Madagascar Nature & Nurture in the North
Female Black lemur in action (Eden Lodge)  
Dugout canoes (Lakana), Nosy Be archipelago  
Male Panther chameleon capturing prey. It is common on Nosy Be  
Ankarana National Park  
Petite Cascade, one of Montagne d'Ambre's best known waterfalls (Gerald Cubitt)  
Ankarana sportive lemur  
Male Crowned lemur, Ankarana  
Female Crowned lemur on 'tsingy', Ankarana  
Pirogue excursion over lake behind Iharana Bush Camp  
Bat, Lokobe National Park  
Blue vanga can be seen in Ankarana  
Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve island  
Claire's sportive lemurs, Lokobe, are critically endangered.  
Brookesia stumpffi and B. minima occur in Lokobe National Park  
Lokobe National Park's sambirano forest in backdrop  
Spearpoint leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui) occurs in Lokobe  
Green turtles are common off Eden Lodge (Eden Lodge)  
 
15 day tour
Including flights
Prices from
£3705

Tour Highlights

  • 'Tsingy' limestone pinnacle-fields at Ankarana
  • Colourful coral reefs at Nosy Fanihy and Nosy Tanikely
  • Lemurs, Chameleons, Baobabs and other iconic life forms in Ankarana and Lokobe National Parks
  • Sublime, tropical beaches
I'm enquiring about: Madagascar Nature & Nurture in the North

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I'm enquiring about: Madagascar Nature & Nurture in the North

Madagascar Nature & Nurture in the North

Madagascar

Focused on Northern Madagascar, this lovely itinerary is perfect for those who prefer not to travel to the capital city. 

Arriving into Nosy Be off either Ethiopian Airlines or SA Airlink, you start with a stay in the charming Sangany Lodge. Based here you can enjoy excellent hospitality and decompress after the long-haul flying.  You visit the marine reserve of Nosy Tanikely, the nearby island of Nosy Komba, and the sambirano forest of Lokobe, where some rare wildlife finds sanctuary. 

Travel by speedboat to the northwestern Malagasy mainland and from the settlement of Ankify, drive inland to the otherworldly limestone fortress of Ankarana National Park with its awe inspiring caves, pinnacle-fields ('tsingy') and wildlife-rich sunken dry deciduous forests. During a three-night stay in the uniquely stylish Iharana Bush Camp, you will have plenty of time to explore this remarkable place. 

End your journey enjoying the tropical north-west coast at Baobab Beach, where you spend 6 nights in secluded Eden Lodge. This much enjoyed seaside property offers the rare combination of wildlife and beach. 

Read more about this tour


Day 1
UK - Nosy Be (flights)
Check in at London Heathrow for the overnight Ethiopian Airlines flight to Addis Ababa
Day 2
Day 2
Arrival into Nosy Be
On arrival into Nosy Be Airport, purchase your visa (35 euro) and collect checked baggage. You will be welcomed and transferred to Sangany Lodge where you stay for 3 nights in an en-suite bungalow, dinner and breakfast included.
Accommodation: Sangany Lodge
                 
Day 3
Day 3
Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Kombay day excursion
After breakfast at the lodge you will be taken on a speedboat excursion to the islands of Nosy Komba - an unofficial 'reserve' for a population of Black lemurs - and the marine reserve island of Nosy Tanikely nearby.
 
Enjoy a picnic lunch under the tall trees at the beautiful beach on Nosy Tanikely. The coral formations around this island are some of Madagascar's best.
Accommodation: Sangany Lodge
                 
Day 4
Day 4
Lokobe National Park
You will be taken by road and boat to Lokobe National Park on south-east Nosy Be. This park protects Nosy Be's last remaining stand of Sambirano Forest, and is home to some range-restricted species such as the Critically Endangered Claire's (Nosy Be) sportive lemur. Lokobe also has a rich herpetofauna, so you should see chameleons and even some Uroplatus (leaf-tailed) geckos here.
 
Overnight in Sangany Lodge, dinner and breakfast included.
Accommodation: Sangany Lodge
                 
Day 5
Day 5
Nosy Be - Ankarana National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Nosy Be port. From here, you will be transferred by speedboat (about 35 minutes) to Ankify jetty, where your experienced, professional, English-speaking Malagasy guide and driver will welcome you.
 
