Masoala & Anjajavy Itinerary
Explore Madagascar's nature, wildlife, beaches and culture while staying at two beautiful eco-lodges in the northeast and northwest of the island, enjoying fine cuisine and excellent hospitality.
11 days from £10,935pp plus international flights.
Full itinerary
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Call: 01473 890499
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Day 1
Arrive in Antananarivo
Welcome to Madagascar. When your flight touches down at the airport at Antananarivo (Tana for short) you are met and transferred to your city hotel, Maison Gallieni. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax after your long flight.
© Louise Jasper, Masoala Forest Lodge
Day 2
Fly to Masoala National Park
You are met and taken to the private charter terminal at Tana airport for the 90-minute flight over the rugged hills and rainforests of eastern Madagascar. You are met by staff members from Masoala Forest Lodge and transferred to the harbour to take a boat across Antongil Bay to the lodge. On arrival, you receive a warm welcome with fresh local juice. Settle into your bungalow and then later join the other guests for sundowners and dinner.
Breakfast, dinner
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Day 3
Masoala Forest Lodge
Start the day early with coffee and breakfast on the main deck before setting off on today's adventure. Take a quick boat ride up the coast in search of red-ruffed lemurs and other endemic wildlife. After exploring the forest with giant hardwoods and impressive ferns, return to the lodge for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon choose from snorkelling or perhaps a gentle paddle to scenic spot in search of green turtles, or simply chill in a hammock underneath one of the beachfront palm trees. After dinner this evening, embark on a guided night walk and seek out some of the secretive nocturnal wildlife such as mouse lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos or even the elusive aye-aye.
Full board
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Day 4
Masoala Forest Lodge
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast on the deck before setting of on a guided walk through the coastal forest in search of more birds, mammal sand reptiles. Take a refreshing swim in the clear waters of the Tampolo waterfall. Returning to camp you will be paddled gently along the Tampolo river by dugout canoe. After lunch you get a glimpse into local life with a visit to Ambodiforaha village. The women of the village will perform a traditional song and dance. Late afternoon board a traditional pirogue, and watch the sun set on another stunning day. Back at the lodge enjoy a traditional Malagasy meal before setting out on another night walk in the private reserve.
Full board
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Day 5
To Antananarivo
It's time to leave Masoala Forest Lodge. Return to the airport by boat and car and board a flight to Tana. You'll be met here and transferred to your hotel. Having dropped off your bags you embark on a guided tour of the old city and upper town that form Tana's historic centre. The skyline is dominated by the Rova, or Queen's Palace from where you get great views over the rest of the city. You drive or walk through the upper town with its colonial architecture, impressive palaces, churches and cobblestoned streets. After the tour, you return to your hotel.
Breakfast
© Anjajavy L'Hotel
Day 6
To Anjajavy
After breakfast, it's time to return to the airport for the charter flight to Anjajavy on the western coast of Madagascar. Anjajavy L' Hôtel is a member of Relais & Châteaux, it's the perfect place to end any trip to Madagascar. The lodge is surrounded by a 550 hectare reserve. You'll find dry deciduous forest made up of palissandre trees, ebony trees and baobabs amongst others; a protected mangrove; tsingy, which is a unique limestone rock formation and beautiful beaches. The reserve is home to a variety of lemurs, reptiles and other endemic flora and fauna - it's nature's paradise.
Full board
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Day 7
Anjajavy
Wake up in paradise! Gazing from at the azure waters of the Mozambique Channel from your terrace you can contemplate the day ahead. The hotel is set 550 hectares of private, un-spoilt reserve where rosewood and baobab trees shelter lemurs, chameleons and birds of paradise. You can take a walk, with or without a guide as you wish, to explore this pristine environment, taking in caves and creeks. In the afternoon why not take it easy by the beach, sunbathing, snorkelling or enjoying a tranquil catamaran cruise. Round off your day with a gorgeous dinner under the stars on the terrace or maybe on the beach.
Full board
© Anjajavy L'Hotel
Day 8
Anjajavy
The Crab Path Walk could be an option for today. Follow the path lined with baobabs and tsingy walls through to mangrove swamps where you find the famous hairy crabs. At the foot of the tsingy wall is the entrance shaft to a fossil cave which you can enter, there are fossils of extinct giant lemurs. This walk is guided. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach before sitting down to another delectable dinner.
Full board
© Anjajavy L'Hotel
Day 9
Anjajavy
Join your guide for another interesting walk known as the Tsingy Enclosure. It's an easy trail though the path is rocky and steep in parts. The dry deciduous forest is typical of western Madagascar, comprised of palisanders, tamarind trees and baobabs. At the end of the forest, in a clearing you will find stunning rock formations carved by nature, some as thin as lace. Return to the hotel and freshen up before another delicious meal served on the beach.
Full board
© Anjajavy L'Hotel
Day 10
Anjajavy
Today you might want to take time to visit Anjajavy village, meeting fishermen as they return with their catch, watching women skilfully embroidering material and, of course, getting a warm and rousing welcome from the children at the school. The hotel is closely involved in a number of village projects and this visit is an uplifting way to begin your day. Back at the hotel, cool off with a swim in the pool and let yourself be pampered with a massage in the spa villa. Suitably refreshed you can take a walk in the oasis gardens, designed by Parisian landscape gardener Camille Muller, before sundowners and dinner.
Full board
© Anjajavy L'Hotel
Day 11
Depart
This morning you'll enjoy a leisurely breakfast before being transferred to the airport for the charter flight back to Tana, where the holiday concludes. You should get some fine views of the peninsula as you depart as well as of rice paddies when you near the capital. If you want to extend your time in paradise (who doesn't?!) we can arrange extra nights for you.
Breakfast
Call: 01473 890499
Start planning your tailor-made holiday now. Tell us what you want, and we will tailor make your perfect trip.
Enquire
