5/ Northern Untamed Madagascar: 17 nights – 18 days

Untouched landscape, unspoiled nature, untamed wildlife are the characteristic of this northern tours that only few visitors have experimented. It will bring you to some amazing spots and brings us to 7 different National parks and reserve and see almost 15 different lemurs species in which 5 are unique to every spot. We start from Sambava, Madagascar’s vanilla capital, then exploring Marojejy National park, UNESCO classified site, a home to the critically endangered “Silky Sifaka”. Then we hike in Daraina Reserve, where we might encounter the “Golden Crowned Lemur”. We visit “Andrafiamena Reserve”, a new openly reserve where we might spot the “black lemurs” only seen in this area.  The fourth visit will be “Ankarana National Park” with its fantastic landscape of razor-sharp pinnacles (Tsingy), home to wildlife such as sportive lemurs. Then we explore the lush and rainforest of Amber Mountain National Park, known for its orchids, birds and reptiles. Ankarafa and Sahamalaza National park, on the north western coast of Madagascar is home to the unique and endangered “blue eyed lemurs”. We end our journey with the visit to “Ankarafantsika National Park” home to the “coquerelli sifaka”, endemic to the park with its wildlife-rich deciduous woodland mixed with baobabs. The  Lake Ravelobe is also home to many birds and makes this area the best birding spot in the country.   Highlight:

• Trek and camp in Marojejy National Park, one of the most pristine parks in the country
• Track the critically endangered Golden Crowned Sifaka at Daraina
• Travel to the far northern tip of Madagascar at Diego Suarez
• Discover the black lemurs of Andrafiamena
• Explore the wonderful tropical rainforest of Amber Mountain National Park
• Experience the extraordinary spiny limestone landscape of Tsingy D ‘Ankarana

 Level:

DAY 1: ANTANANARIVO – SAMBAVA: (Domestic flight)

Early morning transfer to the airport and board on a small aircraft for a 90 minutes flight to Sambava (subject to change). Upon arrival, transfer and check in at your hotel. Sambava as a capital of vanilla triangle is in the heart of vanilla fields and coconut plantations, which makes the city one of the richest region of the country. On arrival, if time permits, we will visit a vanilla house and factory to learn about the vanilla process from the field to the vanilla pod. Overnight in your hotel

DAY 2:SAMBAVA – MAROJEJY: CAMP MANTELLA: 4 – 5hours walking time

Today we leave early by 07:00 am, we will already have our special Marojejy park guide with us from Sambava. We ride up to Manantenina that we’ll reach by 08.30am, and then we continue along a dirt track to Mandena, the farthest we can drive by car. From there, we walk for 1 hour, about 3 km up to the entrance point of Marojejy National Park. We will reach Camp Mantella after 3 hours trek from the park’s entrance. On the way, we’ll have many stops to admire the flora and fauna. Estimated arrival time by 2.pm, which will enable us to have enough time and enjoy the forest surroundings. Possibility to explore and walk to Humbert waterfall ( 1 hour walk each way). Overnight camping or staying in basic huts (BLD).

DAY 3-4 :MAROJEJY NATIONAL PARK: CAMP MANTELLA – CAMP MAROJEJIA

On the morning of day 3, we hike up to Camp Marojejia (Camp 2), a 2 to 3 hours trek, mostly uphill with 750m elevation. The walk is quite tough in part but we have plenty time and will be able to make lots of stops and enjoy the forest and look for wildlife. Marojejia camp is located at the transition between lowland and montane rainforest. It is located on a mountainside and when the almost permanently present clouds clear up, it offers breathtaking views, overlooking large areas of the park. On arrival at the camp we can get some rest and those that want to, can do some further exploring of the park with the special park guide. Hopefully we will be lucky and spot the “Silky Sifaka” a beautiful white lemur only found in this area. Overnight camping or staying in basic huts for the 2 nights (BLD).

