Antananarivo - The Green East Coast with lemurs, wildlife, boat tour - swimming on Sainte Marie
1st Day: Germany - Milan - Antananarivo (Tana)
Connecting flight from all German Alitalia departure airports (e.g. Munich) to Milan.
Around 6:55 pm non-stop to Madagascar with the modern Boeing
767-300 of Air Madagascar.
2nd Day: Arrival in Tana
Around 5:50 am you will arrive in the capital of Madagascar
where you will be welcomed by your driver who will take you to Hotel Royal
Palissandre in the city centre.
3rd Day: Tana: City sightseeing tour and visit in the zoo
4th Day: The Green East Coast
Covered by evergreen rainforest - home of many orchid species among them
the much demanded vanilla - the east coast is the natural garden of Madagascar:
most of the coffee, cloves, bananas and coconut trees are grown here.
The Betsimisaraka is a local ethnic group and the second largest tribe of
Madagascar. Their culture is characterised by many traditions and taboos.
Only a 3-hour drive east of Antananarivo you will reach the National Park of
Andasibe. In its extraordinary lush rainforest you can spot various groups of
Indri Indri - the largest living lemur. Day and night walks are possible throughout
the national park. Overnight stay is provided in a hotel.
5th Day: Lemurs
Early morning trip in the reserve to listen to the peculiar screams of the
Indri Indri. Thereafter a 2-hour drive towards the east coast until you reach
Manambato on the Canal des Pangalanes. Continue by boat (30 min) to the
Bushhouse Lodge where
accommodation is provided on a full board basis.
Bushhouse
This lodge was built in 1987 and accommodates up to 20 persons. Guests can get
there only by boat either from Tamatave or Manambato. Rooms/Accommodation:
All 10 rooms and bungalows have shower/toilet and mosquito-net.
The small restaurant serves typical Malagasy, Creole and French food.
Various homemade drinks, such as the locally produced
rum assortment, can be sampled at the bar.
6th Day: Wildlife
A short 30-minute walk along the shores of Ampitabe Lake to a private nature reserve,
which is home to numerous wild ranging lemurs. A unique succulent and palm collection as well
as terrariums with endemic reptiles can be observed at the entrance.
In the afternoon an excursion to the shore of the Indian Ocean with its
secluded and endless beaches and breakwaters awaits you.
Full board overnight stay in the Bushhouse.
Bushhouse Video
This 4-minute video shows the boat ride through Canal des Pangalanes, a
local village, the surrounding nature and some of the lemurs which can be
found around Bushhouse.
7th Day: Boat
Short hiking tour along the paths of the locals to a typical Betsimisaraka village
at the crocodile lake, surrounded by Ravinala Palms.
In the afternoon: enchanting boat trip to Tamatave (60 km - about 2 hours)
along the Canal des Pangalanes. Transfer to your hotel.
8th Day: Island Sainte Marie
A short flight takes you to the island of Sainte Marie, where innumerable
excursion possibilities are available. Accommodation on half board basis in a hotel
of your choice.
9th to 12th Day: Enjoy yourself on Sainte Marie
Opportunity for guided hiking excursions, various boat trips, deep-sea fishing and
water skiing or just relaxing at the fantastic beaches.
From the end of June to the end of September excellent whale watching conditions!
13th Day: Flight back to Tana
Around 11 pm flight via Milan (arrival at 8 am) and back to Germany.
14th Day: Arrival in Germany (e.g. Munich) around noon.
Highlights in fauna and flora Lemurs:Indri Indri, Ring-tailed Lemur, Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur and Coquerel's Lemur. Reptiles: Parsons Chameleon, Bignose Chameleon (Calumma Nasuta) - the smallest chameleon in the world,
snakes, leeches and frogs. Birds: Velvet Asity, Pitta-like Ground-Roller, Meller's Duck and Madagascar Crested Ibis. Humpback Whales: from June to September. Flora: Ravinala Palm (Travellers Tree), ficus and orchids.
Bushhouse Video
