Masoala is a peninsula in the north-east of Madagascar, home to Masoala National Park – one of Madagascar’s largest and best-preserved rainforests. It’s no wonder that UNESCO included this natural beauty in the World Heritage List.
Where the rainforest meets the ocean. A place where the jungle flows seamlessly into coral reefs and coastal mangrove forests.
From the red-ruffed lemur to the humpback whale
A unique area that blends land and marine landscapes, making for impressive biodiversity. The park is home to the stunning red-ruffed lemur, geckos, chameleons, frogs, and several types of butterflies, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Your travellers will discover protected coral reefs and spectacular marine life. Between July and early September, they’ll also spot humpback whales swimming en masse from Antarctica to the waters around Madagascar to give birth and nurse their babies. (Read more about whale migration and the hotspot at Nosy Boraha.)
Reasons to visit Masoala: You’ll find animals and plants that you won’t see anywhere else. The hikes are doable for everyone. The palm-tree lined beaches are spectacularly beautiful, with clear turquoise waters. You can snorkel or take a boat excursion along one of the many rivers.
Masoala is not easy to get to
Between Maroantsetra, the starting point on the mainland, and the peninsula lies a vast stretch of sea. From Maroantsetra, both locals and tourists make the crossing by boat. Only once a week does a scheduled flight depart from the capital Antananarivo to Maroantsetra – an option that offers little flexibility in travel planning.
Take a private plane to explore the north-east
At Madafocus, we love adventure. We love finding solutions to challenges. Our solution? A small private plane that will take your customers straight to Masoala.
Private plane is the best way to reach other less-accessible areas too. The sea on the east coast can be choppy, so boats don’t always sail during the whaling season. That often comes as a disappointment to travellers who want to see the whales at Nosy Boraha. Get rid of that uncertainty and go by private plane!
Marojejy National Park in the north-eastern Sava region ‒ home to the silky sifaka lemur and a top destination for nature lovers and hikers ‒ is another example. This region is now more easily accessible thanks to the paved RN5a road. But in wet seasons or heavy rainfall, the road can be challenging. So, a private plane can be more convenient here too.
What about the price?
Fair question. Hiring a small private plane isn’t cheap, but it will certainly make your travellers’ holiday.
It saves your customers time, allowing them to travel longer distances comfortably and discover beautiful places in Madagascar that they wouldn’t otherwise see. Make it part of a two-week tour of the east coast: three domestic flights cost around the same as renting an off-road vehicle for two weeks. Worth considering!
In short, it’s an extra option that we offer and an interesting way to discover the east coast and other hard-to-reach areas. An added touch of adventure.
