Birding Tour Madagascar: 6-day Masoala Peninsula Extension

This Masoala Peninsula birding tour visits the largest intact lowland rainforest in all of Madagascar. Due to its geographical separation, and deforestation in areas surrounding the peninsula, it means several species of rare and exotic wildlife are now restricted to Masoala Peninsula. The area is surely one of the continent island’s least disturbed and beautiful areas, with untouched rainforest sweeping right down to clean, white-sand beaches. The lodge that we stay in on Masoala Peninsula is right on the edge of the rainforest and we often wake up to the calls of Greater Vasa and Lesser Vasa Parrots and fall asleep to the sounds of Rainforest Scops and White-browed Owls. Of course the highlight of any Masoala Peninsula birding tour will likely be the unbelievable Helmet Vanga (of which we have an excellent chance of seeing) as well as the even more range-restricted and rare Bernier’s Vanga. Further tricky species, which are easier here than anywhere else on the main Madagascar birding circuit, include Brown Mesite, Scaly and Short-legged Ground Rollers and Madagascar Pratincole.

Helmet Vanga is a member of one of the four endemic avian families of Madagascar.

Masoala Peninsula supports several rare and range-restricted lemur species such as Red Ruffed, White-fronted, Seal’s Sportive, Masoala Fork-marked and Moore’s Woolly Lemur. The lowland rainforests of Masoala are also home to good numbers of the largest, and most bizarre nocturnal lemur, the Aye-aye, although sightings of this most-wanted lemur are far from guaranteed.

The range-restricted Bernier’s Vanga will be searched for in the lowland forests of Masoala Peninsula.