our local guide may know a daytime roost for White-browed Owl, but if not, we can try after dusk.

Remote Madagascar: Day 19

We will set off early and drive to Tsingy de Béharaha for a two-night stay, making some short stops along the way.

Remote Madagascar: Day 20

The vast expanse of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles, called Tsingy (roughly translated from Malagasy as ‘where one cannot walk barefoot’), is a unique geological formation that is home to one of Madagascar’s least-seen endemics, the Tsingy Forest Rail. Indeed, we will be impressed by the sheer remoteness of this dramatic landscape.

Walking the various trails, we hope to come across this rare species with minimal effort, as they often seem unfazed by their admirers.

Another major highlight of this area is the remarkably bright Schlegel’s Asity, this area being one of its strongholds. Other species we may encounter include France’s Sparrowhawk, Malagasy Swift, Madagascar Spinetail, Giant Coua, flocks of Lesser Vasa Parrots, Hook-billed Vanga, Malagasy Brush-Warbler, Mascarene Martin, Forest Rock-Thrush and the ever-present Souimanga Sunbird, while the rare Von der Decken’s Sifaka should be seen too.

Remote Madagascar: Day 21

Today will be a full day of driving back to Morondava, with a few short birding stops along the way.

Remote Madagascar: Day 22

We will fly back to Antananarivo, where the tour ends in the late morning or the afternoon, depending on the flight schedule at the time.