Madagascar with a thousand facets, discovering the Panganales canal

Madagascar with a thousand facets, discovering the Panganales canal

Madagascar

As in many stretches of the Indian Ocean, just behind the beach, where the accumulation of sand has made it rich and full-bodied, almost a line of dunes has formed that becomes a barrier to protect the territory behind, as if to divide two kingdoms, that of the ocean without borders and a system of pools of water, of canals and inlets, those that elsewhere are called backwaters, fed in turn by the watercourses that come from the inside, which constitute an ecosystem to itself, calm and quiet, marked by expanses of mangroves, swamps and muddy stretches, delimited by a whole series of embankments and passages that the work of man has done to shape for its use.

This was followed by a complex design hand that over time created a sort of artificial canal that runs just inside the sea line, even for more than 600 kilometers. One of these channels was built at the beginning of the colonial era by the French governor in Madagascar, used as an efficient system for the movement of vehicles, goods and people in a very difficult area without other means of communication. The Panganales canal has thus become a place of great interest. Now visitors can enjoy a boat cruise along this canal from Toamasina to the village of Ankanin’y Nofy. Along the way, you can discover the lifestyle of the villagers, the fishermen and once in Ankanin’ny Nofy visit the Palmarium reserve to admire various species of lemurs. And of course do not miss the chance to see the Aye-aye, a kind of nocturnal lemur, known for its long fingernails and fluffy hairs on its head.

And right in Toamasina, the largest port of Madagascar and second city in the country after Antananarivo, inaugurates The Streamliner Hotel Apartment, an elegant complex that redefines the concept of luxury offering guests 36 fully equipped apartments with a living area, kitchenette and balcony , to feel at home at ease.

The biodiversity theme  and safeguarding the eco-system are widespread knowledge and pursued all over the world.

The biodiversity theme and safeguarding the eco-system are widespread knowledge and pursued all over the world.

Madagascar

Madagascar holds an impressive range of biodiversity, natural beauty and cultural resources to support tourism. Today there is a real need for biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism. And so more and more tourists choose to explore the country differently.

FRIENDLY CAMP is a group of Lodges immersed in the extraordinary and generous nature of Madagascar. The Saha Forest Camp located on the east coast of the country, Camp Amoureux (Lovers Camp) to the west and Black Lemur Camp in the North, were created to find the best balance between the needs and aspirations of the local community and the sustainable conservation of biodiversity . A stay inside the fields will be an unforgettable experience.

http://www.friendlycamp.org/fr/home/

 

Madagascar: for those who can not give up the call of the forest …

Madagascar: for those who can not give up the call of the forest …

Madagascar

Lemurs, chameleons and baobabs, rainforest, beaches and desert: Madagascar is even more beautiful opting for a stay in the new luxurious Ecolodge: Mantadia Lodge.

The new ecolodge, located about 10 minutes drive from the Analamazaotra reserve, famous for its rich fauna and lush flora, allows a real immersion in nature.

In this place are present:

– 120 species of orchids, most are the epiphytes with 100% endemicity, they are only found here !.

– over 1200 species of plants with an endemicity of 77%.

– 11 species of lemurs, but also some rare carnivores and a rich fauna of micromammals.

– 109 species of birds and 3 of the 5 different species of Brachipteraciidi, terricolous birds that exist only here

In this Park it is possible to organize several excursions, the most attractive is the one that leads to the sighting of the lemurs «Indri or Babakoto», which holds the record among the largest existing lemurs with a head-body length of about 68 cm and weight included between 6 and 9 kg. It is a black and white lemur that maintains an upright posture when it climbs or clings to the trees, it has no tail.

The lodge, located on a 100 meter high hill, offers a wonderful view of the forest and the village of Andasibe. The restaurant and its huge terrace overlook the lush surrounding forest, a perfect setting to watch the sunset. Guests also have access to the lounge bar and reading area.

The lodge also features an infinity pool and two massage rooms to make guests’ stay even more pleasant.

and most visited tourist area on the island, off the northwest coast of Madagascar, welcomes Ethiopian Airlines

and most visited tourist area on the island, off the northwest coast of Madagascar, welcomes Ethiopian Airlines

Madagascar Nosy Be

The airline lands at Nosy Be- three times a week with departures from Italy every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Boing 737-800  can accommodate 16 passengers in Business class and up to 138 passengers in Economy.

