Madagascar: The Masoala National Park (trip)

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Madagascar: The Masoala National Park

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Period offered: October. The provider (view their profile) can provide you with specific departure dates, final prices, and other information.


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17 Days, from $4,490* per person. October.

Accommodations: Comfort. Exertion level: 3 (7 is most strenuous)

Overview of Madagascar: The Masoala National Park

We’ve found one of the most exotic and pristine tropical wilderness areas in the world for paddling. Explorers’ Corner is proud to announce a paddling adventure in one of the most remote areas of Madagascar -- the Masoala National Park. Won’t you join us for this new paddling expedition to explore another fantastic natural habitat on Earth? Madagascar is a truly wonderful country with unique wildlife, a superb climate, and the nicest people you will find anywhere. Although not on the radar of many tourists, the island is a safe and wonderful country to visit. The cities and towns are surprisingly captivating, thanks to some inspired local architecture and the Malagasy love for flowers, music, and warm colors.

Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the World (after Greenland, Papua New Guinea and Borneo) and has some of the highest endemicity on the planet -- 80% of all floral and fauna is endemic, 95% of the spiny desert is endemic! There are more than 30 species of lemurs that are found only in the Malagasy forests and more than 100 other island-specific mammals.

Our adventure encompasses spectacular ocean kayaking in the Masoala National Park. After the paddling, we spend a few days at Perinet National Park in the Madagascar highlands with its unsurpassed wildlife! This trip is a true cornucopia of adventure and natural history.

Operated by Explorers' Corner.

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*Travel product and pricing information are the travel provider’s base estimates, published here as a convenience to TravelDragon users without verification by TravelDragon. Your actual price will vary depending upon length of trip, travel dates, number of traveling guests, transportation (e.g. airfare, rail passes, etc.), and optional service features such as room categories or individualized food requirements. This base price estimate may or may not include all necessary fees, taxes, government-imposed surcharges. Be sure to confirm availability, total price and trip details with the travel provider using the contact information provided here.

Max group size: 12

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the nearby Hotel IC (for Island Continent), we will give you details for the orientation breakfast the next morning.
...Hotel IC

Day 2: Antananarivo - Maroantsetra.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Maroantsetra. On arrival at Maroantsetra, we transfer to the Hotel Coco Beach for lunch. We have an afternoon free to explore the traditional “wild west” town and river port and to prepare for the early morning launch of our kayaking expedition!
B, L, D... Coco Beach Lodge

Day 3: Paddle Maroantsetra - Navana.

Our first day we kayak to Navana in the river delta system for 15 km, 4 hours, stopping on the beach at the mouth of the Antanbalaina and Andranofotsy rivers. At the end of the river system we leave the kayaks and walk the last 5 km over the forested hills past the Farakaraina forest reserve and around the bay of Navana.

B, L, D... Wilderness Camping


Day 4: Paddle Bay of Navana.
Morning kayak around the scenic area of the bay of Navana, approx 8 km, 2 hours. After our paddle, we go for a cultural walk down the road of tombs and through the communal farmlands and small villages, stopping for a picnic lunch. Visitors will have a last chance for shopping in the market of Navana village before returning to camp for a relaxed late afternoon and well-deserved sundowners on a viewpoint hill.

B, L, D... Wilderness Camping


Day 5: Navana - Tampolo and Masoala Forest Lodge.

After breakfast, it’s time to pack camp and board the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour, boat voyage to Tampolo and our campsite at the Masoala Forest Lodge. After a quiet afternoon of lunch and siesta, snorkeling and swimming, we enjoy an evening kayak to Tampolo Point, approximately 5 km, 1,5 hours.

B, L, D... Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge


Day 6: Masoala National Park.

