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Madagascar - Mega

© White-breasted Mesite by David Hoddinott
Madagascar - Mega

USD16,750 SPACES AVAILABLE

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Tour Leader: Rockjumper Tour Leader TBC

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Tour Price (Per person): USD16,750 (GBP12,789 * EUR14,658 * AUD24,232)

Single Supplement: USD1,450 (GBP1,107 * EUR1,269 * AUD2,098)

Flight costs: USD2,370 (GBP1,810 * EUR2,074 * AUD3,429)

Pricing notes : Tour price based on a minimum group size of 6 guests. Please contact our Tailor-made team on tailormade@rockjumper.com for more details and accurate costs.

At Rockjumper, we’ve built an outstanding reputation in Madagascar, having led over 150 tours to the world’s fourth-largest island in the past decade. Often called the "Eighth Continent" due to its size and extraordinary biodiversity, Madagascar is a truly unique destination. Our Mega Tour is designed to target nearly every single one of the island’s endemic bird species. We’ll explore all the key habitats, building an impressive list of sightings that includes not just birds, but also lemurs, reptiles, chameleons, and frogs.

Rainforest highlights include the breathtaking Masoala Peninsula, the remote Montagne d’Ambre, and the renowned Ranomafana and Andasibe-Mantadia National Parks. Here, we’ll search for iconic species like Helmet, Pollen’s, and Bernier’s Vangas, all four rainforest ground rollers, Amber Mountain Rock Thrush, Brown Mesite, Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity, Velvet Asity, and the elusive Madagascar Serpent Eagle.

One of the tour’s standout experiences will be a visit to the remote Lac Matsaborimena, where we’ll look for rare and endangered species such as the Madagascan Pochard, Slender-billed Flufftail, Malagasy Harrier, and the elusive Red Owl. We’ll also explore the dry deciduous forests of Ankarafantsika, home to highly localized species like Van Dam’s Vanga, White-breasted Mesite, and Schlegel’s Asity.

No trip to Madagascar is complete without a visit to the spiny forests of the southwest - an otherworldly landscape teeming with remarkable species like the Long-tailed Ground Roller and Subdesert Mesite. Off-the-beaten-track stops will include Lac Kinkony, where we hope to find the elusive Sakalava Rail, and the Andohahela Mountains, stronghold of the nearly mythical Red-tailed Newtonia. Nearly every plant and animal on this island is found nowhere else on Earth. But with much of its unique habitat threatened by ongoing deforestation, Madagascar is not only a must-visit destination - it’s also a critical region in urgent need of conservation.

This tour is made available through our Tailor-made tours department. To explore this offering further for pricing, precise day to day itinerary, inclusions & exclusions, or to tailor the tour to your personal requirements, please contact our Tailor-made team on tailormade@rockjumper.com

Top Birds

Meller's Duck; Bernier's Teal; Madagascar Pochard; Madagascar Partridge; Collared Nightjar; Crested, Verreaux's, Blue, Red-capped, Olive-capped, Red-fronted, Coquerel's, Running, Giant & Red-breasted Couas; White-breasted, Brown & Subdesert Mesites; Madagascar Sandgrouse; Madagascar Green Pigeon; Madagascar Blue Pigeon; Madagascar Forest & Tsingy Forest Rails; Madagascar & Slender-billed Flufftails; Madagascar & Sakalava Rails; Madagascar Grebe; Madagascar Buttonquail; Madagascar Plover; Madagascar Jacana; Madagascar Snipe; Madagascar Ibis; Humblot's Heron; Madagascar Harrier-Hawk; Madagascar Serpent Eagle; Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk; Madagascar Sparrowhawk; Henst's Goshawk; Madagascar Fish Eagle; Madagascar Buzzard; Red, White-browed; Torotoroka Scops, Rainforest Scops & Madagascar Owls; Madagascar Hoopoe; Short-legged Ground, Scaly Ground, Pitta-like Ground, Rufous-headed Ground & Long-tailed Ground Rollers; Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher; Banded Kestrel; Lesser Vasa Parrot; Grey-headed Lovebird; Schlegel's & Velvet Asitys; Common & Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asitys; Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Hook-billed, Bernier's, Lafresnaye's, Van Dam's, Pollen's, Sickle-billed, White-headed, Chabert, Madagascar Blue, Rufous, Helmet, Tylas, Crossley's & Nuthatch Vangas; Dark, Common, Archbold's & Red-tailed Newtonia; Ward's Flycatcher; Madagascar Cuckooshrike; Madagascar Lark; Madagascar Martin; Subdesert Brush, Madagascar Swamp, Cryptic & Rand’s Warblers; Grey & Brown Emutails; White-throated Oxylabes; Long-billed Bernieria;; Wedge-tailed Jery; Thamnornis; Spectacled, Appert's, Grey-crowned & Dusky (?) Tetrakas; Madagascar Yellowbrow; Common, Green & Stripe-throated Jerys; Madagascar Starling; Madagascar Magpie-Robin; Amber Mountain Rock, Forest Rock & Littoral Rock Thrushes; Nelicourvi & Sakalava Weavers; Forest Fody; Madagascar Mannikin; Madagascar Wagtail.

Top Mammals

Indri; Ring-tailed, Crowned & Mongoose Lemurs; Diademed, Crowned, Milne Edward’s, Van der Decken’s & Verreaux’s Sifakas; Golden & Greater Bamboo Lemurs; Golden-brown Mouse Lemur; Hubbard’s & Ankarana Sportive Lemurs; Sambirano Avahi; Amber Mountain Fork-marked & Red Ruffed Lemurs; Lowland Streaked & Greater Hedgehog Tenrecs; Fossa; Aye-Aye.

Habitats Covered

lowland and montane rainforests, dry deciduous forest, riparian forest, spiny forest, mudflats, wetlands

Expected Climate

warm to very hot, cooler evenings in highlands, some rainfall possible

Max Group Size

8 & 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

DIFFICULT: This is a high-intensity “mega” tour designed for passionate listers and serious birders who enjoy a fast-paced schedule. Due to its demanding nature, it’s not recommended for avid photographers, inexperienced birders, or anyone with mobility or health limitations.

Fast to brisk paced tour suited for those in good health with very good level of fitness & stamina. Not suited for anyone with mobility challenges or serious medical conditions.

Accommodation

Comfortable standard of hotels & resorts in contrasted with more basic lodges & basic camping.

Ease of Birding

Moderate, several difficult rainforest skulkers that may require repeat efforts. Target focussed trip.

Number of Species Expected

200+

Other Attractions

spiny forest, Berenty, strange herps & insects, coral reefs, shopping, culture

Photographic Opportunities

Excellent to incredible.

What our clients say about us

David Hoddinott
HH, Madagascar

Our Madagascar experience surpassed our wildest dreams. We didn't even realise it was a 'birding trip' but David ensured that we saw much much more. The birds were great anyway, especially the pursuit of the magical Helmet Vanga! An unforgettable experience!

Adam Walleyn
GB & DB, Madagascar 2017

Our guide, Adam Walleyn, was exceptional. His knowledge and enthusiasm is unparalleled.

Adam Walleyn
PF & BF, Madagascar 2017

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.

David Hoddinott
D, Madagascar Comprehensive

David Hoddinott is the best!! He is tenacious about getting all participants on all birds!

Adam Walleyn
KO & MD, Madagascar 2018

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.

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Route Map

Tour Route Map