Deckplan
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
An island hopping expedition from Mahe to Madagascar aboard the MS Hebridean Sky
Escape to warmer climes over the winter with a voyage aboard the MS Hebridean Sky in the wonderful Indian Ocean, discovering some of the most beautiful tropical islands on earth in the company of just over 100 fellow guests. Our journey includes some fascinating and exotic calls combining the stunning islands of the Seychelles including the magnificent Aldabra group of islands with the natural wonders of Madagascar.
The first part of our adventure is dedicated to the Seychelles and some of the most captivating islands in the world. Amongst the highlights of our time in the Seychelles will be the Aldabra Islands, the last breeding ground of the giant tortoise and in addition to seeing some of these endearing creatures we should also encounter dolphins, turtles and whales as well as countless birds including the flightless rail, the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. To explore the abundant crystal-clear waters of the vast lagoon and to set foot on atolls which have never been exploited by the hand of man is a rare experience.
Our voyage continues to Madagascar, the world’s ‘eighth continent’, where we have a week to explore this extraordinary country that is still relatively unknown amongst even the most serious of travellers. The term ‘unique’ is often an overused description in the travel world but certainly applies to the island of Madagascar where the animals, plants, landscapes and people that make up this thousand-mile-long island are unlike anywhere else in the world. There is minimal infrastructure in many parts of the island and for those wishing to explore in some depth, doing so by small ship is far more preferable than by any other means. This itinerary is a veritable feast of beauty and the natural world and with the vessel’s fleet of Zodiac landing craft we can reach the unreachable, landing on remote beaches, walking through verdant rainforest and national parks and getting close to some unique flora and fauna. Your experience will be made all the more memorable by our expert crew and officers who, along with our expedition team of marine biologists, ornithologists and botanists have many years of experience in the Indian Ocean.
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from the ship’s log from previous expeditions which will provide you with an idea of what to expect.
Mahajanga & Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar: This morning we were up bright eyed and bushy tailed in readiness for an exciting day. Women in traditional dress greeted us on the slipway and our transport waited at the end of a strip of market stalls selling local crafts. The convoy of minibuses departed Mahajanga driving through the busy streets before heading out in the countryside. Savannah like landscape could be seen for miles on either side of the tarmac road. The savannah gave way to large swathes of rice paddies. Local rice farmers were seen harvesting the rice, children waved from the roadside, as we passed through beautiful villages. We arrived at the Ankarafantsika National Park, a mere two hours after leaving the dock. Immediately after arriving, we saw a troop of brown lemur and the gorgeous Coquerel’s sifaka expertly negotiating their way through the canopy. Our guides took us on prepared trails through the dry forest, spotting a variety of bird species, reptiles, and of course, lemur. Highlights included an eye-height view of a paradise fly-catcher incubating on a nest; a female Milne-Edwards sportive lemur with her juvenile resting on a tree trunk, iguanas basking in a variety of different body positions in spots of sunlight and, the fantastic spot of the Madagascan fish eagle. Combined we saw 51 different species of bird and reptile, and five species of lemur. What an incredible day!
Nosy Tanikley: Instead of using the Zodiacs this morning, local boats ferried us to the shore of Nosy Tanikley, a small island rising steeply from the beautiful palm fringed beach on which we arrived. One highlight was being able to snorkel among the coral reef that was close to shore. The fish diversity of the relatively small reef was impressive and a friendly Hawksbill turtle swam by. The island was equally impressive. Walking up the concrete summit path was well worth it, and we were treated to an acrobatic display by a group of brown lemurs. The panoramic view from the lighthouse was stunning and only bettered by the white-tailed tropicbirds flying close by. Those that walked around the island were treated to seeing rufus and Madagascar flying fox flying but also sleeping in the shade.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky in Port Victoria. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail tonight.
We have two days to explore the islands of the Inner Seychelles and hope to include a call at Praslin to explore the ‘Vallee de Mai’, the last remnant of the original high canopied Seychelles palm forest and home to the coco de mer. We will walk its paths looking out for the rare black parrot and enjoying its natural beauty. See Grande Soeur, an idyllic uninhabited island. Spend time walking the island trails which link the island’s white sand beaches and maybe catch sight of some of the giant Aldabra tortoises or enjoy a snorkelling opportunity in the turquoise waters. We hope to anchor off Aride, one of the finest and most important seabird islands in the Indian Ocean. Over one million seabirds breed on the island including tropical shearwater, lesser noddy, frigatebirds and roseate tern and five of the species are unique to the Seychelles such as the Seychelles warbler and Seychelles magpie robin. The island is largely covered in native woodland including the endemic wright’s gardenia, a shrub with beautifully scented flowers found nowhere else in the world. Sail to Curieuse, a rugged island which was once home to a leper colony and now houses an eco-museum and visitor centre. The island is an important nesting site for hawksbill turtles and boasts endemic vine and mangroves which we explore on an island walk.
