Madagascar
A 13-day private journey down Madagascar’s RN7, from the highland capital through rainforest and ring-tailed lemurs to the sandstone canyons of Isalo.
Ecovoyager Experiences
The moments that make this journey unforgettable.
A 13-day private journey down Madagascar’s RN7, from the highland capital through rainforest and ring-tailed lemurs to the sandstone canyons of Isalo.
This 13-day private journey follows Madagascar’s RN7, the great highway of the south, in a single overland route from the highland capital of Antananarivo to the warm coast near Toliara. It threads together the spa town of Antsirabe and the woodcarving workshops of Ambositra, the rainforest of Ranomafana with its golden bamboo lemurs, the community run reserve of Anja where ring-tailed lemurs live among the granite boulders, and the eroded sandstone canyons and natural pools of Isalo. The dry forest of Zombitse and the spiny forest and reef of the Ifaty coast close the route before you fly back to the capital. Private 4×4 throughout. Domestic flight back to Antananarivo included.
Madagascar’s RN7: Antananarivo to Ifaty
Ecovoyager Experiences
Species you may spot along this route.
The most recognisable of all lemurs, with its black-and-white ringed tail, living in social troops on the ground and in the trees.
A medium bamboo-eating lemur discovered only in 1986, whose discovery led to the creation of Ranomafana National Park.
One of the most endangered primates in the world, a large bamboo specialist with distinctive white ear tufts.
A large, dark rainforest sifaka that leaps upright between trunks, with a chocolate-brown coat and a pale saddle.
A white, long-limbed sifaka of the south, famous for the sideways dancing leaps it makes when crossing open ground.
A medium brown lemur active by day and night, living in mixed groups across several habitats on the route.
A large, striking black-and-white rainforest lemur with a loud, far-carrying alarm call.
A russet rainforest lemur in which males and females look noticeably different, living in small family groups.
One of the smallest primates on earth, a tiny nocturnal lemur that fits in the palm of a hand.
A medium nocturnal lemur of the southwest, often seen by day peering from a hole in a tree.
Madagascar's largest carnivore, a long-bodied, cat-like predator that hunts lemurs through the forest.
One of the largest chameleons in the world, a slow-moving, colour-shifting reptile of forest and scrub.
A large, pale green-and-grey day gecko of the southwest, active and conspicuous on tree trunks.
A small olive-and-yellow songbird found only in a handful of dry forests in southwest Madagascar.
A small rock-dwelling thrush of the south, the male rusty-orange below, at home among the sandstone of Isalo.
The largest of Madagascar's couas, a ground-dwelling relative of the cuckoos with bright blue skin around the eye.
A handsome forest ibis with a shaggy crest and white wing patches, scarce and often hard to find.
Madagascar Tour Details
Everything included in the tour, and what to budget separately.
Madagascar Tour Details
Transparent rates with no hidden costs.
| Group Size | Per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo traveler | Price on request | Contact usSingle occupancy |
| 2 travelers | $4,300 | Per personDouble occupancy |
| 3 travelers | $3,900 | Per personGroup rate |
| 4 travelers | $3,100 | Per personRecommended minimum |
| 5 travelers | $3,100 | Per personMinibus applies |
| 6 travelers | $2,850 | Per personGroup rate |
| 7 travelers | $2,850 | Per personSecond guide applies |
| 8 travelers | $2,700 | Per personGroup rate |
| 9 travelers | $2,700 | Per personGroup rate |
| 10 travelers | $2,600 | Per personBest value |
Ready to plan your journey down the RN7? Every trip is private and shaped around your dates, pace, and group, with places held on a first come basis.
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Traveler Stories
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"I had a wonderful time. Organization was superb and our experiences were maximized due to great planning and enthusiasm."
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Destination
Each stop on this journey through Madagascar, and the country that ties them together.
Support
Everything you need to know before your journey. Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch and we'll help.
How dates, pricing, and group size work on this private journey.
