Primary Rainforest – Classic
Duration: 4 h
Suggested time: 8.30 – 13.30
Activities: Boat, moderate to difficult hike (steep sections on a good trail)
Guide: Required
Lunch: At the lodge
Recommended shoe type: A comfortable (hiking) shoe
Recommended equipment: Long trousers/shorts and mosquito repellent, water bottle, rain jacket
Possible highlights: red ruffed lemurs, white-fronted brown lemurs, helmet vanga; panther, brookesia and parson’s chameleons; dense forest; giant hardwood trees; majestic tree ferns; giant millipede; many medicinal plants; pygmy kingfisher; ground-roller
Primary Rainforest – Extended:
Duration: Full day
Suggested time: 7.30 – 15.30
Activities: Boat, moderate to difficult hike (steep sections on a good trail)
Guide: Required
Lunch: Picnic (sandwiches and snacks)
Recommended shoe type: Comfortable hiking shoes
Recommended equipment: Trousers/shorts, mosquito repellent, water bottle, rain jacket
Possible highlights: red ruffed lemurs, white-fronted brown lemurs, helmet vanga; panther, brookesia and parson’s chameleons; dense forest; giant hardwood trees; majestic tree ferns; giant millipede; many medicinal plants; pygmy kingfisher; ground-roller
Recommended Kayak Outings:
All kayak outings are accompanied by a kayak guide. We recommend using water-resistant sunscreen on your legs or keep covered. It’s easy to get sunburned out on the water.
– Coastal Exploration:
Duration: As short or as long as you like
Suggested time: During the morning or afternoon
Activities: kayaking, swimming, beaching
Guide: required
– Kayak Trip Around Nosy Ndraindra (Sacred Island)
Duration: 1h30
Suggested time: During the morning or afternoon
Activities: Kayaking: +/- 5 km roundtrip
Guide: Required
Recommended shoe type: none
Possible highlights: The view of the forest from the sea, sea turtles, jumping bonito, flying fish, Sacred Island, sunset on the water, fishermen in their traditional canoes hauling in the day’s catch.
– Mangrove River Kayak Trip:
The mangrove river is a pristine and untouched destination. The paddle from the lodge to the river offers a wonderful sea and landscape view. The river itself provides a navigational adventure as you maneuver your kayak between rocks, half-submerged trees, and a plethora of other flora all while enjoying the blissful serenity of the river interrupted only by birdsong.
Duration: 3h
Suggested time: 9.00 – 12.00
Activities: Kayaking, 8 – 10 km roundtrip
Guide: Required
Lunch: At the lodge
Recommended shoe type: None
Recommended equipment: Water bottle
Possible highlights: sea turtles, stunning views of the peninsula, a short trip to the Sacred Island
Tampolo River and Tampolo Cascades
Tampolo River Trip
Duration: 2h
Suggested time: 9.00 11.00 or 15.00 – 17.00
Activities: Traditional canoe, easy hike (mostly flat)
Guide: Required
Lunch: At the lodge
Recommended shoe type: flip flops, sandals or comfortable (hiking) shoes
Recommended equipment: a bottle of water
Possible highlights: kingfisher, volcanic rock formations, the magical silence on the river, mangrove forest, rosewood, palissandre, nelicorvi weaver’s nest, freshwater fish, bamboo lemurs
Tampolo Cascades
This hike starts along the coastal forest and then cuts inland for an adventure through the beautiful secondary forest. Although the trail doesn’t follow the Tampolo River, you end up at the stunning Tampolo Cascades.
Duration: 4 – 5 h
Suggested time: 8.30 – 1.00 or 1.00 – 17.30
Activities: Moderate hike (mostly flat), wildlife sightings, swimming in the waterfall
Guide: Required
Lunch: At the lodge
Recommended shoe type: running shoes
Possible highlights: Walking on the less trodden path to the waterfall, seeing the tallest waterfall in the area.
MFL Private Reserve – River Swim
Please, aske more info at the reception.
Suggested time: any time
Activities: Easy to moderate hike, swim
Guide: not required
Recommended shoe type: sandals/flip flops
Recommended equipment: swimming gear
Possible highlights: little bridges over small rivers, several bird species, white-fronted brown lemurs, bamboo lemurs, tenrecs, walking trees, swimming in the river.
Learn About Malgasy Culture
Ambodiforaha ‘meet the people’ visit (every Friday)
In addition to the standard village visit we offer, this excursion includes a stop at our little preschool and a traditional song and dance performance by the women of the village. After the performance you’ll have an opportunity to purchase locally made handicrafts and locally produced spices.
Duration: 2h30
Suggested time: 14.30 – 17.00
Activities: Easy walk (flat coastal trail), school visit, village visit, local dance group
Guide: Not required, but recommended
Recommended shoe type: flip flops/sandals (you will cross a small river)
Recommended equipment: a bottle of water
Ambodiforaha Village Visit (any day of the week)
Suggested time: Usually about 2 hours
Activities: Easy walk (flat coastal trail); learning more about the Betsimisaraka culture and way of life; rice fields; coffee trees and other crops.
Guide: Highly recommended
Recommended shoe type: Flip flops/sandals (you will cross a small river)
Recommended equipment: bottle of water
Basket weaving
Maroantsetra is famous in Madagascar for its basket and hats. Learn how to weave a traditional basket at the lodge from some of the Malagasy staff.
Suggested time: 9.00 – 12.00 or 15.00 – 17.00
Duration: 2 h
Guide: Recommended for explanation and translation
Recommended equipment: We recommend shorts/trousers rather than a skirt/dress
Masoala Forest Lodge Private Reserve Hikes
The MFL Private Reserve consists of 40 hectares and can be entered from both sides of the lodge property. Five trails are marked with wooden arrows. You are welcome to walk these trails either by yourself or accompanied by your guide. As this is private land, we are able to offer night walks at Masoala Lodge which are possible every evening after dinner. You can do these trails any time and the trails can be done by all kinds of shoewear or even barefoot.
