Showcasing two of the world’s most exciting wildlife destinations, this 11-day tour delivers dazzling biodiversity. It opens with five nights in Madagascar - on a tropical island surrounded by a coral reef - before flying you to two different locations in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, one of Africa’s most rewarding big game destinations.
Madagascar is a large but relatively unexplored island in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. Half the size of South Africa and the fourth biggest island in the world, it rivals the Galapagos for sheer diversity of endemic species, with up to 90 percent of the fauna and flora found here thought to be unique to the island. It is most famous for its lemurs – of which there are a hundred different species – as well as six species of baobab trees found nowhere else in the world. Only about 30 000 people visit its 40 national parks every year, making it a rare destination with very low visitor numbers and extremely high biodiversity.
You will be heading from Diego Suarez to Nosy Ankao island via a helicopter transfer. Here you can snorkel straight off the beach because it is a protected marine area and the scuba diving is also excellent. There are opportunities for turtle, whale and dolphin watching as well as helicopter safaris to the mainland’s forest reserves for lemur watching. Your beachfront accommodation at Miavana Island Sanctuary takes the form of multi-bedroom villas, each complete with a well-stocked kitchenette, private swimming pool, large indoor and outdoor living spaces, and a private butler service. The resort’s spa offers a wide range of treatments and you enjoy complimentary use of bicycles and an electric buggy.
Fully recharged and refreshed, you now fly to Zambia and the South Luangwa where your five nights are divided between Chinzombo and Mchenja camps. Set on sweeping bends of the Luangwa River, both camps are well-placed for epic game viewing, especially during the long June-to-October dry peak season when animals gather at the river in considerable numbers. Game drives take you in search of wildlife and you can also explore on foot with your experienced guide, offering a different aspect to your experience. Safari accommodation is in the form of vacation villas and thatched chalets, with Chinzombo being one of the most luxurious lodges in the whole country.
