Day 11

Megan, Elizabeth, and I get up early, 7 and eat a good breakfast. After breakfast we board a bus and drive to the Ambanja docks. The Ambanja docks is where we leave to go to Nosy Be. Nosy Be is an island located just off the northwest coast of Madagascar. Nosy Be is Madagascar’s largest and busiest tourist resort. The boat ride to Nosy be was beautiful and we were able to enjoy the beautiful scenery. It was also really relaxing and Elizabeth took a lot of pictures of the great view we had from the boat. Our tour group stops by the island of Nosy Komba. In Nosy Komba there is a colony of black lemurs. The males are black and the females are light brown. The lemurs are so curious and funny. We were able to give them pieces of banana so that we were able to see them up close. They also walked on our heads and shoulders. In the park there are also boa constrictor and chameleon. In this island there are also a village, with wonderful people and we were able to see how they lived. After we went to Nosy Tanikely and went snorkeling and had a delicious barbeque lunch. When all our excursions were done we went to our hotel, Hotel Vannille, in Nosy Be and had a dinner before going up to our rooms for bed.

Day 9-10

Megan, Elizabeth and I wake up at 7 in the morning. We get ready and then eat a quick breakfast before our early morning departure for the Ankarana. Ankarana Reserve is a small vegetated plateau in northern Madagascar with elevations that exceed 1220 meters. It is composed of 150-million-year-old limestone. Ankarana is known for its limestone karst pinnacles called tsingy along with its extensive cave system and network of underground rivers. We were able to see very cool animals like the crowned lemur, Sanford's brown lemur, Perrier's black lemur, the northern sportive lemur and dwarf lemurs. Also, a variety of chameleons and leaf-tailed Uroplatus geckos can also be found in the reserve. I highly recommend coming here but because there are no facilities you will need to plan on camping and bringing your own food. We set up camp for the night and slept snuggled up in sleeping bags and were able to see all the beautiful stars that we do not usually get to see at home. It was actually really nice and different and I enjoyed it very much. After one night of camping we head of to a local school. It was really fun to see all the children from Madagascar and see what their school looked like compared to ours. We were able to play with the children and since they learn English in school we were able to talk to them and they were actually really good at speaking. We also played some local games with them similar to our game of soccer. After we headed of to our hotel, Hotel Baobab and headed off for bed.

Day 7-8

Megan, Elizabeth, and I wake up at 8 to get ready for another day of traveling and touring the beautiful country of Madagascar. We eat a leisurely breakfast before a mid-morning flight to Diego. We take a taxi to the nearby airport. After clearing security we board our plane and take a nap before landing at Diego, a unique port of the Northern tip of Madagascar. We land and take of to visit Montagne Francais. The Montagne des Francias Reserve is a protected area consisting principally of dry deciduous, Referring to trees that lose their leaves at the end of the growing season, forest in northern Madagascar. Montagne Francias was very beautiful and we saw many different types of vegetation and animals including a beautiful waterfall. After finishing our visiting of Montagne Francais we head of to Montagne D’Ambre National Park. Ambre Mountain is an isolated patch of mountain forest that rises from the surrounding dry region. The park is famous for its waterfalls and crater lakes. Montagne D’Ambre National Park is located 1000 km north of the capital, Antananarivo. It is also one of the most biologically diverse places in all of Madagascar. The park has 75 different species of birds, 25 species of mammals, and 59 species of reptiles are known to inhabit the park, with more being found every day. Both of these parks were major highlights of our trip and I highly recommend them as must sees if you ever visit Madagascar. Before going to our hotel we stop by at a local hospital. We stay at King Lodge and eat a late dinner and then head off to bed excited for what we are going to do tomorrow!

Day 6

After 5 days of extensive traveling, Megan, Elisabeth, and I are very tired. So for our day six we are having a more relaxing day. Our morning starts at a more reasonable hour, 9. After a leisurly breakfast at the hotel we leave to visit a marketplace of Maroantsetra. This local marketplace is known for straw hats and bags, as well as the colorful lamba cloth. Traditional dress in Northern Madagascar involves wearing the ‘lamba’. The word lamba simply means cloth or clothing but usually refers to the two matching pieces of fabric that women wear, one around the waist or chest and one around the head or shoulders. We walk around the marketplace looking at different things and make some purchases. We were able to make a lot of good bargains here. At about 1 we grab a bite to eat before going to the airport to catch our flight to Tana. We had such a wonderful stay at the Hotel Colbert so we decided to say there again. We have a wonderful dinner at the Ville Vanille which had wonderful local entertainment. After dinner we take a walk around Antananarivo enjoying the beautiful city.

