Quick answer
All our tours are fully private and highly flexible. We start from an example itinerary and adapt duration, pace, accommodation, activities and specific wildlife or cultural interests to suit you. You can change arrival/departure times, add or remove nights, select easier or more active walking days, request private or specialist guides for parks, upgrade accommodation where available, and ask us to handle domestic flights and local logistics. Practical limits exist (park opening hours, domestic flight schedules, road conditions and seasonal access), but we plan realistic routes and alternatives to preserve flexibility.
Key points
- Every tour is private and tailor-made from example itineraries.
- Adjust nights, pace, focus (wildlife, photography, culture) and walking levels.
- We can handle domestic flights, airport transfers, local guides and transport (4×4 or minibus).
- Accommodation is usually comfortable mid-range; upgrades can be arranged when possible.
- Seasonal and logistical limits (parks, flights, roads) affect last-minute changes.
- Planning and bookings are managed by Fidele Ramananandro and Finaritra Randrianasolomanana.
How we tailor a tour to your needs
We begin with one of our example itineraries and adjust it to match your interests and fitness. Typical customisations include changing the number of nights in a location, slowing the pace for families or retired travellers, concentrating on lemurs or birding, or adding cultural visits. Because every departure is private we can rearrange days, swap activities and adapt walking distances. Fidele (licensed national guide) and Finaritra manage planning and can recommend practical alternatives when routes or schedules change.
Options you can choose or change
- Pace and walking levels: gentle days with short walks, moderate treks or more active days for fit travellers.
- Focus: wildlife (lemurs, birds, reptiles), photography, landscapes, Malagasy culture or mixed interests.
- Accommodation: usually comfortable mid-range; we can request higher-comfort options where available or simpler lodges close to parks.
- Transport: 4×4 vehicles are common; minibuses are used for small groups. Drivers are local and experienced.
- Guides: we provide English-speaking guides; specialist local guides can be arranged for particular parks or birding trips.
- Domestic flights and logistics: we help plan and book internal flights and coordinate transfers and timing.
- Family-friendly adjustments: shorter travel days, child-friendly activities and flexible meal schedules.
Practical limits and logistical considerations
Flexibility is real but not unlimited. Domestic flight schedules, park opening times, seasonal road conditions and park permits constrain what can be changed at short notice. For example, some parks are best visited in specific months and some coastal roads can be slow in the rainy season. When we plan your trip we present realistic options and secondary plans so you retain choice without losing time on the road.
We do not book international flights, so arrival and departure times you provide determine internal routing. For seasonal questions see our best time to visit Madagascar page for planning context.
Booking, changes and last-minute requests
During planning we record your priorities and prepare a written itinerary with clear options and likely travel times. Small changes—extra night, altered activity, different guide—are usually straightforward. Larger changes (major route alterations, added domestic flights) are confirmed subject to availability and any supplier fees. On tour, local logistical support is available; drivers and guides will adapt daily schedules where possible to accommodate weather, wildlife sightings or your energy levels.
Examples of common flexible requests
- Add a night at a park when a species sighting is a priority.
- Replace a long drive with a domestic flight when schedules allow.
- Swap a daytime activity for an easier cultural visit for families.
- Arrange a specialist birding guide or extra photography time at a reserve.
Where to see specifics and past traveller choices
For concrete examples of how we adapt trips, see our example itineraries and traveller testimonials. These pages show real adjustments other travellers have requested and how we managed logistics on the ground.
Summary
Our tours are private and designed to be flexible: you can change duration, pace, focus, accommodation and many daily details. Practical constraints—domestic flights, park hours, seasonal access and road conditions—mean some changes need early planning or depend on availability. Fidele and Finaritra provide local, practical planning and on-trip support to keep your tour adaptable and realistic.