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: _________________________________________

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Next of kin, in-case of emergency: Name: ___________________________________________________

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Medical: Doctor’s name: _______________________________________________

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I am aware of the need for precaution against Malaria (confirm with a yes): ____________

Medical Conditions: _____________________________________________________________________

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Special dietary requirements: _____________________________________________________________

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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)