Things to see and do Maroantsetra

A haven for many Dutch during the ^17th century, Nosy Mangabe was used to supply ships with food or slaves. In the following century, the French turned it into a trading post. Today, the "very blue island" is home to a 520-hectare special reserve. It is densely covered by secondary forest. The presence of mango and ravenala trees attests to human interference. You can observe 5 species of lemur, tenrecs, chameleons, snakes and fruit bats. An ideal day trip!

The park of Farankaraina with its 1 650 hectares protects in particular the aye-aye, a species of lemur rather rare. Four circuits allow to discover it: one goes to the beach of Vohilingoza, three others follow the river of Farankaraina. Note that this park is twinned with the zoo of Champrépus in France, in partnership with the NGO Antongil Conservation, which works to protect the biodiversity of the bay of Antongil, in collaboration with the 10 villages along the shore. Accessible by pirogue from Maroantsetra. Lodge and camp on site.

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.