Make the Aye-Aye Forest Camp your base for hikes into the Farankaraina forest, a trip to Nosy Mangabe and a cultural visit to a local village, while enjoying the quiet and privacy of a spacious bungalow on a sandy beach.
Day 1: Transfer to camp - night walk
Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the marina. During the 45 minute boat ride on the river, look out for the malachite kingfisher, red fody or grey heron. After a 15-minute walk, you will be greeted at the camp with a welcome drink, and orientation session. Unpack, enjoy a stroll or even a swim at the beach, before dinner. As the sun sets, head out for a night walk, listening to the chorus of frogs and the scops owls calling each other. Look for dwarf and mouse lemurs, and of course the aye-aye.
Day 2: Birding, lemurs and Village visit
Today we head into the 3000ha Farankaraina forest. The Aye-Aye Forest Camp maintains a network of 10km of trails, each with their own characteristics. Birders may want to head out at sunrise to look for the short-legged ground roller, red-breasted coua or the Madagascar wood-rail and return for a late breakfast. Or, after a hearty breakfast, look for white-fronted brown lemurs and one of the two groups of red-ruffed lemurs. Your guide will be ready at whatever time you would like to leave.
In the afternoon, travel in a pirogue (a local, wooden canoe) to visit the village of Ambodivohangy. A farmer will explain how they grow local crops (vanilla, cloves, peppers, papaya, breadfruit, jackfruit, cacao, rice,...) and then the Women's Association will perform the toka toka, and other traditional dances. Make sure you bring some Ariary to spend on locally made crafts.
In the evening, walk along the beach looking up at the southern hemisphere stars, but keep an eye on the ground as the many ghost crabs skitter along the beach. Occassionally a fossa will make a fleeting appearance.
Day 3: River trip and late afternoon walk
Before the heat of the day, a local will paddle a pirogue through a tributary of the main river. Look for birds commonly found near waterways such as Madagascar bee eater, black kite or the Malagasy kestrel.
Another option to the river trip, when in season, if the humpback whales are in the bay close to the camp, you can head out in the boat for a closer look.
In a mid-afternoon walk along another trail in the Farankaraina forest, you may spot a Madagascar ibis, a blue coua, a hook-billed vanga or a northern bamboo lemur.
Day 4: Nosy Mangabe and Nosy Fanihy, and night walk
Head out early to hear the cacophony and watch the activity of the flying foxes nesting in the trees at Nosy Fanihy. Then cross the short distance to Nosy Mangabe, the island jewel of Masoala National Park. The black and white ruffed lemurs are only found on this island in the Antongil Bay. Your guide may also spot a Brookesia peyrierasi, the second smallest chameleon species. Enjoy a picnic lunch packed from our camp, followed by exploring more trails, looking for a well-chamouflaged leaf-tailed gecko, or a pygmy kingfisher.
Head back to the camp mid-afternoon, enjoy a swim or a nap, and then enjoy another night walk where your flashlight might catch a nose-horned chameleon or the glow from the eyes of a woolly lemur, and have another chance at finding an aye-aye.
Day 5: Nature walk to waterfall
The RN5 road running behind the camp is a rock- and pothole-filled track between villages accessible only by foot or motorbike. The open space allows for easier viewing of birds in the open canopy. Look for the lesser vasa parrot, and mixed flocks of vangas as you greet the friendly locals with Salama! If you are adventurous, a steep path can be followed down to the Navana waterfall where you can cool off in a refreshing, secluded oasis, while you enjoy a picnic lunch.
Alternately, this morning can be used to explore another of the many trails in Farankaraina, looking for Malagasy paradise flycatcher, Madagascar sparrow hawk or a leaf-tailed gecko.
Day 6: Summit hike
Put on your hiking shoes for a 2-3 hour hike to the summit - 270m in elevation. The summit trail takes you through changing landscape, where you might encounter any of Farankaraina's birds or lemurs. Near the summit, there is a rock with marble-sized indentations; legend has it that it was used as a game board in the time of the King Rabondro. A few more steps and you reach the summit with a spectacular view overlooking the whole of the Antongil Bay: the backdrop of the Farankaraina forest extends to the village of Navana, to Nosy Mangabe, and south to the Masoala peninsula where you may spot whales through your binoculars. Enjoy the peace and quiet, and cool off in the gentle breeze while looking for the Madagascar buzzard or other raptors sweeping the sky.
WARNING: the drop-off from the summmit is very steep and there is no guard rail. Guests should stay well away from the edge of the rock platform.
Day 7: Plants, swim, traditional meal and dancing
On your last day, your guide will walk you through the forest and show you tree and plant species that have special significance for the local people. Almost all of these species are unique to Madagascar and many are only found in North-East Madagascar. Your guide may point out medicinal plants, as well as the many varieties of palm, such as the ravenala (Traveller's Palm), which have many uses for the local population. You will learn about which species are used for food, in local medicines, weaving, home construction, and more.
In the afternoon, enjoy a swim in the warm ocean water, and curl up with a good book in a hammock in the shade of a tree.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Malagasy dinner (complete with spoons made from palm leaves), followed by singing and dancing on the beach with the camp staff.
Day 8: Transfer to Maroantsetra
After an early breakfast, once again enjoy the quiet river transfer back to Maroantsetra and then on to the airport in time to catch your onward flight.