Vanilla Voyage of SAVA: Vohemar to Antalaha

As you arrive in Sambava today your guide will pick you up from the airport (or your accommodation should you happen to be here prior to the tour start). From here your guide will give you a brief of your trip to come while transferring to your hotel for the evening.

This morning we will depart Sambava, for the rice basin of Andapa. The drive this morning in typically smooth sailing and about 95kms. We will have a few stops en route today including one that will allow us to visit the Manantenina Interpretation Center that lies at the entrance to the Marojejy National Park. This afternoon we will soak in the nature and plenty of wildlife as we stroll through private reserves including the Antanetiambo Reserve (small forest which shelters beautiful biodiversity) and the Beradaka private park (very beautiful landscapes crisscrossed by streams where the giant frog (Beradaka) flourishes at night, and the other landscapes of the center of lots of Madagascar's SAVA vanilla, Andapa.

Over 55,500 ha home to many animal and plant species that are endemic there. Each route chosen is that of optimum opportunities for discovery of its wild residents. Rare plants such as those of the family Myrsinaceae can also be observed. During our walk, we will also be able to see the Madagascar Serpent-eating bird, to name one of many that are possible to view. As a niec touch to an already incredible day, we will head to the famous Humbert waterfall. We will then call it a night and head to the hotel for rest and the night.

Although we could wander the park for days without having enough, we will spend a bit more time here this morning. The silky proprithèque, or simpona, or even the silky sifaka can be sighted here and is one of the ten species of lemurs that share the territory! There are a plethora of the country's famous furry friends abound in the reserve, and throughout the hike, you'll be immersed in the heart of a kaleidoscopic and particularly diverse bout of nature. Depending on the physical capacity of each participant, we will climb Mount Marojejy (which is a serious hike but most people of moderate to high fitness can do it). This is, of course, optional and dependant on time - it does offer great views. With that said there isn't anywhere you can look that does not offer a view worth writing home about. This afternoon we will depart for Vohemar and check in the hotel for rest and the night.

The town of Iharana (the Malagasy name of Vohemar) is located in a beautiful bay in northern SAVA. Today we will make a detour to Anjoaty park whose name comes from the tribe that lives there, the Sakalava Anjoaty. From here we will make our way to the Green Lake or the Andranotsara Lake. For the inhabitants of the region, the green color of the water fuels the folklore and manufactured for years the myths related to it. Today Vohemar is also a bustling trading town for vanilla as well.

Sambava is not only associated with vanilla, but it is also known for cocoa. In addition to these two riches, it has a relatively unknown gem, the Coconut Grove Soavoanio, one of the largest in the world. Today we will stroll through a small part of the 4800ha of plantations to learn a little more about this exotic tree where nothing is lost and all are transformed. Once we are finished, we will continue the journey to Antalaha for the Ambohimanitra domain where vanilla is available in all flavors. to end this day in beauty, we will cross the Macolline botanical path of Antalaha. Night and breakfast at the hotel

Welcome to Antalaha. Today we will visit the small but pleasant town and its artisanal dhow shipyards, and the vanilla processing facilities of the finest vanilla on earth, replete with the friendliest people in all of Madagascar. We stay at the beautiful Ocean Momo or the central Hazivola Hotel or similar.

Today you will transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight out. The time will depend on your departure flight!