September 27th - October 11th, 2025
Join Dan and Tanya as they venture to the exotic island of Madagascar during baby lemur season! Experience the extraordinary natural diversity that Madagascar has to offer, from its various species of lemurs (110+ species!) to the exotic chameleons and frogs that reside there. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and features over 150,000 unique flora and fauna species that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet! Nature lovers and photographers must experience this incredible dream destination! Private charter flights around the country.
Meet Daniel and Tanya Cox
2025 Ultimate Madagascar Photography Tour I Travel Plans
Can you believe 80% of Madagascar’s plants and animals exist only on this island? Many of you have this trip on your bucket list. Now is the time to be adventurous and explore a part of the world many do not have the opportunity to visit! Here is a quote from Andrew Solomon, a writer for Travel + Leisure. Love it!!
“There is nothing dangerous or threatening in Madagascar. On mainland African safaris you have to stay in a vehicle, because lions will eat you and hippos will trample you and rhinos and buffalo will charge. In Madagascar, the animals will only look at you with wide-eyed wonder. In most of Africa there are poisonous snakes and frightening scorpions, but in Madagascar there is nothing venomous. The Malagasy are the nicest people in the world, thrilled that you have come so far to visit. You go there for the lemurs, the island’s odd primates, who are shy and mild but untroubled by your visit, and the people are the same. There’s something miniature and unspoiled about life in Madagascar.
The world’s fourth-largest island is another Galápagos, called by some ecologists “the eighth continent.” It broke off from Africa’s eastern coast some 160 million years ago and developed in isolation; 80 percent of Malagasy plants and animals are endemic, and it rivals Brazil in its biodiversity. The bizarre flora and fauna seem to be the result of a mad collaboration among Dr. Seuss, Jim Henson, and God. Humans have been here for only 2,000 years, and though they have eliminated some species, they haven’t dominated nature; there’s simply too much of it and too few of them.”
This trip is for the Explorer who can handle remote travel, heat, humidity, and schedule changes and loves to travel on the unbeaten path—not being a typical tourist. Please read through the whole itinerary and Helpful Information to understand what this trip entails. We’ve included private charter flights to help ease travel around the island. There are pools at most of the hotels to enjoy after a long day of shooting, and beverages are included! If you get along with others, want adventure, and can “go with the flow” when needed, we welcome you to join us in Madagascar!
Saturday, September 27 (D)
Please Note: Flight arrival and departure dates will depend on which airline you choose to fly with. Some arrive in the afternoon/evening on September 27 and others in the early morning of September 28. Please make sure your flight itinerary corresponds with the tour itinerary. Departure for Morondova is midday September 28!
Arrive in Madagascar’s capital city, Antananarivo (also called Tana), today and transfer to the hotel. Spend the day relaxing and recovering from jet lag. Overnight at Nosy Manga (NEW HOTEL)
Sunday, September 28 (B, L, D)
Flight to Morondava this afternoon. When we get to a small beach town on the delta of the Morondava River on the west coast, we’ll take a little time to settle into our hotel and have lunch.
Late day, we’ll load into 4x4s for an adventure to Baobab Alley. The giant baobab trees are an 800-year-old legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived here. Over the years, as the country’s population grew, the forests were steadily cut down, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved for religious reasons.
Overnight at Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa (4-star)
Monday, September 29 (B, L, D)
Before breakfast, at sunrise, take an early morning walk on the beach to view local fisherman going out on their boats with handmade sails. Photograph locals in town and at the fisherman’s wharf. Midday, we have a special shoot with the local ladies dressed in traditional clothing and faces painted with colorful mud.
Take a walk on the beach in the late afternoon to photograph the locals and birds, followed by a sunset shoot.
