Visiting
Birding tours
Birding Africa, Birding Ecotours, Birdwatching Breaks, Field Guides, Naturetrek, Ornitholidays, Rockjumper, Sarus Bird Tours, Sunbird and Tropical Birding operate tours to Madagascar.
Guides
Birding Africa: the Africa Specialists can organise and guide tours to Madagascar.
Trip reports
The following trip reports are available for sale from the African Bird Club online shop.
Madagascar and the Comores - 'How to see all the birds without a hire-car' by Jon Hornbuckle. 34 pages. 186 species seen in Madagascar including 124 endemics; 79 species seen in The Comores including 17 endemics. Logistics, itinerary, site notes, 1 map, systematic list of birds and mammals seen.
Madagascar by Chris Bell, Mike Hunter, Dawn Ross and Malcolm Roxby. Useful update to previous reports on how to find recently rediscovered species. Full species list including 123 Malagasy endemics, itinerary, brief site guide.
Madagascar by Paul Noakes. 14 pages, 3 maps. A brief report covering over 90% of the endemics.
Madagascar (with Mauritius and Reunion) by Brian Gee has 67 pages, 21 maps. 192 species seen in Madagascar. Logistics (including getting around on public transport) site guides (including Montagne d'Ambre, Tsiribihina River, Kirindy Forest) systematic list, advice on guides etc.
Logistics
Madagascar is a poorly developed country with an infrastructure to challenge even the most independent of birders. One way to see the numerous avian endemics is on a commercial birding tour, and many visitors opt for this hassle-free option, though the country can also be easily birded by well-prepared small groups that arrange their logistics through a reputable local operator. Independent birders with sufficient time may also be able to cover most of the sites by using public transportation in the form of informal buses, known locally as “taxi-brousses”. An internal air network converts 12-24 hour marathon road journeys into 1 hour flights - highly recommended for those not on a tight budget. Malagasy and French are the official languages, though French is only widely spoken in urban areas and most of the guides in the main tourist areas also speak English.
Air Madagascar, Air France and Inter Air have flights into Madagascar. Air France flies direct from Paris. Air Madagascar flies from both Johannesburg (South Africa) and Nairobi (Kenya), while Inter Air flies from Johannesburg. The airport departure tax is always included in the price of airline tickets.
Sea travel is possible, but it's not as easy as you might expect. Cargo boats from Mombasa (Kenya) or Zanzibar (Tanzania) often travel to the Comoros islands from where several ships travel to Toamasina (Tamatave) in Madagascar. Boat travel from South Africa is surprisingly infrequent. You'll need to ask around in Durban, try the Port Authority. If you're aiming to leave Madagascar by boat, it's best to head to Toamasina (Tamatave) and enquire at the port.
All foreign visitors require a visa. See Lonely Planet and ref (xiv) for further information.
Safety
Guidebooks, travel companies and websites provide much of the advice one needs, but key points warrant repetition here: (1) be aware of the risk of malaria and seek current advice, sleep in a sealed tent or under a net and take prophylaxis as recommended; (2) always ensure you have sufficient water and some method of purification (even if this comprises a pot and a campfire for boiling); (3) do not underestimate the danger of being in the sun for too long, ensure you use sun-block, drink plenty of water and wear a hat; (4) be aware of the risk of AIDS; (5) ensure that you take a reasonably-equipped first-aid pack with you including supplies of hypodermic and suturing needles. See the following website or your own local embassy site for the latest safety and travel information: UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Last page update 29th February 2008
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