Antananarivo * Masoala Forest * Anjajavy
Visit two of the Madagascar’s highlights, the Masoala Rainforest and Anjajavy Private Nature Reserve, on this ten-night fly-in safari. Spend time relaxing on a hammock under pristine beach-front palm trees, exploring the rainforest in search of red-ruffed lemurs, and learning about local rural village life in Ambodiforaha. Immerse yourself in the stunning landscapes, rich historical heritage, and endemic flora and fauna of this undiscovered paradise.
Starting in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, you will be transferred through the hustle and bustle of the city streets to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. After enjoying a night in the capital, you will be transferred back to the airport for a flight to Masoala National Park, where you will stay for the next three nights. Relax on pristine beaches, explore the rainforest, and learn about local life on a visit to a local rural village. Then, you will fly back to the capital where you will stay for one night and tour the Old City and upper town. Your final stop on this safari is five nights in Anjavavy, home to four of nature’s gems: a dry deciduous forest made of palissandre trees, ebony trees, baobabs, and other plants endemic to Madagascar; a mangrove; the tsingy, unique limestone rock formations; and beautiful beaches. The reserve is also home to a wide variety of lemurs and reptiles.
Use the scroll button to see the full itinerary.
On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.
Transfer back to the airport for your charter flight to the Maroantsetra Airport. The flight is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes with magnificent views of the rugged hills and rainforests of eastern Madagascar,.
You are met by the lodge staff on arrival and transferred approximately 2 hours to the harbour to take the boat across Antongil Bay to the Masoala Forest Lodge. Enjoy the dramatic rainforest backdrop along with the possibilities of dolphin sightings and, seasonally, whale sightings (July-October).
Upon arrival at the lodge, you are welcomed with fresh local juice and a brief introduction to the lodge amenities. Once you have settled comfortably into your bungalow you meet the other guests for sundowners around a fire on the beach. After dinner, your guide meets you to discuss possible excursions for day 2.
Awaken early for coffee and breakfast on the sea deck before a quick boat ride up the coast to the primary rainforest in search of the Red-ruffed lemurs, Dwarf chameleons, Helmet Vangas, and other wildlife endemic to the forest. After some hours in the dense forest with the giant hardwoods and majestic tree ferns, return to camp by boat for a well-earned lunch and rest. Your afternoon activities could range from snorkelling on the nearby, highly diverse coral reefs to a sunset paddle out to a scenic outlook (and the chance of a close encounter with Green Turtles) to relaxing in a hammock underneath our beach-front palm trees. After dinner, a guided night walk provides the only opportunity to spot some of theΒ secretive nocturnal wildlife, such as Dwarf and Mouse lemurs, Leaf-tailed geckos, oreven the elusive Aye-Aye.
After a relaxed start to the day with breakfast on the sea deck, you depart on a guided walk through the coastal forest, in search of more birds, mammals, and reptiles. After a couple of hours walk, take a welcome swim in the crystal-clearwater of the Tampolo Cascades at the base of the forested mountains. On your way back to the lodge, you are paddled down the serene, shady Tampolo river in a traditional dugout canoe.
In the afternoon, take a short walk along the coast to the nearest village for the βMeet the Peopleβ excursion. Start with a visit to the village school that is supported by the lodge. Continue with a guided tour of Ambodiforaha village followed by a traditional song and dance performance by the ladies of the village. If interested, you can bring some small money with you to purchase handicrafts and locally-produced spices. Continue your Malagasy cultural education back at the lodge with delicious traditional Malagasy dishes served for dinner. Try your luck again spotting elusive nocturnal species on a private reserve night walk.
Enjoy an early breakfast on the sea deck before boarding the boat back to Maroantsetra followed by a car transfer to the airport for your charter flight to Antananarivo for your stay at Novotel Convention & Spa.
Today you will visit the Old city and upper town of Antananarivo. The majestic Rova ( The Queen’s palace ) overlooks the capital from the highest point of the city. The Rova of Antananarivo is a royal palace complex that served as the home of the sovereigns of the Kingdom of Imerina in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as of the rulers of the Kingdom of Madagascar in the 19th century. You will drive or walk the neighbourhood with your guide and enjoy the picturesque ambience of the noblemen residence area, with both well-kept traditional houses, the colonial houses, palaces, cathedrals, the charm of the narrow, curved, upslope cobblestoned streets and ensemble of cute traditional Malagasy houses built entirely of wood.
Today you will be transferred by a charter plane to Anjajavy, the flight lasting approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Located on the West coast of Madagascar 120 Km North of Majunga, Anjajavy is a remote fishing village on an extraordinary peninsula. The 550-hectare reserve surrounding Anjajavy L’HΓ΄tel includes 4 types of nature’s gems: A dry deciduous forest made of palissandre trees, ebony trees, baobabs and other plants endemic to Madagascar; a mangrove which is the only protected mangrove ;The tsingy: unique limestone rock formations and beautiful beaches . The reserve is also home of a wide variety of lemurs, reptiles and other endemic flora and fauna. nature’s serenity. Birdwatching enthusiasts may also spot water birds such as the Madagascan sacred ibis and the Madagascan flying fox.
Relax on one of Anjajavy’s pristine beaches, practice some nautical sports or go for one of the walks and excursions. For most of them, no special physical skills are required. Through the marked out track, you will discover the dry deciduous forest, the surrounding coves and the fishermen’s villages… If you wish, one of our guides will accompany you and will show you the luxuriance and the diversity of the vegetation. You will have several opportunity to observe lemurs, chameleons, birds, crabs and other creatures. Everyday, tea will be served at the beautiful oasis at 17:00. Inquire about any special boat excursions or romantic experiences.
From Cove to Cove Walk:
Walk along this path, over the cliffs and into the forest and discover the deserted and beautiful beaches to the south of the Lodgeβs private peninsula. If you are lucky you will be able to observe the majestic and extremely rare Madagascar fish eagle around the cove IV & V. Visit the wide beach of Cove V before returning by the loop of Cove III or, at low tide, by the mangrove Anaty-Honko. If the sea is clear, snorkelling can be interesting around the islets of cove III.
Crab Path Walk
Follow the path lined with baobabs and tsingy walls through the mangrove swamps where the famous hairy crabs live. Inside a chaos of rocks, at the foot of a tsingy wall, is the entrance shaft of the fossilcave. Descend a ladder 5 meters into the ground and, at the bottom of the chasm, you will find sub fossils of extinct giant lemurs. An endemic bat species, the western sheath tailed bat is often observed.
Tsingys Enclosure
Along a winding path, discover some examples of the characteristic flora of the dry deciduous forests of western Madagascar, such as pallisanders, tamarind trees, baobabs and many mangrove trees such as the Jajavy tree, from which the Lodge is named. At the end, a clearing displays a landscape evocative of a gallery of modern art, composed of life size stone sculptures. Some of these natural formations are as thin as lace.
A charter plane will transfer you back to Antananarivo, with views over the numerous rice fields surrounding the capital. Upon arrival, you connect with your departure flights.
Only the best African travel advice, tidbits and tours. No nonsense.
