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Mozambique & Madagascar: A Voyage Discovering Africa's Rare Treasures

There are over 120 known species of lemur living in the forests of Madagascar. They’re some of the most extraordinary animals you could ever hope to see, and Madagascar is virtually the only place they exist in the wild. These ancient, miniature primates – with names like Ring-Tailed, Ruffled, Mouse, and Sportive – are everywhere, leaping and darting with quick elegance, and looking back at you with vast, intelligent eyes.

About 65 million years ago, the lemurs’ ancient ancestors migrated to Madagascar over the ocean, rafting across the sea on dense mats of vegetation. If that’s astonishing, it’s nothing compared to the wonders of nature and culture we will see together on this voyage to Mozambique and Madagascar. These rarely visited African nations could not be more different from one another, except in their exotic beauty.

Mozambique’s gentle turquoise seas and peaceful, broad beaches were a welcome sight to Portuguese explorers after rounding the Cape of Good Hope. We’ll experience a little bit of Portugal and Brazil in the squares of Maputo – and a fascinating mix of African, Arab, European, and Indian influences in the historic trading post of Inhambane. In the Bazaruto Archipelago, we’ll experience a sublime vista of totally unspoiled islands with immense schools of tropical fish in the waters below.

Madagascar, meanwhile, is a global treasure of nature: very much like the Galapagos, except on an epic scale – it’s the 4th-largest island in the world. It contains 5% of the world’s plant and animal species. We’ll wander through immense rain forest ferns to observe chameleons, butterflies, birds, and lemurs – and parade through the awe-inspiring Avenue of the Baobabs.

We’ll enjoy wonderful accommodations aboard the elegant, 114-guest, all-suite Corinthian II, while our study leaders will help create an extraordinarily enriching journey. This is an experience of Africa unlike anything you’ve seen before. We hope you can join us.

Itinerary

Day 1 • USA

Day 2 • MAPUTO, Mozambique | EMBARK

Day 3 • MAPUTO

Day 4 • INHAMBANE

Day 5 • BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO

Day 6 • AT SEA

Day 7 • MORONDAVA | KIRINDY RESERVE | AVENUE OF THE BAOBABS | MORONDAVA

Day 8 • AT SEA

Day 9 • MAHAJANGA | ANKARAFANTSIKA NATIONAL PARK | MAHAJANGA

Day 10 • ANJAJAVY

Day 11 • NOSY TANIKELY | NOSY KOMBA

Day 12 • ANTSIRANANA (DIEGO SUAREZ) | MONTAGNE D’AMBRE NATIONAL PARK | ANTSIRANANA

Day 13 • AT SEA

Day 14 • MASOALA NATIONAL PARK

Day 15 • NOSY MANGABE

Day 16 • TOAMASINA | DISEMBARK | ANTANANARIVO | FLY TO USA

Day 17 • ARRIVE IN USA

View Detailed Itinerary

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Naturalist Lyn Mair is an ornithologist who has made Cape Town her home for the past 25 years. The senior author and photographer of Seychelles, the Bradt Travel guide, as well as the author of several articles on nature and wildlife, Lyn is familiar with practically every corner of Africa, where she has studied and observed the wildlife of the countries. During both of our cruises, Lyn will share with travelers her knowledge of and love for the amazing biodiversity of Africa and the places we will visit.
January 30 - February 16

Other lecturers will accompany us on this voyage. All Travel Dynamics International lecturers share a love for both teaching and travel. Their presence ensures that our journeys are not only pleasant travel experiences but also intellectually rewarding. For more information, please click here to view the brochure.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of cabins have been designated for single travelers in Categories C - A at a supplement of $2,495 to the per person, double occupancy rates indicated above. Singles in Categories AA - PHS are available at double the per person, double occupancy rates.

AIRFARE: Airfare is not included in the cost of the program. Please call the Air Travel Desk at toll-free 877-711-9896 or 212-592-1340 to make your reservations, or see your travel agent.

Corinthian II Deck Plan

PROGRAM INCLUSIONS

• 14-night cruise aboard the all-suite, 114-guest Corinthian II
• Group flight from Toamasina to Antananarivo
• Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
• All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
• Open bar aboard ship throughout the cruise
• Complete program of tours and excursions
• Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying guest lecturers
• Professional Travel Dynamics International tour staff
• Complete pre-departure materials
• Baggage handling and transfers abroad on the designated program arrival and departure dates
• Port and embarkation taxes
• Gratuities to porters, guides, and drivers

Not Included: Airfare (except for group flight as mentioned); visa and passport fees; luggage, cancellation, and accident insurance; meals and beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel

Monday, January 17, 2011
USA
Fly from the United States to Maputo, Mozambique.

Tuesday, January 18
MAPUTO, Mozambique | EMBARK
Arrive in Maputo, Mozambique’s attractive capital. Transfer to the port to board Corinthian II. Overnight aboard ship docked in port.

Wednesday, January 19
MAPUTO
Built on the shores of a spacious bay, and with its architecture reminiscent of Mediterranean ports, Maputo is one of Africa’s most appealing cities. Inhabited by the local Ronga people since ancient times, Maputo was known until 1976 as Lourenço Marques, the name of the Portuguese navigator who “discovered” the area in 1545. In the morning, explore the city, with its wide leafy avenues, graceful buildings dating from the Portuguese colonial period, and bustling markets. Also visit the National Art Museum, which exhibits paintings and sculpture by the country’s leading artists. Over lunch aboard, sail into the Bay of Maputo and along the coast of Mozambique.

