EASTEN TOUR

About two to three thousand whales arrive on the island of Sainte-Marie once a year. The sight of the dignified, giant cetaceans reminds us of respect for nature and is an unforgettable experience for life – this is how the whale tours of northern Madagascar, also known as whales, are usually advertised.

The trip, of course, isn’t just about whales, but after that’s the main attraction, let’s get to the point first.

The island of Sainte-Marie is located in the northern part of the east coast of Madagascar. This 49 km long island, once the home of pirates , is a very popular place due to its unspoilt countryside, fabulous beaches and lagoons. Here you will also find the best diving spots in Madagascar. With a little luck, we can see sea turtles and hear the singing of whales, especially when we take part in a whale watching.

One of Madagascar’s most popular tourist attractions is the whale watching tour along the east coast, off the island of Sainte-Marie, during which we can observe the life of migratory whales up close.

The duration of the whale is 2-3 hours

For maximum comfort, up to 6 passengers are carried, while the ship is allowed for 10 passengers. We chose a wide boat with a so-called «seagull winged» hull, which is very stable on water. This makes it easier to see whales from all sides of the boat. All of this also allows them to take photos and videos in ideal conditions and to be able to protect them from the rain under the small roof of the boat, thus preserving the material of the shoot.

These cetaceans, up to 15 meters, weigh 4 tons. They come from Antarctica and spend the summer around the Malagasy coast. They travel more than 5,000 km a year for childbirth and in warmer waters. Thousands of people can be observed from the beaches, the spectacle is enlightened by the love parade, the singing of males and the birth of calves.

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When the season ends (between July and September), the young calves accompany their mother into the canal and quietly prepare to migrate to the cold waters of Antarctica, their place of eating.

ON A DETAILED PROGRAM BASED ON EDDY’S PROPOSAL:

EASTERN TOUR 10 DAYS – ANDASIBE NATIONAL PARK – PALMARIUM RESERVE – SAINTE MARIE ISLAND BEACH – WHALE (July – September)

Madagascar’s “Whale Watching Tour on the East Coast” program is free, below is a summary of the shortest recommended tour

Overview of the program

• Day 1: Arrival in Antananarivo
• Day 2: Antananarivo – Andasibe (150 km)
• Day 3: Andasibe National Park – Manambato (130 km)
• Day 4: Manambato – Akanin’ny Nofy (cruise 1 hour)
• Day 5: Akanin’ny Nofy – Manambato – Toamasina (75 miles)
• Day 6: Toamasina – Mahambo – Sainte Marie Island (by car to Mahambo, by boat to Ste Marie)
• 7-8. day: Sainte Marie island
• Day 9: Sainte Marie – Antananarivo (flight)
• Day 10: Antananarivo – return home

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During our trip to Madagascar, we are guaranteed to have the impression that we are traveling not only in space but also in time.

Detailed program

Day 1.  Arrival in Antananarivo (Tana) to the capital

No wonder Madagascar is referred to as the eighth continent, the diversity of landscapes, cultures, fauna and flora on the island is impressive. Endemic animal and plant species, varied gastronomy with food specialties made from zebu meat, traditional culture! Travel, arrival at Iowa International Airport. Obtaining a visa, transfer to the hotel.  

Day 2.  Antananarivo – Andasibe National Park   (150 km)

We travel east of Madagascar, visiting the private park “Peyrieras” 72 km from the capital , where we have lunch.

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After lunch we continue to Andasibe National Park, a real vegetation treasure. We get to know the greatest Indri Indri with his impressive cries.

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It can only be seen in its natural environment because it does not tolerate captivity. There are also many species of birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians. The vegetation, on the other hand, is tropical and is characterized by many fern species, epiphytes, sacred lianas, orchids, and dwarf palms.

Day 3. Andasibe National Park – Manambato (130 km)

After breakfast, we hike to a forest in the national park called Special Indrieji, which used to be a center for wood processing, then a visit to the Vakôna Forest Lodge private park, where we can play and make friends with lemurs.  

