OVERVIEW
This two weeks tour to the East by 4x4 is a great opportunity to enjoy the easy-accessible green forest full of wildlife and one of the best islands of Madagascar. This tour takes you to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Perinet) with his unique wildlife, orchids, other rare plants, many species of lemurs, reptiles, and amphibians. The Palmarium reserve is a combination of beach as « nest-of-dream » in contact with different lemurs species including the aye-aye or Daubentonia madagascariensis. The final destination is the paradise of Sainte Marie surrounded by white sand and coconut palms. You can go for whale watching tour from mid-June to September to see humpback whales. It is even more attractive. It is the best option for people who do not want to take internal flight. Indeed, the internal flight is often cancelled at last minutes for “technical reason”. Therefore, it is recommended to drive go-and-back if you are two persons and more.
NB:
=> This is a Midrange Proposal. Let us know your Budget if you are looking for an Economy Madagascar Travel Offer
=> Visit our blog sobehatour.com
=> Contact us if you are looking for a customized Madagascar tailormade tour
DETAIL OF TOUR
Day 01 Antananarivo - Andasibe
The tour starts in Antananarivo. Drive accross the centre city before taking the national road number two (RN2) that connect the capital of Madagascar to the biggest port of the country. Visit of Perieyras reserve an exotic park to see sifaka, common brown lemurs, chameleons, snakes, and frogs. Continuation to Andasibe. Nightwalk at nightfall to see mouselemurs, amphibians and reptile especially chameleons. Night at hotel Cyperus
Day 02 Andasibe
Visit of Andasibe national park in the morning for 04 hours at least. This is the best place to experience wildlife in rainforest.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is a protected rainforest area in eastern Madagascar. The park includes the Analamazaotra Reserve, home to the large indri lemur, which is known for its distinctively loud song. The park’s rich biodiversity includes native species like the big Parson’s chameleon, plus rare orchids and ferns. Trail circuits weave through dense forest, lakes and the Sacred Waterfall. You can choose yours with the guide of parks.
Visit of the Vakona reserve in afternoon where you can feed, touch lemurs and make a selfie with one of them on your shoulder. In addition to the brown lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs and the bamboo lemurs in the main island, you can go for a canoe tour to see the red ruffed lemurs, and the ringtailed lemur or lemur catta.
After the island of lemurs, you can visit the lake of crocodile with some animal in cage including the fosa or cryptocropta ferox, snakes, and birds. There is also a small representative of house construction in betsimisaraka ethnic group. Night at hotel Cyperus
Day 03 Andasibe - Manambato - Palmarium
Back to the national road, drive past Antsampanana and Brickaville. Antsampanana is one of the famous place to experience Madagascar market. Bananas, corrosol, letchi, pocanel and other fruit arrive from villages along the canal of pangalanes by raft, boat and train. Short drive off-road to join Manambato in border of the lake Rasoabe which is one of the biggest lakes of the canal of pangalanes. Manambato is a truly enchanting place, one of the most attractive spots of the East Region. You can see litchi-tree, cloves-tree, cinnamon tree along the road.
The canal of Pangalanes is a chain of fresh water lakes (400km long) linked by canals along the Indian Ocean coast. These two waters are only separated by a narrow stretch of land. Historically, these lakes where put together by the French colonists to allow the transportation from the south to the North. The cargo trip ended in Tamatave, the main exporting port of Madagascar. Indeed, the Indian Ocean is too rough to sail along the eastern coast of Madagascar. Your expedition along the Pangalanes Channel starts from here: you will travel by boat for one hour to reach Ankanin’ny nofy, literally the “nest of dreams”. Night at hotel Palmarium
Day 04 Palmarium
The Lodge of Palmarium is the biggest infrastructure of 46Ha in the canal of pangalanes at Akanin’ny Nofy or « nest of dream » at the Lake Ampitabe. This reserve aims to showcase both the varied palm and orchid species in Madagascar – hence the name-. The reserve of Palmarium is a tropical garden full of flowering orchids recommended for botanists. Different species of lemurs from all around Madagascar are introduced and live peacefully into the garden. They are also more habituated to human contact and offer the visitors the ability to get close-up photos with lemurs that you may not get to see if you are only visiting a couple of habitats.
Bungalows are built with local materials like stones, bamboo and palm with en suite bathroom and shower, mosquito nets, private terrace with hammock and easy chairs. Lemurs often come to play on the trees next to the restaurant.
Activities at Palmarium Lodge include guided morning walks in Palmarium Reserve (included) to see the various types of lemurs.
At nightfall, you take a boat to see the rare nocturnal Aye Aye lemur called daubentonia Madagscariensis (included). These eerie hairy creatures destroy plantation and coconut fruit in their natural habitat with his long fingers. Their strange-looking face are considered as a symbol of bad luck for the one who meet them at night in deep forest. All that make them chased by farmers. This species is listed as endangered by IUCN and in CITES Appendix I.
