TOUR’S HIGHLIGHTS: The national park of Tsingy de Bemaraha, the avenue of baobabs, the national park of Andasibe, the national park of Masoala and the reserve of NosyMangabe, the national park of Marojejy, the park national of Montagne d’Ambre, the national park of Ankarana and the beach break in Nosybe.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS:
Duration: 22 day / 21 nights
Type of service: Hotel with breakfast + camping (full board)
Accommodation: top hotel and midrange
Vehicle type: tourism or minibus
Language spoken of driver / guide: French, English, Malagasy
Period: Mai till October
Price: from 1400 Euro per person

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: TANA

Upon arrival at Ivato international airport, direct transfer to Hotel Anjary (midrange) or Hotel de Louvre (top)

Day 2: TANA - MORONDAVA

Transfer to the Airport and fly to Morondava, then continue by car to Andranomena reserve, The Special Reserve of Andranomena covers 6 420 ha and is located in the Region of Menabe, 30 km north of the town of Morondava. The average temperature is around 25°C. The vegetation is composed of dense dry deciduous forest of the West with 3 remarkable species of baobab tree. It shelters a large number of endemic species of local, regional and national fauna. 11 species of reptiles and a species of amphibian have been recorded in Andranomena. 48 species of birds, 10 species of mammals and 7 species of lemurs also live in the Reserve. Among these lemurs, 7 species of them are diurnal and five nocturnal. After he visit drive back to Morondava.  Overnight at the hotel Renala Sable d’Or (midrange, top) or Hotel Baobab Café (midrange, top)

Day 3: MORONDAVA - TSINGY

Drive from Morondava to the national park of the Tsingy of Bemaraha. The park of Bemaraha spreads over 157 710 Ha with 100-km long from the North to the South and 10 to 40km large in West. Its Southern part enjoys the National Park statute with 72.340 ha of surface. Its Northern part that has the statute of Integral Natural reserve, cover 85.370 ha. It is in the South that we can find the Tsingy, spectacular pinnacles the access of which is extremely difficult. This Karstic formation spreads is visible from afar, a forest of peaks and ergots of rocks that makes all so impressive. Upon arrival overnight at Vazimba hotel (top) or Olympe of Bemaraha (midrange, top)

Day 4: VISIT AT THE TSINGY

A full day visit at the Grand Tsingy and the small Tsingy
Bemaraha is a high spot of endemism and diversity. The scientists estimate that the general endemism of this park is 86, 7% and the ecoregional one is 47%. 11 species of lemurs are listed from there, five families of Bats, 103 species of birds’ species.  The index of the reptiles and amphibians is as large as Bemaraha which possesses 34 species, all endemic. These are just a first taste of your discoveries. Overnight at Vazimba hotel (top) or Olympe of Bemaraha (midrange, top)

Day 5: TSINGY - MORONDAVA

Drive back to Morondava, overnight at hotel Renala Sable d’or (midrange, top) or the hotel Baobab Cafe (midrange, top).

Day 6: MORONDAVA - TANA - ANDASIBE

Transfer and fly back to Antananarivo, at the arrival, drive to Andasibe National park. The national park of Mantadia is in the Alaotra Mangoro. It is known for its rare orchids that bloom in the forest. Indri indri that can be observed all year round; its magnificent water falls and the famous cultural rituals of the inhabitants of its surrounding. Mantadia and the Special Reserve of Indri of Analamazaotra form the complex Andasibe Mantadia. Overnight at the hotel Vakona Forest Lodge (top) or the Hotel Feon’ny Ala (midrange)

Day 7: ANDASIBE VISIT - TANA

Visit the two reserves. The forest of the Mantadia Park accommodates a lot of animals which assure their perpetuity at the same time. 108 species of birds are known in the park, of which some play a role in the survival of plants like Terpsiphone mutata. We can also find 14 species of lemurs in there, 51 species of reptiles Boa, the famous Boa manditra and 84 species of amphibian.

The ecosystem of Mantadia depends on its lower-case letters animals: They are the pollinisateurs of the plants of flowers, the recyclers of the nourishing elements of soil and the organic garbage. In the food chain, the bugs are the food of many birds and mammals.
The forests of Mantadia are the domains of the lianas and épiphytes as the orchids, the mosses and the ferns. The orchids are very varied with more than a hundred species inventoried.

Drive back to Antananarivo, overnight at the hotel Anjary (midrange) or hotel de Louvre (top)

Day 8: TANA - MAROANTSETRA 

Transfer to the Airport and fly to Maroantsetra.

Maroantsetra is the vital centre of the Bay of Antongil. It just happens most in air. Here will start the majority of trips. It is a pleasant town whose quiet life is punctuated by the production of vanilla and cloves. A transfer to your hotel will be provided locally. Feel free to ask and talk to your guide concerning your desire since everything will be done to make your stay enjoyable. Overnight at Coco Beach Hotel (midrange)

Day 9: MAROANTSETRA - TAMPOLO

Leave Maroantsetra by a fast motor boat to Masoala National park.

Masoala is actually a complex of the protected areas of 240,520 ha. It has four terrestrial parcels and three marine parcels. It is part of the forests of the East of Madagascar classified among the world natural heritage sites of the forests of the Atsinanana. The Masoala complex, the Masoala Park and the special reserve of Nosy Mangabe are the biggest protected areas of Madagascar. We can find islets of the forests or rocks, coral reefs, zones of herbaria and narrow strips of mangrove swamp forest there.

