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Ethiopia & Madagascar Wildlife Holidays (Tailor Made): Simien + Bale Mountains + Lemurs

Wildlife of Ethiopia + Madagascar - Privately Guided

21 NIGHTS FROM:

$4,858

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

YPM22A

• Ethiopia & Madagascar Holidays

• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

• Simien Mountains

• Lalibela & Lake Langano

• Bale Mountains

• Antananarivo, Madagascar

• Analamazaotra & Mantadia

• Ranomafana & Isalo Lemurs

• Madagascar Wildlife Holidays

• Wildlife Holidays, Tailor Made

Our Ethiopia & Madagascar wildlife holidays can be tailor made to your requirements. In Ethiopia visit the Simien & Bale Mountains national parks, as well as Lake Langano with its abundant birdlife & the historic rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. In Madagascar visit several importamt lemur parks including Analamazaotra (Perinet), Mantadia, Ranomafana & Isalo, before relaxing on the beach at Anakao. All privately guided.

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Day 1

You will be met at Addis Ababa Airport and transferred into Ethiopia's capital city. This beautiful high-altitude country was once ruled by the Queen of Sheba and has a fascinating and ancient history. With over 80 different languages and many different religions, its strong tribal traditions and festivals are world famous.

On arrival enjoy a private tour of the city, viewing landmark buildings such as Headquarters of the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as Meskel Square - the main meeting place of the city. We visit Trinity Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in the city, and the former palace of King Menelik II (also called the Imperial Palace or the Old Gebi), which has been the residence of various Ethiopian emperors including Haile Selassie. Today it contains the offices of the Prime Minister.

Ethiopia is one of the world's oldest civilizations and you can see many ancient artefacts on display at the National Archaeological Museum. This includes the fossil remains of Lucy, one of the oldest known hominids ever discovered who lived in Ethiopia over 3.2 million years ago. Over 40% of her skeleton was found intact.

Time permitting there is also the opportunity to visit the Mercato, the largest open air market in Africa, and drive up Mount Entoto for panoramic views over the city. As Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, do try to experience a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony at some stage during your stay.

Day 2

Transfer to Addis Ababa Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Gondar Airport by your guide, who will drive you 3-hours to Debark, continuing to our Simien Mountains National Park lodge in the northern Ethiopian Highlands - a dramatically beautiful World Heritage Site.

We drive through the spectacular landscapes of one of Africa's largest mountain ranges, with many deep valleys and jagged peaks. Here you will find Ras Dashen, the highest mountain in the country and the fourth highest in Africa soaring over 15,000 ft (4,630 m).

Simien Mountains National Park covers an area of over 70 square miles (190 km²). This high altitude park is situated between 4,500 and 6,200 ft (1,900 to 4,430 m) and has a variety of afro-alpine flora, including 57 different tree species and many herbaceous plants, spread across three distinct botanical zones. Over 180 bird species have been recorded here and this park is home to 35 different mammals.

Note: Be aware that your lodge in the Simien Mountains is at high altitude at 10,500 ft (3,200 m).

Day 3

This morning enjoy walking in Simien Mountains National Park. The alpine meadows in the highest reaches of this park have very little vegetation and snow falls regularly, but they provide essential sanctuary to the animals that live here.

Simien Mountains National Park was created primarily to protect the critically endangered Walia Ibex, which you can see clinging to the sheer rock faces. It is also home to other endemic species such as the colourful Gelada ('bleeding heart') baboon; the Ethiopian wolf (also known as the Simien fox); Menelik's bushbuck; caracal and the rare lammergeyer (a huge vulture).

Enjoy outstanding views of the gorge and mountain range, whose striking formations have been described as ‘the chess pieces of the Gods’. We also drive to Chenek which at 11, 877 ft (3,620 m) has an impressive escarpment with scenic views of Mount Buhit. Here you will have the best opportunity of observing the endemic Walia ibex, as well as many different bird species and the varied alpine flora.

Day 4

This morning we leave Simien Mountains National Park and drive 3-hours to Gondar.

This historic city was the 17th century capital of the Ethiopian Empire under Emperor Fasilides and also of the ancient Abyssinian Empire. Its rulers built many castles here, giving the region a very European feel - hence the name 'African Camelot'. The whole city is today a World Heritage Site.

On arrival we visit the Imperial Castle Compound with its six castles, including the oldest and most magnificent Fasilides Castle, with its Royal Enclosure and Emperor Fasilides’ Pool. This is where the colourful Timket festival (Epiphany) is celebrated every January, when pilgrims still take a plunge.

