Madagascar & Beyond
Discover the wonders of Aldabra & Madagascar aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
- 2 January 2021
"This itinerary is a veritable feast of beauty and combines the natural world with cultural discovery. Witness the bounty of the islands, the wildlife from giant tortoises of Aldabra to the lemurs of Madagascar and an amazingly prolific birdlife."
Start the New Year with an expedition aboard the MS Caledonian Sky that combines discovering beautiful, tropical islands, some of which are a mere dot in the Indian Ocean with the natural wonders of Madagascar. Our voyage begins with five days in the Seychelles including the magnificent Aldabra islands before we sail to the world’s ‘eighth continent’.
The term ‘unique’ is often an overused description in the travel world but certainly applies to the island of Madagascar. The animals, plants, landscapes and people that make up this thousand mile long island are unlike anywhere else in the world. This extraordinary country long remained obscure as a destination and is still relatively unknown amongst even the most serious of travellers. There is minimal infrastructure in many parts of the island and for those wishing to explore the island in some depth, doing so by small ship, especially one as wellsuited as the MS Caledonian Sky is far more preferable than by any other means. After a day exploring, often along untarred roads with basic transportation you can return to the comfort of the MS Caledonian Sky to recharge before the next adventure. With the vessel’s fleet of Zodiacs for forays ashore, allowing access to the wonderful places denied to larger ships and, accompanied by our onboard experts you can learn and enjoy encounters with fabulous endemic wildlife in this immensely rich and timeless corner of the Indian Ocean.
In addition to the breathtaking scenery, the region abounds with strange and wonderful plants and trees, countless varieties of birds and abundant wildlife including the iconic lemur. The long separation from the African mainland has given rise to its amazing number of endemic species of flora and fauna and its people are also unique having descended from Malay - Polynesian mariners who sailed from South East Asia between 1500 to 2000 years ago. Later arrivals included slaves from Africa, traders from Arabia, India and Portugal and more latterly French colonials.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
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What To Expect…
During an expedition, each day holds something new and below is an extract from a log of one of our most recent expeditions in Madagascar which will provide you with an idea of what to expect if you choose to join this Madagascan adventure.
Mahajanga & Ankarantsafika National Park, Madagascar: No such thing as a Sunday lie-in this morning as we were up bright eyed and bushytailed in readiness for an exciting day. The sea was a millpond. Large fleets of prawn trawlers lined the quay side, while traditional ‘dhows’ passed us on their way out to sea. Women in traditional dress greeted us on the slipway and our transport waited at the end of a strip of market stall 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 road side, as we passed through beautiful villages. We arrived at the Ankarantsafika 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. Already we could see this was a special place and we hadn’t even left the car park! We were on the lookout for creatures great and small, and we found them. 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! Lunch was a tasty BBQ and local snacks, accompanied by much required cool drinks. Even lunch didn’t distract from the wildlife viewing as there was a group of sifaka that could be seen clearly from the table, sleeping through the heat of the day. Post-lunch was flexible and some of us couldn’t resist another opportunity to walk around the forest, while others were lucky to be shown the Durrell conservation project.
Caledonian Sky
The MS Caledonian Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Mahe, Seychelles.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Day 2 Mahe.
Arrive this morning and transfer to the MS Caledonian Sky moored in Victoria. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we sail this evening to Praslin and anchor overnight.
Day 3 Praslin & Grande Soeur.
This morning we will use the Zodiacs to land on 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. Return to the ship for lunch as we sail the short distance to Grande Soeur an idyllic uninhabited island. Spend the afternoon walking the islands trails which link the island's white sand beaches and maybe catch sight of some of the islands giant Aldabra tortoises, enjoy a swim or join our first snorkelling opportunity in the turquoise waters.
Day 4 Alphonse Islands.
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 to enjoy island walks. Spend the afternoon exploring before returning to the ship for dinner.
Day 5 At Sea.
Take the chance to sit on deck or join a lecture as we sail to the Outer Seychelles.
Days 6 & 7 Aldabra Islands.
We have two days at the Aldabra group of islands. 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 hope to reach Cosmoledo where a huge ring of twelve islands circle a lagoon. Many of the atolls are still to be surveyed and we will explore some of them by Zodiac. This is an important bird area with all three species of booby found in the Seychelles including the last breeding site for the brown booby. Also spot sooty terns and great frigate birds. We will also spend 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 to 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 life, the skies are alive with varied birdlife and ashore giant land tortoises forage as they have done for millions of years. We hope to explore Picard Island with a short walk to see some of the thousands of tortoises and numerous robber crabs or swim in the lagoon, a vast 17 mile stretch of shallow clear water. From our Zodiacs we can watch the ever-changing undersea world and snorkel in colourful coral waters.
