Authentic Destination In The North Of Madagascar

Meeting with our team in your hotel, presentation of your tour program and delivery of your travel documents. Then, departure for Ankarafantsika through the semi-desert landscapes of the Tampoketsa massif, with its river valleys, while discovering the daily life of the people living along the National Road n°4 (RN 4). Lunch at the restaurant on the way. Arrival at the destination at the end of the afternoon, installation at the hotel. Dinner and night at the hotel. • Duration: 7 hours • Distance: 440 km • Meals included: Breakfast • Accommodation: ANKARAFANTSIKA LODGE or BUNGALOW OF THE PARK

Early morning, after breakfast, departure for a visit of the great National Park of Ankarafantsika which strikes by the nuances of its attractive landscapes and the diversity of its forests rich in endemic flora and fauna. This forest is located in the Boeny region, in the northwest of the Big Island. The National Park of Ankarafantsika is bounded to the east by the Mahajamba River and to the west by the Betsiboka River. The park is crossed by National Road 4 and covers an area of 136,000 hectares. Ankarafantsika was formerly called Ampijoroa Forest Station. It is famous for its lake, its birds and its turtles. The park has a total of 129 species of birds, 75 of which are endemic. It also shelters chameleons, iguanas, snakes, tenrecs, eight species of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs among which the Coquerel’s Sifaka (the emblem of the park) and the Microcebus ravelobensis, one of the smallest mouse lemurs, endemic of the place. A must in the park is the large sacred lake Ravelobe, which extends over nearly twenty-seven hectares. The Sakalava people believe that the Nile crocodiles that inhabit this body of water are the descendants of Ravelobe and are therefore considered sacred. The lake is also the refuge of many water birds such as herons, fishing eagles, ibis, or ducks; and Reré, freshwater turtles. In addition to Ravelobe Lake, Ankarafantsika is home to other sites sacred to the Sakalava people such as the "Doany" or royal tombs. These places are used for traditional ceremonies (such as Joro, a sacred invocation ritual, prayers) and for zebu sacrifices. The site shelters, thus, a mosaic of ecosystems: a dense dry forest, a savannah and the multicolored canyon of Ankarokaroka. The latter is formed by large "lavaka" (hole) shaped by erosion. The canyon offers a spectacular view of the surrounding forests. More than 800 species of plants have been identified here: a baobab species endemic to the park: Adansonia madagascariensis var. boinensis, hard and precious woods such as rosewood, herbaceous plants, euphorbiaceae, medicinal plants and woody plants. The flora of Ankarafantsika presents the particularity of blooming on a sandy massif. A special site of birdwatching, this park is also one of the rare places in the world which has such a large variety of birds, such as the Madagascar Eagle, the Malagasy Dyal, the Bulbul of Madagascar, the falcon of Newton, the Vanga...After the visit of the park, installation at the hotel. • Duration: 4 hours of visit  • Meals included: Breakfast and Picnic lunch • Accommodation: ANKARAFANTSIKA LODGE or BUNGALOW OF THE PARK

Take the RN4 to Ambondromamy, then turn left to join the N6 to Port-Bergé. Lunch at the restaurant on the way. We continue the road, about 45km from Port-Bergé it is the village of Anjiamangirana. Visit of the park in Anjiamangirana to see the species of Lemurs. After the visit, departure to Antsohihy, to live in the Malagasy way. We will meet the local inhabitants, see what they do in their daily life and especially participate in local activities. Other authentic and ethnic surprise visits will be waiting for you with our team on the spot. A time devoted to prepare the picnic lunch together. Discovery of the city towards the end of the afternoon. Dinner and night at the Hotel. • Duration: 5 hours drive • Distance: 356 km • Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic lunch • Accommodation: Hotel BELLE VUE or similar