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Madagascar: The Masoala National Park

Kayaking in Madagascar with Explorer's Corner LLC

Highlights

  • Moderate Kayaking Travel, Medium Day Hikes
  • 7 Nights Hotels and Lodges, 9 Nights in Tented Camp

Full Description

Always in search of the less-discovered, we’ve found one of the most exotic and pristine tropical wilderness areas in the world for paddling: Madagascar. Explorers’ Corner is proud to announce a kayaking adventure in one of the most remote areas of this truly unique country -- Masoala National Park.

Though not on the radar of many tourists, the island is an utterly captivating place to visit. Much of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth, the Malagasy people are unmatched in hospitality, the climate is appealing, and travel here is safe.  While its wild spaces are our primary draw, Madagascar's cities and towns are also intriguing, thanks to some inspired local architecture and the Malagasy love for flowers, music, and warm colors.

Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world (after Greenland, Papua New Guinea and Borneo) and has some of the highest endemicity on the planet -- 80 percent of all its flora and fauna is endemic, and fully 95 percent of the species found in the spiny desert are endemic! There are more than 30 species of lemurs found only in the Malagasy forests, and more than 100 other island-specific mammals.

Our adventure focuses on spectacular ocean kayaking in Masoala National Park. Afterward, we spend a few days at Perinet National Park in the Madagascar highlands, for an encounter with its unsurpassed wildlife! This trip is a true cornucopia of outdoor adventure, natural history and charismatic culture.

Includes:

  • Expert leadership and support personnel
  • All accommodations as noted
  • Meals as noted (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
  • Group airport transfers and transportation as noted
  • Group kayaking gear and safety equipment
  • Sightseeing as noted in the itinerary, including entry fees, taxes and permits
  • Follow boats and crew

Excludes:

  • International airfare (r/t Home/Antananarivo)
  • Internal Airfare: $550
  • Insurance of any kind including mandatory evacuation insurance or suggested cancellation insurance
  • Visas
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Airport taxes
  • Medical immunizations
  • Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snack foods, laundry, souvenirs, etc.)

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Antananarivo, Madagascar

 Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the nearby Hotel IC (for Island Continent), we will give you details for the orientation breakfast the next morning. Hotel IC

Day 2: Antananarivo/Maroantsetra

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Maroantsetra. On arrival at Maroantsetra, we transfer to the Hotel Coco Beach for lunch. We have an afternoon free to explore the traditional “wild west” town and river port and to prepare for the early morning launch of our kayaking expedition! B, L, D. Coco Beach Lodge

Day 3: Paddle Maroantsetra/Navana

Our first day we kayak to Navana in the river delta system for 15 km, 4 hours, stopping on the beach at the mouth of the Antanbalaina and Andranofotsy rivers. At the end of the river system we leave the kayaks and walk the last 5 km over the forested hills past the Farakaraina forest reserve and around the bay of Navana. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 4: Paddle Bay of Navana

Morning kayak around the scenic area of the bay of Navana, approx 8 km, 2 hours. After our paddle, we go for a cultural walk down the road of tombs and through the communal farmlands and small villages, stopping for a picnic lunch. Visitors will have a last chance for shopping in the market of Navana village before returning to camp for a relaxed late afternoon and well-deserved sundowners on a viewpoint hill. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 5: Navana/Tampolo and Masoala Forest Lodge

After breakfast, it’s time to pack camp and board the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour, boat voyage to Tampolo and our campsite at the Masoala Forest Lodge. After a quiet afternoon of lunch and siesta, snorkeling and swimming, we enjoy an evening kayak to Tampolo Point, approximately 5 km, 1,5 hours. B, L, D. Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge

Day 6: Masoala National Park

Take a morning walk with an official forest guide into the primary rainforest of the Masoala National Park, to see Red-ruffed lemurs, helmet vangas, chameleons and other endemic wildlife. After our 5 km, 4 hour walk we enjoy lunch and a siesta. In the afternoon we take a pirogue cruise on the Tampolo river, and still have time for some coastal walks, swimming and snorkeling. Night walk to see nocturnal wildlife. B, L, D. Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge

Day 7: Paddle Antalavia

Early start to kayak to the Antalavia river, 12 km, 4 hours, with stops at the sacred island, mangrove river, marontoko cove and then a swim in the clear fresh water of the cascades in the forest at Antalavia. A picnic lunch on the shady beach at the river mouth makes a refreshing break and then there is the option of walking or boating back to the camp. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 8: Tampolo/Nosy Behento

An early breakfast and it’s all aboard the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour boat voyage to the island camp at Nosy Behento off the Cap Masoala. We set up camp on this small, deserted tropical island before our midday lunch. The afternoon is ours to explore the beaches and rocks and underwater world before we take an evening kayak around the archipelago of nearby islets, 5 km, 1,5 hours. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 9: Cap Masoala

After a morning snorkel and breakfast, we set off by kayak to go round Cap Masoala, 12 km, 4 hours, with a paddle down the mangrove river past some tombs, and with rest stops on the beaches. We picnic on a white sand beach and swim in the turquoise water around the Cap. After lunch, guests can choose either kayaking or boating back to our island camp. An evening walk to the light house on the island for sundowners and the panoramic view of the lagoon and islets off the cap completes this incredible day. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 10: Fampotobe River

Another morning snorkeling session, breakfast and then we set off by kayak to the Fampotobe river, 10 km, 2 hours. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach at the river mouth before launching the kayaks into the huge river estuary for a short, half hour kayak, past the riverside village of Fampotobe and back out to sea for the boat trip back our the island camp. B, L, D. Wilderness Camping

Day 11: Nosy Behento-Tampolo

In the early morning we pack up camp and go aboard the MS Masoala for the 40 km, 3-4 hour voyage back Tampolo and the Masoala Forest Lodge. Lunch and afternoon are at your leisure to choose any activity or none at all. In the evening we come together to enjoy a traditional feast. We camp one last night in the Malagasy Forest. B, L, D. Camping at Masoala Forest Lodge

Day 12: Masoala Lodge/Maroansetra

A three hour boat trip back to the “civilization” of Maroantsetra. Check into the Coco Beach Lodge for the night’s celebration after 120 km of great kayaking. B, L, D. Coco Beach Lodge

Day 13: Maroantsetra/Antananarivo

We take a midmorning flight from Maroantsetra to the capital. The day in town is free for shopping. You can arrange your own city tour or go on your own to visit the hilltop village of Ambohimanga, a World Heritage Site. Lunch is also on your own. B, D. Hotel IC

Day 14: Antananarivo/Perinet

After breakfast, we will drive 3 hours to the Perinet National Park to check into the Vakona Forest Lodge and enjoy a delicious lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting the nearby Mantadia National Park. Denizens in this rainforest of evergreens include a large variety of exotic birds and lemur species, including the brown furred Banboo lemurs, that live only in Madagascar. The park is also home to the endangered Diademed Sifaka, another species of lemur. B, L, D. Feon' ny Ala Lodge or similar

Day 15: Perinet

We’ll spend the day and evening walking the park with our local forest guide, learning about this magnificent place and the lemurs, Indri, and other endemic flora and fauna. After dinner at the Lodge, we’ll have the chance for an after dark exploration to see the nocturnal life of the park. B, L, D. Feon' ny Ala Lodge or similar

Day 16: Perinet/Antananarivo

Arrive back in Antananarivo to relax and get ready for the next day’s departure. We celebrate our adventure at a sunset farewell dinner with live music at the Grill de Rova overlooking the capital. B, L, D. Hotel IC

Day 17: Antananarivo

After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight home (most likely routed through Paris). B.

About The Operator:

Explorer's Corner LLC

Headquarters:

Berkeley, CA

Established:

November 2000

About Explorers’ Corner

Explorers’ Corner is a high-end, specialty adventure company offering unique destinations and experiences, custom adventures and “old-world” one-to-one customer service. We stand firmly behind our slogan: Real Explorers Wanted - True Adventures Guaranteed!