Day 8 Diego Suarez, Madagascar.
This morning we arrive in Madagascar at Diego Suarez, a stunning natural harbour with a cosmopolitan mix of inhabitants including Creoles, Indians, Chinese, Comorans and Arabs. Using our Zodiacs to come ashore, we will take a city tour visiting the Commonwealth Cemetery and Place Joffre before visiting the Malagasy Rain Forest at the Mount Amber National Park. Dividing into short and long walk parties we will go in search of lemurs and chameleons as we explore the rain forest.
Day 9 Nosy Hara.
Sail overnight over the northern tip of Madagascar where strangely shaped limestone islets dot the aquamarine-coloured sea. The expedition team will decide on the most suitable island for landing by Zodiac, such as Nosy Hara, with its abundant birdlife and a great place to swim off the beach. We will explore 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.
Day 10 Nosy Tanikely.
We arrive this morning at the Nosy Tanikely Island Marine Reserve, an uninhabited island which offers snorkelling opportunities and wonderful beaches. We land by Zodiacs and 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. Return to the ship for lunch and spend a relaxing afternoon at sea.
Day 11 Mahajanga.
Today the MS Caledonian Sky anchors off Mahajanga, a port in northwest Madagascar situated on the Betsiboka River which is our base for a full day excursion to 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, watch for birdlife at the nearby lake or we have requested permission to visit the Durrell breeding programme which was established at Ampijora and is dedicated to protecting the ploughshare tortoise, one of the most threatened breeds in the world.
Day 12 At Sea.
Our lecture programme continues as we continue our journey around the Madagascan coast.
Day 13 Morondava.
From our anchorage off the town of Morondava, we will use the Zodiacs to land on the local beach. From here there will be a choice of excursions to explore the local region. A half day morning tour will visit the Avenue de 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 de 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.
Days 14 Tulear.
Our last call in Madagascar will be Tulear on the southwest coast. Arriving at lunchtime we spend the afternoon at 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.
Day 15 Tulear.
After breakfast we drive to 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. Return to the ship for lunch and an afternoon at sea as we head to the African mainland.
Day 16 At Sea.
Spend the day at sea as we cross the Mozambique Channel.
Day 17 Portuguese Island, Mozambique.
Situated in Maputo Bay, we anchor offshore and spend the afternoon at subtropical Portuguese Island. This uninhabited island can be explored on a nature walk with our naturalists looking for some of the resident bird life. Alternatively, simply spend your time relaxing on the beach. This evening we will sail to Maputo where we moor overnight.
Day 18 Maputo to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Day 19 London.
Arrive this morning.
Dates and Prices
2 to 20 January 2021 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Castle Deck Standard Suite | £10995 | £10495 |
Caledonian Deck Superior Suite | £11195 | £10695 |
Promenade Deck Premium Suite | £11395 | £10895 |
Bridge Deck Deluxe Balcony Suite | £12395 | £11895 |
Promenade Deck Premium Balcony Suite | £12695 | £12195 |
Promenade Deck Owner's Corner Suite | £13895 | £13395 |
Castle Deck Standard for sole use | £13195 | £12695 |
Caledonian Deck Superior for sole use | £13495 | £12995 |
Tour Reference Code: SCCSK020121
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 16 nights aboard the MS Caledonian Sky on a full board basis • House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch & dinner on board • Shore excursions • Noble Caledonia expedition team • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas.
Caledonian Sky
The MS Caledonian Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Island Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
What To Expect…
During an expedition, each day holds something new and below is an extract from a log of one of our most recent expeditions in Madagascar which will provide you with an idea of what to expect if you choose to join this Madagascan adventure.
Mahajanga & Ankarantsafika National Park, Madagascar: No such thing as a Sunday lie-in this morning as we were up bright eyed and bushytailed in readiness for an exciting day. The sea was a millpond. Large fleets of prawn trawlers lined the quay side, while traditional ‘dhows’ passed us on their way out to sea. Women in traditional dress greeted us on the slipway and our transport waited at the end of a strip of market stall 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 road side, as we passed through beautiful villages. We arrived at the Ankarantsafika 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. Already we could see this was a special place and we hadn’t even left the car park! We were on the lookout for creatures great and small, and we found them. 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! Lunch was a tasty BBQ and local snacks, accompanied by much required cool drinks. Even lunch didn’t distract from the wildlife viewing as there was a group of sifaka that could be seen clearly from the table, sleeping through the heat of the day. Post-lunch was flexible and some of us couldn’t resist another opportunity to walk around the forest, while others were lucky to be shown the Durrell conservation project.
