SAINTE MARIE KAYAK

Your trip in Madagascar

Sainte Marie has everything to please; superb beaches, a turquoise lagoon, wooded hills and rice fields upstairs, few vehicles and a well maintained network, a welcoming population that eats its fill. This tongue of land posed 10 km from the east coast of the mainland is undoubtedly a small paradise that we will discover in the most beautiful way, by sea. The east coast of Madagascar, particularly the island of Sainte Marie and Antongil Bay served as a hideout for pirates who scoured the Indian Ocean. The island of the forbidden and its pirate cemetery bear witness to this with the tombs engraved with crossed shins and moving epitaphs. The Dutch, then the English and finally the French colonized this island in 1550, as it is ideally located on the route to the Indies. We will therefore sail around the island, favoring the east coast and its magnificent coral reef.

DAY 1

• Reception either at the airport or at Ambodifotatra, for those who come by boat from the big island. From there, a “tuk-tuk” race takes you along the beach, south of Nosy Boraha (Malagasy) to reach Île aux Mattes which will serve as a starting point and introduction to sea kayaking. This island Rounded 5 km by 3.5 km approximately is a kind of postcard of the tropical Eden. Surrounded by a fringe of white sand, lush in devil, devoid of electricity and motor vehicles, the place really takes from the original paradise.
  A paradise certainly quite populated: near several villages, some hotels occupy its coasts.
  After settling in at the bungalow hotel, discover your kayak and its handling in the marvelous lagoon studded with corral concretions.
• Type of accommodation: charming hotel in TPL and QAD rooms
• Boat crossing: 3h00
  tuk-tuk: 0:30 a.m.
  sea ​​kayaking: 1h30

DAY 2 and DAY 3

• Two days to discover the lagoon, and familiarize yourself with the handling of the sea kayak. Progress in paddling and sailing … here everything is calm, beauty and pleasure. Rigorous snorkeling at the kayak break.
  The supervision of this activity is provided by Luc BABIN, French guide speaking Malagasy and his assistant Jolistin who is currently the only local expert in Mada sea kayaking.
  The fleet is made up of 5 demountable two-seater boats of the KLEPPER brand (THE reference), which makes it possible to sail in a flotilla to guarantee everyone’s safety. Knowing how to swim is an imperative condition and a swimming test will be organized on site.
  Each participant will be required to wear a high performance safety vest.
  The morning is devoted to sea kayaking, the afternoon to visit the island of mats, meet its inhabitants and get to know the Malagasy atmosphere.
• Type of accommodation: in rustic DBL and TWN bungalows with shared toilets and showers.
• Sea ​​kayaking: 4h30

DAY 4

• Breakfast at the hotel. Departure of the kayak raid along the eastern side of the island. A first step leads to the very beautiful hotel in Boraha village, refined and very characteristic for its superb pontoon which leads to an aperitif terrace on stilts. This day of sailing will be decisive in setting up our wing for sailing kayaks in a comfortable pace. A snorkeling stop is planned at the most suitable place to dive in the tropical aquarium, before the picnic break. The lagoon becomes very wide on this portion of the island, and we sail on a sea sometimes emerald color and sometimes turquoise blue, crossing here and there fishermen in dugouts.
• Type of accommodation: charming hotel in TPL and QAD rooms
• Sea ​​kayaking: 4h30

DAY 5

• Breakfast at the hotel. This day of navigation will allow you to reach the far north of the protected lagoon of Île Sainte Marie by following the Ampanihy peninsula, after zigzagging between the stakes of algae cultivation fields and crossing fishermen in canoes. We abandon our kayaks at the exit of the lagoon because the sea is no longer navigable then … and after having entrusted our boats under good guard, we finish the stage with a beach hike to reach the improbable hotel whose bungalows are placed on the dune, facing the sea. Here, we feel far, far, far …
• Accommodation type: charming hotel in DBL and TWN rooms
• Sea ​​kayaking: 5:30 am
  walk: 1 hour

DAY 6

• Breakfast at the hotel. We then have to head south and the morning begins with a walk on the beach to reach our boats. Then we sail against the wind, which means that we have to carry out sailing maneuvers in the lagoon to reach the tip of the Ampanihy peninsula, which allows us to enter the mangrove and navigate to the pontoon hidden in the mangroves which opens the way to a local inn whose rustic authenticity you will appreciate! It is a stage of meeting and sharing with the most landlocked inhabitants of this part of the island.
• Type of accommodation: in rustic bungalows with sanitary facilities and outdoor showers.
• Sea ​​kayaking: 4h30
  walk: 1 hour

DAY 7

• Breakfast at the hostel, taking the time to talk, chat and meet these lovely people at heart. Here, you will fill up with wild honey for the great happiness of your health and the cook will make you fall in love with her recipe for stuffed crabs. On the other hand, the place is rustic and the drinks “not cold” … then you have to leave to sail south and reach the beautiful hotel in Boraha village. We will take advantage of the end of the afternoon to visit the center for the study of humpback whales, because Sainte Marie is renowned for the observation, study and protection of these large marine mammals.
• Type of accommodation: charming hotel in TPL and QAD rooms
• Sea ​​kayaking: 4h30

DAY 8

• This last navigation step will take us to Ambodifotatra, the “capital” of the island.
  The hotel team carries us the kayaks to reach a mangrove which crosses the island in width and allows us to reach the west coast by an aquatic labyrinth under the branches of the mangrove.
  The small town is still dominated by the former Indian company fort which cannot be visited due to military barracks. A tunnel connected the fort to Forban Island in the center of the bay. The Catholic church dates from 1837, the oldest in Madagascar.
  A visit to the pirate cemetery provides an opportunity to dive into Malagasy history. The kayak tour ends here and in the afternoon you can shop at the artisans of the small town of Ambodifotatra.
• Type of accommodation: in DBL and TWN rooms
• Sea ​​kayaking: 2h30

DAY 9

• End of our services after your transfer to the port or the airport depending on the return transport you have chosen.