MADAGASCAR - OCTOBER 26 - NOV. 07, 2027

$3,400.00

The expansive island nation of Madagascar is, without a doubt, on of the most unique environments on our planet. Throughout tens of millions of years in isolation, Madagascar has generated exceptionally high herpetofaunal endemism—roughly 90–95% of reptiles and ~99% of amphibians are endemic (found nowhere else on Earth)—reflecting extensive in situ diversification across lineages such as chameleons, geckos, snakes, and mantellid frogs; making the island a textbook system for studying adaptive radiation and niche specialization. We will spend 13 days tracking down the rarest of the rare and the most iconic of umbrella species- all while directly supporting the conservation and study of these animals before it’s too late.

an 11-day deep dive across 3 primary locations, during the best time of year & alongside accomplished regional experts.

THE HERPETOFAUNA OF MADAGASCAR IS A COMPLEX, THREATENED, AND ANCIENT ENIGMA WORTHY OF ANY NATURALIST’S CURIOSITY. WHILE NEW SECRETS AND SPECIES ARE OFTEN BEING DISCOVERED AND REDISCOVERED, MANY ANIMALS CALLING THE NATION HOME ARE SO POPULAR THAT THEY’VE BECOME HOUSEHOLD NAMES AND TOP TARGETS FOR WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS GLOBALLY. FORTUNATELY FOR US, THERE IS MUCH MORE HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE AS FAR AS HERPETOFAUNA IS CONCERNED.

From the coastal and reef-influenced systems of Nosy Be to the humid montane gradients of Amber Mountain National Park and the intact elevational transects of Marojejy National Park, this expedition samples high-endemism assemblages across THE sharply structured habitats and microclimates THROUGHOUT northern Madagascar. WE WILL ENCOUNTER MANY SPECIES YOU’VE LIKELY NEVER EVEN HEARD OF.

VISUALIZE OUR PLAN AND EXPLORE THE FULL ITINERARY BELOW.

Madagascar was previously a part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana. it split from Africa around 165 million years ago and from India around 88 million years ago- leaving the island isolated long enough for its ancient crust, heavily eroded highlands, and unusual landscapes to evolve in relative isolation—essentially turning it into a long-separated fragment of Earth’s deep geological history, a perfect storm to set the stage for extreme endemism.