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MADAGASCAR popular Holiday areas

Antananarivo - or Tana as it is affectionately know, is the capitol of Madagascar with a population of 3 million people. Tana is situated in the centre of the island in the highlands 4060 feet above sea level. It is Madagascar's largest city and is the administrative, communications, and economic centre of Madagascar.
Built on the hillsides and ridges of 12 sacred hills and surrounded with rice paddy fields, Tana is an interesting place to spend a few days either at the beginning or end of your holiday. Since it is also the location of the country's major international airport, most visitors will find themselves at least passing through the city.  There is a Lemur park with a shop & restaurant just 30 minutes outside Tana which is an ideal park to visit if you are laid over for several hours awaiting your connecting flight.  The Artisans Market is also worth a visit where you can 'Haggle' for bargains amongst the colourful local traders.  Silk and leather goods abound but do beware of the coloured gems which are usually just coloured glass, or a afternoon city tour covering the palace and other historical land marks.

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Sainte Marie Island - Lies off the north eastern coast of the main island of Madagascar.  Sainte Marie Island is just 7 kilometres off the coast at its nearest point, and 1 hours flying time from Tana.  It is a long thin tropical island approximately 60 km in length and less than 7 km wide with the small island of Ile aux Nattes just off the southern tip.  The island has a colourful past as a Pirate's haven (1680 to 1720) with secluded beaches, soft white sand, warm weather, swaying palms and lush vegetation. Sainte Marie has for three centuries remained the perfect example of a pristine lush green tropical island.  The islands can be visited all year round except during February as this is Sainte Marie's  cyclones season.

Scuba Diving: Safe from sharks, the lagoon of Sainte Marie island is endowed with significant coralline growth. Its underwater fauna is preserved as a natural heritage and first-class diving site in the Indian ocean. These and the many corals can be explored by both scuba divers and amateurs with little more than a mask, snorkel and a set of fins.

Whales: The channel between Sainte-Marie and Madagascar is a hot spot for whale watching. Between July through to September substantial groups of humpback whales (Megaptera) migrate from the Antarctic to this idyllic breeding place. These quiet giants find conditions here that are favourable for the growth of their young and well suited to their courtship and acrobatic games before the big return toward the cold seas.

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Nosy Be island - meaning the "Big Island" in the Nosy Be Archipelago.  Also know as the perfume island due to the large cultivations and processing of Ylang Ylang. Situated off the North West coast of Madagascar, with a surface area of approx 280 sq km. including numerous smaller surrounding islands.  It is a volcanic island with eleven extinct volcanoes which now act as natural water reservoirs for both cultivation and human consumption.  Some are also home to crocodiles.  The highest peak, Mount Passot rises to 450m. It’s tropical climate and classical ‘Indian Ocean holiday island’ appeal makes it a leading sea, sun & sand destination.  It boasts 12 months of sunshine, exuberant tropical vegetation, with beautiful beaches washed by the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel, .
Scuba Diving: A popular attraction as there are many coral reef to explore with several scuba diving operation on the island.

A day excursion to Nosy Komba, the Lemur island, where lemurs and villagers live in harmony.  Then on to nearby Nosy Tanikely where you can relax on a beautiful beach, take a small hike up to the light house or snorkel right off the beach.  A tasty picnic lunch is served on the beach under the watchful eye of the friendly but curious lemur colony.  Nosy Tanikely's beautiful coral has been declared a marine sanctuary.  This tour is a must.

There’s also the Lokobe Reserve nature trail, on southeast Nosy Be. The islands can be visited all year except during February, as then the rains peak.  Yacht charter packages are available.

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Morondava -  Situated centrally on the west coast of Madagascar at the mouth of the Morondava River and washed by the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel, Morondava is accessed by direct flights from Antananarivo and Fort Dauphin.

Reminiscent of a 'wild west' movie set, Morondava is the centre of the Sakalava kingdom and their tombs. The Morondava basin is baobab country and is the gateway to many of the wonders of the western region including the Kirindy Forest, the Avenue of the Baobabs, the Tsingy de Bemaraha, Belo Sur Mer, and famous for its river rafting expeditions.

Morondava offers sandy streets and vast seashores rocked by the passage of schooners and pirogues with their sails filled by the wind. Fishing is the main activity of Morondava, pulsating with the ancient rhythms of the Vezo fishermen. Shrimp is called pink gold here, sustaining many families since the opening of a processing factory.