We also visit the church of Quskuam Mariam, the residence of the Empress Mentewab and the church of Debre Berhan Selassie (meaning 'Light of the Trinity'), located on the summit of a hill and surrounded by fortified walls. This church was not destroyed, even during the dervishes, and on its painted 18th century ceiling over 100 winged cherubs look down on you, with slightly different but equally quizzical expressions. Full of all the colour, life, wit and humanity of Ethiopian art at its best, the walls provide a compendium of the country's saints, martyrs and folklore.

Day 5

Transfer to Gondar Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Lalibela Airport and transferred into this spiritual town - the 'African Jerusalem'.

Perched high on an isolated mountain over 8,500 ft (2,600 m) above sea level, Lalibela is home to 11 spectacular rock-hewn churches built by King Lalibela (1181 - 1221) after whom the town is named. Each church is carved entirely out of a single block of granite, with its roof at ground level, and each is built in a different architectural style. The entire town seems frozen in biblical times and is today a pilgrimage site for Christians.

After lunch we visit the First Group of extraordinary rock-hewn churches and their subterranean complex of passages, found by a stream called the River Jordan. Bete Medhanialem (Saviour Church), Bete Miriam, Bete Denagel, Bete Meskal, Debra Sina and Bete Golgotha are all part of the amazing UNESCO World Heritage site found at Lalibela.

Note: When entering churches, men should wear long trousers. Women should wear jeans or long skirts (avoid short skirts and shorts) & must wear a head scarf. Please be aware there is a lot of walking and climbing up and down rough steps when visiting these churches.

Day 6

This morning we take a mule ride to the top of a hill to view the semi-monolithic church of Asheton Mariam (13th century AD). Here you will be rewarded with unforgettable views of the surrounding area.

In the afternoon we visit the Second and Third Group of Lalibela's famous churches. These include Bete Gabriel & Raphael, Bete Merquorios, Bete Emmanuel and Bete Abba Libanos.

Finally we visit the famous Bete Giorgis - Church of St George - carved in the shape of a cross from solid red volcanic rock. It is the most beautiful rock-hewn church in the world and symbolises Noah's Ark.

Day 7

Transfer to Lalibela Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Addis Ababa by your guide, who will drive you 3-hours southwards through the beautiful Rift Valley with its chains of lakes - Lake Ziway, Lake Langano, Lake Abijatta and Lake Shala.

On arrival at Lake Langano you can enjoy the wonderful views and prolific birdlife, including pelicans and flamingos. You can also swim in the lake.

Day 8

Today we leave Lake Langano and travel 4-hours towards Bale Mountains National Park - the best-known national park in Ethiopia.

We drive up through forests, fields, villages and banana groves until we reach the open grassy uplands, with the scenery becoming increasingly spectacular as we approach the park. Situated on the high altitude Sanetti Plateau, the park covers an area of over 830 square miles (2,150 sq km).

The plateau is broken up by dramatic volcanic plugs and peaks, beautiful alpine lakes and rushing mountain streams that descend into deep rocky gorges on their way down to the lowlands. This is the largest Afro-Alpine habitat in Africa and the best place to see many endemic mammals. It is also the best place to spot many high-altitude bird species.

Day 9

Today enjoy the upland birdlife, flora and fauna of Bale Mountain National Park which offers wonderful opportunities to view 11 of Ethiopia's 29 endemic bird species (over 260 bird species have been recorded here) as well as over 60 different mammals.

Depart early and ascend the Bale Massif on foot until you reach the high altitude Sanetti Plateau, which ranges between 12,500 and 14,360 ft (3,800 to 4,377 m). As you climb up the mountain you will see the vegetation changing from juniper forests to heather moorlands and alpine meadows, which at certain times of year are covered in an abundance of colourful wildflowers.

The Sanetti Plateau is a birding area of great importance, as it supports seven globally threatened species, including the Thick-billed raven, Wattled ibis, Blue-winged goose and Rouget's rail. It supports nearly all of Ethiopia’s highland biome species and is particularly good for raptor sightings.

This is also the best place to see the park's most celebrated resident - the Ethiopian wolf (also called the Simien fox). Watching these vibrantly coloured animals hunting giant mole-rats (another endemic species) is a truly wonderful wildlife experience. You can also see the endemic Mountain nyala, a magnificent antelope unique to these hills, the endemic Bale Mountains vervet monkey and other sepcies such as the Menelik bush buck, warthog, reed buck and gray duiker. If you are very fortunate, you may see the rare black-maned lion.

Day 10

This morning we travel 4-hours to beautiful Lake Awasa, which is home to hippos and a magnificent spectacle of water birds.