Masoala is among the richest regions on biodiversity. We can find 50% of species of the plants of Madagascar and more than 50% of the species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles in there. Overnight at Arol or Tampolo Lodge

Day 10: VISIT AT THE PARK

A full day visit at the park, 102 species of birds of which more than 60% are endentic which have been counted in Masoala. Amongst the ten species of lemurs of the park, four are part of the category of the primates the more threatened in the red list of the International union of the Conservation of the Nature (UICN). Among the carnivores, Masoala is the only locality where the mongoose Salanoia concolor or Brown-tailed mongoose has been observed since the 1970. This species is the least known of the Malagasy carnivores.
The Hump-backed whale, the big dolphin and the belly pink dolphin live in Masoala Sea. The Sirenien species, the Dugong exists too in this region. 41 types of corals are made as an inventory at Masoala. Reptiles, batrachians, marine turtles and fichies (Marine and from fresh water) are over there too. Overnight at Arol Lodge

Day 11: MASOALA - NOSY MANGABE

Leave Masoala to Nosymangabe, The Special Reserve of Nosy Mangabe is a small island (520 ha) covered in humid thick forest. Despite this island's remote natural beauty, four lemur species (black and white lemur, brown lemur, aye aye, microcèbe), two of which are nocturnal, also can be found on Nosy Mangabe. This is one of the places where you can find the Uroplatus, a well camouflaged and otherworldly looking lizard. Nosy Mangabe also shelters the world's smallest chameleon, the tiny Brookesia, as well as other rare species like the Aye-Aye. In fact, this forested island is thought by many to be the best place to observe the Aye-Aye, thought by many to be Madagascar's strangest lemur. With its golden sand beaches from whose shores you can see hump-backed whales swimming in the bay. A night camping

Day 12: NOSYMANGABE - MAROANTSETRA - ANTALAHA - SAMBAVA

Return to Maroantsetra by boat and fly to Antalaha; continue by car to Sambava, overnight at hotel Las Palmas or chez Orchidéa (midrange).

Day 13: SAMBAVA - MAROJEJY.

Drive from Sambava to Marojejy national park. The National Park of Marojejy spreads on 60 050 Ha, in the region of the Sava, a new demarcation of this protected area is in progress to bring it back to 55 500 ha. It is an altitude park that can reach up to 2132m. Marojejy is dominated by an immense mountain and much damaged forest reliefs. It is a very complex shape landscape where crests and stiff slopes follow each other.

Overnight Camping (full board) or at the bungalow .

Day 14: VISIT AT THE PARK

Marojejy conceals numerous interesting species: 115 species of birds, 11 species of lemurs. We can also meet 148 species of reptiles and amphibians, 16 of which are endemic to the giant mountain. Marojejy contains only 33% of the species of reptiles and amphibians known in Madagascar. 305 species of Ptéridophytes of which six endemic have been inventoried on the massif of Marojejy. What puts the park in the first rank of the Malagasy protected areas for its specific wealth in Ptéridophytes? More than 50 species of palms have also been harvested. They are especially abundant in the forests of low altitude but remain present until the summit. Overnight Camping (full board) or at the bungalow .

Day 15: MAROJEJY - SAMBAVA - DIEGO

Leave Marojejy to Sambava and take the flight to Diego, transfer to the Hotel Jardin Exotique (midrange) or Grand hotel (top). City tour and the visit the surrounding, in particular on the splendid Ramena beach which is protected by a coral reef and the landscapes near the French’s mountain.Overnight at the hotel Jardin Exotique (midrange)  or Le Grand Hotel (top)

Day 16: DIEGO - MONTAGNE D’AMBRE

Drive to the national park of Montagne d’Ambre. The national park of the amber Mountain spreads on 23,010 ha of which 18,200 ha for the National Park and 4,810 ha for the Reserve Special Forest of amber. It is a volcanic massif covered of forest spreading on 850 to 1,475 m. Six lakes and several streams and rivers furrow the park. The Amber Mountain is a high place of endemicity with 77 species of birds, seven species of lemurs and 24 species of amphibian.

Overnight at the Monaster (midrange) or Nature Lodge (top)

Day 17: MONTAGNE D’AMBRE - ANKARANA

Leave Montagne d’Ambre and drive to Ankarana.

The park of Ankarana spreads over 18,225 ha. Ankarana is the western extension of a chalky massif of the medium Jurassic that emerges from a basaltic plain located above 50m over the sea level. The plateau, that is a greatly eroded karst formation in surface, is constituted by a lapiaz of Tsingy.

Overnight at Relais d’Ankarana (high - midrange) or chez Aurélien (midrange)

Day 18: ANKARANA - AMBANJA

A half day visit at the park before departure.

The biological inventories of Ankarana reported 50 herpetofauna species with 40 reptiles and 10 amphibians. The biological inventories also reported 96 species of birds, 50 species of mollusks and a huge number of snails of The tsingy. 14 species of bats, either the half of the bats of Madagascar lives in the underground cave of Ankarana. 11 species of lemurs live in Ankarana. Besides, it is in this park that the famous Propithecus perrieri, known under the vernacular name of Black Sifaka was seen for the last time by the agents of the park in 1995 and 1996. After the visit drive to Ambanja, Ambanja is 22 kms from Ankify, the small port where you take the boat to Nosybe .Overnight at the hotel Méridien (midrange) or the hotel Baobab (top)

Day 19-20-21: AMBANJA - NOSYBE

Take the boat to Nosybe, transfer to the hotel ‘Un Autre Monde’ (top) or Royal Beach Hotel (top).

This haven of peace received many qualifications from visitors, to indicate its beauty but it seems that the term “paradise on earth” is best adapted to qualify the extremely rare beauty of this island, which means not easily seen from other part of the planet. The other terms, like the pearl of the Indian Ocean, does not completely manage to qualify it because it does not evoke the width of its splendour.

Day 22: NOSY BE - ANTANANARIVO

Transfer and fly back to Antananarivo, continue home.