4/ Madagascar, The green East : 5 nights – 6 days

DAY 1: TANA – ANDASIBE: 145 km : 3 to 4 hours

3 to 4 hours’ drive to Andasibe, through the green landscape of the east. This step brings us to the humid part of the country with many primary forest and lakes. On the way, we stop in Pyereras Reptiles park to see farmed chameleons and other species of reptiles. On a walk inside the forest, we can spot 2 species of lemurs: the sifaka “coquereli” and the brown lemurs “fulvus”. Night in Hotel

DAY 2:MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK – VAKONA PARK

Morning hike in Mantadia National Park, 17 km from Andasibe. Created in 1989, it has the same climate and altitude but much larger than Andasibe. Due to its difficult access, it is less visited than Andasibe thus wilder and denser. Both parts belonged to the same humid forest. The primary forests of Andasibe-Mantadia contain a dense humid forest covered with lians, moss, fern tress. 120 orchids species are blooming between September and January. 1200 plants almost unique to the island have been recorded. Another common plants growing here are pandanus, ravinala palm-tree, tambourissa, bamboos and some precious wood, like Palissandre and rosewood. A large number of animal diversity has been recorded: 17 mammal species, 117 birds species, (many of them endemic, like the Madagascar yellow brow, Madagascar baza, Madagascar wagtail or the Madagascar serpent-eagle), 51 species of reptiles, among them the biggest chameleon of the island, the boa a and many leaf-tailed geckos, 84 species of amphibians. Apart from the Indri, another lemur species inhabits these forests, such as woody lemur, grey bamboo lemur, diademed sifaka, brown lemur, red mouse-lemur, red-bellied lemur, black and white ruffed lemur and even aye-aye. After the visit, on the way back to the hotel, we stop and visit the private park of Vakona in the “islands of lemurs”which the best spot to take photo of lemurs . We end the day by a visit to Andasibe village, a typical Betsimisaraka (The-Many-inseparable) village, the second largest tribe and live; they cultivate rice and work on wood and forest exploitation. Overnight in hotel on B&B

DAY 3 :ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK – AKANIN’ NY NOFY: 130 km: 3 hours’ drive

After breakfast, 3 to 4 hours hike to Andasibe National Park, a huge tropical rainy forest in the east. 9 species of lemurs can be spotted, the highlight is the “Indri Indri” which is the largest lemurs of the island. This 810-ha reserve is also home to numerous unique wildlife. It contains a wide variety of orchids, canopy, endemic animals like chameleons, tenrecs, and many birds. After the visit, 3 hours’ drive to Manambato. Stop and visit the town of Brickaville, an old colonial city known for its sugar cane plantation. Then continuation on a dirt track to Manambato where we take a 1-hour boat transfer to Akanin’ ny nofy. We cross the Rasoabe Lake then the Pangalanes channel built during the colonisation period for commercial use. We can admire many birds along the luxuriant vegetation of the east. Arrival in the afternoon. Ankanin’ny Nofy means nest of the dreams. Surrounded by a huge and blue lake, this is the ideal place for rest and to be in contact direct with nature. Overnight in hotel

DAY 4:AKANIN’ NY NOFY

For the bird-watchers, an early morning expedition to spot endemic birds around the area is available. Then after breakfast, you’ll have another hike to explore « PALMARIUM” private park which is home to 7species of lemurs, with “ Indri Indri” as a highlight, many species of reptiles and birds. Flora is also very rich with its garden of palm trees, orchids and the famous vanilla. Since the bungalows are situated inside the park, guests will be permanently in contact with lemurs. Surrounded by a huge lake, this is one of the few places ideal for rest in the middle of nature. By 05.30 pm, you take a 30 minutes boat across the Ampitabe lake and visit the “aye aye” island, a newly created park to protect the endangered lemurs “aye aye”. This 1-hour visit enables us to see very closely this unique and seldom seen lemurs in its natural habitat. Overnight in your hotel

DAY 5: AKANIN’ NY NOFY – TAMATAVE: 60 km : 3 hours boat transfer – MAHAMBO

Breakfast at hotel then 3 hours boat transfer to Tamatave along the Pangalanes channel. During this journey, enjoy the life of the people living along the channel, where the only means of communication is by the canal. Bamboo pirogue transporting charcoals, boat – brousse transporting goods and passengers, women washing dishes and laundry, kids swimming and many fishing nets are the scenery that you will find along the navigation. Arrival in Tamatave. Overnight in hotel

Day 6:TAMATAVE to another destination

Transfer to the airport to fly to another destination or extension.