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In the afternoon, we continue on to Manambato, and as we move from the highlands to the east coast, the landscape is constantly changing and the rice fields give way to lush tropical vegetation. Manambato, a small hidden paradise on the shores of Lake Rasoabe. The picturesque countryside is said to be one of the most beautiful landscapes on the east coast.

Day 4. Manambato – Akanin’ny Nofy (about an hour’s cruise)

After breakfast, we board a motorboat that leads to the beautiful Palmarium. Lemurs can be easily found here. Along the east coast there are many lakes, natural lagoons and rivers, a very rich ecosystem. From Manambato we continue by boat, Akanin’ny Nofy – the “dream nest” – only accessible by boat to the peninsula, which is an enchanted place – an island of tranquility, peace and untouched nature. Akanin’ny Nofy is a small land area on a dense network of lakes and rivers on this eastern shore. It is separated from the Indian Ocean by only a strip of sand dune, which in some places is only a few meters wide.

After lunch, we will spend our time exploring the Palmarium Reserve , which covers 50 acres and hides countless natural wonders. Of course, we also meet lemurs again: there are more than 10 species of free-living lemurs in the park.     

After dark, we set off again on a motorboat walk to a small island where we can spot nocturnal animal species, including the famous water-novel lemur, the “aye-aye,” which is a severely endangered species.

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Day 5. Akanin’ny Nofy – Manambato – Toamasina ( 120 km) 

We return to RN 2, from here we reach the port city of Toamasina. Free program and relaxation on the beach. Toamasina, the second city in the country, with about 300,000 inhabitants and Madagascar’s first port, is adorned with old palm-tree-lined buildings surrounded by beautiful palm trees, giving the city a rural feel.

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Day 6. Toamasina – Mahambo – Sainte Marie Island

Early morning: transfer by car to Mahambo port (about 4 hours), where we get to Katamaran to Sainte Marie island, approx. A 5-hour boat ride awaits us.
Sainte Marie Island : beautiful beaches, the location of my paradise and a good place to watch whales.

 

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7-8. day Whale les boat trip on Sainte Marie island

A világ végén egy igazi trópusi paradicsom, Sainte-Marie-sziget az Indiai-óceán szívében, Madagaszkár keleti partján található, ahol a természet továbbra is megőrizte minden jogát. Primitív erdőinek, virágos fajainak, vízeséseinek és tengerfenékének köszönhetően ez a hely Madagaszkár egyik fő célállomása.

Free program :

Whales: Duration: 2-3 hours

2000-3000 whales arrive on the island of Sainte-Marie once a year. (July-September).

For maximum comfort, a ship that is otherwise allowed for 10 passengers can carry up to 6 passengers. We chose a wide boat. With a «seagull winged» hull that is very stable on the water. This makes it easier to see whales from all sides of the boat. It also allows us to take photos and videos in the best conditions and to be able to protect our camera from the water, the boat also has a roof that can protect us from the rain as well.

These cetaceans, up to 15 meters, weigh up to 4 tons. They come from Antarctica and spend the summer around the Malagasy coast. They travel more than 5,000 km a year  to give birth to their offspring in warmer waters. We can also observe the spectacular life of thousands of whales from the beaches  . It’s exciting to hear the  males sing , to see the  love parade , and the birth of the  calves . 

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When the season ends (July-September), the young calves accompany their mother into the canal and quietly prepare to migrate to the cold waters of Antarctica, their feeding grounds.

Day 9 Sainte-Marie Island – Antananarivo (flight)

Scheduled transfer to Ste Marie Airport, from where we fly to the capital.

Day 10. Antananarivo, home trip

After breakfast, we set out on a sightseeing tour of the hilly Antananarivo: seeing the cultural sights and discovering the city’s colorful, always bustling markets.

We will visit the “lower” and “upper” cities, and our program will also have a Hungarian aspect: we will also visit Benyovszky Street .  

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We visit some of the biggest shops selling art products, where we can shop and get acquainted with the applied arts of Madagascar. Here you can choose from thousands of vegetable fiber bags, hats and toys, silk scarves and jewelry carved from zebus horns, and buy original Malagasy vanilla and spices.  

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At the end of the program, the shuttle will take everyone to the airport so they can share their experiences with their friends when they return home.