D 1. Paris Departure from Paris on Air Madagascar flight. Night on board.
D 2. Antananarivo – Angavokely – Antananarivo Head to Angavokely which is situated at about 30 km east of the capital. It is an orchid kingdom but not least succulent plants.: 117 species of orchids listed by researchers.
D 3, 4 & 5. Tana – Anjozorobe - Tana It is one of the richest sites about orchid for Analamanga Region; research made on january – february 2005 gave an assessment of about 120 – 140 orchid spacies.
D 6. Tana – Lac Itasy One of the two places known for rare Angraecum longicalcar. This orchid has white flowers with a 40 cm spur where deep inside the nectar is produced which attracks pollinators… au temps où il y en avait encore !
D 7. Lac Itasy - Tana - Antsirabe Morning at Itasy area.
We take our time to visit the geyser and ‘chutes de la Lily’ which is well supplied during rain season.
D 8. Antsirabe – Mont Ibity - Antsirabe There are several rupicole plant on the mountain flank but the rarest are without doubt two ‘dwarf baobab’: Pachypodium eburneum in the north of the massif and Pachypodium. brevicaule in its south.
D 9. Antsirabe - Ambalavao Drive towards the south untill Ambalavao.
Stop at Ambositra for a town tour and go o and lunch in Fianarantsoa. Arrive in Ambalavao in the afternoon.
D 10. Ambalavao – Zazafotsy – Ranohira Zazafotsy : rocks around this area conceal unknown botanical treasures: Pachypodium densiflorum, Kalanchoe orgialis, Kalanchoe tubiflora, Aloe capitata, Aloe deltoideodonta, parfois Stapelianthus …
D 11. Isalo National Park Isalo is just better after rain with its Pachypodium gracilius, Xerophyta, and Mondulea, a leguminous aphylly with leaf shape flat branch. Euphorbia, ipomeas and tiny gentiane are only found during rain season here.
D 12. Ranohira - Tuléar - Ifaty Coming out of Isalo sandstone mass, we start interesting discovery with Ravenea rivularis, an endemic palm of a few hectares area only….
D 13. Ifaty There are two parts :
- visit of « Reniala » reserve in the morning
- visit of forest in the surroundings
D 14. Ifaty Day at leisure and relaxing time.
D 15 . Tuléar – Antananarivo Transfer to Tuléar airport and fly to Tana (1h15)
