Madagascar Trip Feeler

I'm going on a trip in the Spring. Gotta get the heck out of here for a while. I'd been planning another trip to Europe, but after reading about the Ferguson/Love trip next year I've decided that if I could swing the finances, I want to go there too. I can't afford what they are charging for the trip and I'm sure it could be done for far less, although it would still probably be the most expensive trip ever!

I'm most interested in seeing the east coast from Ranomafana up to the north to include Perinet, La Mandraka (if possible), Maro (Nosy Boraha would be great), Masoala, and up to Antsiranana. I want to see Montagne de Ambre and Ambilobe/Sirama. Then west down to Ambanja and Ankify. From there I'd be open to anything further. I'd like to go down the west coast too, but depending on time and $....well, I think I'd totally regret going to Madagascar and then not going down to see giant oustaleti and labordi....I'm not particularly attracted to the spiny desert and wouldn't mind skipping or seeing it.

Again, I don't even know if I could make the $ happen, but I think I might. Just for starters, from the US, airfare alone would likely be around $3K roundtrip. Anyway, I figured if it's going to happen, it would be great to go with other chameleon people and the planning should start sooner than later. So, there it is. I think a group of 3 or 4 of us could have the experience of our lifetimes. Anyone interested?

For the last two years, Ive been on the list for Bill Loves Trip. Last year not enough people were opn board to make it happen, and I'm hopefull that its going to happen again. I have not heard anything from Bill since the last time we spoke, nor the last time we last corrosponded via Email. The website seems to have been updated in the last couple days though.

If it happens, I am going, simple as that. I've had enough of people telling me what chameleons are from where, when they themselves havent seen the wild populations themselves. No offense, I'm guilty of it myself, but its pretty irionic.

Any single ladies going want to save the extra $450USd on single accomadations...



On a seperate note, Hairfarm, reasons I think Bill Loves trip is worth it, and worth your struggle to gather the extra finances;

-Though I've Met Bill Love in person before, just breifly, I have heard he is an incredible guide in all aspects. Touring the country on your own you would be hard pressed to find a guide with these qualifications; english speaking, herptologist, and knowlageable of the large majority of the country.

-Gary Ferguson, a man I'm sure I could ask a hundred questions to, based just alone on things Ive learned from reading his book on the topic of Panther chameleons. This trip unlike some of the others seems to have a very detailed mission- as outlined. Surely after gaining such knowledge, under the guide of a leader in chameleon research, it will beneifit your chameleons and their husbandry, as well as the quality of help you share with others.

-While you may not see Labori in the locations on the list for this trip, from what I understand if you are visiting the number of places as is on the trip where panthers live, you will surely see both Verrocosus and Oustaleti as they have been known to share habitats. Who knows you may even see Labordi as far north and inland as the airport in Tana- Not sure, but I'll let you know when I'm back... Hah.

-Pricing. I actually priced out trips like this to Madagascar last year. What I found out was, Yes it could be done cheaper, but just barely.Madagascar, from all my findings, seems to be a place that is booming in popularity for tourism, the Safari (See the wild) type of vacations are coming back into style, and with a vengance as there is little time left before the wild is destroyed. (did you know Madagascars forests are 1/10th of what they were less a hundred years ago?)

Yeah, I would love to do the trip with Bill Love. I'm sure it would be money well spent and I would love to do it if I could. Unfortunately, it's really going to be out of my price range.

As for being in Madagascar, I was actually thinking of contacting a Malagasy guide whom I have been recommended time and again. He speaks English and has been doing herp related tours for many years. I may be wrong, but I believe a tour group of 4 or so people could probably save $2-3K each for a trip similar to the Blue Chameleons one. Again, I'd love to go with them, but if I can swing the finances to do it at all, it won't be. Also, with people willing to pay that much money to go on a trip like this, I don't think we'd need a herpetologist with us. I think a copy of Glaw and Vences would suffice for anything non-cham If you really want to go and the Blue Chameleons trip doesn't work out, please keep this in mind. I'm more than confident we could have an equally good experience with a little planning....

*Bumpity bump*

Just keeping this out there. Trip of a lifetime.... Any Europeans? We could meet and greet in Paris for a day and fly on together.

Ardi Abate used to put together trips to Madagascar. From the pics she has shown me it looks like a great time, that is if you don't mind roughing it and sweating your @ off! Hahaha. I don't know if she is still doing them or not though.