MFL Private Reserve – Green Route
Duration: 30 min
Length: 500 m
Description: easy walking, flat
Possible highlights, several bird species (various coua, paradise fly catcher, Madagascar magpie robin), white-fronted lemurs, tenrecs, frogs, crabs, ..
MFL Private Reserve – Yellow Route
Duration: 45 min
Length: 1 km
Description: easy walking, flat and some wet areas after rain
Suggested time: any time
Possible viewing highlights: several bird species, white-fronted brown lemurs, tenrecs, frogs
MFL Private Reserve – Red Route
Duration: 1h
Length: 1.5 km
Description: intermediate to difficult, obstacles (e.g. little stream, stepping stones) and wet after rain
Possible highlights: several bird species, white-fronted brown lemurs, tenrecs, frogs
MFL Private Reserve – Orange Route
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 2.5 km
Description: intermediate, flat and some wet areas after rain
Possible highlights: little bridges over small rivers, several bird species, white-fronted brown lemurs, tenrecs, frogs, walking trees
MFL Private Reserve – Blue Route
Duration: 2h30
Length: 3 km
Description: intermediate, little bridges, includes a waist-high river crossing
Possible highlights: little bridges over small rivers, several bird species, white-fronted brown lemurs, tenrecs, frogs, walking trees
Night Walk
Suggest time: after dinner
Guide: highly recommended
Possible viewing highlights: sleeping birds, mouse lemurs, white-fronted brown lemurs, wooly lemurs, sportive lemurs, leaf-tailed geckos, chameleons, aye-aye
Sunset Cruise
Take a cruise aboard our dugout outrigger canoe to the point, then slowly sail back while enjoying a cold drink and taking in a breath-taking sunset. Keep an eye out for jumping schools of fish and sea turtles!
Duration: 1h30
Suggested time: between 16.30 and 17.30 (depending on the season)
Guide: not required
Recommended shoe type: none
Tip: when you reserve, please let us know at the reception which beverages you would like to take on the trip. We will have a cooler on board.
Possible highlights: The peace and quiet, hopefully a sunny sunset, jumping bonito, flying fish, white herons, kingfishers on the rocks.
Antalaviana Day Trip
Travel by boat to Saholaina, a beautiful beach with coral rich waters, great for snorkeling or swimming. Then make your way down to the Antalaviana River, a river that cascades down from the densely forested hills above. You can swim in the crystal-clear water at the foot of the falls and sunbathe on a rock. After a relaxing picnic on the beach, begin your adventurous coastal walk back to the lodge (about three hours, 11 km)
En route you will find rivers, explore the village of Marofototra and surrounding plantations where the locals grow vanilla, cloves, pineapple, cinnamon and pepper. You will also see the remnants of a colonial railway and learn much about the history of the region.
Duration: whole day
Suggested time: 9.00 – 16.00
Activities: snorkeling, beach lounging, swimming, exploring, village visit, fording rivers, easy walking (long, but mostly flat and shaded)
Lunch: picnic lunch on the beach
Guide: required
Recommended shoe type: barefoot, flip flops/sandals
Recommended equipment: hat, sunscreen, enough water, swimwear, snorkeling equipment
This is included in the 7, 10 and 11-night packages, for shorter periods, this activity is to be paid.
Whale Watching
Whale Watching By Boat
Duration: 1 – 3 hours
Season: June – September
Suggested time: Please inquire at the reception as best viewing times vary
Activities: Boating
Guide: Recommended
Recommended shoe type: None
Possible highlights: Humpbacks breaching and singing, a mother traveling with her calf
Note: We can put a box on the boat for your camera if you like for protection against the rain
Price: 250 usd per boat
Whale Watching By Kayak
Duration: As long as you like
Season: June – September
Suggested time: When you want
Activities: Kayaking
Guide: Not required
Recommended shoe type: None
Note: Your best chance for a close encounter is to guess where the whale will surface next and paddle to that spot before the whale. Simply following them can be very difficult as they are much faster than you. By kayak you can get very close if you are lucky. This is a truly incredible experience.
Potential highlights: Humpbacks breaching, whale songs, mother traveling with her calf.
Cape Masoala Day Trip
Spend an action-packed and adventurous day exploring the pristine tropical coastline of the Masoala Peninsula. Take our boat past miles of tropical rainforests and picturesque, isolated beaches until you reach the cap and its lush, inhabited island. Snorkel in a vast, crystal clear lagoon that is rich in tropical sea life and home to an expansive coral reef. Relax and enjoy a picnic on an idyllic beach. And explore the wild surroundings that could be straight out of Robinson Crusoe.
Duration: Whole day
Suggested time: 8.30 – 16.00
Activities: Snorkeling, hiking, beaching, swimming, exploring
Lunch: Picnic on the beach
Guide: Required
Recommended shoe type: flip flops/sandals
Recommended equipment: enough water, hat, sunscreen, swimwear, snorkel wear
Price: 200 usd, minimum 2 people
Massage
Please book your massage at the reception. Massages are available between 8.00 and 12.00 and 14.00 to 17.00
Your complimentary 30-minute massage can be upgraded to:
45 min back and neck massage for an extra 5 euro
45 min leg and feet massage for an extra 5 euro
60 min full body massage for an extra 10 euro
Additional massages (no voucher):
– Back and neck 45 min = 25 euro
– Legs and feet 45 min = 25 euro
– Full body 60 min = 30 euro
Massage takes place at our massage tent on the beach.
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