Difference between revisions of "Masoala Birding Camp"

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Within Masoala National Park, about an hour's walk from the village of Ambodiforaha, lies Masoala Birding Camp. This camp is for those who wish to be as close to the nature as possible, without unecessary conveniences and facilities offered by other camps.

Officially opened in 2017, the camp is run by Patrick, a local guide and Masoala birding expert from Ambodiforaha. Patrick and his team will prepare lunch, breakfast and dinner and will guide you to various bird watching spots in the surrounding forest and help you identify various species of flora and fauna along the way.

Masoala Birding Camp can be booked for day visits including lunch as well as stays for one or more nights in combination with other lodges in the area. Additionally, the camp offers various extended trekking packages, which can of course be modified and tailored to your exact specifications.

Classic circuit

Visit Masoala for three nights while staying at Masoala Birding Camp in a small or large group.

Day 1: Depart in the morning from your hotel in Maroantsetra with speed boat directly to Masoala. The boat ride takes between 1½ and 2 hours. Arriving at the beach of Tampolo and walk approximately 30 minutes to the camp site.

Overnight stay at Masoala Birding Camp. In the afternoon, start guided bird watching walk. In the evening, go for a night walk to see different species of lemurs and various other night active animals.

Day 2: Red ruffed Lemur path. This is a 3 to 4 hours walk to spot the Red Ruffed Lemurs in their natural habitats. Thereafter, before dinner in the evening, take another night walk to discover nocturnal species, such as the mouse lemur, dwarf lemur, sportive lemur and other animals...

Day 3: Waterfall circuit. Get ready for more bird watching in the morning, to see the famous species such as Helmet vanga, Bernier's_vanga, Short-legged ground roller and so on.... In the afternoon, continue with a river trip in a pirogue (traditional wooden canoe) on the Tampolo River with a local fisherman from the village of Ambodiforaha. In the evening, there will be time for another night walk.

Day 4: Take the speed boat to Nosy Mangabe for picnic and thereafter return to Maroantsetra.

Extended circuit

Visit Masoala for 5 nights with stay at Masoala Birding Camp and in Farankaraina Tropical Park.

Day 1 and 2: Overnight camping at lodge in Farankaraina Tropical Park. Try to find the Aye-Aye during a night walk. The best possibility to spot the Aye-Aye here is between July and October.

Day 3: Leave Farankaraina Tropical Park for Masoala National Park (by speed boat?) to reach Masoala Birding Camp. Start a short afternoon bird watching walk. In the evening, take a night walk to discover different species of lemurs and various other night active animals.

Day 4: Red Ruffed Lemur path. This is a 3 to 4 hours walk to spot the Red Ruffed Lemurs in their natural habitats. Thereafter, before dinner in the evening, take another night walk to discover nocturnal species, such as the mouse lemur, dwarf lemur, sportive lemur and other animals.

Day 5: Boat transfer to Antalavia. This is a wonderful location with a beach and a large waterfall where it's possible to go for a swim.

Day 6: Return to the hotel in Maroantsetra. Visit Nosy Mangabe for picnic in the morning. Our boat can pass close to the island where flocks of egret (heron) can usually be observed in the canopies along the shore. Allow about four hours to visit the island to try and find the Uroplatus fimbriatus (giant leaf-tailed gecko) and with some luck also spot one of the smallest chameleons in the world.

Sportive circuit

8 days Maroantsetra to Masoala, trekking one direction and return by boat.

This trek follows the coast of Antongil Bay and through Masoala National Park.

Day 1: Depart early from your hotel in Maroantsetra on a 1-hour pirouge ride to Andranofotsy and from there continue by foot to the campsite at Farankaraina Tropical Park. Search for the Aye-Aye at night.

Day 2: Have breakfast before setting off on a 4 to 6 hours trek through vanilla and clove plantations until Masindrano. Camp by the beach.

Day 3: Early start to reach the next camping spot by Ambanizana village (4-6 hours). From here on wildlife and nature becomes increasignly lush and colorful, with a wonderful beach dominated by large rock boulders close to our camping spot.

Day 4: Early start through Masoala National Park. This is last big walk and which takes 4-6 hours. Comparing with previous days, this one is most impressive and adventures trail of all, passing through the primary forest and one of the world's last remaining rainforests that meets directly the ocean front, until Ambodiforaha, the home of Patrick. Have lunch at Masoala Village Lodge. In the afternoon, continue 1-2 hours until reaching your base at Masoala Birding Camp.

Day 5, 6 and 7: Enjoy three full days of discovering nature at leisue in one of the most beautiful spots in Masaoala. With the help of your guide and team at Masoala Birding Camp, you can experience amazing bird watching, combined, night and day walks, river trips, lemur watching, stars counting... Embrace yourself in a truly natural envorinment from which all species have evolved.

Day 8: Before returning to civilisation, visit Nosy Mangabe for picnic in the morning. Our boat can pass close to the island where flocks of egret (heron) can usually be observed in the canopies along the shore. Allow about four hours to visit the island to try and find the Uroplatus fimbriatus (giant leaf-tailed gecko) and with some luck also spot one of the smallest chameleons in the world. Arrive at your hotel in Maroantsetra. A good bye photo with the Masoala Birding Camp team.