• Sambava,

Nestled in small bay, sheltered by a luxuriant vegetation such as bamboo, banana and palm trees, Sambava is one the most prosperous cities in the north and the capital of the vanilla triangle

• Marojejy National Park

Marojejy National Park is one of the most strikingly beautiful and wild areas of Madagascar. It is unique in the world, a place of dense jungle rainforest, sheer cliffs, and plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Marojejy National Park comprises 60,050 hectares (148,387 acres) of land, and protects the entire Marojejy Massif. The forests, ranging from low altitude rain forest through to high altitude montane scrub, harbour an impressive list of plants and animals: at least 275 species of ferns, 35 species of palms, 149 species of amphibians and reptiles including 60 frogs such as the green climbing mantilla, leaf-tailed geckos, brookesia chameleons and lots of leeches. The park is also home to eleven species of lemurs, including the critically endangered Silky Sifaka (Propithecus candidus) which only occurs here. Other lemurs found here include Indri, red-bellied lemur, Eastern woolly lemur, aye-aye, bamboo lemur or Weasel sportive lemur. Birds are also very well represented with 118 species having been observed so far including the helmet vanga, Madagascar serpent-eagle, velvet asity, and the cryptic warbler. Please note that night walks on the trails in Marojejy are no longer permitted. We will however be able to look for wildlife around camp on the nights spent in the park.

DAY 5: MAROJEJY – VOHEMAR ( IHARANA) – DARAINA

By 06.30am after breakfast, we leave Camp Marojejia and trek down back to Camp Mantella. The descent is quite easy, so it will take about 3 hours to reach Mandena where the car is waiting for us for 1-hour drive back to Sambava. From there we head on northwards to Vohemar through the green and peaceful landscape of the east make interesting stops en route. The drive from Sambava to Vohemar, should take us around 2 hours along beautiful scenery, decorated with palm, bananas, bamboo trees, wooden huts, rivers and streams, small villages. Estimated arrival atround 1.00 pm in Vohemar that we will briefly explore. Then we take a dirt track to Daraina, one of the worst roads in the country. The trip is only 55km’s which takes 2 to 3 hours depending on the road conditions which can be very poor so please be prepared for slow going! If there has been recent rain, then the journey can take up to 5 hours to navigate this track. Landscape becomes dry with red laterite soil. On our journey today, we should see local people panning for gold. Upon arrival, check-in our huts. Afterwards we start our evening hike inside Daraina Reserve.

• Vohemar

Vohemar is situated in an attractive bay and has one of the few natural harbours on the East coast. It is also one of the main vanilla producing areas of the country.

DAY 6:DARAINA RESERVE

Early in the morning, we start our day exploring the Daraina Reserve, a place rich in flora and fauna. Nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts will be rewarded since Daraina is the starting point for fantastic hikes, in the forest nearby the village, where they might spot “Propithecus Tattersal Sifaka” or golden-crowned. Further south, the forest contains a dense Binari incredible diversity of fauna, reptiles, birds, golden-crowned Propithecus, as well as many bird species etc. The site also houses a sacred waterfall and it is difficult not to be tempted by a swim in its natural pool. Overnight in simple and basic huts or camping (BLD).

• Daraina Reserve

The park is a mosaic of rolling hills covered with patches of deciduous and semi-evergreen forest, which is one of the richest and most ecologically sensitive areas in the north. The principal reason for its importance is the golden-crowned sifaka, one of the world’s rarest primates, that is found here and nowhere else. Other lemurs are also seen with regularity including crowned lemurs, and Sanford’s brown lemurs and even, occasionally, the aye-aye. Recently a new lemur species has been discovered the “Fork-marked lemur”. They belong to the genus, or group of species, called Phaner and if confirmed as a new species, this would be only the fifth member of that group. Natural ecosystems in Daraina have been transformed and fragmented by human activities. Currently, the area presents a complex and rich mosaic of small, medium, and large forest fragments. Despite the fact that the forests found throughout the region are highly fragmented, the floral and faunal communities found in the area are rich and diverse.

Day 7: DARAINA – AMBILOBE – ANKARANA – ANDRAFIAMENA

After an early breakfast (06.30) we take a dirt track to the predominantly Muslim town of Ambilobe, 117 km form Daraina but a long journey of around 5 hours (in dry season, September, October). In Ambilobe we will take a look around the lively and picturesque local market. From there, we take 20km of tar and sealed road to Ankarana that we reach by noon. From Ankarana we continue the tar road for another 1 hour before we turn west and take another 17 km of dirt road ( 70 minutes) to reach Andavakoera, Andrafiamena, on the foot of Maromandia and Andranomanera Protected reserve. Overnight in Black Lemur Camp (B).