Thursday, January 20
INHAMBANE
Inhambane, accessed through a deep waterway, was an important trading post for Arab merchants and sailors as early as the 11th century. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th century, and they were joined by Indian traders in the 18th century. The mixture of African, Arab, European, and Indian influences are still present today. Explore this charming town, whose friendly inhabitants impressed the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama when he arrived in the 15th century, calling it “the land of the good people.”

Friday, January 21
BAZARUTO ARCHIPELAGO
Spend the day exploring the spectacular Bazaruto Archipelago, a tropical paradise of five main islands that are protected as a national park under the auspices of WWF (World Wildlife Fund). These pristine islands feature tranquil beaches, translucent turquoise waterways, a varied population of birds, and a rich marine life. Dolphins and over 2,000 types of fish are found in the placid waters. We will visit the two most impressive islands in the group, Benguerra and Bazaruto.

Saturday, January 22
AT SEA

Sunday, January 23
MORONDAVA | KIRINDY RESERVE | AVENUE OF THE BAOBABS | MORONDAVA, Madagascar
The center of the old Sakalava kingdom, the pleasant town of Morondava is built by a river. Lovely beaches line the coast. Drive to the Kirindy Reserve, which was initially founded as a project in sustainable logging. The reserve’s abundant wildlife includes the giant jumping rat, numerous chameleons, six species of lemur, the narrow-striped mongoose, the fossa (Madagascar’s largest predator), and many species of birds. On the return to the ship, stop at the Avenue of the Baobabs, which line both sides of the road.

Monday, January 24
AT SEA

Tuesday, January 25
MAHAJANGA | ANKARAFANTSIKA NATIONAL PARK | MAHAJANGA
Arrive in Mahajanga, located on Madagascar’s northeast coast. Mahajanga flourished in the 18th century, benefiting from trading activities with East Africa, India, and Arabia. Drive to the Ankarafantsika National Park, where we explore the dry, deciduous forest of Ampijoroa with abundant wildlife. We may see mongoose lemurs, western wooly lemurs, the rare golden-brown mouse lemurs, and Coquerel’s sifakas. About 130 species of birds inhabit the park, including the rare Madagascar fish eagles, white-breasted mesites, and Van Dam’s vangas.

Wednesday, January 26
ANJAJAVY
Arrive in Anjajavy, a small village surrounded by a dry deciduous forest that is a protected area. Anjajavy is one of Madagascar’s most attractive areas and wildlife viewing is superb. Many of the species are endemic. Several species of lemurs inhabit the forest as well as Madagascar crested ibises, vasa parrots, crested couas, grey-headed lovebirds, and other birds. The forest contains numerous species of deciduous trees, including the characteristic baobab. Pristine beaches line the coast, and we will have the opportunity to enjoy them as well.

Thursday, January 27
NOSY TANIKELY | NOSY KOMBA
In the morning call at the tiny island of Nosy Tanikely, a marine reserve that harbors a large variety of marine life – coral, anemones, starfish, and an abundance of colorful fish. Swim and snorkel in this marine wonderland, and over lunch aboard, sail to nearby Nosy Komba, known for its black lemurs.

Friday, January 28
ANTSIRANANA (DIEGO SUAREZ) | MONTAGNE D’AMBRE NATIONAL PARK | ANTSIRANANA
Arrive in Antsiranana, built around its superb harbor, which is encircled by green hills. Spend the day exploring the Montagne D’Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park, a superb rain forest featuring a rich variety of animals and plants. Huge ferns grow on trees and unique Pandanus, as well as the endemic cycad, are also found here. In addition to several species of lemurs, the park is also home to ring-tailed mongoose, chameleons, colorful butterflies, and numerous birds, including the Madagascar flycatcher and the endemic Amber Mountain Rock-thrush.

Saturday, January 29
AT SEA

Sunday, January 30
MASOALA NATIONAL PARK
Spend the day exploring Masoala National Park, which houses much of Madagascar’s unique fauna and flora. Occupying a huge peninsula between the Indian Ocean and the D’Antongil Bay, Masaola is Madagascar’s largest virgin rain forest. Beautiful golden-sand beaches line the shores of the peninsula. Of the ten lemur species found in the park, this is the only habitat of the red ruffed lemur. Numerous species of birds, reptiles, and invertebrates, many of which are endemic, are also resident. Masoala is equally famous for its exuberant vegetation, which includes a variety of orchids, palm, primary, rain, and coastal forests.

Monday, January 31
NOSY MANGABE
Rising impressively from the sea, the small thickly wooded island of Nosy Mangabe is a nature reserve housing an abundance of wildlife, including the elusive aye-aye. In addition, the island is home to white-fronted brown lemurs, black-and-white ruffed lemurs, mouse lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos, several species of chameleons, and frogs. This afternoon, Corinthian II cruises through the D’Antongil Bay.

Tuesday, February 1
TOAMASINA | DISEMBARK | ANTANANARIVO | FLY TO USA
Arrive in the morning in Toamasina, a vibrant port town on Madagascar’s east coast. Disembark and transfer to Tamatave airport for a group flight to Antananarivo to connect to return flights to the U.S.

Wednesday, February 2
ARRIVE IN USA

Also Available: Madagascar & Mozambique
January 30 - February 16, 2011, operating in the reverse direction, from Antananarivo to Maputo