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Expedition 03 · East and South of Madagascar

East and South of Madagascar, nature on a grand scale

14 days, from the crystalline basement to the Isalo sandstones and the Ranobe lagoon.

Fourteen days to understand how Madagascar’s landscapes were built and how they shape living things: from the Andasibe rainforest to the volcanic uplands of Vakinankaratra, from the Anja granites to the Isalo sandstones, then from the Ilakaka sapphires to the Ifaty spiny forest and the Ranobe lagoon.

Duration
14 days
Route
From Antananarivo to the Ranobe lagoon
Leading discipline
Geosciences
Fitness level
Specified in the offer
Receive the 14-day East–South programOrganise a field school
River tumbling over boulders beneath the rainforest
The Namorona, Ranomafana. Photo: Smiley.toerist, CC BY-SA 4.0

Six scientific experiences

More compact than the Deep South crossing, this geotraverse links the Highlands, two rainforests, the southern sandstones and the Toliara coast, then flies back to Antananarivo. Geosciences provide the common thread, enriched by the four other fields.

  1. Ancient basement and regional tectonics

    The Antananarivo region, the Angavo escarpment on maps, granitoids and the links between landforms and water.

  2. Andasibe and Ranomafana

    Two rainforests: primatology, hydrology and habitat conservation.

  3. Antsirabe and the Ankaratra

    Volcanism, springs and lakes, soils and Highland farming.

  4. Anja, Ihosy and Isalo

    Granite landforms, major regional structures, stratigraphy and sandstone erosion.

  5. Ilakaka and Sakaraha

    Corundum and gemmology, basin geology and petroleum potential read from documents.

  6. Ifaty and Ranobe

    Dry forest and baobabs, dunes, barrier reef, coastline and fishing practices.

Black-and-white indri clinging to a branch in the rainforest
Indri, AndasibePhoto: Heinonlein, CC BY-SA 4.0
Baobabs and thorny shrubs of the dry forest under a blue sky
Ifaty spiny forestPhoto: MeegsC, CC BY-SA 3.0
A lone sailing pirogue on a calm sea, offshore
Sailing pirogue off IfatyPhoto: Smiley.toerist, CC BY-SA 3.0

Program: 14 days

Each day pairs a stop with a leading scientific perspective. Long driving days leave room for the journey rather than packing in visits.

Day 1Antananarivo

  1. Day01

    Antananarivo

    Welcome, reading the basement and scientific preparation

  2. Black-and-white indri clinging to a branch in the rainforest

    Day02

    Mandraka, Moramanga → Andasibe

    The Angavo escarpment and the transition to rainforest

    Indri, Andasibe

  3. Day03

    Andasibe

    Primates, hydrology and forest geoecology

  4. Day04

    Antananarivo → Ambatolampy → Antsirabe

    Basement, Ankaratra, rice fields and craft skills

  5. Day05

    Antsirabe and surroundings

    Volcanic landscapes, waters and agroecology

  6. Day06

    Ambositra → Ranomafana

    Regional granitoids, local produce and woodcraft

  7. River tumbling over boulders beneath the rainforest

    Day07

    Ranomafana

    Rainforest, biodiversity and the flow of water

    The Namorona, Ranomafana

  8. Day08

    Anja, Ihosy, Ihorombe → Ranohira

    Granites, regional structures and open landscapes

  9. Eroded sandstone massifs above a grassy savanna

    Day09

    Isalo National Park

    Layered sandstones, canyons and erosion

    Isalo National Park

  10. Day10

    Ilakaka, Sakaraha, Toliara → Ifaty

    Gemstones and sedimentary basin, petroleum geology from documents

  11. Baobabs and thorny shrubs of the dry forest under a blue sky

    Day11

    Ifaty, Mangily

    Dry forest, dunes, baobabs and adaptation to aridity

    Ifaty spiny forest

  12. A lone sailing pirogue on a calm sea, offshore

    Day12

    Ifaty, Ranobe lagoon

    Marine science, reefs, sedimentation and coastal societies

    Sailing pirogue off Ifaty

  13. Day13

    Toliara → Antananarivo

    Domestic flight and scientific debrief

  14. Day14

    Antananarivo

    Closing and international departure

Two formats, one itinerary

The route stays the same; the depth of explanation and the preparation adapt to the group.

  • Scientific discovery

    Precise popular science, short stations, a field notebook and a debrief at the end of the trip.

    For Retirees, science enthusiasts, curious travellers

    Receive the 14-day East–South program

  • University introduction

    Document-based preparation, specialist talks and learning goals defined with the institution.

    For Universities, field schools, interdisciplinary programs

    Organise a field school

No regulated research, no sampling and no automatic academic certificate in the standard offer.

Five fields, led by geoscience

Geosciences provide the common thread, from the basement to the sandstones and gemstones; four complementary fields shed light on the forests, the reef, the crafts and the farmland along the way.

  • Lead field

    Geoscience, mineralogy and palaeontology

    Explore the history of rocks, landforms, sedimentary basins and mineralisation. Palaeontology may remain document-based.

    In the East and South: Angavo, Ankaratra, Isalo, Ilakaka and Sakaraha.

  • Biodiversity, evolution and forest ecology

    Observe adaptations, endemic species, rainforests and dry forests, and conservation.

    In the East and South: Andasibe, Ranomafana, Anja, Ifaty.

  • Marine science, oceanography and reefs

    Read lagoons, tides, reefs, beaches, mangroves and coastal environments.

    In the East and South: The Ranobe lagoon and barrier reef.

  • Human sciences, anthropology and territorial economics

    Understand local knowledge, trades, resource use and value chains.

    In the East and South: Crafts, sapphires, fishing.

  • Agronomy and local produce

    Explore the links between water, soils, crops, agricultural supply chains and climate.

    In the East and South: Vakinankaratra, soils and water.

Method and outcomes

  • MDCBridge notebook
  • Maps and a simplified cross-section of the major domains
  • Landform, rock, water, vegetation and territory sheets
  • Captioned photographs
  • Final summary

The exact deliverables are set out in the offer.

Practical information

Points confirmed with your group before any firm offer:

  • Long road transfers on days 4, 6, 8 and 10
  • The Antsirabe volcanic lakes, chosen and booked depending on the season
  • The dry forest and the boat trip on the Ifaty reef, weather permitting
  • The Toliara–Antananarivo flight and luggage, priced separately
  • Access to parks, workshops and mining sites, subject to agreement; petroleum geology stays document-based
  • No sampling of rock, minerals, fossils or coral

Prices, flights and capacity set out in the quote.

Receive the program or plan a field school

Request the 14-day program, or tell us about your institution so we can adapt the University introduction format.

Receive the 14-day East–South programOrganise a field schoolRequest a quote

Let’s plan your scientific expedition to Madagascar

Would you like to join one of our expeditions, organise a university trip or explore a field program tailored to your group? Tell us what you need: MDCBridge can prepare a proposal based on your goals, the format you want and the services that have been confirmed.

Ground partner
sifaka-voyages.com
Your request
You are
Preferred dates (optional)
Fields you are interested in (optional)
Services you need (optional)

Your request goes straight to the MDCBridge team; an acknowledgement is sent to you by email.

Indicative programs: activities, access, transport, safety and support are adapted to field conditions and confirmed in the final offer.

Request a quote