Species you can hope to see here include the Marabou stork, Black heron, Goliath heron, Hamerkop, Hadada ibis, Pygmy goose, Fulvous whistling duck, White-faced whistling duck, Knob-billed duck, Black crake, African jacana, Three-banded plover, Whiskered tern, White-winged black tern, Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher and many other species of egrets, ducks and kingfishers.

Birds are so plentiful here that little energy is required in finding them. You can also hope to see beautiful black and white Colobus monkeys.

Day 11

This morning we visit the fish market on the shores of Lake Awasa.

Afterwards transfer 4-hours through the chain of Rift Valley lakes to Addis Ababa Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Antananarivo Airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel situated near the airport.

Check in and relax.in this capital city of the tropical island of Madagascar.

Day 12

This morning we leave Antananarivo and travel 5-hours to the small village of Andasibe. On this scenic drive you will see local villages with their long red clay houses, rice paddies and roadside markets, which will give you a good feel for traditional Malagasy life.

On arrival at your lodge, enjoy a 2 to 3-hour walk in the montagne rainforest of Analamazaotra Reserve (previously called the Perinet Reserve), which covers 810 hectares. This is where you come to see the magnificent black and white Indri - the largest lemur species in Madagascar, with their eerie wailing calls as they sing from the treetops and mark out their territory.

The path into the rainforest starts with a steep ascent up some well-made steps, followed by some relatively good paths, although an alternative longer and gentler ascent is also available. There may be some scrambling off the path to get closer to the Indri, but there are plenty of trees to hang onto for balance.

You can also hope to see the beautiful orange, grey and white Diademed Sifaka as well as the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur - although be warned that tracking lemurs in the dense canopy of this rainforest is hard work and you can realistically hope for only two or three sightings on each walk. However the excitement of finding them hiding high in the treetop canopy, and jumping from tree to tree, is a thrilling memory that will last a lifetime - so once you find a group do linger and enjoy watching their behaviour for a while. Altogether there are 12 lemur species in this park - 6 diurnal and 6 nocturnal.

In the early evening enjoy a 1-hour noctural guided walk along a road close to the Analamazaotra Reserve, so remember your headlamp. Here you can hope to see the glowing eyes of the tiny Goodman's mouse lemur, little tree frogs and sleeping chameleons.

Day 13

Today we drive 1-hour along a rough gravel road to the massive 16,000-hectare primary montane rainforests of Mantadia National Park.

The trees in these rainforests are tall and some trails are steep and muddy. There are also streams to cross using log bridges, but you should be rewarded by a view of the gorgeous Diademed Sifaka, perhaps the most beautiful of all the lemurs with its fluffy golden-orange, grey and white coat.

You should also see the Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs that scream at each other across the forest and, if you are fortunate, maybe also the large Indri that is easily heard because of its impressive shrieks. This park is also a great place to see the giraffe-necked weavil, tenrec (similar to hedgehog), tree boa and many species of frogs and chameleons.

The indigenous flora is outstanding, with hundreds of species of orchids that blossom in October & November, many species of ferns, sacred creepers, lichens and dwarf palm trees. In total there are 12 different species of lemurs, 28 species of reptiles and over 100 bird species in this park.

Afterwards enjoy a 30-minute visit to Lemur Island, where you can interact with and take close-up photos of habituated lemurs rescued from captivity and now living in the semi-wild near Vakona Lodge.

Note: Tracking lemurs is done on foot. Some trails are demanding, but your guide will be mindful of your level of fitness and adapt your route accordingly. Wear walking boots with good tread and carry proper rain gear, including lightweight waterproof trousers. Gardening gloves are useful to protect your hands when scrambling through the rainforest and a head torch for night walks is essential. As the climate in the mountains is much cooler than at the coast, especially at night, also pack a fleece.

Day 14

The next two days is a long scenic road trip, spending all day on the road, as we travel via the city of Antsirabe to Ranomafana National Park, with an included lunch.

On our first day we travel 10-hours from Andasibe to Antsirabe in the central highlands, driving past terraced rice paddies and traditional red clay houses, with interesting stops along the way. We hope to see many common endemics from Madagascar and its neighbouring islands today - including species such as the Madagascar wagtail, Malagasy kingfisher, Mascarene martin, Malagasy kestrel, Malagasy bulbul and many others.

We visit the small city of Ambatolampy, an agricultural centre known for its aluminium factory, and also stop at the foot of the mighty Ankaratra Massif, the third highest summit on the island.

In the late afternoon we check into to our hotel in the thermal springs city of Antsirabe, established by Norwegian missionaries and today the agricultural and industrial centre of Madagascar.