There are three islands in the Alphonse group which is located directly south of the Amirantes. As we approach the islands over lunch, you will understand why they are regarded by many to be the most beautiful of the 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago. On the main island the circular lagoon offers good snorkelling and there are several tracks across the island for us to enjoy an afternoon of island walks.
Enjoy a relaxing day at sea as we head to the Outer Seychelles islands. Our lecture programme will continue or maybe find a spot on deck to watch for wildlife.
We have two days at the Aldabra group of islands and our itinerary will be in the hands of our Expedition Leader and Captain who will monitor the local conditions to ensure we maximise our time here. Whilst our itinerary is flexible we will plan to call at the island of Assumption. The island was ruthlessly plundered for its vast deposits of guano in the early 20th century but peace has returned and the wildlife of rare birds and green turtles are once again in abundance. Our time here will be spent beachcombing, on a nature walk or snorkelling. We also plan time on Aldabra, the island referred to by Sir Julian Huxley as “One of nature’s treasures and should belong to the whole world”. Aldabra is unique and every time we call at what is believed to be the world’s largest atoll we find something new of interest. Sightings have been made of the extremely rare white-throated rail and the atoll is also home to the world’s second largest colony of frigate birds and the largest crab, the coconut crab. Whilst exploring by Zodiac it is difficult to know in which direction to look. The clear blue seas abound with colourful life, the skies are alive with varied birdlife and ashore giant land tortoises forage as they have done for millions of years. We will explore Picard Island with a short walk to see some of the thousands of tortoises and numerous robber crabs. We will include as much as possible during our time on Aldabra making landings on South Island and trips into the lagoon, a vast 17 mile stretch of shallow clear water. From our Zodiacs we can watch the everchanging undersea world and snorkel in colourful coral waters teeming with marine life.
After a morning at sea we arrive in Madagascar and enter dramatic Diego Suarez, a stunning natural harbour with a cosmopolitan mix of inhabitants including Creoles, Indians, Chinese, Comorans and Arabs. This afternoon choose from a city tour visiting the Commonwealth Cemetery and Place Joffre, or the Malagasy rainforest at the Mount Amber National Park. Dividing into short and long walk parties we will go in search of lemurs, chameleons and endemic birds as we explore the rainforest.
As we cruise around the northern coast of Madagascar we will find a number of strangely shaped limestone islets that dot the aquamarinecoloured sea. The expedition team will decide on the most suitable island for landing, such as Nosy Hara with its abundant birdlife and great places to swim off the beach. We will spend the day exploring the island on foot, walking through dense woodland and observing the unusual vegetation. Alternatively, join a Zodiac cruise around the islands and a chance to snorkel over the coral.
Spend the morning at the Nosy Tanikely Island Marine Reserve, an uninhabited island which offers snorkelling opportunities and wonderful beaches. We will take the chance to either swim in the clear waters or snorkel over the corals keeping an eye out for reef fish, turtles and morays. Alternatively, our naturalists will lead guided walks on the island where we may see the resident lemurs, fruit bats and hermit crabs and enjoy fantastic views from the lighthouse on the island’s highest point. We will sail in the early afternoon.
Mahajanga is a major port in northwest Madagascar situated on the Betsiboka River and is our base for a full day excursion to the Ankarafantsika National Park. This deciduous forest is a haven for birds, lemurs and reptiles and on a choice of walks, we will explore with our guides. Eight species of lemur have been observed here including the famous Microcebus, the smallest primate in the world. Meanwhile over 120 species of birds nest here and we will keep an eye out for the Madagascan fish eagle and banded kestrel whilst the 44 species of reptile include chameleon, turtles and crocodiles that live in Lake Ravelobe. We will enjoy lunch in the park and in the afternoon there will be options to join further walks or watch for birdlife at the nearby lake before returning to the MS Hebridean Sky.
Our lecture programme resumes as we continue our journey around the Madagascan coast.
