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GONDWANA CONNECTION WILDLIFE TOURS GONDWANA CONNECTION Wildlife Tours
22 Riley Place, Leda, WA 6170
Australia
Ph. +61 89419 5223
Mobile +61 0408 909982
www.gondconnect.com.au
des@gondconnect.com.au
Join GONDWANA CONNECTION Wildlife Tours on our seventeen day adventure to the remarkable
island of Madagascar.
Often referred to as the Eighth Continent, Madagascar should be on the radar of every wildlife enthusiast.
With an extremely high level of endemism and this even extending to whole families, this amazing country
has so much to offer. Not only can it offer an incredible variety of creatures, it can also benefit hugely from
Eco/Nature Based Tourism. Vast areas of Madagascar have been destroyed since the arrival of humans and
the few remaining sites are under huge pressure from a rapidly growing population. Your tourism dollars
can have a real impact when it comes to conserving this very unique eco-system.
This time of the year has been selected as it offers the best weather and consequently, the best travelling
conditions to the various sites being included.
The facilities being used are generally comfortable, the food wonderful and the people very friendly. Local
guides will take us out and introduce you to what they know so very well.
By utilizing these various local facilities, we are able to offer a truly memorable experience, plenty of
birdlife/wildlife and at the same time keep the price at a manageable level.
Tour starts and finishes: Perth, Western
Australia
Scheduled dates: 8th
to the 24th
September 2019
Price: AU$7085 p/p twin share, all inclusive.
Based on 5 participants
Tour Leader: Des Hume
Natural Wonders of Madagascar
2019
GONDWANA CONNECTION WILDLIFE TOURS
Natural Wonders of Madagascar 2019 Tour details
Tour starts and finishes: Perth, Western Australia. If wishing to join tour from outside of Australia, please
contact us to discuss options.
Scheduled departure and return dates: This tour will start with a 13.05 flight on the 8th
September. Please
ensure that you are in Perth well before this departure time. Tour will finish back in Perth on the 25th
September. Further details in relation to flights are to be found in the itinerary attached. Should you wish to
joint tour in Antananarivo, Madagascar, please meet group on the 9th
September at Le Grand Mellis Hotel.
Tour leader: Des Hume, with local guides at the respective sites.
Difficulty: A medium level of fitness is all that is required to participate in this tour. Most days will consist
of relatively easy walking conditions, but there are a couple of sites that will require a little more exertion.
Accessing areas within the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park can test some, but providing participants
recognise their capabilities and keep well hydrated, we will endeavour to adjust activities to suit.
For the various driving legs of this tour, we will be using two 4WD vehicles, so comfort should be fairly
good. The road from Kirindy up to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is rather rough in places, so a
certain amount of discomfort will be unavoidable. All adds to the adventure.
What to bring: We ask for participants to travel relatively light on this trip. This is particularly important
due to the limited space available when travelling in the boats and vehicles at the respective sites.
Items like binoculars, camera, mobile phone, chargers, European style power adaptors, strong insect
repellent, sunscreen, personal medications, water bottle and hand sanitizer are necessary.
Clothing: September generally offers good weather conditions in the areas to be visited, so clothing taken
should allow for this. Lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts and t-shirts will be most suitable. A
warmer jumper/jacket for evenings and a showerproof jacket should also be included in your kit to play it
safe. Don’t forget a hat and sturdy boots as well.
Group size: A maximum group of five participants.
Cost: AU$7085 p/p twin share. See inclusion/exclusions and terms/conditions for additional details.
GONDWANA CONNECTION WILDLIFE TOURS
Natural Wonders of Madagascar
Itinerary
Day 1 (8th
Sept):
The departure for this wonderful adventure will be from Perth Airport at 13.05 and we arrive in Mauritius at
17.45. Given that our connecting flight to Antananarivo (Tana) in Madagascar does not depart until
tomorrow afternoon, we will be staying over-night and enjoying a little of what this isolated island has to
offer.
Overnight at Chantauvent Guest House. Evening meal will be included.
Day 2 (9th
Sept):
After an early breakfast, we will hop in our hire vehicle and head off to the premier natural site of the Black
River Gorges National Park in search of numerous endemics, but the main targets will be the Maurituis
Kestrel, Mauritius Pink Pigeon and Echo Parrot.
As our flight departs at 14.10, we will be a little rushed, but cannot pass up the opportunity to go after these
once extremely rare species.
Back to the airport and board the next flight to Tana. This relatively short flight will see us at the
Antananarivo Ivato Airport at about 15.05 and we will then catch a taxi to our motel.