Tour Extensions
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If you would like to spend some time in the Seychelles before embarking the MS Caledonian Sky we are offering a four night pre-cruise extension staying at The Savoy Resort & Spa which is located on Beau Vallon, the most popular beach on the island of Mahe.
Birdlife, Mahe
The Itinerary
The Itineray
Day 1 London to Mahe, Seychelles.
Fly by scheduled indirect flight.
Days 2 to 5 Mahe.
Arrive this morning and transfer to your hotel for a four night stay. Your time is free to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax on the beach or explore independently with a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner included on Day 3.
Day 6 Mahe.
Your fellow travellers arrive today and we follow the main itinerary from Day 2.
Prices per person based on double occupancy
29 December 2020 to 3 January 2021 Category Price Twin £1195 Single £1795 -
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After your expedition we are offering the opportunity to explore the wildlife of the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest game reserve.
Lion, Kruger National Park
The Itinerary
Day 1 Maputo to Kruger National Park, South Africa.
After breakfast we will take a three hour coach journey to the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s largest game reserve. This is the land of baobabs, fever trees, knob thorns, marula and mopane trees underneath which lurk the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino), the Little Five (buffalo weaver, elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, ant lion and rhino beetle), the birding Big Six (ground hornbill, kori bustard, lappetfaced vulture, martial eagle, pel’s fishing owl and saddle-bill stork) and more species of mammals than in any other African Game Reserve. We will transfer to the Shishangeni Private Lodge where we enjoy lunch before embarking on our first game drive this afternoon. Return to the lodge for dinner this evening.
Day 2 Kruger National Park.
Hot and cold beverages will be waiting for you after your early morning wake up call. Enjoy a morning game drive showcasing the wildlife and nature of the southern region of Kruger National Park, followed by breakfast at the lodge. After breakfast, embark on an optional morning bush walk, followed by free time and a leisurely lunch. Later this afternoon you can enjoy another game drive before a traditional boma dinner at the Lodge.
Day 3 Kruger National Park to London.
After another dawn game drive we will enjoy breakfast and check out of the lodge before transferring to the airport for our internal flight to Johannesburg. Connect here with our onward flight to London.
Day 4 London.
Arrive this morning.
Prices per person based on double occupancy
19 to 22 January 2021 Category Price Twin £1445 Single £1695 Price Includes: Two nights accommodation at the Shishangeni Private Lodge on a full board basis, game drives, flight between Kruger and Johannesburg, gratuities, transfers, taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas.
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Also of Interest
Wonders of Madagascar
An exploration of the natural wonders of Madagascar aboard the MS Serenissima
Serenissima
Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius
- Reunion
- Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
- Nosy Mangabe / Masoala National Park
- Diego Suarez
- Nosy Hara
- Nosy Tanikely
- Mahajanga
- Morondava
- Tulear
Seychelles Odyssey
An Island Hopping Expedition in the Indian Ocean aboard the MS Serenissima
Serenissima
Serenissima
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Zanzibar
- Kilwa Kisiwani
- Aldabra Islands, Seychelles
- Farquhar Islands
- Alphonse Islands
- Amirante Islands
- Aride / Curieuse
- Praslin / La Digue
- Mahe
Marvels of Madagascar
Discover the eighth continent aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mauritius
- Reunion
- Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar
- Nosy Mangabe & Masoala National Park
- Diego Suarez
- Nosy Hara
- Nosy Tanikely
- Mahajanga
- Morondava
- Tulear
Passage through the Seychelles
Island Hopping in the beautiful Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Dar es Salaam / Aldabra Islands / Farquhar Islands / Alphonse Islands/ Aride /Curieuse / Praslin / La Digue / Mahe
Splendours of the Seychelles
An island hopping expedition cruise through the Seychelles aboard the MS Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Caledonian Sky
Itinerary at a glance
- Mahe / Praslin /Grande Soeur / Amirante / Farquhar Islands /Aldabra / Alphonse Island / Aride /Curieuse
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000