The Cirque Rouge (Red Circus) near Mahajanga is a stunning, protected natural amphitheatre featuring eroded cliffs in vibrant shades of red, pink, ochre, and white. These unique geological formations were caused by intense erosion of sedimentary rocks. Located about 12 km from the city...
We spent two nights in Mahajanga (Majunga), known as the “City of Flowers.” It is a vibrant, hot, and cosmopolitan port city on Madagascar’s northwest coast. Founded by Arab traders around 1700, it is a key historical trade hub featuring a mix of Comorian, Arab, Indian...
Ankarafantsika National Park (136,513 ha), established in 2002 near Mahajanga, is a premier biodiversity hotspot that protects one of Madagascar’s last remaining dense dry deciduous forests (🎟️ 55,000 MGA, guide 50,000 MGA). Located between the Betsiboka and Mahajamba rivers, the park...
The drive from Toamasina to Mahajanga via Antananarivo is roughly 920 km in total, and it took us two full days’ drive with an overnight in Antananarivo and Beamilaka. The scenery shifted dramatically: we started with a lush, humid coastal rainforest, climbed into the cool highlands...
The next afternoon and night, we spent in Toamasina (historically Tamatave). It is Madagascar’s primary seaport and the nation’s second-largest city, serving as its commercial gateway. Founded in the 18th century, it became a major trading hub in 1817 under King Radama I and...
Our original plan was to drive from Manambato to Mahambo to catch the next-morning boat to St Marie Island with El Condor, but unfortunately, the weather turned bad. We were informed that the first boats might go again after Easter. We got that bad news in the middle of nowhere, some...
The Palmarium Reserve (Akanin’ny Nofy) offers one of the most reliable opportunities in Madagascar to see the elusive, nocturnal Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis). We took a boat trip (🎟️50,000 MGA) organised by Palmarium Hotel to a dedicated Aye-aye island, where these rare...
We took a boat for around 20 minutes to reach Andranokoditra, a quiet, authentic lakeside village along the Pangalanes Canal, where life moves to the rhythm of the water. Wooden pirogues line the shore, and local fishermen head out daily using traditional techniques passed down through...
Palmarium Reserve (Akanin’ny nofy) is a 50-hectare private nature reserve on a peninsula along Madagascar’s Pangalanes Canal, renowned for its habituated lemurs, including the rare Aye-Aye, and 100,000 palm trees. Located on Lake Ampitabe, it offers close-up wildlife...
To our surprise, the access road to Manambato was closed. After some calls, we found out a car that could wait on the other side of the road block and would drive us to Orania Lodge, from where the boat usually goes to Palmarium Reserve. So that was the extra cost of 70,000 MGA and a...