Skip to content
Eduard F. Niga Photography for the love of the small world
Back to Home
Led by Eduard F. Niga Macro specialist and author-photographer of Ants: Workers of the World.
Proven in the field Built from real routes, encounters and participant experience from the May expedition.
Maximum six guests A deliberately small group with time, space and practical guidance in the field.
Local knowledge Drivers, forest guides and community support throughout the expedition.
The experience

Seven days across rainforest, mountain and camp.

This is not a conventional wildlife tour. It is a focused photographic journey into Madagascar’s hidden world: leaf-tailed geckos, chameleons, frogs, spiders, beetles, moths and the wider life of the Andasibe forests.

We work by day and after dark, following changing light, weather and wildlife activity. On day six we leave the hotel behind, climb with local support into the high forest, prepare camp beneath the canopy and photograph the nocturnal life drawn to an illuminated moth sheet.

Planning time is now becoming important. If the expedition is a serious possibility for you, getting in touch soon will leave more time to discuss suitability and arrange flights, insurance and the rest of your Madagascar travel.
Illuminated moth sheet during the high-forest camping night in Madagascar
The high-forest camping night

One night beyond the hotel.

On 6 December we travel to Ambalahorina, leave the large luggage safely in the village and make a steady two-hour ascent into the high forest. Local villagers help carry the essential camping and photographic equipment.

At the top we prepare Malagasy food, set up camp beneath the canopy and illuminate the moth sheet. As darkness settles, moths, beetles and other nocturnal insects gather for a concentrated night of close-up photography in genuine field conditions.

  • One night camping in the high forest
  • Camping equipment, food and water included
  • Two-hour guided ascent with local support
  • Illuminated moth sheet for nocturnal photography
  • Documentary photography in the village before the climb
Previous participants

Hear what the expedition feels like.

Roy and Jack joined earlier Madagascar expeditions. Hear, in their own words, what the forests, fieldwork and overall experience were like.

“Madagascar is unlike anywhere else — the forests, the wildlife, the night walks, the sense of discovery.”
Roy’s feedback
“A week that pushes you, inspires you, and stays with you. It’s an experience you don’t forget.”
Jack’s feedback
Photographed on the May expedition

Real encounters from these forests.

Every image below was made during the earlier Madagascar expedition — not selected from a stock library or a different destination.

Chameleon photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Chameleon · Madagascar
Assassin spider photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Assassin spider
Leaf-mimicking insect photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Leaf mimicry
Leafhopper photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Leafhopper
Moth photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Rainforest moth
Spiny orb-weaver spider photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Spiny orb-weaver
Dragonfly photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Dragonfly
Millipede photographed during the Madagascar expedition
Madagascan millipede
Seven-day itinerary

A different forest rhythm every day.

Open each day for the full plan. Wildlife, weather, park access and guide recommendations may require adjustments in the field.

1 December — Arrival and night walk at VOIMMA
We leave Antananarivo at 9am and travel approximately four hours east to Feon’ ny Ala Hotel, our base for the first five nights. After settling in, we enter VOIMMA for our first nocturnal session: leaf-tailed geckos, frogs, chameleons, spiders and the forest’s electric nightlife.
2 December — Analamazaotra
A full day inside Analamazaotra. Indri calls echo through the canopy while we work the forest floor for insects, textures and micro-worlds shaped by humidity and light. Bring a telephoto lens too: Indri may appear and you will not want to miss them.
3 December — Mantadia National Park
A deeper, wilder forest. Mantadia’s ancient trees, moss-covered giants and rare species such as the sifaka offer a different rhythm — slower, older, more demanding and more rewarding. Keep your telephoto lens close.
4 December — Mitsinjo
A full day in Mitsinjo’s community-run forest. Amphibians, orchids and the quiet density of primary habitat create a perfect environment for patient macro work.
5 December — Maromizaha
A long, immersive day in Maromizaha. Trails, river edges and dense understory deliver some of the most diverse insect life in the region.
6 December — Village, mountain ascent, camp and moth watching
After a late breakfast, we travel to Ambalahorina, a small forest-edge village where our ascent begins. Large suitcases remain safely in the village while we pack only what we need for the night. Led by Allan, our head driver, and supported by local villagers carrying essential equipment, we make a steady two-hour ascent into high forest.

