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.