Overnight at Le Grand Mellis Hotel. Meals included B,L,D
Day 3 (10th
Sept):
Following a relaxed breakfast, we will be picked up by our hire vehicles and be driven a couple of hours
north of the capital to the Anjozorobe-Angavo Forest area and our accommodation.
Once settled in, lunch will be served and we can then set out to explore the surrounding area.
Sorong
This afternoon will allow for the birders to start logging their species and the Madagascar Blue Pigeon and
Nelicourvi Weavers are a couple of delightful endemic targets on offer. This protected area also offers the
beautiful Diademed Sifaka and the black form of the
incredible Indi, Madagascar’s largest lemur species.
A night walk will hopefully produce Goodman’s Mouse
Lemur, Crossley’s Dwarf Lemur, Weasel Sportive
Lemur and Eastern Woolly Lemur.
Overnight at Saha Forest Camp. Meals included B,L,D
Day 4 (11th
Sept):
The large portion of today will be available to further
investigate the Anjozorobe-Angavo Forest and to continue Mum and baby Diademed Sifaka
to add to our species lists.
About 14.00 we will head off back to Tana, enjoying the views of rural Madagascar and the birdlife that
frequents the rice cultivation areas.
Overnight at Le Grand Mellis Hotel. Meals included B,L,D
Day 5 (12th
Sept):
Again we will need to rise early for our 07.00 flight to Morondava. Due to the early start and the fact that
this flight only takes about fifty minutes, we will leave breakfast until after we have arrived.
As we have a large portion of today available to look around Morondava, we will probably take an out-
rigger canoe ride up into the river mouth area in search of various waders, waterfowl and indulge in a little
local cultural.
Later in the afternoon, it is planned for us to visit the very well
known “Avenue of Baobabs” for a sunset photo opportunity.
Of course there is plenty of birdlife/wildlife to experience
along the way. Watch out for Madagascar Button-quail,
Madagascar Jacana, Lesser Vasa Parrots and the busy little
Sakalava Weavers around this site.
Overnight at Chez Maggie. Meals included B,L,D.
Day 6 (13th
Sept):
Today we head of by road to one of our favourite spots in Madagascar, the Kirindy Forest Special Reserve.
This destination has so much to offer birders, herpers, mammal enthusiasts and of course the dry deciduous
forest has its own very unique flora. Mammal highlights during the day include normally good views of the
Fosa, Northern Bokiboky, plenty of Verreaux’s Sifaka and Red-fronted Brown Lemurs. Birders need
not feel left out with treats such as the Madagascar Harrier-hawk, Sickle-billed Vangas, Madagascar
Hoopoe, Giant and Coquerl’s Couas in the mix.
Our rather comfortable accommodation is located a fairly easy 12kms or so outside the reserve. We got a
Banded Kestrel and White-browed Owl in the ground of the lodge on our last visit.
A night walk will be on offer into the main reserve tonight and you can expect to see Grey Mouse Lemurs,
Pale Fork-marked Lemurs, Red-tailed Sportive Lemurs, plenty of gecko species and for those that want
to wait around for as bit, there is a chance to pick-up the extremely rare Vositsy or Giant Jumping Rat.
This species is only found in the Kirindy area and tends to get out of bed a little later.
Night at Relais du Kirindy. Meals included B,L,D.
Madagascar’s premier predator, the Fosa The very cute Northern Bokiboky
Day 7 (14th
Sept):
The whole of today is available to explore the natural wonders of this very special site.
For tonight’s walk, we will be visiting another nearby site run by FANABY. The area offers a lot of what is
in the main reserve, but with luck on our side, we will hopefully get the world’s smallest primate, the
Madame Berth’s Mouse Lemur. Getting a great view of this species on our last trip was without doubt,
one of my main high-lights.
Night at Relais du Kirindy. Meals included B,L,D.
Day 8 (15th
Sept):
This morning we pack-up our gear, have breakfast and head
off on a rather adventurous bit of road up to the limestone
karst areas of the Tsingy de Bemaraha.
A very different habitat to explore and a lot of very
different fauna to go with it.
Night at Le Grand Hotel di Tsingy de Bemaraha.
Meals included B-L-D
Madagascar Hoopoe
Day 9 (16th
Sept):
As we have two full days at this site, there will be plenty of time to chase up bird targets like the
Madagascar Partridge, Greater Vasa, Cuckoo Roller, Madagascar Pratincole, Schlegel’s Asity and if
the birding god is smiling down on you, the Tsingy Wood Rail and Madagascar Fish Eagle along the
river.
