Our three-week Comprehensive Madagascar birding and wildlife tours are set to take in as much of this biological melting pot as possible during our time here. Madagascar’s size and millions of years of isolation have led to a remarkable selection of utterly unique and often spectacular fauna and flora. We will explore a number of this island’s most awe-inspiring habitats – from the bird-rich sites of the eastern rainforest zone and the astonishing Spiny Desert around Ifaty to the deciduous woodlands of the north-west and everything Tolkienesque in between – as we search for our quarry.
Equally as (if not more) awe-inspiring than the habitats is this island’s avifauna, whose presence in the flesh make superlatives seem inadequate, and we hope to see representatives of all of Madagascar’s endemic bird families during our time here: ground rollers; Cuckoo Roller; mesites; Malagasy warblers and vangas! Other than endemic families, we also stand a chance to see Madagascar Fish Eagle, Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Red-breasted Coua, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Benson’s Rock Thrush and Appert’s Tetraka.
Besides the birds, we experience up to 27 lemur species (including the regal Indri and world-famous dancing Sifakas), other mammals from civets to strange tenrecs (the planet’s most primitive mammals), dozens of species of chameleons, cryptic leaf-tailed geckos and other bizarre reptiles and amphibians, and even some of the world’s most outlandish insects (such as the celebrated Giraffe-necked Weevil)!
Join us for a truly comprehensive birding and wildlife tour of this otherworldly land!
Subdesert, Brown & White-breasted Mesite, Cuckoo Roller, Long-tailed Ground Roller, Blue & Red-breasted Coua, Schlegel’s & Velvet Asity, Nuthatch & Sickle-billed Vanga, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Forest Rock Thrush, Appert’s Tetraka, Madagascar Plover, Thamnornis, Madagascar & Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Madagascar Fish Eagle, Henst's Goshawk, Bernier’s Teal , Madagascar Wood Rail, Brown Emutail
Indri, Ring-tailed Lemur, Diademed & Verreaux’s Sifaka, Golden & Greater Bamboo Lemur, Golden-brown Mouse Lemur, Hubbard's Sportive Lemur, Fosa
rainforest, riparian forest, deciduous woodland, spiny desert, mudflats, wetlands
warm to very hot, cooler evenings in highlands, some rainfall possible
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader & local leader
moderate to brisk
basic but comfortable hotels and lodges
mostly unchallenging but several difficult rainforest skulkers
190 - 200
spiny forest, Berenty, strange herps & insects, coral reefs, shopping, culture
incredible
Adam Walleyn went above and beyond to find just about everything there was to see. His knowledge of herps, mammals and birds is very comprehensive.
This was our first tour with Rockjumper and it was absolutely fabulous. Adam Walleyn is by far the best bird guide we have ever had the privilege of working with. His combined qualities as the overall tour leader in terms of personality, ability to deal with whatever got thrown at him and interactive skills were all great. He was very good at keeping us informed of what was planned and was happening next. He was very good at imposing a gentle but essential discipline on the group - rotation in the procession, rotation of positions in the buses, ensuring that everyone got to see the bird - all made for a really good functionality in the group. His sharpness in the field, knowledge of bird calls and bird identification were simply remarkable.
Adam Walleyn was amazing, and we will definitely be looking into arranging a private Rockjumper tour with him in the future. Not only did he have extensive knowledge of the birds, but also the other flora and fauna, as well as some of the historical aspects of Madagascar.
Our leader, Rob Williams, was extremely knowledgeable, had a good sense of humour and was keen to see as many species as possible. He helped group members locate more difficult species.
With Adam Walleyn as our guide, it was hard to imagine how the trip could have been any better. Madagascar is certainly a challenging place, but his experience and ability to help us know what to expect were invaluable. As far as seeing birds, my expectations were exceeded. A great trip.
Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk
Tour price (Per person): USD8,495 * GBP6,823 * EUR7,937 * AUD13,095
Single Supplement: USD1,200 * GBP964 * EUR1,121 * AUD1,850
Flight costs: USD1,530 * GBP1,229 * EUR1,429 * AUD2,359
Tour Leader: Gregory de Klerk
Tour price (Per person): USD8,495 * GBP6,823 * EUR7,937 * AUD13,095
Single Supplement: USD1,200 * GBP964 * EUR1,121 * AUD1,850
Flight costs: USD1,530 * GBP1,229 * EUR1,429 * AUD2,359
Tour Leader: Lev Frid
Tour price (Per person): USD8,795 * GBP7,064 * EUR8,217 * AUD13,558
Single Supplement: USD1,350 * GBP1,084 * EUR1,261 * AUD2,081
Flight costs: USD1,700 * GBP1,365 * EUR1,588 * AUD2,621
Tour Leader: Stuart Elsom
Tour price (Per person): USD8,795 * GBP7,064 * EUR8,217 * AUD13,558
Single Supplement: USD1,350 * GBP1,084 * EUR1,261 * AUD2,081
Flight costs: USD1,700 * GBP1,365 * EUR1,588 * AUD2,621
Madagascar - Herz & friends 2023 - November 2023
Madagascar - Comprehensive III 2023 - October 2023
Madagascar - Whitlock 2023 - October 2023
Madagascar - Highlights II 2023 - October 2023
Madagascar - Comprehensive II 2023 - September 2023
Madagascar - Kingsbury 2023 - September 2023
Madagascar - Vounnou 2022 - November 2022
Madagascar - Highlights II 2022 - October 2022
Madagascar - Comprehensive II 2022 - September 2022
Madagascar - Highlights II 2019 - October 2019
Madagascar - Comprehensive II 2019 - October 2019
Madagascar - Comprehensive III 2018 - November 2018
Madagascar - Masoala Peninsula Extension 2018 - October 2018
Madagascar - Highlights II 2018 - October 2018
Madagascar - Franzen 2018 - October 2018
Madagascar - Comprehensive II 2018 - October 2018
Madagascar - Comprehensive I 2018 - July 2018
Madagascar - Highlights I 2018 - July 2018