English 
A bespoke itinerary in an amazing country, well organised and with a great driver and guide
Tipishca
2019-10-14
Oct 2019 •
I asked Nirina to provide us with a 15-day itinerary, for myself and my partner, that focussed primarily on seeing lemurs. The initial itinerary put forward ticked most of the boxes with a couple of tweaks and some last-minute changes when the accommodation at one of the locations was unavailable due to continued renovation work.Although this was one of the most exhausting trips we’ve done in the most underdeveloped country that we’ve visited, it was so rewarding! We went in search of lemurs (of which we saw many – although would happily have seen more!) but witnessed a country where the majority of people do not have running/clean water or electricity, many living in huts of sticks or mud, the few roads (most on which we travelled having great chunks of concrete missing, others so off the beaten track that they will ‘disappear’ in the rainy season) lined with hundreds of people walking – to market for food or to sell sacks of charcoal, to collect water… and so many children! We witnessed whole neighbourhoods celebrating Famadihana where bodies are exhumed, redressed in silks and paraded around with music playing – and lots of drinking, before being reburied; Children and women as well as men, standing in deep mud, making bricks that are then dried by the roadside, fired in kilns with acrid smoke before being sold. So much more than we expected.We stayed in a variety of accommodation, some quite basic – but adequate – lodges, usually in fabulous locations, plus a night in a tent – under a thatched shelter – with a double bed inside in a remote but beautiful area, the next night we were in absolute luxury in a lodge in a National Park where there was an open plan bathroom that included a large sunken bath with a view over our own veranda!Apart from where we had to swap our driver/car for another driver and 4WD for 2 nights in a very remote area, most of the time we had the wonderful company of our young (female) guide, Laurencia, and driver/guide, Giovani, who were so kind and considerate and fun to be with. We also met many other lovely people who guided us through rainforests searching for lemurs, chameleons, fossa, other reptiles and birds. At the end of our trip, Giovani thanked us for coming to Madagascar and for the number of people that were ’employed’ because we visited. It was all rather humbling.Please come to Madagascar and please organise your itinerary through Nirina (Helinirina Raharomanana Tours Guide) – you will not be disappointed.
I asked Nirina to provide us with a 15-day itinerary, for myself and my partner, that focussed primarily on seeing lemurs. The initial itinerary put forward ticked most of the boxes with a couple of tweaks and some last-minute changes when the accommodation at one of the locations was unavailable due to continued renovation work.Although this was one of the most exhausting trips we’ve done in the most underdeveloped country that we’ve visited, it was so rewarding! We went in search of lemurs (of which we saw many – although would happily have seen more!) but witnessed a country where the majority of people do not have running/clean water or electricity, many living in huts of sticks or mud, the few roads (most on which we travelled having great chunks of concrete missing, others so off the beaten track that they will ‘disappear’ in the rainy season) lined with hundreds of people walking – to market for food or to sell sacks of charcoal, to collect water… and so many children! We witnessed whole neighbourhoods celebrating Famadihana where bodies are exhumed, redressed in silks and paraded around with music playing – and lots of drinking, before being reburied; Children and women as well as men, standing in deep mud, making bricks that are then dried by the roadside, fired in kilns with acrid smoke before being sold. So much more than we expected.We stayed in a variety of accommodation, some quite basic – but adequate – lodges, usually in fabulous locations, plus a night in a tent – under a thatched shelter – with a double bed inside in a remote but beautiful area, the next night we were in absolute luxury in a lodge in a National Park where there was an open plan bathroom that included a large sunken bath with a view over our own veranda!Apart from where we had to swap our driver/car for another driver and 4WD for 2 nights in a very remote area, most of the time we had the wonderful company of our young (female) guide, Laurencia, and driver/guide, Giovani, who were so kind and considerate and fun to be with. We also met many other lovely people who guided us through rainforests searching for lemurs, chameleons, fossa, other reptiles and birds. At the end of our trip, Giovani thanked us for coming to Madagascar and for the number of people that were ’employed’ because we visited. It was all rather humbling.Please come to Madagascar and please organise your itinerary through Nirina (Helinirina Raharomanana Tours Guide) – you will not be disappointed.