Duration
7 Days
Region
Northeastern Madagascar
Style
Trekking, Wildlife & Rainforest
Pace
Challenging
Marojejy National Park and Daraina private Reserve are in the North East Part of Madagascar. Marojejy rainforest is very famous for its endemic Lemurs Silky Sifaka and the Bird Helmet Vanga. There are more wildlife to spot in this park such as other types of Lemurs, Birds, and Reptiles. It is more adventurous to hike here as you go through and deeper. Spending a couple of days camping in the forest is very rewarding.
Daraina Reserve, managed by the Fanamby NGO, is also very interesting and home to varieties of wildife like Lemurs, Chameleons, Frogs, and Birds.
Marojejy Rainforest Trek
Silky Sifaka Encounters
Helmet Vanga Birdwatching
Marojejy Summit – 2,132 m
Rainforest Camping Experience
Golden-Crowned Sifaka
Daraina Wildlife Reserve
Early flight to Sambava. Arrive and drive to Mandena to get a local guide, then a short drive to Manantenina village where to start the hike. At first, enjoy the landscape which is dominated by the rice and vanille plantations which are the speciality of this region. Then enter the forest of the Marojejy National Park. Picnic lunch on the way. Arrive at the first campsite-Camp Mantella (450m)- in the middle of the afternoon. We can have a little walk around to look for wildlife.
After an early breakfast trek to the summit (2,132m). Be prepared for this climbing with good shoes. The view is fabulous as long as we go up; trees become smaller and shorter to small bush. Not so many wildlife today but just admiring the landscape and enjoying the morning exercise. Go back to the camp for lunch then continue to walk down to the second campsite.
After breakfast walk back through the primary forest; we may still see wildlife on the way. Then back to the crops and the car is waiting at the village of Manantenina. We drive to Sambava. Lunch on the way. Check in and have a look around the town.
Breakfast then drive to Daraina. Check into the Tattersalli’s Campsite, then lunch. Afternoon walk or just relax, the Lemurs come sometimes close to the campsite. Evening walk to look for the nocturnal wildlife, Lemurs and some sleeping Chameleons.
Morning visit to explore the Loky Manambato protected area to see the wildlife especially the Golden Crowned Sifaka, this is among the most beautiful Lemurs in Madagascar. After lunch drive back to Sambava.
Flight back to Antananarivo.