NATIONAL ROAD N° 5

Your 4×4 trip in Madagascar

You leave the asphalt road at “Soanirana-Ivango” and the first ferry of the RN5 to reach the dust road, and what a track! Difficult then to believe that it can still be called “national road” … when the hourly average approaches 11 km / hour. At this pace, you have time to appreciate landscapes and encounters, all the more so because the ferry passages encourage discussion and heighten curiosity, the average wait time for each ferry approaching an hour. A formula which combines the comfort of the 4 × 4, the slowness and the discovery, because “slowness is a pledge of discovery”, and nothing is used to run in this nonchalant atmosphere of the east coast since it is about appreciate each crumb, without losing a drop of this tropical nectar that makes the « magic of the place », as J.C Guillebaud says so well.

DAY 1

Tana – Andasibe

• Depart for Andasibe, a free lunch stop in Moramanga and visit the market. Transfer to the Eulophiélla site to stop there; orchid park and nocturnal visit to observe the small lemurs (microcebus and chirogalus).
• Night in bungalows (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: dinner.
  Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road: 140 km – duration: +/- 3h30 Walk: +/- 1h00

DAY 2

Andasibe – Toamasina – Foulpointe – Mahambo

• Early morning visit to Andasibe Park to observe the Indri-Indri, a few dozen kilometers away, visit to the craft cooperative in Ambavaniasa. Free lunch. City tour in Toamasina. Drive to Foulpointe and Mahambo in the afternoon.
• Night in rooms (“comfort” category DBL or TWN with bathroom and wc).
• Continental breakfast
  Dinner at the restaurant
• Transfer distance by road: 320 km – duration: +/- 6h30 Walk: +/- 2h00

DAY 3

Mahambo – Soanieran’Ivongo – Manompana

• Early in the morning, you have to reach the traffic jam of the Soanirana Ivongo ferry to then tackle the sandy track of the RN 5, three ferries to pass in the most perfect disorganization that allows you to observe the daily life of residents. Lunch in Manompana, feet in the water in front of the pretty bay of Tintingue. Quiet afternoon in the village or on the beach.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road and track: 100 km – duration: +/- 4h30

DAY 4

Manompana – Antanambe

• Early in the morning, you must take the RN 5 track back with two ferries to pass. Short hike in Mananara-North National Park. Mananara Park is classified as a “biosphere reserve, classified by UNESCO”. Picnic by a pretty waterfall. Back to Antanambe, our stage of the day in front of a magnificent bay.
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Transfer distance by road and track: 30 km – duration: +/- 2h30 Walk: +/- 2h00

DAY 5

Antanambe – Sahasoa

• Departure by motorboat to reach the island “Nosy Antafana” which locates the marine park of the same name. Picnic on the island and rigorous snorkeling. Return by boat to Sahasoa. Dinner and overnight at the “lodge of the association of fishermen’s wives”.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road and track: 20 km – duration: +/- 1h30 Motorboat crossing: duration: +/- 1h30
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 6

Sahasoa – Mananara-nord – Maroantsetra

• We’re leaving at dawn. Here the track becomes bad, expect to be shaken by the stairs that must be climbed wheel by wheel. The driver performs driving prowess to cross ruts and mud passages, but even more when it comes to crossing another vehicle in the tracks … Upon arrival at
  Mananara, you will be directed to the beach to embark on a boat that links to Maroantsetra. Picnic on board.
  Depending on the tide schedule, the boat cannot dock at the port and passengers are transhipped. Dinner and overnight at Maroantsetra.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner.
• Transfer distance by road and track: 35 km – duration: +/- 1h30 Motorboat crossing: duration: +/- 04h30
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 7

Nosy-Mangabe – Maroantsetra

• The island of Nosy- Mangabe (special reserve) located at the bottom of the Antongil bay is a sanctuary of intact biodiversity: somewhat shy lemurs, Uroplatus, birds … In addition, the Dutch beach is remarkable for its rocks engraved in the XVII ° century by pirates. You will love the shower in the waterfall: dream setting. Return to Maroantsetra in the afternoon, visit the remarkable interpretation center of Masoala Park, created by the Zurich Zoo. Dinner and overnight at Maroantsetra.
• Night in bungalows (“simple” DBL or TWN category with bathroom and wc).
• Meals: Continental breakfast / dinner
• Transfer distance by road and track: 35 km – duration: +/- 1h30 Motorboat crossing: duration: +/- 04h30
  Walk: +/- 0:30

DAY 8

Maroantsetra

• Transfer to the aerodrome for your return flight to Antananarivo (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday).
• Meals: Continental breakfast.