Overnight at Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa
Tuesday, September 30 (B, L, D)
Enjoy some free time midday to take a swim at this beautiful resort or a walk through town. Overnight at Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa
Wednesday, October 1 (B, L, D)
Depart Morondava this morning on our private charter to Berenty Private Reserve. We will fly to Fort Dauphin and take a private bus to Berenty. The reserve is home to six species of lemurs and has southern Madagascar’s largest colony of Madagascar fruit bats. The ease of observing ring-tailed lemurs and the “dancing” Verreaux’s sifakas has turned this small protected area into one of Madagascar’s most popular destinations. Overnight at Berenty Lodge
Thursday, October 2 and Friday, October 3 (B, L, D)
We’ll spend the day wandering Berenty’s flat, broad trails and interacting with the friendly, abundant wildlife. The many lemurs seem happy to pose for photos. This will certainly be one of the highlights of our Madagascar adventure. Another is visiting the flying fox roost, where about 300 of these impressive animals with 1.25-meter wingspans spend their day squabbling and presumably sleeping. Overnight at Berenty Lodge
Saturday, October 4 (B, L, D)
Before breakfast, we’ll spend one last morning photographing the lemurs, chameleons, birds, and spiny plants in Berenty before we return to Antananarivo. This is a good day to regroup and get ready for the second half of our adventure. Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, Antananarivo Waterfront
Sunday, October 5 (B, L, D)
Today, we’ll drive three hours by bus to the Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Reserve. Numerous varieties of colorful butterflies and chameleons can be found here, along with geckos, frogs, crocodiles, and bats. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Tonight, we’ll take a walk to spot nocturnal animals. Overnight at Manjarano Lodge & Spa (NEW HOTEL)
Monday, October 6 (B, L, D)
Early AM visit to Lemur Island, where four species of lemur can be found, including the bamboo lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, brown lemur, and the diademed sifaka. The afternoon is free for a swim or catch up on editing images. Night walk before dinner. Overnight at Manjarano Lodge & Spa
Tuesday, October 7 (B, D)
Drive to Manambato (approximately five hours) and then take a boat (1.5 hours) to Akanin’ny Nofy, the “nest of dreams,” also known as the Palmairum Reserve. We’ll explore this paradise situated on the shores of Lake Ampitabe, separated from the Indian Ocean by dunes. Indris, Coquerall sifakas, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, crowned lemurs, mouse lemurs, and black lemurs are the most notable inhabitants of this private reserve. Overnight at Palmarium Hotel
Wednesday, October 8 (B, L, D)
After breakfast, we’ll head outside for a nature walk around the reserve with a local guide. Bring your camera to breakfast! Afternoon free time to hang out in the hammock on your deck or photograph around the lodge.
When night falls, we’ll take an excursion to seek out the very rare nocturnal aye-aye lemur. Overnight at Palmarium Hotel
Thursday, October 9 (B, L, D)
Breakfast is followed by a nature walk with a local guide. A full day to explore the wonders of Akanin’ny Nofy. Photograph the many lemurs, frogs, snakes, chameleons, geckos, and even iguanas that reside here. Sunbathe on the beach while enjoying some of the locally made rum, or take a swim in the warm waters of Lake Ampitabe. Free time to photograph around the reserve, repack, and get ready for the travel day back to Tana. Night walking tour. Overnight at Palmarium Hotel
Friday, October 10 (B, L, D)
Early breakfast before departing at 8:00 am for a 2-hour boat ride and then our private charter back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, we’ll have lunch. Day room at Nosy Manga for guests departing this evening or overnight for guests flying home tomorrow. Farewell dinner.
Saturday, October 11 (B)
Depart today and arrive home on October 12.
Guest Limits
12 Guests Maximum
Trip Cost
13 Days/14 Nights
14,000 pp, DBL occupancy
Single sup: 1,100All pricing in US Dollars
Deposit
$2000 Per person due at time of booking
Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, Discover, or check acceptedDeposits are non-refundable. If cancellations are necessary, we require this request in writing. We will do our best to resell your space. Only if we can resell your space, we will refund (minus deposit and discounts given to sell your space). No partial refunds are possible for unused services.
