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Vakona Forest Lodge is a short drive from Andasibe village and the park entrance, in a pristine rainforest setting. The 28 bungalows are spread throughout the gardens and consist of 7 doubles, 3 twins, 7 triples and 10 family units which can accommodate up to 4 people each. All have private bathrooms, mosquito nets, fridge and safe. They have shaded verandas where you can enjoy views of the lush gardens.
The restaurant is at the centre of the complex. It's a large room which opens out onto a terrace, so you can dine indoors or in the open air as you prefer. There are several recreational areas including a TV lounge and games area where you can play snooker table or table tennis. Trails lead you through the gardens, offering chances to admire the plant life and watch for animals. You can visit the lodge's private park to look for lemurs, and, if feeling energetic, go canoeing and horse riding. There's a swimming pool where you can cool off on a hot day.
Open: Vakona Forest Lodge is open all year.
Location: The lodge is about a 20 minute drive from Andasibe National Park and Andasibe town. It is about a 3 hour drive from the capital, Antananarivo.
Rooms: There are 28 guest rooms, composed of 3 twins, 8 doubles, 7 triples and 10 family rooms. All have heaters which make them cosy on chilly evenings, small fridges to keep drinks cool, a safe and mosquito nets. Each room has an en-suite bathroom.
Activities: Visiting Andasibe National Park and Mantadia National Park about an hour’s drive away. You can also explore the lodge’s own private reserve which includes Lemur Island and a crocodile farm. Horse riding and canoeing can be arranged.
Facilities: There is an outdoor swimming pool and sunbathing deck. The restaurant is kept warm by an open fire and leads out to a wide terrace overlooking a lake. There is a lounge where you can watch TV, play table tennis and pool, and read books from the library. The lodge has a bar.
Dining: Meals are eaten at individual tables in the restaurant and out on the terrace.
Children: Children of all ages are welcome. The family bungalows sleep up to 4 people with 2 extra space provided by a mezzanine floor. The minimum age for visiting Lemur Island is 8 years.
Health: This is a malarial area.
Communication: There is Wi-Fi internet access.
A comprehensive overview of Madagascar's flora, fauna and landscapes, this trip is very hard to beat.
See lemurs, chameleons and orchids, enjoy forest hikes, speedboat rides and relaxed beach time - all in just 12 precious days.
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0"At this lodge you really feel like you're in the rainforest (which you are, albeit not the park itself). The rooms are comfortable, and have heating for the coolers nights which you can get here. The pool was nice to have, and there are some great walks you can do around here. One of the lodge's attractions is Lemur island, which might be a bit zoo-like, but it is actually great to get close to lemurs and get some good photos."