Palmarium Hotel Ankanin’Nofy

Palmarium Hotel lies on the beautiful Lake Ampitabe (Ankanin'Nofy) within the Pangalanes canal complex. It is a great area to visit after Andasibe-Mantadia National Park because of the small private 46ha Palmarium Reserve. This reserve aims to showcase both the varied palm and orchid species in Madagascar - hence the name. Palmarium Reserve also has 10 different types of lemur, which have been introduced to the reserve so some of them are not indigenous to the eastern coast. They are also more habituated to human contact that the wildlife in the national park. However this does offer the visited the ability to get close-up photots which is not always possible in Andasibe and to see lemurs which you may not get to see if you are only visiting a couple of habitats.

This lodge now consists of two separate camps which are identical in standard and very similar views over the lake, both with a beach for swimming from. The newer camp, Palmarium Beach, has a setting on a long white sandy beach so ideal for people who like to soak up some rays. The original camp has the Palm and orchid tropical garden with many flowering orchids so perhaps better for keen botanists.

Each has spacious stone, bamboo and palm thatch chalets with en suite bathroom with shower, mosquito nets, double bed and an extra bed, private terrace with hammock and easy chairs. At each camps there’s a sitting room and restaurant serving good home-cooked food.

Activities at La Palmarium

Activities at Palmarium Lodge include guided morning walks in the 46 ha Palmarium Reserve (included) to see the various types of lemurs. We strongly recommend also taking the optional night walk (at extra cost) to see the rare nocturnal Aye Aye lemur. This gives you the best possible chance of spotting this eerie hairy golam-like creature.

During the day you can relax on the lodge’s sandy beach and enjoy swimming in the clear blue waters of the lake or perhaps some kayaking.

Access to Palmarium Lodge is only by boat, approx 1 hour from the south (ideal if coming from Andasibe which is another 3 hours by road to the boat connection) or 2 hours from Tomasina (Tamatave) in the north. The boat transfer is lovely and gives you a chance to experience the Pangalanes canal.