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Treasures of Mahajanga

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Price €1700 14 Days
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Treasures of Mahajanga

€1700 per person

A 14 days private trip in one of the most remote and unexplored region of Madagascar, the Boeny. Mahajanga is the main city of the region, we will visit the National Park of the Tsingy de Namoroka, the Baly Bay National Park and the historic Boeny Bay with the Reserve of Antrema.

Highlights
Mahajanga, Katsepy, Bay of Boeny, Antrema Reserve, Bay of Baly National Park, Namoroka National Park
Departure/Arrival
Antananarivo
When to Go
June - Octobre
Included
Private Car Throughout The Tour with English speaking driver | Barge Mahajunga - Katsepy - Mahajunga | Local guides | Entry Fee of Mentioned Excursions/Parks | Hotels on Dinner and Bed and Breakfast basis on day 1 and 13 | Camping on full board basis on day 2 to 12 | Lunches on day 1 and 14
Not Included
Entry Visa (€35 pp) | Dinner and hotel on day 14 | 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 and sleeping bag.
Options
Add the return flights to Mahajanga from €200 per person to save about 24 hours' drive. Add 1 night in Ankarafantsika National Park from €100 per person.

Prices per person

  • 2 Travelers €2500, 1 tw/dbl  
  • 3 Travelers €2200, 1 tpl  
  • 4 Travelers €2000, 2 tw/dbl
  • 5 Travelers €1900, 1 tw/dbl + 1 tpl  
  • 6 Travelers €1800, 3 tw/dbl   

For more options, please contact us

1
Day 1 Antananarivo - Mahajanga 570 km, 12 hours' drive
Depart early in the morning towards the North-West. In 5 hours we reach Maevatanana, the hottest place in Madagascar. Then we continue on the RN4 to Ambodromamy where we will head west. Here we will stop for lunch. We will pass Ampijoroa to be in Mahajanga by late afternoon. Hotel Coco Lodge or similar.
2
Day 2/3 Mahajanga - Katsepy - Soalala 160 km, 12 hours' drive
In the morning, early departure from Mahajanga. We cross Bombetoka Bay on a barge for 1 hour to reach the fishing village of Katsepy, the door into Southern part of the  Boeny region. We then take a chaotic track towards Soalala. We will stop for lunch on the way in a local restaurant, in the village of Mitsinjo, by Kinkony Lake. The track from Katsepy to Soalala is very bad, it will take 2 days  to cover 150 km. Overnight camping or in a small hotel bush.
3
Day 4 Soalala - Bay de Baly - Soalala 50 km, 6 hours' drive
Today we will discover the National Park of Bay Baly. Bay Baly is extremely rich in terms of biodiversity, it includes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, dense dry forests, mangroves, rivers and lakes, dunes,  white-sand beaches and coral reefs. Baly Bay National Park is very rarely visited yet, it is one of the most beautiful Malagasy protected areas. Bearing as an emblem the famous and extremely rare turtle, locally called Angonoka (Astrochelys yniphora), the protected area is located on the northwest coast of Madagascar. It’s only in its thickets of Perrierbambos madagascariensis, endemic to the region of Soalala, where this species of turtle is found. Overnight camping in bush.  
4
Day 5 Soalala - Vilanandro 75 km, 5 hours' drive
Back on the road in the morning to the village of Vilanandro, at the entrance to the national park, located 75 km from Soalala. We will cross a river by barge, and reach Tsingy of Namoroka in the afternoon. Camping by the entrance of the National Park of the Tsingy de Namoroka.
5
Day 6/8 National Park of the Tsingy de Namoroka
The National Park of the Tsingy de Namoroka is visited by a handful of tourist, adventurers, explorers and scientists. The Park is famous for its sharp limestone formations that shelter a fauna and flora of a great diversity, specific to the dry tropical climate which reigns there a large part of the year. The park is composed of a limestone plateau, the impressive Tsingy, dotted baobabs forests and plants well adapted to the climate of this region, such as pachypodiums. A few streams run through the site, giving rise to several bodies of water that favor the nesting of several species of birds. There are also 8 species of diurnal lemurs and nocturnal, as well as 30 species of reptiles and 5 species of amphibians. Camping in the park.
6
Day 9/10 Namoroka National Park - Mitsinjo - Antrema 170 km, 12/13 hours' drive
Back on the track in direction of Mitsinjo, to reach the Protected Area of Antrema, located 6 km south of Katsepy. We plan two days to do this journey. Overnight camping or in a small rural hotel.
7
Day 11 Antrema
The forest station of Antrema is the first Malagasy biocultural site since 2000. This peninsula is located about 6 km from the rural town of Katsepy. This site covers several ecosystems typical of the northwest coast of Madagascar. It is mostly covered by palm species (bismarckias); mangroves and dry forests are home to several species of lemurs. This reserve consists of 153 species of plants (76% endemicity), 23 species of amphibians and of reptiles, 75 species of birds, 5 species of lemurs including the famous "crowned sifaka", and both marine, freshwater and brackish water fish. The crowned sifaka, considered by the Sakalava of Antrema to be the representative of their ancestors, is therefore protected by their culture and placed under the supervision of Prince Tsimanendry.
8
Day 12 Antrema - Boeny Bay - Antrema 40 km, 5 hours' drive
The Bay of Boeny is steeped in history and offers a protected and authentic landscape, between land and sea. South of Katsepy and Bombetoka Bay (Betsiboka estuary), after having crossed expanses of savannah as far as the eye can see dominated by tall Satrana palms (Bismarckia nobilis), the pretty fishing village of Boeny Aranta, rocked by the sea breeze, breathes calm and tranquility. On the beach lined with coconut trees are moored the majestic  traditional canoes, multicolored and a thousand picturesque names. Numerous baobabs Adansonia digitata, dot the landscape of Boeny Aranta. In front of Boeny Aranta, 20 minutes by canoe, Antsoheribory Island is a must-see in the Bay of Boeny. The island, measuring at its greatest length 2.5 km and 500 m on average in its width, is an historical heritage of the region and of Madagascar. We will visit the remains of an Arab trading post from the 17th century and visit the house of the Sultan, the tombs, the old barracks and a mosque. A baobab forest (Adansonia digitata) invaded the ruins which attest to the presence of the Antalaotsy people in Antsoheribory more than four centuries ago. Overnight camping or in a small rural hotel.
9
Day 13 Antrema - Katsepy - Mahajanga 20 km, 2 hours' drive
In the morning we reach Katsepy to board the barge that will take us on the other side of the Betsiboka River, in Mahajanga. Day at leisure in Mahajanga. Hotel Coco Lodge or similar.
10
Day 14 Mahajanga - Antananarivo 570 km, 12 hours' drive
We will dedicate the whole day to reach Antananarivo. In the capital, we will arrive early in the evening. Transfer to your chosen hotel and end of our services.

