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The Jungle-Beach vacation – 12 days

Where the rainforest meets the Ocean.

A trip combining an exploration of the Malagasy jungles and its wonderful beaches both by the Mozambique Channel in the East or the Indian Ocean side in the east. This is a flexible and customizable trip.

You will start by a wildlife safari at Andasibe-Périnet – a compulsory stage for all wildlife lovers. It is an exploratory journey inside this biodiversity hotspot. You will encounter several species of endemic animals including the largest of all lemurs called Indri.
Then, you will get deeper in into the equatorial primary rainforest and three marine reserves of the Masoala region. This is the largest protected area of Madagascar and one of the top five hotspots for biodiversity in the world. This rich but fragile marine and terrestrial ecosystem is worth a real exploration.
Masoala National Park is almost the heart of the Malagasy rainforest and classified a world heritage by the UNESCO.
One should also know that Masoala itself has an extraordinary beach at the Marine Reserve of Tampolo. A real unspoilt and turquoise sea surrounded by the forest at the back side and the corral reefs at the front side. One can easily spend days in the quiet part of the world.

One can chose either to stay longer at Masoala or head to the west-coast of Madagascar – where it is drier and warmer like following destinations:

  • Nosy Be Island – by the Mozambique Channel
  • Sainte Marie Island – by the Indian Ocean
  • Anjajavy Island – by the Mozambique Channel
  • Nosy Saba Island – by the Mozambique Channel

Detailed itinerary

  • Hiking
  • Canoeing
  • Wildlife safari
  • Botanical exploration
  • Birdwatching
  • Nocturnal walks
  • Cultural immersion
  • Kayaking
  • Snorkelling
  • Possibility of diving
  • The deep and primary rainforest of Masoala National Park and its biodiversity: lemurs, birds, reptiles and more – and its marine reserve.
  • The primary forest and biodiversity of Andasibe/Mantadia National Park
  • The dry and dense deciduous rainforest of the western coast
  • The landscapes of the highlands and the east slope
  • The seascapes of Nosy Be/Sainte Marie and/or Anjajavy
  • The cultural interaction with the Merina, Betsimisaraka and Antakarana tribes
  • The spices plantations of Nosy Be
  • Whale-watching in Sainte Marie, if chosen
  • Whale-shark watching in Nosy Be, if chosen
  • The marine Reserve of Nosy Be / Sainte Marie and/or Anjanjavy.

Itinerary outline

  • Antananarivo
  • Andasibe/Analamazaotra
  • Maroantsetra
  • Antananarivo
  • Nosy Be or Sainte Marie or Anjajavy
  • Antananarivo

The Jungle-Beach vacation – 12 days

Arrival in Antananarivo.
You will be met at the airport. Transfer to the hotel and briefing.
Drive eastwards to Andasibe throughout the eastern slopes.
En route, visit the reserve of Peyrieras at Mandraka.
In Andasibe, visit of VOIMMA nature reserve managed by the local community.
Night walk.
   

Hike at Mantadia Reserve – a primary rainforest.

   

Hike at Analamazaotra National Park and visit of Lemurs’ Island.
Drive back to Antananarivo.

   

Fly to Maroantsetra. City tour and visit of vanilla workshops.
Rest of the day at leisure. Note: most boat transfers to Masoala are done only in early morning due to the state of the wind.

     

Early morning boat transfer to Masoala. Exploration of the jungle of rainforest. Rest of the day at leisure.
In the evening, night walks to spot nocturnal active animals.

      

Day at leisure at the wild and turquoise lagoon of marine reserve.

  

Boat transfer to Maroantsetra. Fly back to Antananarivo.

 

Trip notes

Plan trip to Madagascar

Departure

Any day
>> How to book a tour

Trip planning

Period

April to November.
- Humpback whales arrive in Madagascar around June and leave around September.
- The cyclonic season in Madagascar starts in January to end around March.

Madagascar best transportations

Transportations

4WD - Motorboats - Domestic flights
This tour is subject to flight schedules otherwise it can be done by private flights
>> Transportation standard

Accommodation in Madagascar

Accommodations

Hotels - Lodges
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Madagascar plan

City of departure

Antananarivo, the Capital city.

Leisurely hike in Madagascar

Ease of access

Medium

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