Day 8:ANDRAFIAMENA PROTECTED RESERVE

After breakfast, with a local guide we will hike inside the Andranomanera Protected Reserve home to the unique and endemic lemurs species: black lemurs “ Propitecus Perreri” which is only found in this area. A 30 000ha of forest inside a mountain zone of mid altitude, covered both with wet forest on one side and dry forest on the other side, with in the middle a transition which the last refuge for the black lemurs, threatened by the deforestation and large poaching.

• ANDRAFIAMENA PROTECTED RESERVE

A 30.000ha newly protected forest, unexplored deciduous forest between Ankarana and Diego. It has a varied landscape ranging from sandstone and limestone to a dry transitional forest. On one side the reserve is quite wet and on the other it is endemic species, in particular relatively dry and in the middle is a transition zone where the last refuge of the endemic “Propithecus Perrier”, black lemur. 8 other lemurs’ species can also be found such as crowned lemurs, Sandford’s brown lemurs. More than 49 birds have been recorded like the endangered white-breasted mesite and Van Dam’s vanga

Day 9:ANDRAFIAMENA – TSINGY ROUGE – DIEGO

After breakfast, 70 minutes drive on dirt track to reach the National Road 6, then another 1hour drive to the cross road where we take another 1hour of dirt track to reach the “Red Tsingy”, a is strange natural sculptures are resulting from the erosion of the local river. Then we drive to Diego-Suarez where we shall have a short city tour. A short stop to the foot of Montagne des Français where we can see the unique “ Baobab Antseraniensis”. Overnight Meva Plage or similar (B).

• TSINGY ROUGE

Halfway between Diego Suarez and Ankarana, we take a detour on a dirt track of 7 km and admire the ‘Red Tsingy’ which are strange natural sculptures resulting from erosion of the local river.

Day 10: DIEGO – MONTAGNE D’AMBRE – ANKARANA :

At 07.00, leave Diego and head on for 1 hour drive to Joffre ville, where we will spend the morning searching for flora and fauna in Amber Mountain National Park. There are lots of different trails in the park and you will be able to do a longer or shorter walk depending on how you feel today. Later we take a picturesque journey to Ankarana and shall arrive by late afternoon. Overnight Relais De L’Ankarana or similar (B).

• Diego:
• Amber Mountain National Park

Created in 1958 this national park is located 7km’s from Joffre Ville and 32km’s from Diego Suarez. It is a tropical rainforest with an area of 18,200 hectares and the altitude in the park ranges from 850m – 1485m. The park has its own microclimate which makes the flora and fauna unique. Seven species of lemur have been recorded in the park including the crowned lemur and Sanford’s brown lemur which are usually easily spotted. With a high annual rainfall rate, the park is covered with upland moist tropical forest, with numerous giant tree species, smaller ferns and several orchid species.

• Ankarana Reserve

Ankarana Special Reserve is located about 108km south of Antsiranana (Diego Suarez) and covers 18,220ha. Ankarana is known for its limestone karst pinnacles called tsingy along with its extensive cave system and network of underground rivers, some of which contain crocodiles. Dry deciduous forest is found in much of the reserve. Visitors may encounter the crowned lemur, Sanford’s brown lemur, Perrier’s black lemur, the northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs. A variety of chameleons and leaf-tailed Uroplatus geckos can also be found in the reserve.

Day 11: Tsingy D ‘Ankarana – Ambanja

This morning we visit the Tsingy D ‘Ankarana, where the limestone highlands have been sculpted by natural erosion. It gives the impression of walking on a spiny landscape and is an extraordinary spectacle. Abundant wildlife lives in the forested canyons and during your walk we should have chances to see brown lemurs, geckos and non-poisonous snakes. The nature of the environment here makes the walking a little challenging but there are different grades of difficulty so there will be different options in terms of the walking. This afternoon we travel to Ambanja passing alongside the Tsaratanana Mountains which is home to the highest peak in the country. Once we are in Ambanja we visit Cyrille plantation for an explanation of the crops such as cacao, coffee and vanilla that are prevalent in this fertile region of Madagascar. Overnight Nourd Inn or similar (B).