Explorers’ Corner was founded in November of 2000 by Olaf Malver. After working in the travel industry for over 15 years, Olaf felt strongly that there was a market of travelers whose “true adventure and exploration” needs were not being met. At a time when the meaning of adventure is being watered down in travel, Explorers’ Corner is dedicated to fostering a community of curious and driven travelers that dare to make their travel dreams come true - only limited by their imaginations. We will provide the leaders and the safety and your participation will enhance the experience.

Explorers' Corner's passion has been to pioneer real adventures that provide an authentic experience rather than buffer you from what these places are all about. If, for example, you join us in an expedition to the Antarctic or to Greenland you’ll be expected to pitch in and do your part to make for a safe and successful journey for all. The reward is that you will have a true and direct experience, which you play an integral role in creating.

Real explorers are flexible and team players: for instance, if the weather changes to the worse then you might have to pitch your own tent, help the team haul your kayak out of the water, and lend a hand with the other camp chores. In a place like the Douro River of Portugal you might have to jump in and get your feet wet, not in the river, but stomping grapes to help the locals with the crush! An authentic experience means making the efforts to get up before the crack of dawn to be the only ones at a Galapagos landing site to watch a Pacific Green Sea Turtle returning to the ocean after a night of laying eggs.

True adventure is seeking out and safely experiencing the fullness of what the world has to offer on its own terms, not terms dictated to it. We say “real explorers wanted, true adventure guaranteed” because we mean it.

Custom Adventures

Making travel dreams a reality is a closely held philosophy at Explorers’ Corner. Therefore, creating and making custom adventures come true for our clients is a large part of Explorers’ Corner’s business. Explorers’ Corner will customize any one of our listed adventures to create a special event for families, groups of friends, or business associates. Guests can request special departure dates, custom activities, or extra accommodations as part of their group adventure. We will work with you to make your ideas come to fruition -- as long as they are seasonally appropriate and your group meets the minimum person requirement.

Explorers’ Corner can also custom design an adventure for our clients to any new place (on Earth, at least!) that only they have imagined exploring — again, providing the trip is seasonable and the minimum persons requirement is met. Bring us your dreams and our travel specialists will work to make your trip a reality. We love to travel, and we love to send travelers to any of the world’s most wonderful destinations.

Explorers’ Corner Founder

Dr. Olaf Malver—CEO, Chief Exploratory Officer. Olaf founded Explorers’ Corner, a boutique adventure travel company, 7 years ago. He, his guides, and his staff have since taken like-minded adventurous folks to far-flung corners of the world. In addition to running Explorers’ Corner, Olaf is a passionate eco-tourist activist working for the United Nations to help promote sustainable tourism in developing countries in the quest to save the world’s natural habitats.

Olaf is a true explorer who has sea kayaked, climbed mountains, dog sledded, and hiked in more than 100 countries spanning 35 years. He's led trailblazing expeditions to diverse locations such as South Georgia, Kamchatka, Antarctica, Pakistan, Nepal, Greenland, Indonesia, Vietnam, Panama, the Nicobar Islands, Zanzibar - and many other "frontier destinations”. Olaf claims many "firsts" in the world of high adventure, such as sea kayaking in Irian Jaya, Burma, North Vietnam, Panama, French Polynesia and British Guyana. He also led the first dog sled crossing across the Northern Brooks Range in Alaska and soloed around Zanzibar in a Hobie Cat. He is a lifetime fellow of the world famous Explorer’s Club, in recognition of his “true” explorations. Olaf is a living proof that the world of modern day exploration is still infinite and only limited by our lack of imagination and dreams! And Olaf is not alone. We have attracted some of the best adventure guides in the world.

Explorers’ Corner Guides

Our guides have more than 80 years of collective guiding experience and have been to over 150 countries, safely leading hundreds of travelers to unique destinations via kayaking, hiking, boating, and biking. They naturally carry with them the mission of Explorers’ Corner—to experience unique destinations and make travel dreams come true. Explorers’ Corner’s seasoned guides include Olaf Malver, Dave Mention, Mick O’Shea, Nancy Moore, Baldvin Kristjansson and many more.