Day 4-5

The City of Maronestra

Megan, Elizabeth, and I have to get up early today and eat breakfast quickly in the hotel before our morning visit to Parc Ivoloina. The Parc Ivoloina is a 30 minute drive from Tamatave. Parc Ivoloina offers you an inside look into Madagascar's natural heritage and is 697 acres. Parc Ivoloina is a unique animal rehabilitation center and zoo. It’s a good place to say our lay over before going on our flight to Maroantsetra. Maroantsetra is a market town and domestic seaport in Toamasina Province, Madagascar. Maroantsetra is the main point of access to Masoala National Park and the Nosy Mangabe special reserve, which we will be going to. After we arrive in the city of Maroantsetra we make our way to Masoala National Park, in northeast Madagascar. Masola National Park is the largest of the island's protected areas. The park was created in 1997 and it protects 2,300 square kilometres of rainforest and 100 square kilometres of marine parks. The Masoala peninsula is exceptionally diverse due to its huge size, and variety of habitats. Altogether, the park protects rainforest, coastal forest, flooded forest, marsh, and mangrove. In the afternoon we take a river trip through the private reserve of Androfita. The water was crystal clear and we were able to enjoy very beautiful scenery while cruising on the water. We then spent a full day on the tiny island of Mangabe. Nosy Mangabe is a natural reserve and sanctuary for the world’s rarest lemur, the aye aye. We spend two nights at the Relais du Masoala. Our room had a great view overlooking the Bay of Antongil.

Day 2-3

Megan, Elizabeth, and I get up early to get ready for our drive from Hotel Colbert to the Perinet reserve. The Perinet reserve is located on the eastern part of Madagascar. The Perinet reserve is a major attraction for tourists. Birds at the Perinet reserve include the Blue coua, Red-fronted coua, Blue vanga, Red-tailed vanga, Velvet asity, Sunbird asity, Pitta-like ground roller, Short-legged ground roller, Brown mesite, Collared nightjar, Cuckoo roller, Tylas, Cryptic warbler. After we go to La Mandraka is another place to view wildlife. Another animal we get to see is the Indri, the largest lemur. It was very special that we got see the Indri because it may become extinct in the next couple of years. Which is such a shame because they were very cool to see and hear their “singin” call. It is unlikely though that we will be able to see the Aye-aye. It has not been seen for 5 years! The Aye-aye is native to Madagascar. The aye-aye has rodent-like teeth with a long, thin middle finger. It is the world's largest nocturnal primate, and is characterized by its unique method of finding food. The reserve was very beautiful but after seeing all there is to see and are time at the reserve is over we had to the coastal town of Tamatave. The city of Tamatave is also known as Toamasina. Tamatave is the chief seaport of Madagascar. There are lot of beaches in the area but unfortunately we can not swim in the ocean because of sharks and pollution. We have dinner and stay at the Hotel Neptune. We are all very tired so we go to sleep early excited for the next day.

Day 1

Meagan, Elizabeth, and I wake up early to do last minute things before our flight to Madagascar which leaves Miami at 6 A.M. Meagan has trouble closing her lime green suitcase so I sit on it while Elisabeth jams it closed. Hopefully, it will be less then 50 lbs otherwise we will have to pay a charge at the airport. I also have trouble closing my bag due to my over packing. My philosophy better be safe then sorry. Since I have never been to Madagascar before I do not really know what I will need. After we have made our final touches we eat a light breakfast before calling the taxi. Getting to the airport we go check our luggage and go through security. After clearing security we board are plane and get situated in our seats finally on our way to Madagascar! After completing customs, we meet with the Cortez representative who escorts us to our hotel, Hotel Colbert, to freshen up in our rooms. A van is waiting for us outside of the airport and after getting our luggage onboard we head off. We arrive at the hotel and check in. Megan, Elizabeth, and I have a while to relax before we start our tour . We visit the Tsimbaza Zoo and Cultural Museum for an introduction to early Madagascar life as well as to see the special birds and lemurs native to Madagascar. Madagascar the only place in the world that has lemurs. After we go back to our Hotel and eat dinner and go to bed early to get ready for our busy day tomorrow.