Installments
September 1, 2024: 5000 pp first installment
May 1, 2025: Final paymentCheck only for the first and final installments. Please make checks payable to Natural Exposures and mail to:
Natural Exposures
810 N. Wallace, Suite E
Bozeman, MT 59715Included
- Meals where indicated (B = Breakfast, L – Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Beverages (wine, beer, water, soft drinks, coffee, tea) with meals
- Use of cell phone to call home internationally (Wi-Fi will be available at some lodges)
- Park entrance fees
- Tourism levy
- VAT
- English-speaking guide throughout the trip plus local guides at some locations
- Local guide fees
- Internal charter flights
- Transportation between locations by shuttle bus or 4×4 vehicles
- TNR airport transfers on scheduled arrival and departure days
- Accommodation indicated or similar
- Bottled water throughout the trip
- Gratuities included (except for guide Tahiana who will be with us throughout the trip)
Not Included
- International flights, departure taxes, visa fees (if any)
- Travel/emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Miscellaneous personal expenses – laundry, spa, etc.
- Excess luggage fees
- Any itinerary changes out of our control
Flights to Book
Flight arrival and departure dates will depend on which airline you choose to fly with. Please make sure your flight itinerary corresponds with the tour itinerary.
September 27, 2025
Arrive Antananarivo (TNR)
Arrive any time of day on September 27. There may be some flights that arrive early morning on September 28. Overnight at Nosy Manga on September 27 is included, and the group departs for Morondava at midday on September 28!October 11, 2025
Depart Antananarivo (TNR)
Depart late evening on October 10 or any time of day on October 11. Overnight at Nosy Manga is included on October 10.Emergency Evacuation Insurance
All guests MUST carry emergency medical evacuation insurance. It is required by our tour operators and the information will be collected before trip time. This type of insurance is affordable and can be purchased for each trip or an entire year and can even be bundled with your regular travel insurance! We recommend one or more of the following, depending on your needs:
Global Rescue
(use code natexp)Allianz Global Assistance
(use travel agency ID F203564)Terms & Conditions
Natural Exposures cannot control nor is responsible for abnormal weather, natural disasters, or any other disaster that might affect the trip. Travel insurance should be purchased to cover any missed flights or medical problems that may affect/delay your travel. National Parks have the right to change our itinerary.
By booking a trip with Natural Exposures, you agree to the following CANCELLATION AND LIABILITY POLICY
Accommodations for 2025 Ultimate Madagascar Photography Tour I
September 27 and October 10, 2 Nights
Nosy Manga, Antananarivo (NEW HOTEL)
Conveniently located near the airport to avoid heavy traffic before our charter flights, this new hotel offers air-conditioned guest rooms with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, toiletries, and a desk. A restaurant, bar, and swimming pool are also onsite.
September 28-30, 3 Nights
Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa, Morondava (4 star)
Located at Nosy Kely on the beach of Morondava, the Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort & Spa offers spacious air-conditioned bungalows with private terraces facing the sea. Find comfort and refinement in Malagasy tradition, scattered in a coconut grove. Bar, pool, spa, and restaurant are available.October 1-3, 3 Nights
Berenty Lodge, Berenty Private Reserve
The Berenty Reserve offers 31 spacious and comfortable air-conditioned rooms facing the Malaza forest in the Mandrare Valley in the heart of ring-tailed lemur and the dancing sifaka territory. See lemurs outside your door!
October 4, 1 Night
Radisson Blu Hotel, Antananarivo Waterfront
This centrally-located hotel is nestled in the secure and modern Tana Waterfront. The private location is close to the recently established premier business district—just steps away from entertainment, shops, and businesses. Relax at the rooftop pool and admire the view, or work up a sweat at the fitness center. For a tasty meal, the hotel’s restaurants offer a variety of international dishes, grilled meats, and fresh seafood.October 5-6, 2 Nights
Manjarano Lodge & Spa, Andasibe (NEW HOTEL)
Manjarano is a 4-star establishment with European standards that will offer you all the comfort and serenity of luxury. Located in the heart of the magnificent forest of Andasibe, Manjarano is the ideal place to rest during a stay in harmony with nature.October 7-9, 3 Nights
Palmarium Hotel, Akanin’ny Nofy/Palmarium Reserve
Indulge in a magical experience with nature, rocked by the calming sounds of woods and waves only accessible by boat. Each simple bungalow features a lake-view terrace and private verandahs with hammocks. Wonderful staff and lemur hosts will make your stay memorable. Unique evening excursions to see nocturnal lemurs are a highlight of this area.Helpful Information for 2025 Ultimate Madagascar Photography Tour I
VISA/PASSPORT
For U.S. citizens, your passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry, and three blank pages are required for the entry stamp. Visas are required for all foreign visitors and can be purchased at the time of entry with USD, Euros, or Malagasy Ariary. At this time, credit cards are not accepted.