Day 12: Ambanja – Ankarafa

Early morning 4 to 6 hours drive from Ambanja to Ankarafa. The first 3 hours is on a good tar road along the National Road 6 where we will travel through a pleasant landscape dotted with rice fields, streams and rivers. The last part of the ride will be on a dirt track where road conditions can be challenging. It might take 2 to 3 hours to reach Ankarafa in the middle of savannah, mango trees. Settlement in our tent or gite (according to availability). The afternoon can be already an introduction to the Ankarafa forest on the foot of Sahamalaza National Park, where we might see some of the famous “turquoise eyed lemurs”. Overnight on gite or camping on BLD

Day 13: Ankarafa Forest – Sahamalaza National Park

Spend a full day exploring Ankarafa Forest and part of Sahamalaza National Park. This is the area where we hope to see the blue-eyed lemur scientifically known as Eulemur flavifron. This is an extremely endangered species of lemur and is the only primate besides humans known to have blue eyes. Overnight Gite or camping (BLD).

• Ankarafa Forest

Located on the northwest coast of Madagascar, a reserve of 26.035 ha, with a sub arid climate. Part of Sahamalaza National Park, on its suburb, Ankarafa is the area where we can see the blue eyed black lemur scientifically known as” Eulemur flavifrons”, a very protected lemur because of its endemicity and its endangered situation. Belongs to the lemuridea lemurs, this species has the features maccaco in color but has its own characteristic of blue eyes. Blue eyed lemurs are the only primate besides humans with blue eyes. The breeding season takes place from April to June and female give birth by September and October after 4 months of gestation.

Day 14:Ankarafa – Antsohihy

Today we drive around 3 – 5 hours to Antsohihy where we will spend time exploring the town and its surroundings. Overnight Hotel Belle Vue or similar (B).

Day 15: Antsohihy – Ankarafantsika

This morning we drive down to Ambondromamy, at a crossroads between North RN6 and West RN4. It is a little village brought to life by local vendors and their products, especially local fruits that are exhibited on the roadside. Then from there we take the national road N4 towards Majunga, about 1-hour drive to reach Ampijoroa. This is a Sakalava region, home to the largest tribes of the eighteen in Madagascar. The tombs of this tribe tend to be different from other tribes. We arrive by late afternoon. Check in and this evening we will take a walk looking for night actives animal. Overnight Gite d’Ampijoroa or similar (B).

• Ankarafantsika National Park

A paradise for birds, Ankarafantsika is one of the largest remaining dry deciduous forests, and forms a mosaic with extensive wetlands and provides the final refuge for numerous critically endangered and endemic species including lemurs, reptiles and birds. The forestry station campsite has numerous sought-after “campsite residents. At night a pair of Tortoroka Scops Owls normally start calling in the campsite and Madagascar Nightjars can be seen foraging on the edge of the camp or along the trails on a night walk!

• Lake Ravelobe

One of the key features of the Lake Ravelobe is one pair of the critically endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle. With an estimated 50-100 breeding pairs remaining in the wild, this bird is on the edge of extinction. While it is exhilarating to see such a rare bird, it is equally sad to know it is disappearing so fast. The crocodiles in Lake Ravelobe are protected by fady (superstitions and taboos taken from ancient folklore) and have been known to attack unsuspecting villagers.

Day 16: Ankarafantsika National park

For early risers there will be an opportunity to take a dawn walk for bird watching and exploring the trails around magical Lake Ravelobe. After breakfast we spend the day exploring the natural treasures of Ankarafantsika, depending on our wish. The terrain here is quite flat so today’s walk will not be too challenging. Overnight Gite of Ampijoroa or similar (B).

Day 17:Ankarafantsika – Tana

Today we head back to Tana, the end of our 17 days journey and have 6-7 hours drive through grasslands and savannah of the west. We stop from time to time in some villages along the way. Overnight in Gassy Country house or transfer to your international flight (B).