MAROJEJY AND ANKARANA – 12 DAYS

From 4 to 12 persons.

The region of S.A.V.A (Sambava, Antalaha, Vohémar, Andapa) one of the twenty two regions of Madagascar, belongs to the province of Diego-Suarez. It possesses in its heart a jewel named Marojejy, a magnificent massif peaking in 2133 m, very little frequented and the object of a trekking of exception. Luxuriant vegetation, surprising fauna, fascinating hiking – Although not easy! We visit the region during the first part of this journey then go back towards Diego-Suarez, taking time to visit the site of Daraina and its lemurs, the reserve of Ankarana and its famous Tsingy, and to make a bend towards the Tsingy Rouges. Very close to Diego, we invite you to two beautiful hikes in the Amber mountain and in the Three Bays, at the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Highlights

Day 1: Antananarivo > Sambava

Flight to Sambava in the north east of Madagascar. Your guide welcomes you in the airport. Sambava is a small town with vanilla scent and rum flavour.. ,Its vegetation is luxuriant and it is rich in orchards, in jacquiers and in mangoes. Though the name of the town has a connection with vanila,  it produces as well coconut, rice and coffee. Also note that the largest coconut plantation in the world is there, spreaded out  in almost 5000 hectares. Stroll around in town along the seafront.

• Duration: 1h15 flight

Days 2 to 5: Marojejy National Park

This mountain massif reach 2133 m and is located at about thirty kilometers from the sea. We will meet banana trees, shrubs, tree ferns, ficus … A granitic mass overlooks Marojejy National Park with its hilly and forested landscape, a complex form with slendered crest, sharp peaks, steep and irregular slopes. We meet Silky Sifaka (Propithecus diadema candidus) during the visit, they are easy to observe because of their thick, long and silky fur of creamy white uniform color.

• Duration: from 5 to 7h of trekking
• We organise your meals 

Day 6: Manantenina > Sambava

We end up our hike in this great mountain massif. We are back in the warmth of the valley  in Manantenina village where we leave our porters and local guides with whom we shared our efforts in this beautiful climb.

By skirting the Lokoho river, we reach Sambava and and we are happy to be back in our seaside hotel.

• Duration: 1 h
• Distance: 50 km
• We organise your picnic lunch

Days 7 & 8: Sambava > Daraina > Ankarana

We go on to Vohemar with our 4WD. It is a small town located in the heart of a beautiful bay protected by coral reefs. Here, we are again at the end of the world. We drive on towards Daraina reserve. This protected forest shelters a species of endemic lemur,  the golden crowned Sifaka ( Propithecus tattersalli). The road to Ambilobe is extremely tough on the next day, before we get back on the tarred road till Mahamasina, the eastern gate of Ankarana massif.

• Duration: 13h of track during 2 days
• Distance: 350 km of track during 2 days
• We organise your meals

Day 9: The Tsingy of Ankarana – Mahamasina

It is ancient coral reef eroded by water, wind and time, and here is the result: a limestone formation looking like a sharp stone forest.

We go and explore the park with a local guide. In the morning, we walk, sometimes with difficulty, through sharp crest of the Tsingy and the caves including that of the bats.

We have a picnic lunch by “la perte d’eau”, a huge excavation of a dried river, where water disappears during rain season.

We walk towards Tsingy Rary in the afternoon where we have a hanging footbridge above the canyon.

Go back to Mahamasina village at the end of the afternoon.

• Duration: all the day
• We organise your meals

Day 10: Tsingy of Ankarana > Diego Suarez

We take our breakfast at the campsite.

Then head towards Joffreville. We bypass Amber Mountain mass through many villages and reach Diego Suarez town.

We stroll around Diego town in the afternoon, to the market, Colbert Street and the Place Joffre. We then drive up the mountain foothills until Joffreville village where we set up in a nice hotel bungalows.

• Duration: 120 km
• Distance: +/- 3h30
• We organise your picnic lunch

Day 11: Montagne d’Ambre National park

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to the park and start the visit of Amber Mountain National Park with a local guide to this luxuriant forest.

This is the first National Park created in Madagascar.

It has special vegetation with tree ferns, palms, orchids and several rare species of trees.

Waterfalls and crater lakes decorate our walk. There are seven kinds of lemurs in the forest, we can meet crowned lemur, Sanford lemur …We might see chameleons, gecko, leaf tailed gecko and many colourful birds.

There is a possibility of walking down heading back to the hotel in the afternoon.

NB: Walk pace and duration depend on the group (minimum 2 hours).The guide will advise you.

• Duration: from 3 to 4h of visit
• We organise your picnic lunch

Day 12: Diego Suarez > Antananarivo

Relaxed morning before transfer organised by the hotel to the airport.

Fly to the capital of Madagascar.

• Duration: 1h15 flight