HEADING NORTH !

A road trip in Madagascar

This magnificent trip to the Malagasy North West allows you to discover the great diversity of this country by combining the dry forests of the west, the exuberance of vegetation in Ambanja and Nosy-be, the astonishing geological formation of the Tsingy de l ‘Ankarana, in the heart of a thorny and dry forest, without forgetting the riches of the coral reefs of Nosy-be and the satellite islands which must be discovered by snorkeling.
The stages of the route are not monotonous because landscapes worthy of the American West pass by offering bright colors, contrasts, and even more with the various meetings of the inhabitants that we meet here and there and who give us bright smiles.
After exploring a cocoa plantation on the banks of the Sambirano river, we will join the Amber Mountain forest, to walk in the primary forest in search of lemurs, chameleons, exotic plants.
We will finally discover the second largest bay in the world and the emerald sea. The trip starts in Antananarivo and ends in Diego, leaving you the possibility of a variegated flight for more comfort, or to continue the adventure with one of our extensions.

DAY 1

Tana – Mahavetanana

• You leave Antananarivo by national road 4 which winds between the hills of the highlands to cross the vast massif of Tampoketsa, allowing to observe landscapes worthy of a film by John Ford. You reach the basin of Maevatanàna at the end of the day, one of the hottest regions of Madagascar, to check on the spot by going to have a beer in the village. Stops in the villages crossed which offer various tropical fruits (jujubes, jackfruits, bananas and other seasonal fruits…) and evening in the street to observe local life and this superb bustle.
• Night: bungalows (“comfort” category in DBL or TWN rooms with bathroom and wc)
• Meal: dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 317 km – duration: +/- 6:30

DAY 2

Mahavetanana – Ankarafantsika

• We take the National 4 to join the national park of Ankarafantsika, located halfway between our stage city and Majunga. It is the largest national park in the northwest.
  As soon as we arrive, we will discover the natural riches of the park by participating in a very intense night tour of discoveries. It is a mosaic of dense evergreen forest (evergreen) and dry deciduous forest (deciduous) populated with different kinds of lemurs, half of the 260 species of birds of Madagascar, chameleons, iguanas, water turtles sweet…
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 170 km – duration: +/- 3h30
  Walk: +/- 1 hour

DAY 3

Ankarafantsika – Majunga

• Early in the morning, visit the park with a local guide.
  We hit the road for a short stop. Majunga, city of flowers, visit of its cosmopolitan Arab, Indian and Muslim districts, the “bazaar bé” (the big market) where its scents of various spices are felt, the sacred Lake Mangatsa, place of worship and rituals animists.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 57 km – duration: +/- 1h30
  Walking: +/- 3h00

DAY 4

Majunga – Antsohihy (Port Bergé)

• Crossing an essentially agricultural region (rice, cassava, onions and tobacco).
  At the end of the morning, we leave the Nationale 6 for the 4.
  As soon as you pass the Ankarafantsika forest, a savannah landscape composed mainly of herbaceous and “satrana” palm trees, typical of the west coast, appears and will only leave us around Antsohihy where we arrive at the end of the day.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 385 km – duration: +/- 7h00

DAY 5

Antsohihy – Ambanja – Nosy Be

• Road to Ambanja, nature unfolds in all its splendor along our route.
  After the cocoa and ylang ylang plantations, the vegetation becomes more luxuriant.
  We are in the Tsaratanàna region, where is Mount Maromokotro, the highest peak in Madagascar (2,876m). As time goes by, the landscape becomes drier without being arid. Arriving in Ambanja in the middle of the afternoon, then we sail to the Ankify peninsula to make the speedboat crossing to Hellville, the capital of Nosy-Be. Our hotel owner dispatched a 4L taxi to take us to the gîte.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 200 km – duration: +/- 4h00

DAY 6

Nosy Be

• “Turtle hike” day. You swimm with the big green turtles, on the seagrass beds of Sakatia Island. Then discovery of the Nosy Tanikely marine reserve, where we can observe “hawksbill” turtles. Indeed, surrounded by a multitude of corals and tropical fish, this curious turtle is always followed by one or two platax, small multicolored fish. Lunch on Nosy Sakatia. In the afternoon, second sighting of the turtles before returning to Nosy Be.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner

