Changes

There are virtually no tourists here, although this will may change in coming years once as the new road of the previously often impassable part of the RN5a between [[Ambilobe]] and [[Vohemar]] has been was completed. Meanwhile, the area and its main road remain relatively isolated from the rest of the countryin 2020.

[[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_002Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_020.jpg|600px]]

[[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_017Vohemar_to_Mazava_by_bike_003.jpg|600px]]

Unless you are on a racing bike with minimal light luggage, this journey is best done over two days, including a stay-over in the village of Mazava shortly after [[Ampanefena]].

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 below 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.

Mazava is an unknown village four kilometres south of [[Ampanefena]] and halfway between Vohemar and Sambava. As of 20202021, 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.

Closer to Sambava is Bemarivo, the river where much [[Madagascar Vanilla|vanilla]], [[Madagascar Coffee|coffee]], [[Madagascar pepper|pepper]], [[Madagascar cacao|cacao]] and [[Madagascar Cloves|cloves ]] are cultivated along the river banks. Upstream, Marojejy Ambohibe mountain can be seen in the distance.

|colspan="3" | [[File:Mazava_to_Sambava_by_bike_041Mazava_to_Sambava_by_bike_053.jpg|link=https://www.madacamp.com/photo.cgi?Mazava_to_Sambava_by_bike_041Mazava_to_Sambava_by_bike_055.jpg|600px]]

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 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'''

* Sambava : [[Mimi Hotel|Hotel Resto Mimi]]

This bike trip can be booked with [[Madabike]] with or without an accompanying guide on a 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>-->