Arrive into Antsiranana where you will be met by your English-speaking guide. 

Antsiranana, or Diego Suarez as it was called until 1975, is in the very far north of Madagascar. Its earlier title is combination of the names of two explorers who "discovered Madagascar" around 1506 - Diego Diaz and Fernando Suarez. 

Diego is set within the protected waters of Antsiranana Bay. The Bay is one of the Indian Ocean's best natural harbours, which in most countries would make it a  important shipping hub. However,  Madagascar's road connections are so poor that its potential cannot be exploited. In its place, the bay remains naturally very pretty. In the middle of the bay is the Sugar Cube: a small island which is an almost perfect equalateral triangle.  The town has an interesting cultural and architectural mix of French colonial,  Arab, Indian and Malagasy Creole. 

Your guide will take you on a short tour of the city before heading inland 30km to Joffreville. This is a little mountain village founded as a retreat for French officers during the colonial period, set close to the Amber Mountain National Park (Montagne d'Ambre). 

When you arrive, you will be able to settle into your lodge and relax where dinner is included. You can enjoy some lovely views of lush vegetation and the turquoise waters of Antsiranana Bay.

Today will be devoted to exploring the National Park of la Montagne d'Ambre. Your rainforest walks will take you to some of most beautiful waterfalls and volcanic lakes in Madagascar; and provide opportunities to see some of the area's 77 species of birds, 7 species of lemur and 24 species of amphibian.

After breakfast, you will journey towards the eastern side of the Ankarana National Park. On your way to Ankarana, you will visit the Red Tsingy in the Southeastern Mountains of Diego. 

You will then continue your journey to Mahamasina, close to the eastern entry point of Ankarana. You will get there towards the middle of the afternoon, staying at a lodge with it's own little tsingy to explore. This will be a great opportunity to look at tsingy, its flora and fauna in detail for yourself, taking photos of its rock forms whilst looking for chameleons and Crowned Lemurs.

Today will be devoted to exploring the Big Tsingy of Benavony at the eastern side of Ankarana. 

You will be able to enjoy up to 7 hours of walking amongst the tsingy, which can be moderately difficult. You will be able to enjoy some wonderful views over the tsingy, as well as exploring its underground caves. Some of the best views can be enjoyed from suspension bridges which join 2 small canyons. If you suffer from vertigo,  its best you refrain from that option. 

Of wildlife, you are likely to see Crowned lemurs and Sanford's lemurs. Inventories have listed 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 96 species of birds, 50 species of molluscs and great number of snails. 14 species of bats live in the caves of Ankarana , which is half of all bat species in Madagascar. 

After your visit, you will be taken to a bush camp where you can cool off in a natural pool and enjoy stunning views towards tsingy cliffs. 

After breakfast, you have the choice of setting out first on foot or by boat. Either way, you will make it to Chameleon Cave. You will also set out along trails designed by the cabe specialist (speleologist) Jean Claude Dobrilla. These include ladders, bridges and guardrails to a panoramic viewpoint with a fantastic panorama over the tsingy. 

In the afternoon, you will go to the Mandresy Cave where your guide will provide you with a head lamp so that you can explore this huge cavity full of stalagmites and stalactites. The cave is accessible for everyone, providing the opportunity to see the Blind Cavefish of Ankarana and Roussette fruit bats (Rousettus madagascariensis). 

After breakfast, you will head by road to Ankify on the Indian Ocean. En route you will cross the Valley of Sambirano known for its cocoa plantations. 

You will eventually board a speedboat which will take you to Nosy Be. Here you will be met by our local representative and transfer to a very comfortable seaside hotel. 

Transfer to Nosy Be airport, or continue your travels in Madagascar. 

You can arrive into Nosy Be at any time today, where you will be met and transferred to your lovely beachside hotel. Here you will be able to meet with the trip host, Ralph Pannell, who will brief you on your journey ahead.

06:30 we will drive to the harbour of the capital of Nosy Be, Hellville. From here we will take a speed boat to the mainland at Ankify. This will take about 40 mins.
 
At Ankify, we will meet our vehicle and local guide and drive to the town of Joffreville, which lies just outside of the Montagne d'Ambre National Park.  This drive takes about 7 hours total, on a combination of tarred road and laterite track. 
 
En route we will stop at the Red Tsingy, which is actually an artistic example of extremely eroded laterite (click HERE for details). From here, we will proceed to a lodge with views of of Indian Ocean and rainforest.

Daytime today will be devoted to exploring the National Park of la Montagne d'Ambre. Our rainforest walks will take us to some of most beautiful waterfalls and volcanic lakes in Madagascar; and provide opportunities to see some of the area's 77 species of birds, 7 species of lemur and 24 species of amphibian.

Before dinner, we will head out with torches on a stroll through forest close to the lodge.

After an early breakfast, we will head to Cap d'Ambre in the very far north of Madagascar. Here we will meet with a member of our conservation partner team, to explore the nature surrounding one of Madagascar's most endangered trees: Diego's Baobab. This is one of Madagascar's 6 endemic species of baobab; and this version reaches up to 25 metres (82 feet) tall and 2 metres (6 ½ feet) in diameter. It's long 1kg (2.2lbs) fruit will be approaching their ripe stage. Hopefully we will see Madagascan fruit bats - the only animal large enough to pollinate these trees.

Breakfast at the lodge before driving along a combination of tarred and damaged road to Mahamasina, near the East gate of the Ankarana Tsingy Reserve (drive around 4 hours). In the afternoon, we will head into the Reserve and take a 2 - 2 ½ hour stroll (easy walk, hiking trail) by the "Tsingy Rary" circuit which takes us through canyons and viewpoints. With a bit of luck, we might spot a few crowned lemurs.

After breakfast, we will head to our next base at the southwestern part of Ankarana. In the afternoon we will head to a cave where we have excellent chances to see Madagascan Flying Foxes, as well as some beautiful stalactite and stalagmite systems.

Night walk before dinner.

Today we will explore the tsingy, taking in some dramatic aerial panoramas.  Of wildlife, we can hope to see Crowned lemurs and Sanford's lemurs. Inventories have listed 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 96 species of birds, 50 species of molluscs and great number of snails. 14 species of bats live in the caves of Ankarana , which is half of all bat species in Madagascar.

We will take lunch at our lodge before heading out in pirogues with stunning views towards cliffs of the Ankarana Massif. 

After breakfast, you will head by road to Ankify on the Indian Ocean. En route we will cross the Valley of Sambirano known for its cocoa plantations. 

We will eventually board a speedboat which will take us back to Nosy Be.