Natural Crafts Madagascar

Whale watching is the star activity from mid-June to early October. All hotels offer this excursion. The^2nd outing is often offered at a discount, because one outing is not enough: the spectacle is so beautiful! Choose a service provider affiliated with Cétamada, so you can board a quality boat that respects the code of conduct, and be well guided. More info at Cétamada headquarters, on the port (documentaries, local crafts, etc.). Recommended providers: Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa, Libertalia, and Maningory (Île aux Nattes).

This private reserve of 35 ha houses seven species of lemurs at liberty (Indri indri is also present), reptiles, amphibians, crocodiles… Palms of all kinds abound. They can be reached by boat.

Initiated by the Association Man and the Environment, this project supports the conservation and sustainable management programme of the Vohibola Forest. In the programme: visit of the fishing village of Andranokoditra, discovery of the distillery and the process of manufacturing essential oils, walking by canoe, discovery of the interpretive trail and useful plants of the forest of Vohibola… Possibility to sleep in the living room.

Conservation - Education. The association manages the Vohibola forest and develops conservation programs with the local population.

Local population. Recruitment and training of local guides, income input for local populations.

The British NGO Blue Ventures is the best reef database in the Western Indian Ocean region. Collecting data since 2004, it attests the state of the reef and develops aquaculture projects in the south. Sea trips are possible every day with volunteers. In partnership with Blue Ventures, the fishermen organize activities: lodging with local people, whale watching in season, trips to the baobab forest, snorkeling with a guide, mangrove tours on foot, gasy cooking classes, etc.

The superb bay is located at 1 hour walk from Belo, or a little less (depending on the weather) by sailing dugout. This arm of the sea goes into the mangrove, where dhows go to the salt port to wait and take on board the bags of salt coming from the salt mines. At the entrance of the bay, the calm and deep water allows for beautiful observations of the sea bed. Opposite, a small vezo hamlet offers a pleasant stop. It is the occasion for a magnificent half-day trip at sea, for example with the very professional Niro, whose services we recommend!

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.

Known and recognized site for diving off Mangily, the Massif des Roses has unfortunately lost its superbness. The tourist development that the seaside area of Ifaty has known these last decades has amply contributed to its deterioration, so much so that divers and scientists today find it difficult to recognize the coral massif that they used to admire so much. Several non-governmental organizations, such as the Bel Avenir Organization or Reef Doctor, are actively working for its preservation. Since 2007, the Massif des Roses is officially protected (even if the guard will surely be surprised during his nap when you get there!). Today, you can still see the beautiful rose-shaped corals that gave their name to the place, but many corals are damaged or dead. A few paddles away, Korandava is another site where you can observe corals, don't hesitate to ask your guide to take you there if he doesn't do it spontaneously. The corals here are multicolored and of various shapes. The aquatic fauna is numerous and the corals are sometimes damaged, but much less than in the neighboring Massif des Roses. Here and anywhere else in the sea, each tourist must have a very responsible attitude: you should not touch these natural beauties under any circumstances, not even with your eyes. If your guide was not aware of this, do not hesitate to talk to him, it will be a great action for the protection of these precious ecosystems.

The beautiful beaches - white sand, turquoise water - that surround Maintirano stretch for miles, offering a vision of infinite languor. Ask the fishermen to show you the appropriate places for swimming.

Nosy Androtra, Nosy Lava, Nosy Maroantaly: to the south of Maintirano, a string of islands surrounded by coral reefs will delight lovers of the "desert island" atmosphere. Nothing is organized: it is necessary to inquire at the port of Maintirano or at the village of Soahanina, which can be reached from Antsalova, on the southern track.

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.

One well-marked trail runs almost all the way around the island, while another crosses it from north to south. There are also a number of smaller trails, but you'll always find your way back. Our tip: take a right turn around the island (west coast) when you dock at Sainte Marie. You can swim and have lunch along the way. Drive along the beach and when you reach "Les Lémuriens", to the south, return inland. When you reach the village, climb up to the lighthouse for a great view. A great day trip, also available by pirogue (allow 2 hours).

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.

If you take the road from the airport and continue for 3 km (12 km north from the city center), at the Grand Pavois, you will come to a surprising landscape. A natural cirque, carved by the winds and the waters, forms a kind of canyon of a surprising color: the limestones and the sands are pink, burgundy, carmine. Walking along the river, you reach the sea after a nice walk. The sunrise and the sunset on the red circuses are magical moments. Further, the red circus of Ampazony makes the joy of the amateurs of quad.

A place of worship and purification according to tradition, it is the ideal goal of an authentic stroll, through small villages and rice fields. Possibility to bathe, camp and fish there.

This superb sandy beach unfolds its postcard landscape close to the sea turtles. It is the ideal escapade before going to observe them and swim with them. Nosy Be Original agency offers to travelers this private beach on Nosy Sakatia tastefully furnished. Kitchen area, bar area, a large table under a vast straw hut: the beach lined with palm trees and planted in front of a forest looks like a dream place! In addition Nosy Be Original organizes weekly parties and even full moon parties ! The dream, we tell you...

In the Cul de Sac Gallois Bay, a 15-minute boat ride will take you to small hills planted with baobabs. Dozens of these majestic trees, some of them several hundred years old, can be discovered during an easy one-hour walk. The opportunity to see two endemic species of baobabs. We walk near Diego, in a completely different universe already with the crystal clear waters nearby. A visit of the most exotic not to be missed, especially if you do not go to see the baobabs of the Menabe region or the west of Madagascar.