EXPEDITION NORTH COAST

Arrival in the capital in the afternoon, handling of airport formalities, welcome and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight in the hotel.

CARLTON, in standard room city view.

Breakfast and day dedicated to the guided tour of the city of Antananarivo.

Founded as a fortress in the early 17th century by the kings of the Merina dynasty, who had made it their main residence, Antananarivo was conquered by the French in 1895 and became their capital. Today it is a large city that has more than one and a half million inhabitants, however it retains its picturesque charm, a special atmosphere given it by the different floors on which it is built, by its lively and scenic appearance, by the characteristic dwellings and the nature that surrounds them. Tanà, as it is confidentially called by the inhabitants, enjoys a pleasant climate and has countless districts, very different from each other, connected by staircases, lanes and narrow streets, and dotted with small local markets. The visit of the capital takes us to admire in the Haute-Ville, the upper part of the city, the Rova, or “Queen’s Palace” imposing building that stands on top of the highest hill, from which you have a beautiful view of the city and its surroundings. In the commercial heart of Basse-Ville we will walk along the Avenue de l’Independance and reach

The Esplanade of Analakely with the typical old railway station. Lunch at the local restaurant ” Cafe du musée”.

To end the day, visit the famous craft market of the Digue for the latest purchases.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel CARLTON in standard room city view.

Km 150 – about 4 hours (paved road)

Breakfast and beginning of a beautiful experience in Madagascar to discover Antsiraka. The landscape is beautiful and varied with plateaus, rice fields and palm trees. During the trip we will make a short stop in Marozevo visit to the small reserve of « MADAGASCAR EXOTIC » or « Peyrieras », preview of: chameleons, crocodiles, snakes, butterflies, bats and have the first contact with the cute lemurs.  Continue to Andasibe, upon arrival lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon tour in the private reserve of Vakona to see the birds of the East, and then have the first contact with the cute lemurs.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

MANTADIA LODGE, in standard or similar bungalows

Andasibe – Manambato: 175 km – about 5 hours of trail (paved track with track)
Manambato – Akanin’ny Nofy: about 1 hour of crossing by collective boat

Early breakfast and departure for a short visit to the Analamazaotra Park. In search of the largest lemur of Madagascar and the world called: Indri-Indri or “Babakoto” that emits an audible scream from miles away. Other species of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs live in the park. Many species of birds and reptiles live in this context. In the tropical and rainforest humid there is a lush flora with endemic plants such as the Ravinala “traveller tree” and the Vakona. Within the forest there are more than 100 species of wild orchids also endemic.

After the visit, departure immediately for Manambato, along the National road bordered by the humid tropical forest of the East and a multitude of fruit trees through typical Betsimisaraka villages. Arrival in Manambato and embarkation on motor canoe for transfer to the hotel, through the lakes Rasoabe, Rasoamasay and Ampitambe, in the Pangalanes channel. Located on the coast from Farafangana to Foulpointe, along the east coast, the Canale des Pangalanes is a shallow lagoon channel, which winds behind a line of coastal dunes.

Packed picnic on the way.

Arrival in Akanin’ny Nofy, dinner with overnight at the hotel.

PALMARIUM in standard bungalows.

about 3 hours of crossing by collective boat

Breakfast and morning dedicated to the exploration of the fascinating place called “Akanin’ny Nofy” which in Malagasy means “the place of dreams”, stands on the banks of Lac Ampitabe.

Visit of the private reserve “Palmarium”.

Lunch at the hotel.

In the afternoon, departure by boat along the « Canal des Pangalanes » to reach Tamatave or Toamasina, the largest port in Madagascar. Traveling journey among aquatic plants such as the « Pandanus » or elephant ears, characteristic fishing villages.

Arrival at the river port of Tamatave, transfer and hotel accommodation.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

CALYPSO HOTEL, in a superior room

Tamatave – Foulpointe : 60 km – about 3 hours of track (paved but bad road)

Breakfast in the hotel.

Short visit of the city of Tamatave: Bazary be, the town hall with its palm trees, and the long beach in front of the largest ports of Madagascar. Departure for Foulpointe, located 60 km north of Tamatave. Travel along the coast where you can buy coconuts to cool off. Visit the Fort Manda of Foulpointe along the way. It is a historic site built in the 19th century to prevent foreign invasion by sea. The thick walls are made of eggshells, sand and water. Fort Manda is an old abandoned building. People bring offerings to the old tree in the courtyard to ask for blessings from ancestors.  Lunch and dinner with overnight stay at the hotel.