Day 15

After admiring local arts and crafts such as embroidery, sweet-making and the cutting of semi-precious stones, we spend another full day on the road as we leave Antsiribe and travel 10-hours to Ranomafana, with an included lunch.

We pass through Ambositra, the centre of Madagascar's wood carving industry known for its master craftsmen and furniture manufacturing, where we visit a wood carving factory. Characterised by its architecture, many houses here have ornately carved wooden balconies with geometric designs and colourful shutters.

We continue to Ranomafana (meaning "hot water"), a thermal spring that is home to one of Madagascar's best known national parks.

Day 16

Today we visit Ranomafana National Park - a dense and humid rainforest that is one of the most important national parks in Madagascar, as it is home to 12 different species of lemurs including two of the rarest in the world - the Greater Bamboo Lemur and the Golden Bamboo Lemur that is only found in this park. Its diet of bamboo tips containing cyanide may be responsible for its golden fur.

Spread over 42 hectares, Ranomafana is home to 29 different mammals, including several species of viverrids and the ring tailed mongoose. Also a wide variety of butterflies, insects and reptiles such as lizards, chameleons, frogs and the leaf-tailed gecko. Ranomafana is also a birding hotspot with over 114 species having been recorded in its dense forest canopy, most of which are endemic.

The largest lemur in the park is the elusive Milne-Edwards sifaka, usually found high in the treetops. You should also look out for red bellied lemurs which live in couples with their offspring, and red fronted brown lemurs which live in large groups. But be warned that some trails are very steep with many steps, and others can become extremely muddy after rain.

During an early evening visit you can hope to see nocturnal species such as the microcebus red mouse lemur (the smallest primate in the world) and if you are very fortunate the fossa, a member of the civet family and the largest carnivore in Madagascar.

Day 17

We begin another scenic road trip across the island today, as we travel 9-hours from Ranomafana - driving across the Plateau of Horombe, a rocky expanse of land known as the "Door of the South" to the much drier Isalo National Park. A picnic lunch is included today.

We make a brief stop at Fianarantsoa, a World Heritage site, for a short tour of this ancient regional capital with its Royal Palace and Lac Anosy. We then continue through the central highlands and descend into the west coast region, where the scenery changes to open savanna grassland with zebu (cattle) herds tended by Malagasy cowboys.

We travel through the vineyards of the wine region of Ambalavao, a small town that is a centre for traditional paper making and where there is a large zebu market each Wednesday.

We also visit the community-managed Anja Private Reserve, where we may see vocal troupes of ring-tail lemurs in the forest between huge granite outcrops. The small nocturnal microcebus lemur can also be spotted here. Anja is home to some of the country’s rarest plants and many different chameleons (there are about 150 types of chameleons in the world, half of which are found in Madagascar).

We continue to Isalo National Park and arrive in the late afternoon.

Day 18

Today we travel for 5-hours from Ranohira to the southern city of Tulear, travelling through the dry forests of the west and the spiny deserts of the south.

Our first stop is at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, which is one of the best place to see Verraux's sifaka in the wild.

We continue through the sapphire mining village of Ilakaka. Along the way you will see giant baobab trees, whose strange bare branches look like they are planted upside down. You will also see the spectacular Mahafaly tombs - unusual funeral carvings unique to the southern region, which express the life and fertility of the deceased.

Another stop is made to visit the Arboretum d'Antsokay, where you can see some of the fascinating succulent plants of the south up close. On arrival in Tulear, we check into our hotel. Your driver/guide will then leave you and return to Antananarivo.

Day 19

This morning transfer 45-minutes by boat from Tulear to the coastal fishing town of Anakao.

Your secluded ocean lodge is situated in a protected nature reserve on Andovoke Bay, with its dazzling turquoise, emerald and cobalt blue waters and magnificent one mile half-moon beach. On the horizon you can see the waves breaking along one of the longest coral reefs in the world, as well as the nearby islands of Nosy Satrana and Nosy Ve.

Relax on the beach, which is splendid by day and unforgettable at sunset.

Day 20

At leisure to relax and unwind on beautiful Anakao beach.

Migrating whales can be seen passing here in August and lemurs live in the nearby forest. It is also possible to visit Tsimanampetsotsa National Park with its spectacular lake and baobabs (arrange & pay locally - approx € 195 per person).

Note: Do not buy any corals from local markets, as this will encourage the plundering of these reefs.

Day 21

This morning transfer 45-minutes by boat to Tulear Airport, for your flight to Antananarivo.

You will be met at Antananarivo Airport and transferred to your airport hotel.

Day 22

Transfer to Antananarivo Airport for your flight home.

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