The fabulous North of Madagascar

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Antananarivo

  

  In Antananarivo, you will be warmly welcomed by your driver, who will take you to your hotel. You can take this opportunity to recover a bit after this long flight.

• day 2

  Antananarivo - Ankarafantsika

  Today, you will set out to discover Ankarafantsika, located north of the capital. Aboard your vehicle, you will see various typical landscapes of this large island pass by, including mountains and vast stretches of savannah, like those of the Tampoketsa plateau. Along the road, you will catch sight of small villages with their mango, jujube, and tamarind vendors. You will also encounter zebus pulling their carts, as well as a line of bush taxis loaded with luggage heading for the capital. In the afternoon, you will reach one of the hottest regions of Madagascar, Maevatanana. There, you will see the impressive Betsiboka river carrying its red waters, as well as miners working there to earn their living. After an inevitable crossing of the Kamoro bridge, built during the French colonization, you will arrive at Ankarafantsika.

• day 3

  Discovery of Ankarafantsika National Park

  

  This morning, you will spend the day discovering the Ankarafantsika National Park, located in the heart of the forest corridor in the northwest of Madagascar with your guide. You will have the opportunity to thoroughly discover the charms of biodiversity, including many species, with more than 130 types of birds and around 800 varieties of trees. You will also not miss meeting several species of lemurs, including the famous microcebus, the smallest lemur in the world. If you wish, you can also go hiking while admiring the natural beauty of this park.

• day 4

  Ankarafantsika - Maromandia

  Today, heading to Maromandia, located 400 km from Ankarafantsika. This commune, where a conservation and ecotourism project has been set up by the local population, will allow you to go hiking. Throughout the journey to Maromandia, you will be able to observe several villages and a short stop will be made in the town of Antsohihy, which you can explore. You will arrive in Maromandia in the early evening.

• day 5

  Maromandia - Ambanja

  In the early morning, you will embark on a hike lasting 2 to 3 hours in a park dedicated to the theme of community tourism, with a high chance of encountering the most famous of Malagasy species: the lemur. After lunch, you will head even further north towards Ambanja. This small town, located in the Sambirano river region, is renowned for its cocoa and spice plantations.

• day 6

  Ambanja - Ankarana

  

  After a morning dedicated to visiting the cocoa plantations, the driver will take you to the Ankarana Special Reserve, also known as the "Tsingy of the North". There you will see, among other things, incredible karst rock formations, a unique feature of the north and southwest of Madagascar. After lunch, you can quietly explore at your own pace the private Gondwana park, located not far from your hotel and featuring a relaxation area where you can start pleasant walks and thus get a first impression of the "Tsingy".

• day 7

  Visit to Ankarana National Park

  You will take advantage of the day to explore the eastern side of the Ankarana reserve. This will be an opportunity to see the Grey Tsingy of Ankarana, where a formidable massif of peaks, sharp rocks, and impenetrable limestone stretches out. The canyons are home to many unknown species to discover. You will continue your journey towards the Benavony trail, where there is a suspension bridge that you will cross. After breakfast, you can go and meet the wildlife sheltered by the reserve, including the different species of lemurs endemic to the region, as well as the lush vegetation typical of Ankarana, such as the famous baobabs, the pachypodium, and a palm tree specific to Madagascar. For good walkers, it will be possible to extend the excursion and visit the bat cave as well as the large hole called the lost river.

• day 8

  Ankarana - Red Tsingy - Amber Mountain

  

  After yesterday's busy day, today you will discover the Amber Mountain National Park, the first national park in Madagascar. Dense and humid, this park is home to a fantastic tropical forest and has a very high rate of endemism. You will also have the chance to observe the Red Tsingy, the result of erosion and canyons eroded by wind and rain centuries ago. This place has astonishing beauty and great efforts are made to preserve it from any human influence.

• day 9

  Discovery of the Montagne d'Ambre National Park

  You will have the privilege of fully exploring the highly recommended Montagne d’Ambre National Park. This day will transport you with its lush forests, incredible lakes, and waterfalls. Depending on your physical condition and preferences, you can take easy half-day hikes or more challenging full-day hikes. Nature lovers will be delighted, as this park is just as fascinating for its plants as for its animals. You will find, among other things, large tree ferns, epiphytic bird nests, pandanus, and endemic palms such as Cycas. You will continue your day by discovering the local wildlife, and more specifically the birdlife, which will fascinate you. You will see not only hundreds of species of lemurs, but also the smallest chameleon in Madagascar, namely the Brookesia minima, as well as reptiles like the Uroplatus.

• day 10

  Montagne d'Ambre - Ankify - Nosy Be

  

  We will take you to Ankify, located 5 hours by road from the Montagne d’Ambre National Park. From Ankify, you will board a private boat to reach the island of Nosy-Be. You can enjoy the day relaxing on the beautiful fine white sand beaches, as well as in its crystal-clear waters.

• day 11

  Sports activities and relaxation in Nosy Be

  In Nosy-Be, you can take the opportunity to relax, but also enjoy water activities such as snorkeling or scuba diving. If you wish, you can rent a boat to tour the island while admiring its stunning landscapes.

• day 12

  Discovery of Nosy Be

  

  Nosy-Be, considered as the must-see destination during a stay in Madagascar, will allow you to discover the specificities of the "island of perfumes", with its numerous ylang-ylang trees (perfume obtained from the flowers), its sugar cane plantations, but also clove, other aromatic trees, and various plants. Moreover, Nosy-Be is hilly. From one of its hills, Mont Passot, which you can climb, you will be able to admire a breathtaking view of the island, especially at sunset.

• day 13

  Visit of Nosy Be

  On your last day on the island of Nosy Be, we particularly recommend that you visit the natural and protected reserve of Lokobe, which is home to many species. You can also enjoy small excursions to the islands of Nosy Komba, known for its lemurs, and Nosy Tanikely, famous for snorkeling.

• day 14

  Return flight

  After this fabulous stay in the north of Madagascar, it is unfortunately time to return. At the indicated time, the driver will accompany you to the airport to take your return flight.