Natural Crafts Vanilla Coast

At 20 minutes from Sambava towards Vohémar, you can first visit the plantation «Vola Maitso» (vanilla, pepper, cocoa, many species of palm trees and fruit trees). Then begins the descent of the Bemarivo River on board a flat-flat metallic canoe. Beautiful vegetation, visit of the village of Antsakajoy and its coffee plantations, scenes of everyday life… Count a good day of walking, with the return of the visit of the Cocoteraie de Soavoanio and the cross-canoe of the lagoon of Sambava.

The region abounds in superb sites: the green lake nearby with its crocodiles (go there by 4x4 and come back by walking along the sea, count 5 hours of trek); to the northwest, 75 km away, the Daraina (or Loky-Manambato) reserve, near the village of the same name where gold seekers flock, sanctuary of a rare species of lemurs in danger of extinction, the golden-crowned sifaka(propithecus tattersalli) as well as the ala vato, the largest black scorpion of Mada; to the west, the first foothills of Tsaratanana; to the south, the luxuriant rainforest..

Navana is a very small, wild and tropical cove, whose granite rock beach will remind some of the Seychelles. It is an ideal place to relax for a day, especially if the weather is good. You can also visit the small traditional village, where coffee, vanilla and cloves are grown. Very nice pictures in perspective. Count 1 hour of fast boat to reach it from Maroantsetra, for at least 200 000 Ar (price likely to increase). A guide on the spot asks around 20 000 Ar.

20 km to the north, on the road to Sambava, this lake is a waterfowl hunter's paradise (waterfowl abound: teal, humpback ducks, wild geese). But beware! There are also crocodiles. The Parc d'Andranoanala is nearby and can be reached on foot. For a longer hike, head into the park as far as the Bevontsira waterfall. For the "total package", a complete tour of the peninsula will take you as far as Maroantsetra.