Take a morning walk with an official forest guide into the primary rainforest of the Masoala National Park, to see Red-ruffed lemurs, helmet vangas, chameleons and other endemic wildlife. After our 5 km, 4 hour walk we enjoy lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon we take a pirogue cruise on the Tampolo river, and still have time for some coastal walks, swimming and snorkeling. Night walk to see nocturnal wildlife.
B, L, D... Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge


Day 7: Paddle Antalavia.

Early start to kayak to the Antalavia river, 12 km, 4 hours, with stops at the sacred island, mangrove river, marontoko cove and then a swim in the clear fresh water of the cascades in the forest at Antalavia. A picnic lunch on the shady beach at the river mouth makes a refreshing break and then there is the option of walking or boating back to the camp.
B, L, D... Wilderness Camping


Day 8: Tampolo - Nosy Behento.
An early breakfast and it’s all aboard the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour boat voyage to the island camp at Nosy Behento off the Cap Masoala. We set up camp on this small, deserted tropical island before our midday lunch. The afternoon is ours to explore the beaches and rocks and underwater world before we take an evening kayak around the archipelago of nearby islets, 5 km, 1,5 hours.

B, L, D... Wilderness Camping

Day 9: Cap Masoala.

After a morning snorkel and breakfast, we set off by kayak to go round Cap Masoala, 12 km, 4 hours, with a paddle down the mangrove river past some tombs, and with rest stops on the beaches. We picnic on a white sand beach and swim in the turquoise water around the Cap. After lunch, guests can choose either kayaking or boating back to our island camp. An evening walk to the light house on the island for sundowners and the panoramic view of the lagoon and islets off the cap completes this incredible day.
B, L, D... Wilderness Camping


Day 10: Fampotobe River.

Another morning snorkeling session, breakfast and then we set off by kayak to the Fampotobe river, 10 km, 2 hours. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach at the river mouth before launching the kayaks into the huge river estuary for a short, half hour kayak, past the riverside village of Fampotobe and back out to sea for the boat trip back our the island camp.
B, L, D... Wilderness Camping


Day 11: Nosy Behento - Tampolo.

In the early morning we pack up camp and go aboard the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour voyage back Tampolo and the Masoala Forest Lodge. Lunch and afternoon are at your leisure to choose any activity or none at all. In the evening we come together to enjoy a traditional feast. We camp one last night in the Malagasy Forest.

B, L, D... Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge


Day 12: Masoala Lodge - Maroansetra.
A three hour boat trip back to the “civilization” of Maroantsetra. Check into the Coco Beach Lodge for the night’s celebration after 120 km of great kayaking.
B, L, D...Coco Beach Lodge

Day 13: Maroantsetra - Antananarivo.
We take a midmorning flight from Maroantsetra to the capital. The day in town is free for shopping. You can arrange your own city tour or go on your own to visit the hilltop village of Ambohimanga, a World Heritage Site. Lunch is also on your own.
B, D...Hotel IC


Day 14: Antananarivo - Perinet.
After breakfast, we will drive 3 hours to the Perinet National Park to check into the Vakona Forest Lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting the nearby Mantadia National Park. Denizens in this rainforest of evergreens include a large variety of exotic birds and lemur species, including the brown furred Banboo lemurs, that live only in Madagascar. The park is also home to the endangered Diademed Sifaka, another species of lemur.
B, L, D...Feon' ny Ala Lodge or similar

Day 15: Perinet.
We’ll spend the day and evening walking the park with our local forest guide, learning about this magnificent place and the lemurs, Indri, and other endemic flora and fauna. After dinner at the Lodge, we’ll have the chance for an after dark exploration to see the nocturnal life of the park.
B, L, D...Feon' ny Ala Lodge or similar

Day 16: Perinet - Antananarivo.
Arrive back in Antananarivo to relax and get ready for the next day’s departure. We celebrate our adventure at a sunset farewell dinner with live music at the Grill de Rova overlooking the capital.
B, L, D...Hotel IC

Day 17: Antananarivo – Onward.
After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home (most likely routed through Paris).
B... Return Home

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