Fort-Dauphin has nothing to envy at the other regions of Madagascar when it comes to biodiversity. Our two main stopovers, Saïadi botanical garden (6km) and Nahampoana reserve (7km), are already enough to make you live an incredible experience deep into lush green nature, very close to wildlife.
The road to get there (Ampasy village) is already a journey in itself. Between the majestic mountains of granite Bezavona on your left, and the wonderful rice fields or exotic fruit plantations (jackfruit, lychees, bananas, mangos, etc.) on your right. The RN12 is just breathtaking, even if the roads require a lot of patience.
A preview of the beauties you will be spoiled of:
Flora: trihedral palms, raffia palms, date palms, elephant ears, orchids, nepenthes and other carnivorous plants, tree ferns, guava trees, niaouli, eucalyptus, araucaria, very old bamboos.
Fauna: Nile crocodiles, radiated turtles, big snakes, chameleons, green geckos, birds, diurnal lemurs (maki catta, propithecus verreauxi, hapalemur, eulemur fulvus) and nocturnal ones (microcebus and cherogaleinae).
Our star will remain the "Lemur Catta", with a 45cm approximate size, and easily recognised by its long bushy tail ringed black and white. Known locally as "hira" or "maki", this endemic animal can live in different types of forests (humid or dry) and is omnivorous with vegetarian tendency. It eats flowers, fruits, young leaves, insects of all kinds, spiders, their webs and succulent plants in dry season. It is the most terrestrial lemur. It can survive 20 years in the wild.
Unfortunately, due the destruction of their habitat and their hunting for bush meat or exotic animals trade, it has become one of the most endangered Lemur species on Earth (Source: IUCN 2018), and the extreme poverty of the local population doesn't make things any easier.
Included:
- All transits
- All tickets for parks' entrance and guiding fees
- Canoe trips
- Lunch: local meals made by the villagers
- 1.5L water
- Fruits to feed the lemurs
- Photos and videos
Spoken Languages:
- English, French & Malagasy