Bill's trips look great too. His next trip I wager will be a really good once since he is in better shape now. Could be a really fun time if you've been on the fence. Take a GPS into Ambilobe and snap shots of animals and map their range. Now that would be a good thread!

-Matt

Take a GPS into Ambilobe and snap shots of animals and map their range. Now that would be a good thread!



Now that would make a good book....Will .. hint..hint...

I believe that's roughly what Love and Ferguson are doing with their trip. However, they are skipping several known pardalis locales that are not common in the trade. Also, the last I heard Ardi had decided not to go back.

After reading the synopsis for their research project, I'm even less inclined to pay the extra $2-3K because they expect you to work for them too. Not that the work is difficult, I'm sure it would be quite fun even. It's just the principle that you're paying them, to work FOR them.


Edit: I just found a 17 day tour that sees most of the country for $2400. Add the $2000 airfare from North America and $500 for lunch, dinner, drinks, and touristy stuff and you're still around $5000 total. That's a far cry from the $10k the "working tour" would cost.

Do you have a link to that trip you found, Kent?

I'm definitely interested in going to Madagascar, and I'd love to go with a cham expert because my main motivation for going there would be to see the Madagascar chams in the wild. But the Love/Ferguson tour also is a bit out of my price range right now. Also, it's quite a long time for me to be away from work...

Of course, whichever trip I do go on, I'll be flying into Tana from Jo'burg.

Speaking of which, is anyone interested in making a trip down to South Africa for a chameleon tour?

Actually, I think I made a mistake there. I was looking at so many different trips, I thought this was the one originating from Johannesburg. It appears the airfare to Mad is not included in this one. So, it would be about $3k for airfare for those who don't already live in S.A. And yeah, if we went with a tour originating out of J'burg, I'd like to do a little sightseeing. Take me for a surf?

As for the trip, it's 17 days and sees just about everywhere I want to go. The only place skipped is the East Coast. No Maro, Sambava, or Masoala. But, it's $2400USD. Several of the last days are spent in the north where it would probably be ok to set up a side trip to a couple locales where there may be some "new" morphs of pardalis I've been thinking about trying to find while there. The BC tour is skipping several known locales, and possibly some more unknown.
http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/dmme&itinType=dossier&yr=2007

I've also sent some emails to Cortez Travel who are probably one of the most well known agents for Mad trips, and are also the Honorary Consulate for Madagascar in the US. Will update here when I hear back from them. I requested a ballpark per person price for a trip similar to the one linked to above, but including a couple days on the east coast as well.

If the price is good and if I were to have enough heads up I might be down to go.

Through Cortez Travel:
17 days in Madagascar seeing everything but Ranomafana for $5,595. Sorry to copy and paste but:
Included:
-lodging and meals for 16 days as per itinerary
-international airfare roundtrip from Paris on Air Madagascar
-intradomestic flights on Air Madagascar
-airport transfers and taxes within Madagascar
-services of English-speaking guide within Madagascar
-services of vehicle and driver as needed throughout
-excursions, entrance fees and local guides in parks and reserves

Not included:
-gratuities (a small tip at time of service is customary
-all beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, including bottled water; gratuities
-personal items such as phone, fax, laundry

Kent, Just a comparason, because I know you are interested in going places that Bills tour doesn't, but that trip and Bills are within $3 difference when solved, per day cost.

Wheres the itinerary for Cortez?

Cortez: approx. cost from SD $6500/16 days = $406.25 per day
Bill's trip: approx cost from SD $10,500/22 days = $472.27 per day

I'm sure it would be great to go with them, but that extra $4000 is a deal breaker for me. I'm not even sure I can afford to do the $6500 this soon, but I'd like to try. Meaning: if the ball started rolling, I'd make it happen.

Will, pm me your email address and I'll forward the itinerary. Additional days/places may be added at the above approximate per day cost. Sounds like we could completely customize our own trip for about the same too, just these are trips that are already planned. Oh, and there is only a minimum of 2 people for the tour.

Is ther no website? My adress is in the profile.

So- the the Cortez trip includes all airfair, because otherwise you should be using 7295 as the price for bills.

Correct. Bill's trip does not include any airfare to and from Mad, which for me would be $3000 if booked alone. The Cortez trip is $5595 and includes airfare from Paris. Airfare to Paris for me would be a little over $800, so that's why I said $6500 total.

Forwarding itins...