Travel buddy

This seventy year old male is not offering to travel with you perhaps you might post on the travel buddies branch if you haven't already done so. Reading your post I wondered how long you intended to be in Madagascar as it is a big place and you seem to want to cover a lot of ground. Also camping is fairly unusual in Madagascar. Suggest Bradt guide for useful information. Wishing you a great trip in a beautiful country.

Hi thanks for replying.
I have already posted on LP travel buddies branch, I found it after the Africa forum. Am new to this site but it great!
A tour company called Dodo's lemurs comes highly recommended to me from work colleagues, have you heard of them? They tailor make to where you wish to go. I have been quoted for a 19day trip, it includes 6 domestic flights to get around easier. It doesn't include camping but I wish to portray to potential travel buddies that I would prefer to 'rough it' than stay at expensive accommodation. What your company did you use?
Thanks for the Bradt tip, I will look it up.
many thanks again,
E

6 flights in 19 days. That is one every 3 days, and that's not including your flight to Madagascar and back. Madagascar feels like a one off, exclusive destination, so people feel like they have to cram a small bit in from every area. Honestly, I would recommend taking it slow and concentrating on one or two areas in that time. Think about what you want to do most and group a few activities together. For example going east to Andasibe and then on to Ille St Marie and flying back is nice. Perhaps you could get a connecting flight out west and see the baobab valley, kirindy and the tsingy. That would be more than enough for your time.

Morning,
You raise a valid point, its is a lot of flying. Madagascar may be a once off destination for me. I live in Australia and overseas travel is very expensive and there is so much in the world I wish to see. Thanks for your advise I shall look into it.

Ahhh.. our timing is a tad off. I will be in Mad beginning in June and I will be leaving on September 5. I have already been to Masoala, Andasibe, and Kirindy and was hoping to at least return to Masoala. I could recommend a place for you in Masoala if you're intrested. If you're already up in Maroantstra, I highly recommend flying up to Sambave and doing Marojejy NP. Not many people get up there, but really, just having a chance to see the critically endangered Silky Sifaka is well worth it. I can recommend you contact Dr Erik Patel, who does research in the Park. I spent four days there in July 2013 and it was breathtaking. Some of the last remaining Primary Forests remaining in Madagascar. Kirindy was also very cool.... Saw plenty of Verraux Sifakas, Red tailed Sportive lemurs, Red Fronted Brown Lemurs, Forked Crowned Lemurs, the fossa, and we even had a visit by the resident Giant Jumping Rat, one night. Anyway, I'd be happy to make some recommendatrions. I had visited Mad back in 2005 and again in 2013. I have never been down to Fort Dauphin, so that is definitely a place I will visit next summer.
Good luck,
Tom

Ok, I just saw the rest of your post...

Umm.. yea, I agree with EJ King. With 19 days, you can definitely do Masoala, Marojejy, and Andasibe. Arrive in Tana and stay at a hotel near the airport. The Cheval Blanc is a good one for the location (1km away from Ivato airport) and they also have free shuttle service - http://www.cheval-blanc-madagascar.com/). I suggest you do all your currency exchange here at the airport, being that there are NO ATMs in most of Madagascar.. Also, you get the best rates at the airport. If you're adventurous, you could try the black market exchange in town, but as a single female traveler, probably not your safest bet. I did a black market exchange back in 2005 and got a very good rate for the USD, but didn't try it again in 2013. Anyway, next day, take a flight to Maroansetre and spend at least 5 days in Masoala (with a stop on Nosy Mangabe). I would have recommended staying the night on the island, but bc they stopped allowing evening treks, it's probably not worth it anymore.. In 2005, I was able to see a Malaghasy Boa, many Mouse Lemurs and heard an Aye Aye scraping away the bark of a tree, up in the canopy. After Masoala, grab a flight to Sambave (shouldn't cost more that 160 Euro for a one-way, but check the website)Organize a trip to Masoala NP. Again, I could provide some information for you, if this what you decide to do. Then you could fly back to Tana (Antananarive) and from there, do Andasibe (only a few hours drive from the capital on a decent road). In total, that itinerary would take about 17-19 days... You get to see magnificent wildlife including the Red Ruffed Lemur, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Silky Sifaka and the Indri. Not to mention all sorts of birds/geckos/iguanas and other nocturnal lemur species. In Masoala, I saw the Helmet Vanga (beautiful bird) no less than three times, but supposedly, I was very lucky. Some birders for there for a week, specifically to see this bird, and have no luck - then they get all pissy with their guides for not seeing it! lol Morons..

sorry, I meant to say I agree with roryG

You may also decide to substitute Sambave/Marojejy for the West Coast and do Kirindy. However, if you enjoy really good hikes (probably one of toughest parks I've ever had to hike in, but worthwhile) and amazing wildlife, it's a prime option. Check out this Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny45z5m6Tow regarding Marojejy NP

Wow thanks carharias for all the info. So did you travel independently through the country or organise a guide for the whole lot etc? If I go I may just stick with kirindy, andasibe and fort dauphin/berenty and spend more time at the places.