Before the climb, there is time for documentary-style village photography; a 35–50mm lens is ideal. At the top, we prepare authentic Malagasy food, camp beneath the canopy and set up the illuminated moth sheet. As darkness settles, moths, beetles and other nocturnal life gather in a living curtain of movement and colour.
7 December — Descent and return to Antananarivo
After breakfast and coffee, we break camp at around 7am and begin the journey back to the capital — memory cards full, clothes smelling of forest and the December light still in our eyes.

Recommended: book your own room at Relais des Plateaux for the night of 7 December. Return timings can vary with road and field conditions, so staying overnight means there is no need to rush the final day around an international flight. Plan to fly home on 8 December or later.
Before and after the expedition

Give yourself breathing room at both ends.

The expedition itself runs from 1–7 December 2026. To avoid beginning or ending the trip under unnecessary time pressure, I strongly recommend allowing one hotel night immediately before and one immediately after the expedition.

30 November — arrive the day before

Please plan to be in Antananarivo by 30 November 2026 and book your own room at Relais des Plateaux for that night. I will also be staying there. This gives you time to arrive, rest, organise your equipment and be ready for our departure on the morning of 1 December.

7 December — stay after we return

I also strongly recommend booking your own room at Relais des Plateaux for the night of 7 December 2026. Our return from the expedition can be affected by road and field conditions, so this removes the pressure of trying to reach an international flight the same evening. Plan your onward flight for 8 December or later.

Important: accommodation on 30 November and 7 December is not included in the £2,650 expedition price and should be booked and paid for directly by each participant.
Clear pricing

What your £2,650 includes.

The expedition is sold land-only so that participants can arrange the flights and wider Madagascar itinerary that suit them.

Included

  • Five nights at Feon’ ny Ala Hotel, twin occupancy with two beds per room
  • All meals during the expedition
  • Breakfasts, packed lunches and dinners at the hotel
  • All park and reserve entrance fees
  • Necessary photography permissions and permits for the planned itinerary
  • Drivers and vehicles throughout the expedition
  • Local guides at all locations
  • Rainforest day walks and night walks
  • Camping equipment for the mountain night
  • Food and water for the overnight camp

Not included

  • International flights
  • Accommodation before or after the expedition dates
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa or entry requirements, where applicable
  • Alcoholic drinks and personal extras
  • Camera equipment
Recommended travel nights: book your own room at Relais des Plateaux for 30 November before the expedition and again for 7 December after we return. Plan your international departure for 8 December or later.
Your rainforest base

Feon’ ny Ala — “voice of the forest”.

Simple, clean rooms sit directly on the forest edge: practical for early starts, night walks and long days in the field. Indri calls carry through the valley at dawn, and the trails are only steps away.

Rooms and amenities

  • Private terrace or balcony facing the rainforest
  • En-suite bathroom with hot shower
  • Reversible air conditioning and Wi-Fi
  • Mosquito-proof bedding and good ventilation

Dining and facilities

  • Malagasy and international dishes
  • Bar and refreshments
  • Open-air areas for image reviews and discussion
  • Direct access to the forest
Feon’ ny Ala Hotel on the rainforest edge Room at Feon’ ny Ala Hotel Feon’ ny Ala Hotel facilities
Before making payment

Booking terms.

Please read these terms before paying for the expedition. They explain payment, cancellation, travel insurance, field conditions and other important points. Nothing in these terms removes any statutory rights that apply to your booking.

Full payment for new bookings
For new bookings, the full expedition price of £2,650 per person is payable once I have confirmed current availability and we have discussed any practical questions you may have. Your place is confirmed once the full payment has been received. No payment is required simply to make an enquiry or discuss whether the expedition is right for you.
Cancellation and refund policy

If you need to cancel, please notify me in writing by email at eduard@eddimage.com. The cancellation date is the date on which the written notice is received.

Accommodation, guides, transport, permits, local support and other expedition arrangements are committed in advance. The following standard cancellation charges therefore apply according to how close the cancellation is to the start of the expedition:

When written cancellation is received Standard cancellation charge
61 days or more before departure 50% of the expedition price
31–60 days before departure 70% of the expedition price
15–30 days before departure 85% of the expedition price
8–14 days before departure 90% of the expedition price
7 days or fewer before departure 100% of the expedition price
No-show or voluntary cancellation on/after departure 100% of the expedition price

For the 1 December 2026 departure, the final seven-day period begins on 24 November 2026.