Herpers should be watching for Leaf-nosed Snakes, Henkel’s Leaf-tailed Gecko and
Madagascar Ground Boas. Mammal enthusiasts have Decken’s Sifaka, Western Grey Bamboo Lemur,
Western Red Forest Rats and the western race of Ring-tailed Vontsira to keep them entertained.
Night at Le Grand Hotel di Tsingy de Bemaraha. Meals included B-L-D
Day 10 (17th
Sept):
Today is available to continue searching for any target
species and to take in the amazing geological wonders of
the Tsingy.
Night at Le Grand Hotel di Tsingy de Bemaraha.
Meals included B-L-D
Female Leaf-nosed Snake
Day 11 (18th
Sept):
Today will be taken up by a long hard days driving back to Morondava. You will just want to drop into a
comfy chair with a cold drink on reaching Chez Maggie.
Night at Chez Maggie. Meals included B,L,D
Day 12 (19th
Sept):
Our flight back to Tana will depart at 8.30, but due to it not being a direct flight, will not get there until
11.30. On touchdown, we will get transferred to our accommodation and then partake in some lunch.
Afternoon available to do some shopping or we can pop over to Lake Alarobia for some extra birding.
Night at Le Grand Mellis Hotel. Meals included B,L,D
Day 13 (20th
Sept):
After our early breakfast, the drivers and hire vehicles will take us off to our next destination over on the
east coast. We first drive to Manambato Village and then take a boat out to La Palmarium. This is an
interesting place on Lake Ampitabe, which forms part of the Pangalanes Canal. You can catch up on the
history of this area while on the trip, enjoying the relaxing
atmosphere. This area offers some very interesting plants
including the two Nepenthes species (Carnivorous plants), the
only Malagasy epiphytic cactus and the amazing Comet Orchid
(Angraecum sesquipedale).
La Palmarium itself has numerous species of free-ranging lemurs
that I am sure will keep all very much amused.
Overnight at La Palmarium. Meals included B,L,D.
Day 14 (21st Sept):
The plan for today is to explore this little piece of paradise. After our evening meal, we will be visiting a
small island nearby and getting to interact with Madagascar’s most different lemur, the Aye-aye. This
creature is certainly an odd-one.
Overnight at La Palmarium. Meals included B,L,D.
Day 15 (22nd
Sept):
This morning will mostly be taken up with a fairly casual boat-ride/drive back to the village of Andasibe and
a couple of Madagascar’s most renown National Parks.
After checking in, lunch will be available and then the afternoon will find us in the Analamazaotra Special
Reserve run by the NGO group Mitsinjo. In addition to encountering many local species, your fees go to
assisting this groups much needed conservation work.
Keep an eye open for the beautiful Lowland Streaked Tenrec in the grounds of the lodge.
Overnight at Vakona Lodge. Meals included B,L,D.
Madagascars largest lemur the Indri
Day 16 (23rd
Sept):
The aim today is to do two circuits of the Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. One of the unforgettable
experiences will be the remarkable Indri. The calling of these lemurs as they communicate between the
groups, is a unforgettable experience. Birders should be on the look-out for the Madagascar Crested Ibis.
A night walk along the road outside the National Park is on offer tonight and be prepared for some awesome
sights. Lots of chameleons, geckoes, invertebrates and potentially several nocturnal lemur species including
the Goodman’s Mouse Lemur are to be found here. Night walks within the parks are not permitted.
Overnight at Vakona Lodge. Meals included B,L,D.
Not all species are blatantly obvious. The Mossy Leaf-tailed
Gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) (L) and the Satanic Leaf-tailed
gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus) (R) can be a challenge to find.
Local guides are a must to locate these and bird species like the
Collared Nightjar.
Day 17 (24th
Sept):
Being our last day in Madagascar, we can start off with a
relaxed breakfast, looking out over the lake outside the
Vakona dining room. Once our gear is all loaded up, we
will start on our way back to Tana. On the way we can stop
off at Madagascar Exotics and pick up a last lot of close-up
shots of the various creatures they keep. There are also
some free-ranging Crowned Sifakas. This is a species that
we will not otherwise see at the sites visited.
