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Antananarivo, Madagascar
Start your journey in the capital to acclimatize and arrange permits. Visit the Tsimbazaza Zoo and Botanical Garden to get your first look at endemic Malagasy birds like the Madagascar red fody and helmet vanga. Stock up on supplies before heading into the field.
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Andasibe, Madagascar
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is one of the best birding sites in Madagascar, with over 100 species recorded. Look for the critically endangered helmet vanga, velvet asity, and the spectacular Madagascar long-eared owl on night walks. The surrounding marshes are great for Madagascar rail and malachite kingfisher.
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Ranomafana, Madagascar
Ranomafana National Park is a highland rainforest hotspot with spectacular endemic bird diversity. Key targets include the ground-roller species, blue coua, and the rare rufous-headed ground-roller found along forested trails. Hire a local guide to locate roosting owls and rare pittas in the dense undergrowth.
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Isalo, Madagascar
Isalo National Park offers a dramatic sandstone canyon landscape with an entirely different set of bird species than the rainforests. Watch for the running coua, Archbold's newtonia, and Benson's rock thrush perched on rocky outcrops. The canyons and palm oases make for superb sunrise birding walks.
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Toliara, Madagascar
Toliara is the gateway to the spiny forest of southwestern Madagascar, one of the world's most unique ecosystems. Target the subdesert mesite, long-tailed ground-roller, and Lafresnaye's vanga in the nearby Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park. The coastal wetlands around Anakao are also excellent for shorebirds and flamingos.
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Morondava, Madagascar
Morondava is famous for the Avenue of the Baobabs and the adjacent Kirindy Forest, Madagascar's best dry deciduous forest for birding. Kirindy is the top site in the world for spotting the giant coua and the Schlegel's asity, as well as several rare vanga species. Dawn choruses here are extraordinary — be in the forest by first light.
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Antananarivo, Madagascar
Return to the capital for your final days and visit the nearby Lac Alarobia, an urban wetland that attracts an impressive array of waterbirds including Madagascar grebe and various herons. Use this time to review your species list, visit local markets, and enjoy Malagasy cuisine such as romazava stew. Antananarivo's Analakely market is great for last-minute souvenirs.