AZURA HOTEL, in standard room.

Soanierana Ivongo – Manompana (Bac Soanierana Ivongo, Andrangazaha, Fandrarazana)

Breakfast early in the morning. Then you go to the river Soanierana Ivongo to cross it by ferry. The transfer will take about 30 minutes. You can kiss the paved road goodbye. A beautiful experience along a difficult road awaits you immediately after the ferry through a beautiful landscape. Take a flat road with deep holes before arriving on a sandy road. You will cross three (03) rivers by ferry. You can forget your watch because you travel in a very Malagasy spirit at the time of Mora-Mora – quietly – and arrive when you arrive. You will enjoy the beautiful beach of Manompana and visit the village on your arrival.

 Packed picnic on the way.

Manompana – Antanambe (Bac Anove, Manambato,vahibe, Ivotantaka)

Continuing through the forest of Manompana Ambodiriana: two thirds of the region of Manompana still have a unique and evergreen forest heritage, consisting of humid forests, coastal forests and mangroves. As human activities progressively damage and fragment these natural habitats, wildlife inventories in the Manompana forest (lemurs, birds and herpetofauna) continue to show a great diversity of species and a very rich natural area, that is a large part of those that are still well preserved. The Forest of Manompana is also a key resource for local communities, which have quite close relationships with their lands. Here you can find several species of lemurs including Avahi lanigeravahi (Also: woolly lemur), Aye Aye, Eulemur rubriventer, Indri-Indri, uroplatus, orchids… Departure for Antanambe immediately after the tour. Two rivers to cross by ferry. Arrival in Antanambe towards evening. Overnight at the Hotel .

GRONDIN HOTEL simple structure.

Breakfast and we begin to face an extreme road. Picnic packed during the route.

Arriving at Sahasoa is a pleasant place to discover the socio-cultural richness of the region.

Continuation of the adventure towards Mananara North. We pass through several typical villages in the area. We discover the most difficult part of the road that goes up and down from the hills full of rocks and mud. The most important thing is to do our best to get to Mananara before 16:00. We can go to Ambitsika beach if we get there a little early. Around 17:00, departure to “islet Roger” to observe the rarest nocturnal lemur called Aye Aye or daubentonia madagascariensis that are threatened with extinction.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

CHEZ ROGER HOTEL simple structure.

(Bac Soavina or Ambatondrahilana, Fahambahy, Manambolosy, Fontsimaro, Fananehana)

Departure from Mananara after breakfast and we cross the river Ambatondrahilana by ferry with a magnificent view of the rocks and a time full of birds. Our journey continues on a flat and easy road before facing the hills of Fahambahy and Manambolosy. Along this road, we will appreciate the local atmosphere. Depending on the season, the villages smell of vanilla or the forest smells of cloves. We can waste time waiting for the ferries but it is part of the adventure on RN5.

Packed picnic on the way

(Bac Rantabe)

We are already in the district of Maroantsetra but we still have to travel a few kilometers by 4×4 without being able to ask for neither the time that we will spend nor the arrival time in Maroantsetra or bring bad luck to our vehicle! This is the local belief!

We continue on the same road as before with a view of Nosy Mangabe that gradually grows as we approach our destination. After the hill of Nandrasana, you will have a flat road up to Maroantsetra.

Dinner and overnight in hotel. BIZA HOTEL  ***

After leaving the hotel, our team will say goodbye because the driver must return to Antananarivo along the same route in the opposite direction.

In the morning leave Maroantsetra at 6:30 a.m. , 20 minutes to 25 minutes of navigation , arrival at Nosy Mangabe at 6:50 or 55 minutes later , and you start to make the tour of the park at 7:15 later for 3-4 hours to try to see the species of tiny chameleon on the ground (Brockesia Pereyrasi), the Various Black and White (Varicia Varigata Varigata), Lemurian has White Front (Fulvus Albufrons) and a species of spectacular nocturnal gecko (Uroplatus Phimbriatus) and several species of frogs with another that is very nice to observe, is called laevigata mentella and a few birds in a large primary forest .

At 11 am lunch included and leave the island at 12 am to go to Dounia Forestlodge for 45 minutes to 50 minutes sailing.

Afternoon arrival at Dounia Forestlodge about 12h 45 minutes.

At 14:30 take a walk in a large primary forest to try to see the Vari Rou (Varicia Varigata Rubra) and still some albufron fulvus (lemurs with white forehead)

Where we can see more of the different species of birds than Nosy Mangabe and the varieties of Vangas and a very well known bird called Hemet Vanga really very nice to see and a small chameleon on the ground (Borckesia Supersualis) and frog species, some different species of medical plants… etc

We can do our best to try to find all this even if we can’t guarantee it.