Our flight will depart Tana at 16.50 and arrives in
Mauritius at 19.35. Our Perth flight will then depart at
22.40. Sweet dreams.
Day 18 (25th
Sept):
Back in Perth at 09.10
GONDWANA CONNECTION WILDLIFE TOURS
Natural Wonders of Madagascar 2019
Price inclusion and exclusions
Included:
International airfares ex Perth, Western Australia, unless joining from outside Australia or
otherwise arranged.
Morondava domestic airfares and taxes.
All accommodation as indicated in itinerary, including taxes. Price based on twin share.
Single accommodation is not always available, for those having this requirement. We can
however quote for this if so required.
All breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. Non-alcoholic beverages included.
English speaking guides during entire tour.
All guiding, land access fees and associated costs.
All tips for the entire group, as required.
All road transport with drivers and fuel. This includes airport transfers.
Return boat transfers to La Palmarium.
Excluded:
Travel insurance
Madagascar Tourist Visa.
All alcoholic drinks.
Personal effects, including toiletries, medications such as malaria prophylactics and the like.
Souvenirs.
Anything not shown as included
GONDWANA CONNECTION WILDLIFE TOURS GONDWANA CONNECTION Wildlife Tours
22 Riley Place, Leda, WA 6170
Australia
Ph. +61 89419 5223
Mobile +61 0408 909982
www.gondconnect.com.au
des@gondconnect.com.au
Natural Wonders of Madagascar
8th
to the 24th
September 2019
Booking Form
Please print out (Two pages) and complete booking form, one per participant.
Once signed, scan and email it back to des@gondconnect.com.au or post, with payment to address shown
above,
Name (As shown on passport): ____________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Preferred contact phone number: __________________________________
Email: _________________________________________
Date of birth: _______________________________________ Nationality: ________________________
Passport number: ___________________________________ Expiry date: ________________________
Occupation: ________________________________________ Weight: ____________________________
Height: ____________________ Blood Type: ____________________
Next of kin, in-case of emergency: Name: ___________________________________________________
Relationship: _____________________________________________
Phone number: ___________________________________________
Medical: Doctor’s name: _______________________________________________
Doctor’s Phone number: _______________________________________
I am aware of the need for precaution against Malaria (confirm with a yes): ____________
Medical Conditions: _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Special dietary requirements: _____________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Accommodation: Given the remote nature and limited accommodation at some sites visited, we cannot
always offer single accommodation, but will endeavour to accommodate participants with this request where
possible. Please indicate with a tick your preferred arrangement.
Double room. Two people with one bed
Twin room. Two people with two beds
Single room.
If wanting to share with a particular person, please insert their name here. ___________________________
Terms and Conditions
Itinerary Notes: Our itinerary can change with the schedules and availability of domestic flights.
Accommodation listed may also change due to availability and if so similar standards of accommodation
will be utilized. Although we will do our very best to adhere to the itinerary schedule as shown, it may be
subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. If elements of the trip are delayed due to bad
weather, cancelled or delayed flights or delays with other forms of transport and other situations for which
GONDWANA CONNECTION Wildlife Tours or our agents cannot make provisions, the cost of these
delays are not included. This is why we insist on Travellers Insurance.
Cancellation Policy: More than 60 days prior to departure: Once flights are booked, cancellations will
incur the necessary fees as stipulated by the airlines. The balance will then be returned in full.
Between 60 and 30 days prior to departure: Cancellation fees as required by
airlines, accommodation and service suppliers will be deducted. The balance will then be refunded.
Less than 30 days from departure: Any refund would be at the sole discretion of the
management of GONDWANA CONNECTION Wildlife Tours.
I agree to book this tour. I have read and understood all terms and conditions outlined.
Signature: ________________________________
Print Name: _________________________________
Date: _________________________________
Tour payments: To secure your position on this tour, we will require an AU$2000 deposit, second
instalment by the 30th
April and final payment by the 31st July. Payments can be made using the options
outlined below. Please tick your preferred payment option.
Bank or personal Cheque: Please make cheques payable to Gondwana Connection.
Paypal: If you use this method, please let us know and we will forward a secure Paypal invoice.
We will be required to add an additional fee of between 2.6-3.6%.
Bank Wire Transfer: If making a payment from outside of Australia, please ensure that you are to
incur any fees at both ends and payment is in AU$.
Westpac Bank
T6 Stockland Baldivis Shopping Centre
Baldivis
Western Australia 6171
Account name: Mr Desmond John Hume & Mrs Anita Marjan Hume
T/AS Gondwana Connection
BSB - 036092 Account No - 126253
Swift code: WPACAU2S (If 11 characters are required WPACAU2SXXX)
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