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'''Vohemar to Sambava is a 150km bike route with stunning scenery the entire way. Except for a few hills, it's mostly flat and straight biking on a tarred road in excellent condition with the odd potholes which are more a nuisance for cars than for bikes. Every few kilometres there's a small village with friendly locals greeting bypassers.'''
[[File:Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_007.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_007.jpg|600px]]
There are virtually no tourists here, although this will change in coming years once the often impassable part of the RN5a between [[Ambilobe]] and [[Vohemar]] has been is being completed. Meanwhile, the area and its main road remain relatively isolated from the rest of the country.
[[File:Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_002Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_017.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_020.jpg|600px]]
The traffic is minimal during the rainy season from December to June and only a few crowded taxi-brousses and freight-trucks pass throughout the day, making it relatively safe for the odd reptile to cross the road.
[[File:Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_017Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_002.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_003.jpg|600px]]
Unless you are on a racing bikewith light luggage, this journey is best fastest done in over two days, including a stay-over in the village of Mazava shortly after [[Ampanefena]].
[[File:Vohemar-Mazava_by_bike_map_001.jpg|link=Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_map]]
Alternatively, for those who prefer to split the journey in into three parts, a diversion divert to and stay over at [[Bobangira Park]] almost over half-way to Ampanefena is recommendedand camp for a night on an empty beach under the stars. This will add another 34 kilometres along a dirt-road partly through forest to reach the coast and back to the main road again.
[[File:Bobangira_019.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Bobangira_019.jpg|600px]]
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Mazava is an unknown village four kilometres south of [[Ampanefena]] and halfway between Vohemar and Sambava. As of 2020, none of the four hotels in Ampanefena offers particularly good value accommodation and so the best option is a stay at [[Maison Zaza]] in Mazava where vanilla farmers Mr and Mrs Zaza rent out five bungalows on their property, two of which have a panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes.
[[File:Maison_Zaza_001.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Maison_Zaza_001.jpg|600px]]
The stretch after Mazava starts off with a couple of uphills and rewarding downhills with especially beautiful mountains until Antsirabe-Nord.
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Closer to Sambava, crossing is Bemarivo, a the river where much [[Madagascar Vanilla|vanilla]], [[Madagascar Coffee|coffee]], [[Madagascar pepper|pepper]], [[Madagascar cacao|cacao]] and [[Madagascar Cloves|cloves ]] are cultivatedalong the river banks. Upstream, Marojejy can be seen in the distance.
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Shortly before reaching the centre of Sambava, [[Mimi Hotel|Mimi Resto]] makes a good overnight stop to plan the next days, whether biking further to [[Antalaha]] or [[Marojejy National Park]]. The tourist office for the SAVA region is located in the same building, where much information including about Marojejy is available including the sale of entry tickets, organisation of guides etc.
[[File:Resto_Mimi_176.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Resto_Mimi_176.jpg|600px]]
'''Accommodation options'''
* Vohemar: [[Paradisia|La Maison Blanch, Paradisia]]
* Bobangira: [[Bobangira Park]]
* Mazava: [[Maison Zaza]]
* Sambava : [[Mimi Hotel|Hotel Resto Mimi]]
This bike trip can be booked with [[Madabike]] with or without an accompanying guide on bike via the tourist office at [[Mimi Hotel|Hotel Resto Mimi]]. <!--<table cellpadding="5" border=1><tr><td> '''Tour data Vohemar to Mazava'''<br>Distance: 75km<br>Minimum Elevation: 10 metres<br>Maximum Elevation: 72 metres<br>Total climb: 257 metres<br>Total descent: 293 metres View all [[Vohemar to Mazava by bike photos]] </td><td> '''Tour data Mazava to Sambava'''<br>Distance: 75km<br>Minimum elevation: 11 metres<br>Maximum elevation: 107 metres<br>Total climb: 663 metres<br>Total descent: 706 metres View all [[Mazava to Sambava by bike photos]] </td></tr></table>-->