It is the largest and busiest tourist destination  in the island of Madagascar. Its white sandy beaches, its blue-green seas and its extraordinary underwater life make it a perfect destination for diving, fishing, cruises and much more.

New hotel in the heart of Antananarivo

New hotel in the heart of Antananarivo

Antananarivo Madagascar

Havana Hotel Resort is a new luxury hotel located five minutes from  city center. The hotel is housed in a completely renovated old building with a modern decoration and consists of 42 rooms divided into three categories: suites, apartments and studios. The charming restaurant offers a refined dining experience. The cocktail bar “The Moon”, located on the roof overlooking Lake Anosy,  is the ideal place to relax with friends and relatives.

Madagascar … primitive beauty …

Madagascar … primitive beauty …

Madagascar

For those who want to break with the repetitiveness of beach life and excursions between sea and nature, today, the absolute novelty of Antananarivo is the opening of Le Musée de la Photo du Madagascar.

A few steps from the former Palace of the Queen of Manjakamiadana, the first museum of photography is a true innovation for the capital of Madagascar. The gallery represents various photographic collections that show the history of Madagascar through different periods, the daily life of the Malagasy people, the images after independence and the period of the great buildings. The “Café du Musée” is open from Tuesday to Sunday, an ideal place to have lunch. Another way to learn more about Madagascar and the hidden history of the “City of a Thousand”.

Five incredible aspects that you probably didn’t know about Madagascar

Five incredible aspects that you probably didn’t know about Madagascar

Madagascar
  1. It is the fourth largest island in the world

Madagascar is big. It is the fourth largest island on the planet (it is larger than Spain, Thailand, Sweden and Germany).

  1. It is a paradise for wildlife lovers

According to the Conservation International, only 17 countries in the world are considered “mega different”. Each has a vast number of different animal species, many of which are not found anywhere else. Madagascar is one of these. Among the animals that inhabit the island, more than half of the world’s chameleon species and a dozen species of lemurs live on this island.

Unlike the film Madagascar, you do not see tigers, giraffes and hippos.

  1. and bird watchers

Inserted in one of the most amazing habitats in the world, the long-tailed Jay is unique and considered by birdwatchers among the most exclusive bird species in the world. ” The coastal town of Toliara, in the southwest of Madagascar, is surrounded by lagoons , mudflats, swamps of fresh water and, above all, from clearings of the curious Didiereacea endemic of Madagascar. These huge octopus-like trees sprout from the sandy soil, giving the place a surreal feeling.

  1. some of his animal creatures are simply strange

There is the giraffe weevil of Madagascar. Unique makes it the incredible long neck. Among other things, the neck of the males is 3 times longer than that of the females. It owes its name because of the neck that is long (always in proportion of the animal) as a giraffe. These cute beetles of the Attelabdae family, reach 25 mm and have a joint on the neck, an additional neck. This is the result of the adaptation of the insect, in fact it uses it a lot for the construction of the nest, characteristic that only the males do. They use it skillfully to create rolls with leaves, where the female will then place a single egg.

Finally, the giant rat of Madagascar, known locally as votsotsa or votsovotsa, has long ears similar to those of rabbits and large hind legs. Both males and females reach the usual size of a rabbit weighing about 1 – 1.5 kilograms for 30 to 35 centimeters in length with the tail about 20 to 25 centimeters.

The giant rat of Madagascar is similar to the rabbit also because of its behavior, in fact it jumps instead of running. Thanks to its powerful hind legs, it can also jump 90 centimeters, which is why it was also named giant leaping rat.

5. Preserve sites recognized by the humanity world heritage  

The royal hill of Ambohimanga, a 500-year-old burial site, the Atsinanana rainforests, house of many rare species of lemurs, and the Tsingy de Bemaraha Nature Reserve, northeast of the town of Morondava. The latter is reached with a journey of about 8 hours of track, crossing 2 rivers on board rafts. It is difficult to describe this surprising park, unique in its kind and classified by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site”. Imagine a great mass of karstic origin that extends from south to north for about 100 km, carved by the phenomenon of erosion in a very unique way, jagged with spiers (in Malagasy tsingy) hundreds of meters high, sharp and sharp, among them deep canyon. Although access to the Park is not easy and compels the traveler to deviate from the traditional routes by flying over Morondava and going both on the outward and return path a long track in rough, the Tsingy de Bemeraha Park certainly deserves to be seen.