For the latest updates on Madagascar entry requirements, please visit the US Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
FLIGHTS
There are a few airlines that fly to Madagascar.
One option is to fly on Delta from the U.S. to Paris and then Paris to TNR via Air France. Both are affiliated and part of the SkyTeam Alliance.
Another option is to fly on Kenya Airways via Nairobi or South African Airways via Johannesburg.
There will be weight restrictions for our charter flights, which we’ll have to abide by, but Natural Exposures has leased two large planes that should help ease any issues. If we wish to fly on charters versus driving the roads, we must follow the weight restrictions. We will request luggage and camera gear weights from each guest before the trip to calculate the total weight for the charter companies. If you want to cut down on luggage weight, you can leave half of your clothes at the hotel in Antananarivo at the beginning of the trip, and then halfway through the trip, we’ll return to Antananarivo, where you can exchange for clean clothes. Natural Exposures will do all they can to make it workable for guests. At times, our luggage will be transported on the tops of 4×4 vehicles.
VACCINATIONS
It’s always best to make sure you’re up to date with routine vaccinations and to check in with your doctor or a medical professional, ideally 4-6 weeks before travel. Please visit the CDC for the latest requirements/recommendations for travel to Madagascar.
A yellow fever immunization is only required for travelers who have been in a yellow fever endemic country within six months of arrival or who arrive from a country with a risk for yellow fever virus transmission; this includes airport layovers and/or transits greater than 12 hours in countries with a risk for yellow fever virus transmission.
Malaria prevention is recommended, particularly in the coastal regions.
LANGUAGE
French and Malagasy are the primary languages. Our guide will speak English.
CURRENCY
The currency now used in Madagascar is the Malagasy ariary (MGA), as opposed to the former Malagasy franc (FMG). Madagascar is primarily a cash-driven country. New, unripped US dollars and euros are often accepted. Visa is the only widely accepted credit card, though in most places, it has limited use. ATMs are available at the airport to receive local currency, and very few, if any, will be available once we leave the city. No US or European coins are accepted in Madagascar, so please do not use them for tipping.
TIME ZONE
EAT (East Africa Time)
UTC/GMT +3 hoursWILDLIFE
Madagascar is home to some of the richest and rarest biodiversity on the planet. Due to its isolation and strange geological history, about 3/4 of Madagascar’s known animal species are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else on Earth! Madagascar hosts 100% of the world’s lemurs and half of the chameleon species. While new species are constantly being discovered, there are many close to extinction, too, including the silky sifaka, or “angel of the forest,” one of the rarest mammals in the world. Many decades of deforestation have brought about great loss of habitat for the unique flora and fauna. Madagascar has taken on a national commitment for its development to include the preservation of its precious environment. Protected areas have been set up through the Madagascar National Park.
National Parks: Preserve both natural and cultural patrimony with interest for both the public and scientists
Special Reserves: Protect specific ecosystems or particular endangered species
Strict Nature Reserve: For the conservation of specific ecosystems. Access is strictly forbidden without permission from authorities.FADY OR TABOO
Taboos (locally known as fady) in Malagasy culture have helped to preserve Madagascar’s natural habitat. When a forest, plant, or animal is fady, nobody will touch it because of the fear of ancestors or God. Several areas of the island remain untouched because of this belief.
MALAGASY CUISINE
Meals in Madagascar are primarily based around rice and influenced by many cultures, including French, African, Arabic, and Indian. The national dish is Romazava, which is made from beef (zebu) and mixed greens sautéed with ginger, tomato, and onion. The various species of plants in Madagascar offer plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. It is advised to use only bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are not trying to “scare” anyone, but we want you to be prepared for this trip, and we want to meet your expectations!
This trip is for the adventurous! All guests should be in good physical health and must be able to walk distances, go up and down stairs and boardwalks, and sometimes walk on uneven terrain, all in possibly hot conditions. Some walks will be optional. Guests also must be able to get in and out of a boat.