DAY 7

Nosy Be

• This day is devoted to touring the island to discover its hidden corners and savor the atmosphere. We start of course with the Hellville market, the Russian monument and the embroiderers near the port before visiting Lémurialand and the Ylang-Ylang distillery.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner

DAY 8

Nosy Be

• Free day. Many activities available from the hotel: water sports, fishing, island hikes and sea trips, scuba diving or snorkeling, motorbike and bicycle rental. Nosy Komba islands and its fishing village. A day’s visit is a real pleasure! The reception of your hotel will be able to advise and direct you for all these activities. At the end of the day, we recommend a walk to Mont Passot which offers a superb panorama of the whole island at sunset or just lazing by the sea.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner

DAY 9

Nosy Be – Ambanja – Ankarana

• Road to Ambanja. Stop at Ambanja where we will visit the cocoa plantation of Millot, one of the largest plantations in the region. Renowned worldwide, it supplies beans from major French chocolate makers. The visit lasts about 2 hours, during which we discover the different cocoa species produced in the region, their specificity, the harvesting techniques and the processing of beans. The Sambirano valley is the economic lung of the region, evidenced by the incessant comings and goings of bicycles and motorcycles thanks to which the inhabitants circulate. The road crosses the small town of Ambilobe before landing at the stage of the Tsingy of Ankarana, in an environment of dry and thorny forests.
• Night in rooms (“single” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 170 km – duration: +/- 4h00

DAY 10

Ankarana – Tsingy rouges – Joffreville

• We are leaving for a walking tour of the Tsingy Ankarana National Park.
  Endemic fauna is everywhere: lemurs, mongooses, bats, owls …
  The picturesque sites and landscapes are not to be outdone with the Tsingy Rary and the Tsingy turrets. In the village of Sadjoavato, we will make a small detour towards the village of Irodo to visit the Red Tsingy. Composed of sandstone, limestone, marl and laterite rich in iron oxide (which gives the red color), the red Tsingy are the fruit of erosion on a soil of different strata exposed by deforestation. This surreal site can be visited on foot and is particularly exotic.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 60 km – duration: +/- 2 hours

DAY 11

Montagne d’Ambre – Diego – Ramena

• Day visit to the Amber Mountain National Park. It is a quaternary volcanic complex with an area of ​​300,000 ha. The richness of the flora and fauna makes it one of the most visited parks in the North. With local guide, you will discover this site of major botanical interest, via the Way of a Thousand Trees, ranging from lichens to orchids, from various species of palm trees to “strangler” ficus, including ramy, a tree. endemic whose sap gives off a strong smell of turpentine. The animals will not be outdone with the 11 species of lemurs that live in the park, including the crowned lemur, the Sanford lemur or the mute Brookesia, one of the smallest chameleons in the world (barely 3cm in size, tail included), so small that it takes the trained eye of our guide to spot it, the uroplatus, a flat gecko nicknamed the king of camouflage as it merges with the bark of the tree on which it is hung.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 40 km – duration: +/- 1 hour

DAY 12

Ramena

• Hiking to discover the 3 bays: the Bay of Dunes, the Bay of Pigeons and the Bay of Sakalava. Easy walk on fine white sand, in a splendid setting to discover this eastern part of Diégo Suarez. Swimming is possible at Baie des Pigeons. At the end of the hike you arrive at Sakalava Bay, a renowned surf kit spot. Picnic lunch on the beach. In the afternoon, your vehicle will pick you up to take you back to town.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner

DAY 13

Ramena – Diego

• Excursion to the Emerald Sea, sea in the sea, in the magnificent translucent turquoise blue. It is located off Cape Tanifotsy which marks the entrance to Diego Bay. It is bounded by a barrier of and a string of exposed coral islets.
  We love the island of Nosy Suarez and its bushy vegetation, fringed with white sand. On the program: sunbathing, sailing, swimming, snorkeling or walking around the island with a lunch of grilled fish freshly caught and served under the huts of the beach.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner

DAY 14

Diego

• Transfer to the airport.
  End of our services.