Tailor-made action-packed river expeditions for the adventurous can range from one to several days to suit you.  Canoeing down the meandering rivers of the region is the ideal avenue to reach natural unspoiled places, and makes for wonderfully civilized camping.  How much closer can you get to nature?

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Fort Dauphin - When one thinks of Fort Dauphin one things of Berenty Private Lemur Reserve and its diverse Madagascar wildlife.  Fort Dauphin is situated in the south east corner and enjoys direct flights from Johannesburg due to the South African mining operation in the area.  Two main attraction are both Berenty and Lokora beach.

Lokora: Excursions to Lokora beach is by fast motor boat travelling east through very scenic natural botanical gardens in a semi swamp land running parallel, but inland, to the coast line.  A short hike over the hill with breath taking views leads you down to Lokora beach.  En route view large elephant ear plants, insect eating plants, village culture, outstanding views.  Lunch is served on a lovely beach next to a local fishing village.  A great day of experiences.

Berenty: The 2 hour drive up from Fort Dauphin introduces you to the strange Spiny forest trees, and large Baobabs.  Almost all trees in this area are heavily encrusted with spines & thorns to ensure their survival in the dry climate.  The reserve borders the Mandare river and is the world’s largest Lemur reserve, and home to six different species of Lemurs.  The famous dancing Lemurs, the Sifaka, are common in the park.  You can choose to drive up from Fort Dauphin for the day, or, if you decide to spend the night you can also enjoy spotting the nocturnal Lemurs after dark.  Binoculars and a torch are a recommended accessory.

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Perinet Rainforest - The 12 000 hectare rainforest of Perinet is situated approximately 3 hours east of Antananarivo making it one of the country’s most popular Madagascar wildlife reserve.  Be in the rainforest as close to daybreak as possible as the animals are most active in the early morning. The trails are not difficult to manage and most of the forest guides speak English. Perinet holds a large variety of rare rainforest plants and animals including eleven species of lemur (most notably the baboon-sized Indri with its haunting call and elusive habits), the large parsons chameleon, the blue boa constrictor, a large variety of tropical birds, Orchids, and other epiphytes festoon the trees.

Suggestion: Consider our Pangalanes canal tour - by road down to Perinet then boat trip up the canal (loads of culture, wildlife & scenery along the canal), then crossing to the Pirate island of Sainte Marie for that relaxation in the sun.

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Diego Suarez - The northern tip of Madagascar which saw conflict in both the world wars as can be witnessed from the artillery emplacements to the entrance to the bay and in the British, French and Malagasy war cemetery's.  Diego is situated on the second largest bay in the world and a strategic safe deep harbour to shipping with dry docks and other shipping services.

Red Tsingy, a more delicate and very unusual version on the Grey limestone Tsingy, found uniquely in several areas of Madagascar - the red Tsingy are made of sandstone and present beautiful forms.

Amber Mountain is a long-extinct volcano covered by primary tropical rainforest, including craters and waterfalls. A bewildering array of animals and plants have specially adapted to thrive in this moist 'island' of biological diversity. Lemurs, birds, chameleons, geckos, and truly immense rain forest trees, are among some of the natural wonders you will encounter.

Suggestion: consider the best of both - our Diego Suarez Tsingy tour runs down through the Tsingy & forests to Nosy Be for some final beach relaxation.

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Talk to us at Selftours and lets see how we can help you fit an adventurous Mystical Madagascar vacation into your budget

Tsara Guesthouse: ** Fianarantsoa

A small Madagascar hotel integrated in an old traditional building of the highlands. The main house is a restored church. Comfortable rooms and great cuisine.

Ifaty Beach, Saint Augustin Bay & Tulear: The southwest desert corner: There's plenty to see in this remote, low-key area: coral reefs, spiny bush and rare birds are the main attractions. Seaside hotels at Ifaty Beach and St Augustin Bay offer scuba diving and snorkelling, as well as trips to Nosy Ve marine reserve islet, off remote Anakao. The Nosy Ve excursions are wonderful for beach and snorkelling enthusiasts. At Ifaty especially, the unprotected 'spiny desert' never fails to enthral Wild ringtail lemurs live near Saint Augustin Bay, where a visit to the Sarodrano Cave is a must. Inland from Tulear, the ornate burial tombs of Andranovory are of the country's most impressive.

Ankarafantsika Forest Station:

Two hours south of Mahajanga is one of Madagascar's top wildlife hotspots. Easy trails into tropical dry deciduous forest over gentle terrain. Accessible all year round. Abundant lemurs live in these forests and it is the best place in western Madagascar for bird watching.

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