Tropical East Madagascar Tour (11 days)
11
daysTropical East Madagascar Tour (11 days)
With its spectacular rainforests, beaches and waterways, this former pirate hideout offers a relaxed ambiance and more than enough activities to keep guests occupiedOn this fantastic beach holiday you'll get to discover Madagascar's stiriking east coast.
- Your journey will begin in the capital of Antananarivo where the sights and sounds of this unique city will have you intruiged by the mix of old colonial French influences and the new, modern Madagascar.
- Next you'll travel to the lush and charming village of Andasibe to explore the Perinet Reserve and the larger Parc National de Mantadia in a search for lemurs among the rich and diverse foliage. Get in touch with the Indri, the largest of the lemur species along with Brown and Bamboo lemurs.
- Extending down the eastern coast of Madagascar along the Indian Ocean, the Pangalanes Canal is a series of natural rivers, lakes and man-made waterways. We recommend an excursion to the canal to experience a number of unspoiled beaches and small villages on its banks, and the procession of boats on its waters, as well as meet the people whose lives and cultures are based around this intruiging landscape.
- Situated in the Analanjirofo Region in Madagascar, Mahambo is a coastal town facing the Indian Ocean, famous for surfing and resort holidays. Located 90 Km north of Tamatave (3h), you will drive along the Madagascan East coast where you can buy coconuts straight from the roadside. Do not hesitate to stop at one of the shops bordering the road to discover unusual tropical fruits.
- Your next stop will be the wonderful island paradise of Sainte Marie, a sliver of paradise off Madagascar’s northeast coast. A notorious pirate hideout in the late 17th century, it’s believed that this tropical islet once provided shelter for almost 1000 marauders.
With so much to explore and discover on the island, Madagascar is perfect for adventurous travellers, history-lovers and naturalists.
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Costing tip: When comparing with other companies, remember most of them only show the low season rate. How pricing works >
What to Expect on This Safari
This popular itinerary can be customised to match your budget and travel dates by adding/removing a few days or selecting different lodges
day
1
Landing in Antananarivo
- On arrival in Antananarivo, you'll be met and transferred to Maison Gallieni atop a hill overlooking the vibrant city. Enjoy the sights and sounds during your city drive.
- Please note that your transfer through the city may take up to an hour, as the traffic is very heavy in the city.
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
day
2 to 3
Antananarivo to Andasibe
- After your breakfast, your tour-driver will drive you to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. Stretching across 154 square kilometres of eastern Madagascar, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a place of great beauty and biodiversity. It is divided into two distinct sections: the smaller Analamazaotra or Perinet Reserve to the south and the larger Parc National de Mantadia to the north. The region is swathed with thick tropical rainforests made up of lush ferns, tangled lianas, hundreds of orchid species and myriad other jungle flora and teeming with a diverse array of endemic wildlife. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you hear the peculiar call of the Indri, the largest living lemur in existence, which can reach up to one metre in height. Visitors can enjoy spectacular hikes, discover hidden waterfalls, and hunt for rare orchids.
- After the visit, drive to Andasibe check-in at your hotel. At the end of the afternoon, you will be taken on a late visit to Vakona forest.
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
day
4 to 5
Andasibe to the Pangalanes Canal
- Today, drive to Manambato over the old suspension bridge of Brickaville. Manambato is a charming village lying on the Pangalanes Channel where Tananarivians use to come for short beach holidays. Embark on a one-hour boating expedition to reach Ankanin’ny nofy, literally translated to the “nest of dreams”.
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Explore the surroundings of Lake Ampitabe where you have the option of exploring the Palmarium Private Reserve either by day or night. Home to a dozen species of lemurs and tropical plants that you've never seen before. Spend your afternoon at leisure,
where several activities can be organized on the spot such as:- Boat trip to visit a typical Betsimisaraka village (school and nursery)
- Contemplate the dozens of kilometers of empty beach in the wild Indian Ocean shore
- Walk along the Pangalanes canal to see the endemic carnivorous plant nepenthes madagascariensis
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
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day
6
Mahambo via Tamatave
- After breakfast, you will boat along the Pangalanes Canal to Tamatave. This boat trip allows you to “readapt” to the bustle of city life after your restful experience at Bush House.
- Taomasina (formerly known as Tamatave) is Madagascar’s main port city. The region is characterised by long beaches, split by rivers that empty into the sea. High concentrations of unique flora and fauna can be found, as well as exotic plantations of coffee, vanilla, clove, banana, coconut and lychee. The city itself is an enticing mix of bric-a-brac sophistication – boulevards lined with palm trees and upmarket hotels sit alongside old, crumbling colonial buildings and creole houses built on stilts.
- Enjoy lunch before your drive to Mahambo. You will drive along the coast where you can buy coconuts straight from the roadside. Do not hesitate to stop at one of the shops bordering the road to discover unusual tropical fruits. Mahambo is a small village well shaded by coconut trees. It is famous for surfing and resort holidays, even if it remains very traditional.
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
day
7 to 8 to 9
Mahambo to Sainte Marie via ferry
- Enjoy your breakfast with a view of the Indian Ocean. Thereafter, you'll jump aboard a ferry to Sainte Marie island.
- Sainte Marie’s Malagasy name is “Nosy Boraha”. The shallow waters and secluded bays around Nosy Boraha make it an excellent destination for snorkelling. The best spots are near Atafana and La Crique on the central western shores where the mix of healthy coral reefs and shallow wrecks make for an enchanting underwater experience. Further out, black-coral reefs and expansive granite-bouldered seabed are the perfect environment for scuba divers to encounter grouper, grey sharks, stingrays and barracuda. There are also a handful of deeper wrecks for more experienced divers to explore. For solitude and total isolation, this small island off the southern tip of Nosy Boraha is perfection. There are no roads and no cars, the beaches are gorgeous and the coral reefs some of the best in the world.
- Suggested activities
- Whale watching (mid-July to mid-September): Sainte Marie is a worldwide hotspot for humpback whale. You can easily see them from the shore, but also during a boat tour with a local
- Available land activites: quad biking, biking, hiking. The island is very small with only one main road and little traffic. This allows you to tour the island safely by yourself
- Available sea activities: Diving, fishing, kitesurfing thanks to the lagoon surrounding a part of the Island.
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
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day
10
Sainte Marie Island back to Antananarivo
Enjoy a morning of leisure in Sainte Marie, whereafter you'll hop on a short flight back to the capital.
Meals: Half-board
Drinks: Not included
Transport & transfers: Included
day
11
End of journey
You'll be transferred to Ivato International Airport for your flight home.
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