Set off with them in your private, comfortable, 4-wheel drive vehicle through Sambirano Country for about 4 hours to Ankarana Ouest, where your base for three nights is Iharana Bush Camp, all meals included.
 
This afternoon, you can take an excursion behind the camp into an outcrop of impressive 'grand tsingy' formations along a well-crafted walk called 'tsingy-tsingy'. Enjoy sundowners on one of the viewing platforms, and marvel at the incredible scenery around you.
 
Be sure to take a good flashlight (with spare batteries) as there is plenty of small wildlife to be seen in and around the lodge grounds at night.
Accommodation: Iharana Bush Camp
                             
Day 6
Day 6
Ankarana Est
After breakfast, travel about 90 minutes (weather depending) around the south of the Ankarana limestone plateau and up to Ankarana Est where you enter the park at Mahamasina Gate and explore an easy trail that takes you to formations like Pert d'Rivier and the 'tsingy rary'.
 
This wonderful park is the one place in Madagascar which our friend, guidebook guru Hilary Bradt justifiably describes as having that world class 'WOW' factor.
 
On this walk in Ankarana Est, you should see plenty of lemurs - notably Crowned and Sanford's, as well as a variety of birds including Crested coua, Sicklebill and Blue vangas, and many reptiles such as Collared iguanid, Panther and Oustalet's chameleons and Giant hognosed snake.
 
Accommodation: Iharana Bush Camp
                             
Day 7
Day 7
Ankarana Ouest
Spend more time with your guides, exploring the 'Lost World within a Lost World' as Ankarana has been referred to by many. So impressive is this park that it was subject of a National Geographic video and the excellent book 'Lemurs of the Lost World' by Dr Jane Wilson Howarth, who was part of a pioneering expedition into the park.
 
Your guides will take you on one of the circuits into the limestone fortress where in sunken moist deciduous forests, large populations of often endangered wildlife, thrive, being almost isolated from the rest of the world. Part of today's excursion can also include one of the spectacular caves which are in this massif.
Accommodation: Iharana Bush Camp
                             
Day 8
Day 8
Ankarana National Park - Eden Lodge/ Baobab Beach
Travel about 3 hours overland to Ankify, a town on the north-west coast. En route, you can stop to visit the cocoa plantations at Domain Millot, where fair-trade Malagasy chocolates are made.
 
Transfer at noon by speedboat to Baobab Beach, for a 6-night stay in secluded Eden Lodge, all meals included.
 
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 9
Day 9
Eden Lodge
Enjoy the white sand beaches at Eden Lodge, go snorkelling, kayaking or searching for rare wildlife such as the Fork-marked lemur (pictured), which has been spotted during night walks in the woods surrounding the property.
 
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 10
Day 10
Eden Lodge
Relax at Eden Lodge or arrange a variety of optional excursions through the hotel reception (some are payable locally).
 
Most days of the year, guests encounter Green turtles under water.
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 11
Day 11
Eden Lodge
Relax and unwind at Eden Lodge/ Baobab Beach.
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 12
Day 12
Eden Lodge
Enjoy your time at Baobab Beach, which although remote and secluded - and not accessible by road - is close enough to the Nosy Be archipelago to enable you to undertake a variety of excursions there.
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 13
Day 13
Eden Lodge
Your final full day at Eden Lodge, Baobab Beach.
 
Accommodation: Eden Lodge
                 
Day 14
Day 14
Departure: Baobab Beach - Nosy Be Airport and flight home
You will be transferred by speedboat to Nosy Be jetty, where you will be met and transferred to Nosy Be Airport to check in for the Ethiopian Airlines*** flight to Addis Ababa, departing in the afternoon.
 
Remain air side on arrival into Addis Ababa Bole Airport and check in before the flight back to London, departing after midnight.
 
*** If you would prefer to fly with BA and SA Airlink, let us know. We will be pleased to quote accordingly.
Day 15
Welcome home!
Arrive back home after a wonderful trip!

