Green East of Madagascar

The Masoala Peninsula is one of Africa's last remaining tracts of primary rainforest. It dominates the north-east of Madagascar, extending all the way to the eastern coast where it meets with tropical coral reefs and white-sand beaches. Much of the area is wild and difficult to access. As a result, the wildlife is excellent, with a great variety of birdlife, as well as several species of lemur, aye-aye and, along the coast, frequent whale sightings.

Elsewhere, the Green East of Madagascar is home to authentic coastal villages in and around the Pangalanes Canal and the Pirate Coast, as well as a number of parks and reserves, foremost among them Perinet and Ranomafana.

In and around the Green East, Madagascar
The Masoala Peninsula is extraordinarily beautiful, but not as easy to visit as the Perinet Reserve (easily accessible by vehicle) or Ranomafana National Park, home of the Golden Bamboo lemur.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, too, is very easy to reach, at only a 2-3 hour drive from the capital, Antananarivo. It offers great lemur sightings, though it can be quite busy with visitors.

The Pangalanes Canal connects a series of natural lakes, and was originally built by the French colonists as a transport network and harbour. The canal is only a few hundred metres inland from the sea, and heavily populated with a string of idyllic sea and lakeside villages. Most activities and hotels in the Pangalanes area centre on Lake Ampitabe.

Visits to Île Sainte Marie, a nearby islet, are also a highlight of many itineraries to Madagascar's Green East. St. Marie Island, or Nosy Boraha as it known locally, offers honeymooners romantic small hotels nestled under palm trees and surrounded by the warm, turquoise seas of the Indian Ocean. Not quite as busy as Nosy Be, for many Île St Marie is Madagascar's finest beach getaway.

Considering a holiday to Madagascar's Eastern Coast? Our staff know the region extremely well and can help you get the most from your visit, whether you want to explore the popular wildlife parks (Ranomafana, Perinet, Andasibe-Mantadia) or the more remote regions of the Masoala Peninsula and Pirate Coast.