In the evening at 18:00 6:00 or 18:30 take a small walk to try to see the nocturnal animals , species of frogs , lemurs , geckos , birds .  Always strive for more luck.

Dinner and overnight in hotel.

DONIA FOREST LODGE

Breakfast and leave Dounia Forestlodge at 06:00 am for a Cape East destination with a fast boat for 4 hours time.

Arrival in Eastern Cape at 10:00 or 10:30

Make an installation of tents for camping and guests can enjoy a short walk or relax while waiting for lunch included.

At 12:30 lunch, and at 13:25 minutes leave the camp to visit the detached park and see the carnivorous plant (Nepanthes Masoaliensis) and go to the lighthouse to see a panoramic view for about 4 hours time and then return to the camp.

Dinner and overnight in COUNTRY BIVOUAC.

Breakfast at 07:00 , at 8:00 fast boat transfer to a destination in Antalaha about 1 hour and a half transfer. Boarding by car and transfer to the hotel. Lunch in restaurant.

In the afternoon sightseeing.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel HAZOVOLA in standard room.

Antalaha – Sambava: 80 km – about 2 hours (paved road)

Sambava – Marojejy: 60km – About 1 half hour (paved road)

Breakfast and departure at 06:30 in the morning to reach the Marojejy National Park which is 60km from Sambava on the road to Andapa. Marojejy is described at the same time as the most important massif of the entire island for its grandiose appearance, its floristic richness and above all for its intact state on almost the totality of its surface.

Arrival at the entrance of the park. Start of the trek with picnic lunch during the route. Arrival at camp Mantella, possibility to visit the waterfall Humbert about 60 meters from the camp.

Dinner and overnight in CAMPO MANTELLA in trips or tents.

Breakfast and departure at 07:00 to visit the park of Marojejy in search of the propithèque Serico or the Silky Sifaka or Simpona, propithecus diadema candidus, the spectacular propithèque serico that is endemic to the region and all these species that make the pride of Marojejy. Return to the camp for lunch included and exit from the park in the afternoon. Appointment with the car at the entrance of the park. Back to Sambava.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel HAZOVOLA or SOALAND in standard room.

Sambava – Ambilobe 310 km about 5/6 hours of asphalt road route

Ambilobe – Ankarana 30km about 1 hour with dirt road

Breakfast and day transfer to Ankarana with stop in Ambilobe for lunch at the restaurant. In the afternoon continue towards Ankarana.

Dinner and overnight at the ANKARANA LODGE in standard bungalows.

Breakfast and day dedicated to the visit of the Ankarana National Park, classified world heritage. The park covers an area of 18,000 hectares. It has a set of caves, underground rivers, canyons, «Tsingy», dry and green forests, about 100 km from the city of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). Its caves served as a refuge and a necropolis for the Antakarana people during the tribal war with King Radama I. in the 19th century, and have now become natural sanctuaries of ancestral beliefs. The massif of Ankarana is the second place in Madagascar, after the reserve of Bemaraha (north of Morondava), where you can admire the «Tsingy», karst formations with an amazing view, hundreds of spires and limestone peaks thrown into the sky. In addition to these natural cathedrals, underground water erosion has resulted in more than a hundred caves, where kings and the Antakarana population, the ethnicity of this northern region, took refuge during the interethnic tribal conflict. In some of them the royal tombs still rest, and the massive is always the object of numerous ceremonies and «fady» (taboo). The park has a pleasant area and has a very particular and endemic flora and fauna. Keep in mind that for the ethnic group of Antekarana, these places are considered strictly sacred, where local traditions and fady must always be respected. Packed picnic included during the visit.

Dinner and overnight at the ANKARANA LODGE in standard bungalows.

Ankarana – Ankify about 140 km and 3 hours dirt road route

Ankify – Nosy Be Crossing about 45 minutes by boat.

Breakfast and we will continue on the way to Ankify, crossing a magnificent landscape of cocoa plantations, coffee and Ylang-ylang.

Arrival in Ankify, boarding with the boat to reach the Hell-Ville port of Nosy Be.

Free beach stay in half board including dinner at the hotel RAVINTSARA WELLNESS in room with garden view   

Free beach stay in half board that includes dinner at the hotel RAVINTSARA WELLNESS in room with

Breakfast. Transfer in good time to the airport to take the return flight to Addis Ababa.