3/ East Madagascar, a sanctuary of nature

MADAGASCAR, A SANCTUARY OF NATURE

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

The eastern part of Madagascar is known for its luxuriant vegetation and its many tropical rainforests. This module is designed for people who adore nature and wildlife: the region of  Maroantsetra with its rainforest shelter the unique and threatened lemurs species of Aye Aye, then the boating along the “canal des Pangalanes” with its green landscape, and finally the expedition in “Andasibe Special Reserve” which is known for “Indri Indri”, the largest lemurs in the country.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Nosy Mangabe National Park

Masoala National Park

Canal de Pangalanes

Palmarium Private Reserve

Andasibe National Park

Vakona private reserve

Pyereras private park

 

 

DAY TO DAY PROGRAM

 

Day 1: TANA or TAMATAVE – MAROANTSETRA ( flight twice per week )

After breakfast, transfer to the airport, for the flight to Maroantsetra via Tamatave. Located  in the north-east, nestled in the Bay of Antongil, it is an idyllic little village. Maroantsetra is a Mecca for nature lovers.

After check-in, 45mn boat-ride to Nosy Mangabe island, a nature reserve set up especially to protect the aye-aye ( Daubentonia Madagascariensis ), a rare species of lemur. The small, cone-shaped island is covered with rainforest containing an incredible variety of orchids and creepers, lemurs, birds, insects, amphibians, and reptiles like Uroplatus fimbriatus. This incredibly cryptic lizard is always well scattered and difficult to find on the mainland, but easily spotted on tree trunks throughout the island. The trees are typical eastern species such as Canarium, Ocotea, Ravensara and Tambourissa. Back to Maroantsetra and overnight in your hotel.

 

Day 2 : MAROANTSETRA – MASOALA: 

Early in the morning, 2 hours boat  transfer southwards to Masoala National Park along the bay of Antongil  to reach Tampolo village which is the gate of the National park of Masoala. Check in at your Lodge. Located between a tropical rainforest and an emerald sea, Tampolo is ideal for people wanting to combine wildlife and stunning beach. With a local guide, you start your hike inside the primary forest in search of lemurs such as the red-ruffed lemur, reptiles and birds. The Masoala peninsula is famous for the wealth of birds. There are good numbers of giant trees, often with buttressed trunks, and the canopy may reach  35 m.  The rest of the day, one can just enjoy the sunset on the beach. Overnight in hotel

 

Day 3 – 4 : MASOALA NATIONAL PARK

Guided walk into the primary forest of the Masoala National Park to view the birds, lemurs and countless other creatures endemic to this forest. This park is home to the unique bird “blue helmet vanga” which is endemic to this area.  Wildlife is very rich, regarding lemurs, white-fronted brown and black and white ruffed lemurs are recorded. For reptiles: leaf tailed geckos and boas are common. Classified as a submarine National park, Masoala is one one of the best spots for snorkelling. With its large sandy beach and creeks, guests can just relax on the beach.

Around 05.00pm, with a local guide, you’ll have a  night walk to view the nocturnal wildlife. If very lucky, one could spot the famous “ Aye aye” a threatened night species of lemurs  . Overnight in hotel

 

Day 5 :  MASOALA – MAROANTSETRA – TAMATAVE – ANKANIN’NY NOFY

After breakfast , 2 hour boat transfer to Maroantsetra. Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Tamatave; Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to the “ port fluvial”  and embark on a 2 hours boat transfer to Ankanin’ny Nofy along the Pangalanes channel. During this mini-cruise one will enjoy the life of the people living along the channel with their Bamboo pirogue. Arrival in Ankanin’ny Nofy late in the afternoon. Check-in and overnight in hotel

 

Day 6, AKANIN’ NY NOFY

Visit of PALMARIUM Private Park. The bungalows are situated inside the park so you’ll be in complete contact with lemurs.  Palmarium reserve is home to 7 species of lemurs with “ Indri Indri” as a highlight, many species of reptiles especially chameleons. Flora is also very rich with its garden of palm trees, orchids and the famous vanilla. Surrounded by a big lake, this is the ideal place for a rest and to be in direct contact with nature. Overnight at hotel

 

Day 7, AKANIN’ NY NOFY  – ANDASIBE : 130 km: 3 hour’s drive

Today we embark on a flat bottom boat for 90 minutes boat transfer to Manambato; We cross the Rasoabe Lake then the Pangalanes channel built during the colonisation period for commercial use. We can admire many birds along the luxuriant vegetation of the east. Arrival in Manambato where our car is waiting for us to continue to Andasibe, stop and visit the town of Brickaville, an old colonial city known for its sugar cane plantations. Arrival in Andasibe by the end of the afternoon. Check-in and overnight in hotel

 

Day 8, ANDASIBE

Morning, 3 to 4 hours hike in the Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east. 9 species of lemurs can be spotted, the highlight is the “Indri Indri” which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810 ha reserve is also home to numerous unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. After the hike, visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village; they cultivate rice and work on vanilla plantations. Afterwards, we will visit the private park of Vakona in the “islands of lemurs”which the best spot to take photo of lemurs . Overnight in hotel

 

Day 9, ANDASIBE – TANA : 145 km : 4 to 5 hours

4 to 54 hours drive to Tana, through the green landscape of the east. This itinerary brings us from the humid part of the country with many primary forest and lakes to the Highlands. On the way, we stop in Pyereras Reptiles park to see chameleons and other species of reptiles. On a walk inside  the forest, we can spot 2 species of lemurs: the sifaka “coquereli” and the brown lemurs “fulvus”. Arrival in Tana, overnight in Hotel

 

END OF SERVICE

INCLUDED:

• Transfer Hotel / Airport / Hotel
• Accommodation in a double room according to the above program
• Boat transfer from Maroantsetra to Tampolo ( Masoala) and return and to Nosy Manga Be
• Entrance fees with local guide in Masoala National Park and Mangabe National Park.

 

NOT INCLUDED

• All excursions which are not in the program.
• All personal expenses, drinks, laundry, tips,insurance
• All flights and taxes