From our anchorage off the town of Morondava, we will use the Zodiacs to land on the local beach and from here there will be a choice of excursions to explore the local region. On a half day morning tour we will visit the Avenue des Baobabs. Of the eight baobab species in the world, six are endemic to Madagascar and here we will see the Adansonia grandidieri species with a row of 20 to 25 trees which border the gravel road. We will learn about the trees and their spiritual significance before returning to Morondava and exploring the local market. Alternatively, join a full day excursion to Kirindy Forest. Situated approximately a two hour drive from Morondava, we will pass the Avenue des Baobabs as we travel north. Kirindy is a 10,000 hectare, dry deciduous forest, one of the most endangered in the world where the flora and fauna includes many endemic species. Here we find three species of baobab, many birds and reptiles including snakes, tortoises and lizards. Eight species of lemur reside here including the pale form marked lemur.
We arrive in Tulear at lunchtime. This afternoon choose to visit the Antsokay Arboretum which is entirely devoted to the conservation of the plants from the south west of Madagascar and, after more than 30 years of hard work, offers a densely kept selection of flora presenting a typical sub-arid thicket with baobab trees towering over the smaller plants. We will see the four hectare botanical garden which comprises over 900 species of plants of which 90% are endemic to the region. Alternatively, visit the Reniala Private Reserve, a small area of just 60 hectares but containing a spiny forest which is unique to south eastern Madagascar. The park is home to 200 plant species including baobabs as well as being a haven for birders with sightings of paradise flycatchers, Madagascar hoopoe and Madagascar crested drongo.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our specially chartered flight to Johannesburg. Connect here with our onward scheduled flight to London.
Arrive this morning.
8 to 24 November 2024 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Amundsen Deck Standard Suite | £10795 | £10295 |
Byrd Deck Superior Suite | £11095 | £10595 |
Mawson Deck Premium Suite | £11395 | £10895 |
Mawson Deck Corner Suite | £11695 | £11195 |
Scott Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £12695 | £12195 |
Shackleton Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £13195 | £12695 |
Shackleton Deck Hebridean Suite | £14295 | £13795 |
Amundsen Deck Standard for sole use | £13795 | £13295 |
Byrd Deck Superior for sole use | £14495 | £13995 |
Tour Reference Code: SCHKS081124
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel from London to Mahe and from Johannesburg to London • Specially chartered flight from Tulear to Johannesburg • 14 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch & dinner • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Airport taxes • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Madagascar visa.
During this expedition you will be visiting out of the way destinations and will be accompanied by an expedition team. Landings and excursions will be made by Zodiac landing craft. The use of Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage, please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
Please note that all beds can be configured as twin or double with the exception of suites 601 and 602 which both feature a fixed double bed.
The MS Hebridean Sky is one of our two flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky. Both vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them two of the finest small ships in the world.
Flexibility is the key to an expedition cruise; sometimes the whole day’s schedule will be changed to maximise your experience, something that would not be possible on a large cruise ship. Each day holds something new and below are some extracts from the ship’s log from previous expeditions which will provide you with an idea of what to expect.
Mahajanga & Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar: This morning we were up bright eyed and bushy tailed in readiness for an exciting day. Women in traditional dress greeted us on the slipway and our transport waited at the end of a strip of market stalls selling local crafts. The convoy of minibuses departed Mahajanga driving through the busy streets before heading out in the countryside. Savannah like landscape could be seen for miles on either side of the tarmac road. The savannah gave way to large swathes of rice paddies. Local rice farmers were seen harvesting the rice, children waved from the roadside, as we passed through beautiful villages. We arrived at the Ankarafantsika National Park, a mere two hours after leaving the dock. Immediately after arriving, we saw a troop of brown lemur and the gorgeous Coquerel’s sifaka expertly negotiating their way through the canopy. Our guides took us on prepared trails through the dry forest, spotting a variety of bird species, reptiles, and of course, lemur. Highlights included an eye-height view of a paradise fly-catcher incubating on a nest; a female Milne-Edwards sportive lemur with her juvenile resting on a tree trunk, iguanas basking in a variety of different body positions in spots of sunlight and, the fantastic spot of the Madagascan fish eagle. Combined we saw 51 different species of bird and reptile, and five species of lemur. What an incredible day!
Nosy Tanikley: Instead of using the Zodiacs this morning, local boats ferried us to the shore of Nosy Tanikley, a small island rising steeply from the beautiful palm fringed beach on which we arrived. One highlight was being able to snorkel among the coral reef that was close to shore. The fish diversity of the relatively small reef was impressive and a friendly Hawksbill turtle swam by. The island was equally impressive. Walking up the concrete summit path was well worth it, and we were treated to an acrobatic display by a group of brown lemurs. The panoramic view from the lighthouse was stunning and only bettered by the white-tailed tropicbirds flying close by. Those that walked around the island were treated to seeing rufus and Madagascar flying fox flying but also sleeping in the shade.
