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Andasibe, the Pangalanes Canal and Sainte Marie

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Price €900 10 Days
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Andasibe, the Pangalanes Canal and Sainte Marie

€900 per person

A tour that embraces the most Eastern Madagascar has to offer. You’ll love the laid back tropical feel, but at the same time you want to experience a different world. Most probably, you are also after one of the experiences of a lifetime, watch the humpback whales from June to September.

Highlights
Andasibe National Park, Pangalanes Canal, Palmarium Reserve, Iles aux Prunes, Sainte Marie
Departure/Arrival
Antananarivo
When to Go
June - December
Included
Private Car with English speaking driver from Antananarivo to Mahambo | Entry Fee of Mentioned Excursions/parks | Hotels on Dinner and Bed and Breakfast basis | River boat Manambato - Palmarium - Manambato | Public Ferry Mahambo Sainte Marie | Transfer Port - Hotel - Airport in Sainte Marie
Not Included
Domestic Flight | Lunches | Drinks | Personal Expenses | Anything not Mentioned in Included
What to Bring
Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes , hat and warm light jacket and light trench coat.
Options
Add an expert guide for €150, from day 1 to day 7

Prices per person

  • 1 Traveler €2000, 1 single  
  • 2 Travelers €1350, 1 tw/dbl  
  • 3 Travelers €1150, 1 tpl  
  • 4 Travelers €1050, 2 tw/dbl  
  • 5 Travelers €1000, 1 tw/dbl + 1 tpl
  • 6 Travelers €900, 3 tw/dbl 

For more options, please contact us

1
Day 1 Antananarivo – Andasibe 140 km, 4 hours' drive
Meet and greet at your hotel after breakfast and we depart east towards our first stop, Andasibe. About two hours into our journey we will stop at the Private reserve of Peyrieras where we can see beautiful butterflies, chameleons and other insects to the amazing appearance, all endemic to Madagascar. We then continue towards Andasibe. Upon arrival, and a lunch break, we will visit Mitsinjo Private reserve, where the locals have been able to recover part of the old primary forest through conservation programs and reforestation of endemic trees and plants. Part of what is now Mitsinjo Reserve, used to be part of slash and burn agricultural land.The reserve is also work for over 40 people. After dark we will walk the perimeter of the Park of Andasibe looking for nocturnal lemurs. Hotel Lemurs Feony Ala or similar.
2
Day 2 Andasibe
A true paradise for nature lovers, the Andasibe Mantadia National Park enjoys a rich and incredible flora and fauna. Hopefully  we will see some of the 14 species of lemurs, 51 species of reptiles and 84 species of amphibian. Normally we see up to 5 species of lemurs in a day. Among the lemurs we will probably see and hear the biggest of all, the indri, then with some effort we will be able to see the black and white ruffed lemur and the sifaka diademed to mention a few. With a little bit of luck we will also see some chameleons. The hike is not too difficult but expect mud and mosquitoes, it will last approximately 4/5 hours or more if you wish. The afternoon, we will visit Vakona Reserve where we will have the chance to see different species of lemurs from very close range. Hotel Lemurs Feony Ala or similar.
3
Day 3 Andasibe – Palmarium 140 km, 3 hours' drive
Back on the Route National 2, towards the East. 10 km past Brickaville, we take a small track towards Manambato, we are now in the Pangalanes Canal area. It will take almost 1 hour to cover little over than 8 km. The Canal of the Pangalanes, was built at the beginning of the last century, it is a series of waterways that stretches for over 400 miles from Foulpointe to Farafangana. We will enjoy the ride by a motorized boat to Lake Ampitabe. As soon as we arrive, we will check into our hotel and lunch break. Afternoon at leisure by the beach of this amazing lake. This place has a small forest station that holds many species of wildlife such as frogs, snakes and tortoises to mention a few. Let's not forget lemurs that we will chase away. After sunset we will have a short night walk looking for nocturnal wildlife. Hotel Palmarium or similar.
4
Day 4 Palmarium
Morning guided tour of this amazing reserve of Palmarium, we can see from close range up to 9 species of lemurs. The visit last about two hours. Later on we will walk along the shore of the lake to the coastal village of Andranokoditra. It is a pleasant walk and the locals at the village are very friendly. We will see the fishermen returning from the ocean with their catch of the day and have a love lunch by the beach. After sunset, we will visit a small reserve, situated about 10 mins boat ride, named Cock Island. Here we can see from close range the elusive and biggest nocturnal lemur, the aye-aye. Hotel Palmarium or similar.
5
Day 5 Palmarium - Manambato - Tamatave 160 km, 2 hours' drive and 1 hour boat ride
We will leave the Palmarium by 8AM to return to Manambato. Then by car, we reach Tamatave. We will arrive in Tamatave early in time for lunch. In the afternoon we will start an interesting city tour. Tamatave it’s a pleasant place, with long and wide avenues lined with palm trees, a seaside promenade and a good selection of hotels and restaurants. The city is also Madagascar’s commercial hub due to its commercial port, but is also a popular holiday destination among the Malagasy people.  Hotel Joffre or similar.
6
Day 6 Toamasina
Excursion to the Iles aux Prunes, located 45 minutes by boat north of Toamasina. On this deserted island we will have a short walk to see the lighthouse and the many flying foxes (bats, pteropus) that live here. We will have a picnic on the deserted beach and lots of free time to snorkel and relax in this heavenly place. Hopefully we can see even humpback whales when in season. By 2 in the afternoon we will return to Toamasina. Hotel Joffre or similar.
7
Day 7/9 Toamasina - Mahambo 90 km, 4 hours' drive
6 AM departure, we need to be in Mahambo by 9 AM to board the ferry to Sainte Marie. The sea crossing will take about 3 hours. In Sainte Marie we will spend the next 3 nights. Possible excursions not included: whole day in Sainte Marie by tuk-tuk; whale watching; diving; the beaches of the north-east of SM; Ile aux Nattes. All the excursion can be organized by the hotel. Hotel Boraha Village or similar.
8
Day 10 Sainte Marie - Antananarivo
Transfer to the airport of Sainte Marie to catch the domestic flight direct to Antananarivo (not included). In Antananarivo, end of our services.
Andasibe
The small village of Andasibe is worth the detour for its western allure and its pretty wooden houses. It is the entrance to one of the most visited National Park of Madagascar, Andasibe-Mantadia.
Palmarium
If there is a Garden of Eden nearby, it is probably here. The Palmarium, a private nature reserve located on a 50 ha peninsula, is like a "personal collection" as the different species of plants and animals have been carefully collected and cared for with passion. We discover many things: a wide variety of palm trees, xerophyte plants, beautiful acacias with yellow flowers, spectacular lianas and...lemurs.
Toamasina
Toamasina is the first commercial port on the island. The city is ideal for discovering the "joys" of tropical rains: the downpours that fall here rarely stop. And in the rain, hundreds of rickshaws, on foot or by bike, crisscross this provincial town, with a small colonial charm. Tamatave has the reputation of the big ports: the sailors, the lightly dressed girls and the restaurants.
Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha)
North of Tamatave is Sainte-Marie Island, a wonderful place worthy of a postcard. Its west coast, sheltered from bad weather, is welcoming to humpback whales who come to give birth there. The beaches are superb in the north-east, the interior of the island very tropical and the atmosphere is very laid back.