Masoala National Park and Nosy Mangabe Island
The recently gazetted Masoala National Park, east of the town Maroantsetra, protects the largest remaining Malagasy lowland rainforest. In some places, rainforest extends unbroken down to the sea. The Masoala peninsula, much of which remains unexplored, contains a bewildering diversity of plants and animals. In the Bay of Antongil, the uninhabited island reserve of Nosy Mangabe is a stronghold for the ruffed and white-fronted lemurs and the bizarre aye aye. Nosy Mangabe’s reptilian denizens include the fringed (leaf-tailed) gecko.
Only campsites provide accommodation in Masoala and Nosy Mangabe.
Related Travel Information
Nosy Tanikely
The snorkelling is superb from this reef-ringed, marine reserve island. A small patch of forest provides roosting sites for fruit bats.
Nosy be
Along the north-west coast lies a number of islands, the largest of which is Nosy Be. Marvelous beaches and coral reef in a protected national zone, natural lemur reserve, wonderful fishing, numerous nearby desert islands, all await the lucky traveller.
The unfortunately named Hell-Ville is the largest town and port of Nosy Be (Big Island) Three-quarters the size of Singapore, Nosy Be has 60,000 inhabitants, half of whom live in Hell-Ville, and the island is apparently the centre of what little tourism exists in Madagascar (only about 150,000 tourists visit the country each year).
Small boats
Lokobe Reserve
These 740 hectares conserve the last original Sambirano forest remaining on Nosy Be island, inhabited by black lemur, Nosy Be sportive lemur, panther chameleon and Malagasy tree boa. The survival of the black lemur is threatened by loss of habitat. Sadly, the award-winning Black Lemur Forest Project , which represented the black lemur’s best hope of survival, is no longer in operation.
La Digue Island
La Digue is a granite island that has spectacular rock formations and secluded beaches. The best way to travel around this, the fourth largest island in the archipelago, is by foot, bicycle or ox-cart. There are only a few vehicles on the island.
The highest point on this small two-by-three-mile (3x5 km) island is 1092 feet (333 m). A lovely walking trail is found from La Passe to Grand' Anse, and can be completed on foot or by bicycle. We spent three days exploring the island by bicycle and would have loved to have stayed longer.
The island is reached
Silhouette Island
Located 15 minutes northwest of Mahe by helicopter, the unspoiled granite island is the third largest island in the Seychelles and can be seen from the north coast of Mahe Mountains rise to 2427 feet (740 m) on this thickly forested round island that is approximately three miles (5 km) in diameter.