Night at hotel Palmarium
Day 05 Palmarium
Beach time in Palmarium : This day you can relax on the lodge’s sandy beach and enjoy swimming in the clear blue waters of the lake. You can also, on your expense, take a boat and go to visit the typical village of Andranokoditra to know more about the betsimisaraka tribe and their culture. Night at hotel Palmarium
Day 06 Palmarium - Tamatave
The boat departure is scheduled right after breakfast but it depends to the final decision of the hotel as they have limited boat for all guest transfer. You leave Palmarium « the nest of dream » and travel by boat along the canal of Pangalanes for more than three hours. All along this expedition, you will enjoy the unique lifestyle along the canal. Accross big lakes connected one another by narrow canals, you will meet local people swimming, washing kitchen tools, fishing in their small « pirogue » with traditional fishing materials, and bigger cargo full of charcoal and timbers. This boat trip will progressively “re-adapt” you to the modern and noisy civilization! Once you land in Tamatave, the peaceful time you had in Lake Ampitabe seems far away. Transfer to the hotel. Our driver can take you to the restaurant of your choice if you prefer to have diner (in your expense) out of the hotel! Night at hotel H1
Day 07 Tamatave - Foulpointe - Mahambo
Tour of the city of Tamatave : Bazary be, the cityhall with palm trees, and the long beach in front of the biggest ports of Madagascar.
Departure to Foulpointe, located 90 Km north of Tamatave. You will drive along the coast where you can buy coconuts straight from the roadside.
Departure to Mahambo in afternoon. Visit of the Fort Manda of Foulpointe on the way. This is a historic site built in the 19th century to prevent foreign invasion from sea. The thick, timeless walls are made of eggshells, sand and water. The Fort Manda is an old building with no furniture left. People bring offerings to the old tree in the yard to seek blessings from the ancestors' spirits. Arrival to Mahambo late in afternoon. Night at hotel La Pirogue
Day 08 Mahambo - Sainte Marie
The boat transfer to Sainte Marie can start from Mahambo or Soanierana Ivongo depending to the circumstance. Departure time is adjusted according to the road condition and boarding dock. While boarding in, you will see that the boat-transfer is the best option to come-and-go to Sainte Marie from mainland of Madagascar. The transfer will last from one to three hours. A lot of Sainte Marie inhabitants go to Tamatave for shopping and use the ferry to bring back home chickens, groceries, bikes… Fortunately the Ferry service is well organized and more confortable than cargo-boat. The driver/guide will stay with the car in Mahambo or Soanierana Ivongo. You will be in Sainte Marie on your own. Transfers dock – hotel is included and ensured by the hotel. Night at hotel Libertalia
Day 09, 10, 11, 12 Sainte
Beach time in Sainte Marie Island at hotel Libertalia. You are free to choose your activity (on your expense):
The best way to move around is by bicycle or motor bike. You can rent a mountain bike to go east coast to visit pirate graveyards or just ride along the beach and villages. You can go to “Ile aux Nattes” at the very south of Ste Marie, then take a canoe to go across the lagoon to the other side. The tour of the island on foot along the beach is enchanting. Small restaurants or hotels are along the way to stop for lunch or to refresh. You have a possibility for a sea activity, diving or snorkelling towards the coral reef in this clear water.
When you feel like lazy, you can spend your time at the hotel. Your hotel is nestled amongst lush tropical vegetation with a nice accomodation. This charming hotel has a nice private beach, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or a drink at the bar. A terrace or balcony are featured in certain rooms. You can share your nice time with your friend as there is WiFi. Bike hire is available at the hotel. Night at hotel Libertalia
Day 13 Sainte Marie – Mahambo – Tamatave
Early transfer from the hotel to the dock (included) in charge of the hotel. You take the boat back to Soanierana Ivongo or to Mahambo. You will meet the driver on your arrival. Departure to Tamatave. You can stop according to the interest. There is no real planning as you didi the same road few days ago. Night at the hotel H1
Day 14 Tamatave - Antananarivo
Departure to Antananarivo early in the morning. Stop according to the interest on the road. There is no real planning as you didi the same road few days ago. It will be a long drive in intense traffic. Our Driver can drop you off at your hotel or at the airport. Hotel in antananarivo not included. END OF OUR SERVICE
Important Notice :
- This is a midrange proposal or ADVANCED. Let us know your Budget and we will design a customized tour especially for you
- Price is per person sharing room as double occupancy. Departure is guarantee for 02 persons. Contact us for Single Price
- Are included into the price: 4X4, fuel, Driver Speaking Basic French and English, Tour Guide Speaking Good English, all listed activities (entrance and guide of park, night walk), aye-aye tour in Palmarium, boat transfers (Manambato – Palmarium – Tamatave) and Boat transfer from Mahambo (or Soanierana IVongo) to Sainte Marie, your hotel and breakfast,
- Are NOT included: lunch, diner, beverage and alcohol, additional activities, tips
- Please to specify if you need an AC car while booking otherwise you may have no-AC car
- Payment modality: bank transfer or VISA/Master Card or CASH on arrival. We accept USD and Euro with exchange rate online.
- Contact us for further detail. You can ask for tailor made tour according to your length of stay, your wish-to-see-list, your category of hotel, and your budget