Wendy trained as a classical ballet dancer and teacher at the University of Cape Town. After dancing professionally for ten years, she lectured at the same university before setting out on her own. She has run her own successful exercise studio and produced and choreographed several ballets for the Cape Youth Ballet. Together with her oceanographer husband she has taken part in research cruises off the West Coast of Southern Africa. Her first visit to the Antarctic was in 2003, aboard the SA Agulhas, supervising a group of scholars who accompanied the vessel on a relief cruise to Queen Maud Land. She has worked on small expedition cruise ships all over the world, at first as a zodiac driver and then as Assistant Expedition Leader or Assistant Cruise Director.
Daniel is a travel writer, naturalist, photographer and tour lecturer who specialises in the exotic Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. He visits Madagascar every year to explore and photograph its diverse wonders. His fascination with this enigmatic country extends not only to its unique flora and fauna, but also to its people, culture, history, geology and beyond. Daniel has written three books about Madagascar and contributed words and images to countless others. He also presents occasional lectures on the country, including at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society, as well as on specialist tours of the island. His expertise is frequently consulted by filmmakers making documentaries about Madagascar. In addition, Daniel is Secretary of the Anglo-Malagasy Society, a UK-based organisation founded in 1961, which holds events and meetings in London to promote knowledge of Madagascar amongst British people and to foster relations between the two countries. Daniel is the founder of the Madagascar Library, a private collection of some 3,000 books, maps and other documents about the country, available for use by academics, journalists, historians and other researchers. He studied linguistics and cognitive science at the University of Cambridge and at UCL in London, as well as engineering science at the University of Oxford.
Conrad Weston is a Second Generation costarrican. Conrad has been involved in ecotourism since 1986 in South and Central America mainly. Diving has been a family tradition for him. He has a great interest in the coral reef ecosystems of both the Pacific and Caribbean. Bird identification makes him get up early in the morning. Fishing is among his passions along with surfing and these activities have allowed him to travel out of the beaten path extensively.
Pierre is an all round naturalist who trained as an oceanographer and marine biologist and has more than forty years of experience in the field. He lives in Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. He is a former Naval Officer who holds certificates of competence in sail and power. He worked at the Sea Fisheries Research Institute in Cape Town for more than thirty years, specialising in the acoustic stock assessment of small pelagic fish and krill.
He participated in numerous research cruises in the South-East Atlantic Ocean, the South-West Indian Ocean, the Pacific and Southern Ocean, often as chief scientist. Since 2001 he has worked as a fisheries consultant specialising in combatting illegal fishing, working mainly in Southern and East Africa and the islands of the Indian Ocean, as well as doing research cruises in the Antarctic, the Eastern Tropical Pacific and North Pacific. During this time he lectured at several Universities in South Africa as well as teaching at the Fisheries Development Centre in Mbegani, Tanzania. In 2005 he started working in the expedition cruising industry as a lecturer, zodiac driver, and later as assistant expedition leader.
He has worked on board ships in the Antarctic, the Western Indian Ocean, South and Central America, the Canary and Azores Islands, Great Britain, Norway and Spitsbergen. In addition to marine biology and oceanography he is a competent all-round naturalist and photographer as well as having an interest in history and in traditional boats and working boats around the world. During 2008 he was technical adviser and presenter for a TV documentary series on the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic.
We are delighted that Hilary Bradt will be joining us on board the MS Hebridean Sky for our November 2024 departure. Hilary Bradt co-founded Bradt Travel Guides in 1974, with a slim volume on backpacking in Peru & Bolivia. Two years later she travelled the length of Africa, from Cape Town to Cairo, and made her first visit to Madagascar. She returned to East Africa and Madagascar as a tour leader in the 1980s and continued to visit Madagascar regularly both as a tour leader and lecturer for Noble Caledonia for many years. She wrote the first English-language to Madagascar in 1986; the guide is now in its 13th edition, updated by Daniel Austin. Through the decades she has written countless articles on Madagascar, its people and wildlife. In 2008 she was awarded an MBE for services to the travel industry and to charity and has received four Lifetime Achievement awards from travel organisations. Her proudest moment was in 2018 when she was invited to the Presidential Palace in Antananarivo to be made an Officer of the Order of Madagascar -- the Madagascan equivalent to an OBE – for services to tourism in Madagascar.
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Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000