Tour Location

The Main Sights of the Tour
Mahajanga
Majunga is the largest city on the entire west side and the 3rd largest city in Madagascar. Despite the ghostly air of the city and its lesser interest and dusty look, it is still worth stopping by. Majunga (or Mahajanga) has a certain cachet thanks to its ethno-cultural mix and its Sakalava, Indian, Muslim, colonial and Merina architecture. It is one of the hottest place in Madagascar.
Soalala
The small port town of Soalala is a very rural place, the base to start excursions to the Tsingy de Namoroka and Baie de Baly National Park.
Baly Bay National Park
Located in the northwest of Madagascar, approximately 150 km from Majunga, the park covers an area of 57,162 ha where, between rivers, mangroves, coastal dunes and lakes, you will make great discoveries while enjoying the superb beaches and Coral reefs in the marine park.
Tsingy de Namoroka National Park
The Tsingy de Namoroka National Park offers a unique landscape of majestic formations, made of a crystalline limestone up to 30 meters high, where caves and walls, dense semi-deciduous dry forest, savannah, marshy area, canyons and swimming pools natural meet.
Antrema Protected Area
6km south of Katsepy, this protected area is occupied by an ecosystem made up of a dry forest on dunes, humid forests, lakes and a marine park with mangroves. Crowned sifakas are considered sacred in the area.
Boeny Bay and Antsoheribory Island
Baobabs and palms dots infinitely the landscape of the Boeny Bay. Antsoheribory Island, just in front of Boeny Bay, is a notable site of the Mahavavy Kinkony Complex Protected Area. The remains of the Sultans' houses, tombs, barracks and mosque can still be found on this old 17th century Arab trading post. These constitute the traces of the Antalaotra civilization. In addition, you can admire and explore an impressive baobab forest of the species Adansonia digitata.