KAYAK MASOALA

Your trip in Madagascar

Cape Masoala is a very landlocked eastern Malagasy peninsula.
Entirely covered with ancestral forests and surrounded by a turquoise sea, it is the privileged terrain of trekkers in search of authenticity. The primary forest is a tangible reality here, which is why teams of scientists from around the world come to stay there to enrich their knowledge since the mission “raft of summits”. Masoala really deserves its reputation as a “forest that falls into the sea”.
The kayak route is a progression that starts from the protected lagoon of Cape Masoala (3 days of initiation and improvement, especially for the handling of sails) to then go up the bay of Antongil to Tampolo and Ambanizana in four magnificent steps.
Navigation is protected by a safety outboard which also carries luggage and the logistics team.
If you want to sail without taking responsibility for the skipper, a member of our Malagasy staff will sail with you and take control.
A real raid to discover a generous nature, punctuated by meeting with the populations of fishermen. A complete trip “off the beaten track”.

DAY 1

Maroantsetra

• Airport reception, transfer to the port and transfer to the Pamplemousse villa for the welcome briefing and lunch or refreshment (depending on the time).
  According to your luggage and needs, small complementary races before starting the program (mosquito lotion, batteries for lamp, hat, sunglasses and emails to friends and family -cyber-.
  Visit to the interpretation center of Masoala National Park (exciting! New in 2014, creation of the Zurich zoo, then transfer to the hotel “Manga beach”.
  Dinner and overnight at the Manga beach hotel.
• Rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: lunch / dinner
• Walk: +/- 0h00

DAY 2

Maroantsetra – Cap Masoala

• Breakfast on site.
  Speedboat navigation to reach Cape Masoala.
  Navigation allows you to observe the island of Nosy-Mangabe and to do snorkelling during the lunch break. Arrival in Masoala and installation at the ecolodge, dinner and overnight on site. Note to understand that “ecolodge” means “dry toilets” (outdoor), and “bucket” shower in a flowery outdoor bathroom, to save resources and protect the environment.
  Meals, dishes and bedding, on the other hand, are at the “charm” level, with a very warm welcome in this place “cut off from the world”.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or family category with bathroom and outdoor wc).
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Boat transfer distance: 90 km – duration: +/- 6h00

DAY 3

Cap Masoala – Ecolodge

• Breakfast at the lodge.
  In the morning, paddle and sail school, then sea kayak excursion in the lagoon facing the wreck of the freighter washed up on the coral reef and snorkeling on a dream beach on the island of Nosy Behenty. Picnic on the beach. Visit the island to climb the lighthouse and discover the lagoon and the island “above”: the view is exceptional. Visit the village and meet the locals by making the “family by family” visit.
  Visit to the project (nursery and reforestation) on the hill near the school. The lodge finances and runs a reforestation program as part of the “Masoala generation” project to revitalize the plots degraded by slash-and-burn cultivation “Tavy”.
  Dinner and overnight at the ecolodge.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or family category with external bathroom and wc).
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 3h00
  Walking: +/- 1h30

DAY 4

Cap Masoala – Ecolodge

• Navigation exercises and maneuvers around the 3 islets that close the Masoala lagoon.
  Snorkelling on the most beautiful spots. Lunch at the lodge.
  Theoretical topo on sea kayaking and exercises in the lagoon.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or family category with external bathroom and wc).
• Meals: lunch / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 4h00
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 5

Cap Masoala – Ecolodge

• Breakfast at the lodge.
  On the program of the day, sea kayak excursion to reach the end of the lagoon of Ambodilaitry (marine park) in a turquoise blue sea, with the support of the motor boat.
  Dinner and overnight at Masoala Ecolodge.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or family category with external bathroom and wc).
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 5h00
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 6

Cap Masoala – Rantranavoana

• Breakfast at the lodge.
  First stage of hike-kayak leaving the lagoon to cross the large bay of Fampotabe and follow the superb rocky coast and coastal forest of Rantingen to the closed bay of Rantranavoana whose village resembles a pirate’s landmark.
  We have built “tents” there to protect in the event of a flood.
  Dinner at Mr. Arthur’s “hotely-gasy”, and overnight in tents.
• Night in tents, WC and “basic” shower (improved campsite)
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 5h00
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 7

Rantranavoana – Ambodivasiha

• Breakfast at the lodge.
  A short hike-kayaking stage while going out crossing a small cape defended by a rocky coast dressed in dense forest, to lead to two superb bays and join the most beautiful snorkelling spot in the area a few hundred meters from our stage.
  Picnic on the beach and short hike in the forest around the village of Ankasofotsy (fishing village).
  Dinner in our shelter base camp, and overnight in tents in Ambodivasiha.
• Night in tents, WC and “basic” shower (improved campsite)
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 3h00
  Walking: +/- 1h30

DAY 8

Ambodivasiha – Antalaviana – Tampolo

• Breakfast on site.
  Great sea kayaking stage that begins by reaching Antalaviana Bay along an impenetrable forest coast, then you sail between the reef rock formations (marine tsingy) of the Tampolo marine park and you reach the comfortable lodge stage before enjoying an exceptional snorkelling spot.
  Dinner and overnight at Arolodge.
• Night in rooms and bungalows (“single” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc)
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 6:00 a.m.
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 9

Tampolo – Ambanizana

• Breakfast on site.
  Last stage of sea kayaking which begins by zigzagging between the rocks of the marine park to then follow the coast and navigate observing “the forest that falls into the sea”.
  We then arrive on the immense beach of Ambanizana and we enter its river to rinse the boats with fresh water and proceed with dismantling.
  Visit the village.
  Dinner at the village hotely-gasy and overnight in tents.
• Night in tents, WC and “basic” shower (improved campsite)
• Meals: picnic / dinner
• Sea kayaking: 4h00
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 10

Ambanizana – Maroantsetra

• Breakfast on site.
  Board a speedboat to cross the bay and reach the island of Nosy Mangabe.
  Installation of the camp near a waterfall that serves as a shower.
  Circuit in the forest to discover the flora and fauna of the island, special mention for the “Uroplatus” and the bands of lemurs which approach very close to the camp.
  The Dutch beach has a nice surprise: rocks carved in the 18th century by the navigators of the spice route.
  The setting is magnificent.
  Dinner and overnight at the Manga Beach hotel.
• Night at the hotel. Rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Dinner and overnight at the Manga Beach hotel.
• Walking: +/- 2h30
  Type of transfer: boat 1h30

DAY 11

Maroantsetra

• Breakfast on site.
  Transfer to the aerodrome and assistance with check-in.
  End of our services.