Central Highlands Madagascan Adventure 2025

Located in eastern Madagascar, Analamazaotra National Park is renowned for its rich biodiversity and lush rainforests. Part of the larger Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, it’s famous for being home to the iconic Indri Indri, the world’s largest lemur species. The park offers visitors the chance to experience its unique ecosystems, with dense vegetation, diverse wildlife, and a variety of bird species. With well-marked trails, it’s an ideal destination for trekking, wildlife observation, and birdwatching. The park plays a crucial role in conservation efforts, protecting Madagascar’s endangered species and providing a sanctuary for many endemic plants and animals.

A charming lakeside town, Ampefy is known for its volcanic landscapes, serene waters, and breathtaking natural attractions. Situated by Lake Itasy, it offers stunning views and a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for relaxation. The region is famous for the Lily Waterfalls (Chutes de la Lily), where cascading waters create a picturesque setting. Visitors can explore geysers, hike through volcanic hills, and visit local farms producing fresh fruits and vegetables. Ampefy is also rich in Malagasy culture, with welcoming locals and vibrant markets.

You will be accompanied by first aid trained English-speaking guides who have an excellent knowledge of hiking, culture and nature in the region. You will also be accompanied by a team of local support staff, and a Different Travel Company UK tour manager.

The undulating terrain you will be walking across will be a mixture from grassy bush paths to rocky, dry mountain tracks.

The maximum expected daytime temperature in October is around 27°C, dropping down to 14°C at night. The climate is very humid and intermittent downpours are possible so you are advised to bring good waterproofs and warm layers for evenings.

Please note: the temperatures and conditions above are historically accurate for this time of year; climate change can impact the seasons so you may experience conditions during the trip which are uncharacteristic and out of our control.

If unexpected climate conditions occur the guides will make decisions to ensure the best enjoyment and safety of the group.

The hotels in Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ampefy and Andasibe are basic but comfortable.

You will also spend one night at a mountain campsite in Ampefy, which will be very basic with simple facilities.

You must be aged at least 18 to participate unaccompanied. It may be possible for you to participate if you are aged 16 or 17 years old if you are accompanied by a parent or guardian–please contact us for advice. There is no upper age limit.

An ideal candidate for the trek would be someone who enjoys being out of their comfort zone and trying something new.

Do not underestimate the importance of training for this trek. It’s tougher than you expect. You are strongly advised to train to a good fitness level before departure to ensure fast recovery from each day’s walk. The distances covered may not be great but you must be prepared for, and be capable of, trekking for many hours a day on steep, rough terrain while carrying a daypack of around 6-8kg in weight.

If you attempt to complete the trek without training, it will be unnecessarily challenging and will hinder your experience, and the experience of your teammates.

You must engage in training (including plenty of walking up and down hills) before departure to ensure your best chance of enjoyment of the trip. This could include hill walking, running, cycling, gym workouts, bootcamps, etc. Increasing your cardiovascular endurance, core strength and leg strength will also benefit you greatly so resistance workouts should be added to your training regime in addition to plenty of hill walking.

You can download a number of free apps which will help you train and track your progress. E.g. MapMyWalk, couch to 5k, MyFitnessPal etc.

If you attempt to complete the challenge without training it will make the trek unnecessarily difficult and may be detrimental to your experience, and the experience of your team mates.

The altitude you experience on this trek is up to 2,658m which is slightly under the threshold that is considered high altitude (3000m). However there is a possibility that some people may notice altitude related symptoms.

The local guides are very experienced in spotting signs of altitude sickness but it is important that you also research the effects so you can be aware of how your body is adjusting.

A great source of information can be found at http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Altitudesickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx or http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/altitude.htm.

Visit here to find the kit list relevant to this trip.