There will be a fair amount of transfers, either in 4×4 vehicles, vans, or chartered planes. We’re trying to avoid too many drives by taking flights, but when we do have to drive, the roads may be winding and rough with potholes. We suggest bringing motion-sickness medications if you tend to get motion sickness. Luggage will be transported on the roof of vehicles at times. We have a 16-passenger bus for our group. When in 4×4 vehicles, we are planning for three guests per vehicle. Could this change? Sure, but this is the plan.
Lodging will range from five-star to “as nice as it gets” in rural areas. All will be clean and comfortable, but some are not fancy. Honestly, beds might be hard; Wi-Fi may be slow—you have to be a person who can deal with not everything being ideal. We tried to book the best accommodations available in the areas we’ll be visiting.
October is a great time to visit since it is the dry season and before the rains typically begin in December. We could get some rain. It depends on the year and where we are on the island. October is not the cyclone season. It’s a good time of year to see baby lemurs, and it’s breeding season for all of you birders.
Overall, Madagascar is a safe and friendly country to visit. People are warm and welcoming. As with any travel, you do have to watch for petty theft, especially in city environments. We’ve never felt scared or threatened during past trips; the locals were very inviting and smiled. They seem very busy working, trying to make a living. As our local guide mentioned, people don’t consider themselves poor; they only live simple lives.
If you wish to stay in communication with home, we suggest bringing an unlocked cell phone and buying a SIM card at the airport. We can help you organize this; it is usually very inexpensive. We will also have a phone available for guests to use to phone home when needed. We’ll have Wi-Fi at some of the hotels, but it is not always fast.
Make sure you bring enough batteries, memory cards, and hard drives with you; they are hard to find and very expensive in Madagascar. Dan will send you a list of camera gear he is bringing and provide suggestions on what to bring. A good backpack for your camera gear versus a roller bag is suggested.
We will send you a list of what to bring, but pack light. Bring a headlamp and a strong flashlight for night walks. Bring a swimsuit for the afternoon time at the pool. Bring closed-toe shoes for the evenings and sandals for the daytime. We will be at higher altitudes mid-trip, so bring a fleece, as it can be cool in the mornings. Shorts and T-shirts are appropriate during the daytime. We haven’t noticed many (if any) mosquitoes or flying insects. Snakes are non-poisonous, and so are most spiders. Lemurs are fun!!! They are curious!!! They will be the highlight of the trip. You will be surprised at how close you can get to them.
This trip is not for people who want a typical tourist experience. Schedule changes may arise. We’ll have to be prepared for anything and everything! We’re excited to be able to offer this trip, but you have to be ready to roll with the punches if things don’t always go as planned. We’ll do our best to offer you a seamless trip, but this is not always necessarily the case in Madagascar.
Have a question?
Have a question about this tour? We're happy to answer any queries you may have.
Testimonials from Natural Exposures' Explorers
"Madagascar has been on my bucket list for a number of years and the recent trip exceeded all expectations--up close and personal encounters with endemic wildlife of all kinds (those lemurs give new definition to cute!) combined with the signature Natural Exposures touches: seamless logistics orchestrated with a smile and patient coaching, if needed, for photographers of every skill level."
Freddy Gamble, New York
"It was one of my best trips. Dan and Tanya did an excellent job — as usual. Our guide was fantastic. The lodging was good. And there were lemurs! So many at one time, so close, so many different kinds (20 by one estimate), and so very beautiful."
Carol Clark, Washington
"If you ever want to travel to another country and you want to go first class, travel with Natural Exposures. They are number one in showing their guests the best time ever in the classiest way. I would recommend Natural Exposures Tours to everyone. If you want to go in style, go with NE!"
Michelle Duggan, Massachusetts
"Tanya and Dan’s logistic skills provide a seamless photo tour where one can truly enjoy the experience. With unlimited photographic opportunities Dan’s instruction has taken my photography to a higher level."
Linda Henry, Oregon
"I just wanted to again thank you for a wonderful week of photography and relaxation away from the office. It was a really a good group."
Sue Wolfe, Texas