Pricing Information & Dates

15 day tour, from £3705 per person
Price Includes:
  • Flights
  • Accommodation
Price Includes
* Ethiopian Airlines return economy class flights from London Heathrow to Nosy Be.***
* Accommodation and meals specified,
* Park entry permits and entry fees,
* Exclusive use of a 4WD vehicle and professional driver and services of a professional English-speaking wildlife expert guide for Ankarana National Park
* activities and excursions as outlined
* 4-wheel drive and speedboat transfers as per itinerary.
Price Excludes
* Items of a personal nature
* Visa fees
* Any additional meals; drinks, gratuities and items of a personal nature
* Travel insurance
Price Notes
*** If you prefer another airline, it is possible to achieve the same route (London - Nosy Be return, without having to go to Antananarivo) on a combination of British Airways and South African Airlink. Ask us for details.

Tour Route Map

  1.   Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands
  2.   Ankarana National Park
  3.   Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands

Accommodation on this Tour

Eden Lodge
Eden Lodge
Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands, Madagascar
Eden Lodge offers the best of Madagascar in one location: exotic wildlife, rewarding snorkelling and a long, sandy beach with magnificent baobabs. Standing under traditional Malagasy thatched roofs, eight stylish safari-style tents are spread out along a beach on the north coast.
                 
Iharana Bush Camp
Iharana Bush Camp
Ankarana National Park, Madagascar
Situated about 16 km from the town of Ambilobe, Iharana Bush Camp has eight bungalows with en suite facilities (showers not bath tub). The design reflects a unique crossover between traditional Malagasy and African styling.
                             
Sangany Lodge
Sangany Lodge
Nosy Be, the Mitsio and Radama islands, Madagascar
Sangany Lodge This small owner-run property at Amphoraha Bay on Nosy Be,  has eight elegantly decorated, wooden and thatch bungalows or suites, each individually named. They are......
                 

Image Gallery

Female Black lemur in action (Eden Lodge)
Dugout canoes (Lakana), Nosy Be archipelago
Male Panther chameleon capturing prey. It is common on Nosy Be
Ankarana National Park
Petite Cascade, one of Montagne d'Ambre's best known waterfalls (Gerald Cubitt)
Ankarana sportive lemur
Male Crowned lemur, Ankarana
Female Crowned lemur on 'tsingy', Ankarana
Pirogue excursion over lake behind Iharana Bush Camp
Bat, Lokobe National Park
Blue vanga can be seen in Ankarana
Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve island
Claire's sportive lemurs, Lokobe, are critically endangered.
Brookesia stumpffi and B. minima occur in Lokobe National Park
Lokobe National Park's sambirano forest in backdrop
Spearpoint leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui) occurs in Lokobe
Green turtles are common off Eden Lodge (Eden Lodge)
Madagascar Nature & Nurture in the North 18
Click on images to enlarge

Reviews

'Your brochure offered us a suitable trip with option to customise sample tour. We had a wonderful trip. Food at Litchi Tree and location at Iharana Bush Camp wonderful. Sakatia Lodge is very friendly. We enjoyed snorkelling especially with Whale sharks!! As we are not divers, a magical experience. Very lucky to be there at right time of year to see Whale sharks'

Mr and Mrs Thompson
November 26, 2015


'Having only got back yesterday we wanted to say a huge thank you to you for organising such a truly wonderful holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed'

Mr and Mrs Emerson
October 20, 2015

'Vakona Forest Lodge has nice grounds. Easy walk to Lemur Island if we had not already been driven there. Food better than average. Litchi Tree excellent. Seemed willing to consider any limitations on diet (we had none). Menu at Iharana Bush Camp limited but well prepared. Effort to provide individual and friendly service. Didn't mind the wildlife in the room.

Overall planning for a two-week tour was excellent an was tailored to our abilities anthe season. We wanted a more generalised tour than, for example, a birding trip, an got it. I am also interested in loca life an the guides were able to point ou and explain what we observed and something of the overall status of Madagascar. We commend all the drivers who hd to deal with the chaotic traffic on the decrepit roads. The vehicles provided were all comfortable. Recommend to add Tsingy Rouges to the itinerary'

Mr and Mrs Ehrlich
June 22, 2015
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