These are standard cancellation charges. Where applicable, the amount retained will take account of costs genuinely saved, supplier refunds or credits obtained, and any income recovered if the cancelled place is successfully resold. If you ask, I will provide a reasonable explanation of how the cancellation charge has been calculated.

Cancellation because of illness, injury, work commitments, family circumstances, passport or visa issues, missed transport or other personal circumstances will normally be dealt with under the cancellation schedule above. Participants are therefore strongly advised to arrange suitable cancellation insurance from the time of booking.

Statutory rights: nothing in this policy limits any right you may have under applicable law, including rights that may arise where unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at the destination or its immediate vicinity significantly affect the performance of the expedition or the carriage of passengers to the destination.
Transfer of a booking to another person
If you are unable to travel, you may request to transfer your booking to another person who satisfies the requirements of the expedition. Please make any request in writing as early as possible. Where the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 apply, notice given at least seven days before departure is considered reasonable. Any additional supplier or administrative costs caused by the transfer must be reasonable and may be charged to the person transferring the booking and/or the substitute traveller.
Travel insurance
Participants are responsible for arranging their own comprehensive travel insurance appropriate for Madagascar and for the activities included in the itinerary. Cover should include medical treatment, emergency evacuation and repatriation, cancellation, travel disruption, personal belongings and photographic equipment. Participants should check their own policy wording and exclusions. This requirement does not limit any legal responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Fitness and field conditions
Participants should be comfortable walking forest trails, going out at night and spending time outdoors in humid rainforest conditions. The expedition involves genuine field conditions, uneven and potentially slippery terrain, a steady two-hour mountain ascent and one night in a tented high-forest camp. Please raise any questions about suitability before making payment.
Wildlife photography and handling
We work under the guidance of the local guides at all times. Subjects are photographed in situ wherever possible. Participants should not independently handle, move or position animals or insects. If a local guide considers that a subject can be handled or repositioned appropriately, participants must follow the guide’s instructions. The welfare of the animal takes priority over obtaining a photograph.
Itinerary and field changes
Wildlife encounters cannot be guaranteed. The itinerary, timings, routes or individual activities may need to change because of weather, park or reserve access, local conditions, guide recommendations, safety considerations or other circumstances outside reasonable control. Any adjustment will be made in response to the circumstances on the ground and with regard to the overall purpose of the expedition.
Unused services and voluntary early departure
If a participant voluntarily chooses not to use an included service or activity that remains available, or chooses to leave the expedition early for personal reasons, no refund will normally be due for the unused element. Any additional transport, accommodation or other arrangements required because of a voluntary early departure will normally be the participant’s responsibility, subject always to applicable statutory rights.
If the expedition is cancelled by the organiser
If the expedition is cancelled by the organiser before departure, any refund or other entitlement will be dealt with in accordance with the booking contract and applicable law. Nothing in these terms limits statutory rights, including any statutory timeframe that applies to a refund.
Before you book
If you have questions about suitability, travel arrangements, equipment, insurance, the camping night, cancellation terms or whether this expedition is right for you, please contact me before making payment. Please keep a copy of these terms for your records.
Your next step

Interested in joining the December expedition?

If you are considering joining, send me a few details below. I will reply personally, answer any questions and confirm the current availability. There is no payment or obligation simply to enquire.

Enquire about a place

Tell me a little about you.

This is a small, specialist expedition. A few quick questions will help me understand what you’re looking for before we discuss availability and the next steps.

Please include your international dialling code if you are outside the UK.
Please write at least a short sentence so I can understand what you are hoping to photograph or experience.
Please confirm these points before sending *
Send via WhatsApp Send by email

Your enquiry will be sent securely and I will reply personally as soon as possible.

Maximum six participants · 1–7 December 2026

Come for the photographs. Return with a different way of seeing.

If this expedition is something you are seriously considering, send me an enquiry and I will reply personally with current availability and the next steps.

Enquire about a place WhatsApp me directly
Madagascar Macro Expedition — December 2026
Powered by paypal