Tsingy and Kirindy

This holiday takes you to the heart of Madagascar's western dry forest, an area with spectacular, other-worldly scenery and wildlife species that are found nowhere else on earth. Be sure to keep your camera to hand to capture these unique scenes.

From the capital, Tana, you are flown to Morondava on the west coast, for the start of your exploration. Kirindy Forest is a private reserve that is the renowned as one of the best places in the country to see the fossa, Madagascar's largest carnivore and top predator, a slender, cat-like mammal. It's also a great place to spot lemurs.

Travelling north you enter Tsingy country. The landscape is striking: tall limestone needles, forming their own forest. Explore by climbing metal ladders to cross handing bridges, high above the karsts. It's unlike anything you've seen before. The nature reserve includes lakes, forests and rivers, and, travelling by dugout canoe is one of the best ways to view the gorges and caves.

The adventure isn't over yet. As you head back to Morondava you stop off at the well-known Avenue of Baobabs. Sometimes called 'upside-down trees', these huge baobabs look as though their roots are sticking into the air. Seeing so many of these trees in one place is rare privilege, and a great photo opportunity.

With so much seen in just 7 days this is a great introduction to the mysterious, bewitching land that is Madagascar, which will doubtless lure you back again and again.