TOUR PACKAGES MASOALA + NOSY MANGABE NATIONAL PARK (8 Days / 7 Nights)
The north east of Madagascar shelters such amazing treasure in terms of biodiversity especially the fauna and flora. With this kind of trip, you’ll encounter the real wildlife of the island within the thick rainforest. As the biggest national park of Madagascar, Masoala has lots to offer to its visitors
Itinerary:
TANA – MAROANTSETRA – NOSY MANGABE National Park – MASOALA National park – TANA
TOUR DETAILS:
DAY 1 : ANTANANARIVO – MAROANTSETRA – NOSY MANGABE NATIONAL PARK
This domestic flight will take us around 1h 15min to Maroantsetra . Upon arrival there, we will be transfered to the city and to take a speed boat immediately to Nosy Mangabe national park , get ready with rain jacket and sandals . The transfert will be 30 – 40mn duration . Install in all camping equipment .
After all, we’ll take a tour at Nosy Mangabe national parks. It is the biggest island at Antogil Bay 520 square kilometer hectares with 331m hight mountain from the sea level and 35m high of canopy . During the visit, we’ll look for Black and white ruffed lemur white fronted brown lemur ,Aye-Aye , Snakes tree-boas , Ground Boa and Leaf-tailed geckos that can be easy to see here than in Masoala because of a less predators . Apart from that, this island is also home for amphibians such as endemic frogs. Historically, this island has its own history around the 17th century which has given its name until now as Nosy mangabe that our local will explain it in details .
Camping on FULL BOARD
DAY 2 : TRANSFERT FROM NOSY MANGABE – TO LODGE MASOALA
After breakfast at Island Nosy Mangabe transfert to Masoala in lodge 1h30mn – 2h10mn depends on the sea conditions. Install in lodge walking around the lodge or few relaxes before lunch . Afternoons visit the parks nearest at the lodge , we’ll try to spot Red ruffed lemur , white fronted brown lemur,helmeted vanga followings night walks looking for Masoala sportive lemur ,brown mouse lemur, eastern wooly lemur, roosting birds , Strept Civet ( Fosa fossana ) , snakes.
Overnight in the Hippocampe lodge on FULL BOARD
DAY 3 : IN LODGE – TOUR IN VIRGIN RAINFOREST
After breakfast, we’ll visit the virgin rainforest around 5 -6 hours tour . On the tour ,we explore the best part of the beauty of Masoala rainforest in the territory of Red ruffed lemur , White fronted brown lemur , Ring-tailed mongoose , Parson’s cameleons ( Calumna parsonii ) , Stump-tailed cameleons ( Brookesia supersiliaris ). This site is also a home for birds such as Helmet vanga , Bernier’s vanga , Scally ground roller , Short-legged ground roller , Red fronted couas , Red breasted couas , Blue couas , Serpent Eagle , Giraffe necked weval , Pigmy kingfisher . Lunch will be at the lodge . In the afternoons ,after taking a nap, you can enjoy the sea and do snorkeling in front of our lodge with the sunset at the end of the day. From June to the mid of September , there is a chance for watching the Hamp-back whales enjoying this area.
Overnight in the Hippocampe lodge on FULL BOARD
DAY 4 : IN LODGE – BIRDING TOUR WITH PICNIC AT WATER FALL
If you are really bird watchers, we need to move at 5 am because it’s best time for spotting birds here.
But if you are generalist , we’ll leave the lodge after breakfast with packing our picnic lunch. we can see different orchids plants , Lesser bamboo lemur , White fronted brown lemur , Red fronted couas , Serpent-Eagle , Banded castrel , Scally ground roller , Short-legged ground roller , Brown mesite , Nuthach vanga , Blue couas , Helmet vanga , Bernier’s vanga .
Picnic lunch at the waterfall.
After lunch break, we walk back to lodge and get ready for a night walk at the end of the day before dinner. On the way, you’ll heard the night sounds of nature but the very load one is the Scops owl , long-eard owl. We can also spot the Collored nightdjahr , Madagascar nightdjahr , roosting Pigmy kingfisher , scally ground roller , active of Masoala wolly lemur , Mouse lemur , greater dwarf lemur , Aye-Aye and so on.
Overnight in the Hippocampe lodge on FULL BOARD
DAY 5 : IN LODGE — TOUR COSTAL FOREST WITH SNORKELING MARINE PARK TAMPOLO
After breakfast from our lodge, we take a walk to the littoral forest around the Tampolo if you are botanist and fond of palms , you are welcome to the home of palms in Masoala like Satranala decusilvae , Dypsis carlsmithii , Ravenia sembrensis , Lemurophenix halleuxii and so on. In addition, we’ll see some birds before getting back to the shoreline like Helmet vanga , Serpent Eagle . Take a snorkling at Marine parks around Tampolo following lunch on the beache . The afternoon, we can profit the beauty of this turquoise marine park decorated of parrot fishes , nice coral-reefs in different forms , Angel fishes in multi colors , sea turtles.
Overnight in the Hippocampe lodge on FULL BOARD
DAY 6 : IN LODGE – BACK TO 2ND PARTS OF VIRGIN RAINFOREST
After breackfast , we’ll leave the with our picnic lunch and take a tour to the primary rainforest for all day . The types of the forest looks the same as the first part primary rainforest but this 2nd parts gives you much more chance for reptiles such as the Parson cameleons , Brookesia supersliaris ,Serpent Eagle , Bernier’s vanga and also much higher from Sea level . We’ll have lunch with the nature and the afternoon back to the lodge .
Overnight in the Hippocampe lodge on FULL BOARD
DAY 7 : TRANSFERT BACK FROM LODGE – MAROANTSETRA
After breakfast in the lodge , all pack ready , take back the speed-boat to Maroantsetra about 2h15mn duration. This day, we’ll have time to enjoy this journey and spot the Botle nose dolphin , Hamp-back whales during the season between June – September. Arrival in Maroantsetra, we check in and relax. Afternoon ,we can do the small tour of 1h for tomato frogs in town Maroantsetra for the endemic frogs to Antongil Bay
( Discophis antongilii ).
Overnight in a hotel Maroantsetra
DAY 8: MAROANTSETRA -TANA
This day will be a flight back to Antananarivo depending on our departure.
Overnight in Tana
Recommendations for this area:
- Sunscreen and swimsuit
- Mosquito repellent sprays or creams
- Torches, headlight
- Headwear
- Cameras or video camera with power bank
- Waterproof jacket or raincoat
- Walking/hiking shoes , sandals
- Antimalarial tablets/ Anti-allergic