The RN7 is best travelled in the dry season, roughly May to October, when the roads are at their most reliable and the park trails are clear. July and August are the coolest and busiest months, so lodges should be booked well ahead. We can also run the trip in the green shoulder months for fewer crowds and lower rates.
Every departure is private. You travel with your own driver-guide and vehicle, on your own dates, with no strangers joining the group. The per-person price falls as the group grows because the fixed cost of the vehicle and guiding is shared across more travellers.
A 25 percent deposit confirms your booking and secures your dates and lodges, with the balance due 60 days before departure. For a group of four at the standard rate, that is a deposit of around 775 US dollars per person.
This is a private journey designed to stay personal. Up to four travellers share one 4×4; from five a minibus is used, and from seven a second local guide joins at the parks. Ten is the practical maximum that keeps the experience intimate and the vehicles comfortable.
What the driving days and the RN7 itself are actually like.
This is an overland journey down a single highway, so there are several long driving days, the longest being Antsirabe to Ranomafana at around 250 kilometres. The RN7 is paved but rough in places, so days move at 40 to 50 kilometres an hour. We keep two nights at the main stops to balance the time on the road and never drive after dark.
You travel in a private air-conditioned 4×4 with an English or French speaking driver-guide for the full thirteen days. Local guides, which are required, join you inside each national park and reserve. Larger groups travel in a minibus, with a second guide added at the parks from seven travellers.
The route runs one way from Antananarivo south to the coast near Toliara. Rather than retrace more than 900 kilometres of road, you fly from Toliara back to the capital on Day 12, a flight of under two hours that is included in the price. We build a buffer night in Antananarivo before international connections.
Most towns and lodges on the route have mobile signal and some Wi-Fi, though it is often slow, and there are stretches between stops with no coverage at all. A local SIM card, easily bought in Antananarivo, gives the most reliable connection along the highway.
What you will see in the four parks, and what is realistic.
The route is built around lemur diversity: golden and greater bamboo lemurs and Milne-Edwards’ sifaka in the Ranomafana rainforest, habituated ring-tailed lemurs at Anja, and Verreaux’s sifaka and more ring-tails at Isalo and Zombitse. Night walks at Ranomafana add tiny mouse lemurs. Common species are close to guaranteed, while the rarest are a matter of luck.
Yes. Local guides are mandatory inside every national park and reserve in Madagascar, and their fees are included in your price, along with all entrance fees for Ranomafana, Anja, Isalo, and Zombitse. The guides are also the best way to find wildlife, since they know the trails and the animals’ habits.
The wildlife is seen on foot. Walks range from gentle strolls at Anja and Zombitse to half-day rainforest trails at Ranomafana and canyon walks at Isalo over uneven ground. A reasonable level of fitness is enough, and we can adjust the length of any walk to suit the group.
The dry season from May to October gives the best park access and trail conditions. For active lemurs and the chance of seeing infants, the months from September to November are especially good. Reptiles and chameleons are easiest to find in the warmer, slightly wetter shoulder months.
Where you sleep, what you eat, and how to prepare.
Accommodation is premium but not flashy, chosen for character and location: a design-led hotel in Antananarivo, a garden eco-lodge at Antsirabe, forest chalets at Ranomafana, the most comfortable lodge at Isalo, and an intimate seaside guesthouse on the coast. All rooms have private bathrooms, and most include breakfast.
Daily breakfast is included, along with the dinners noted in the itinerary at the more remote lodges and a welcome dinner on arrival. Lunches and other dinners are left open, which keeps your price down and lets you choose where to eat. Bottled water is provided in the vehicle throughout.
This is a moderate trip. The main demands are long driving days and several half-day walks on uneven ground. There is no extreme altitude on this route, unlike the high passes elsewhere in the region. Anyone in reasonable health who enjoys walking will manage comfortably, and walks can be shortened on request.
The highlands and the rainforest are cool, especially at night, so bring warm layers and a light waterproof. The south and the coast are warm and dry, so pack sun protection and light clothing. Sturdy walking shoes and a daypack are useful throughout. We send a full packing list on booking.
