Quiet and comfort in a luxury hotel in Diego-SuarezExcursions | Quiet and comfort in a luxury hotel in Diego-Suarez

Ankarana National Park

bleudiego — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 05:42:45 +0000

The massif of Ankarana is dominated by attractive limestone karst formations called locally “Tsingy”, it extends on a little over 20km on the west coast. We count an underground complex network, extending over nearly 120km.
Ankarana is home of 13 species of bats, 10 species of Lemurs (Crowned Lemur and Brown Lemur), and 92 species of birds. The specific fauna, adapted to the life caves, gives to Ankarana its particular character. Ankarana preserves a dense, tropical deciduous forest with spiny forests, baobabs, tall trees.
Rare and endemic birds and many species found their holiday cottage in the reserve, as the fosa, the unique predator of the species of the family of Felidae in Madagascar.
We begin the visit by exploring “The rivers Loss” (gigantic hole in stratified layers in which rainwater rushes) and its naturally eroded “amphitheatre” (500 m), rich in fossils through a dry deciduous vegetation of Baobab and Euphorbia. Then we will continue with the discovery of the “Tsingy Rary” and the visit of the “Tsingy Turret” (3 hour-walks on a track without vertical drop in the shade of trees) as Ankarana is described as a new discovery at each turn.

Practical advice for the excursion: long trousers, tee-shirt with sleeves, , k-way ou rain wears, warm clothing or pullover, sun lotion, sun glasses, Mosquito repellent and trainers.

Montagne d’ambre national park

bleudiego — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:36:29 +0000

Joffre Ville, gateway to the Montagne d’Ambre National Park, is a small station southwest of Diego founded early in the century by Marshal Joffre. Synonymous with rest and freshness over 700 meters above sea level, the resort is known for its famous litchi on the Big Island. Visitors can find several attractions: the presence of a microclimate of a tropical wet evergreen rainforest, forest tracks, crater lakes, botanical trail, waterfalls and views. 7 species of lemurs, and a variety of endemic terrestrial species that can be observed in their natural habitat. 12 species of small mammals, 75 species of birds of which 35 are endemic, 49 species of reptiles and 24 species of amphibians …
These include: the crowned lemur, who will meet you; Brookesia sp, one of the smallest chameleon in the world; Microcebus sp, which is the smallest primate in the world, the fosa the largest carnivorous mammal of Madagascar, butterflies, boa, endemic birds … that you will discover with patience and luck …
The Massif plays a prominent role in the water supply of the entire northern region of Madagascar. Protected since 1920 as a ranger station, and the first protected National Park in Madagascar in 1958, the park managed first by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) since 1985 and today MNP (Madagascar National Parks) to measure the issue of nature conservation in Madagascar.
The Montagne d’Ambre National Parc, which rises to 1475 m, covering an area of 18,200 ha, includes endemic species and specific flora and fauna. By walk on the forest trail (3 km), bordered by gigantic trees, strangler figs tree ferns, moss and lichens, we can reach the viewpoint (alt. 965 m) of the Grand Cascade waterfall 82 m, which ends in a caldera, where we will visit the likelihood of lemurs. Then we take the trail Botanical, “the Way of Miles Trees.” (1400 m) where you will have the opportunity to identify in a same area, many species of trees, woods, orchids, plants medicines.

Practical advice for the excursion: long trousers, tee-shirt with sleeves, , k-way ou rain wears, warm clothing or pullover, sun lotion, sun glasses, Mosquito repellent and trainers.

3 bays and Ramena beach

bleudiego — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:31:30 +0000

Excursion Ramena beach and the Three bay », either by Quad or by 4x4WD car (Specify choice while making reservation)
About 70km of road, track sandy

Departure from the hotel at 8.30.

Briefing for the ride by quad

Departing from Diego towards Ramena, after a few kilometres on bad roads, we will take a sandy track up to the Bay of Sakalava. An imposing a 300 years old Baobab tree is soaring above the road before we reach a very beautifully white sandy beach where, with a bit of luck we will able to encounter some lemurs.
Then we leave for the Bay of the Pigeons and after crossing some dunes, we will arrive at bay named the dunes (Bay of the Dunes). A deserted beach will welcome you with an invitation to bathe.
Depending on the seasons, you may get a chance to watch a ballet of tortoises.
We will continue through Cap Miné where the vestiges of war guns and fortifications attest historic presence of the French Army and its former role as guardian of the pass (or the main gateway to Diego Bay), and the lighthouse which is still in good repairs.

Lunch in Ramena restaurant, a traditional village of fishermen bordered with white sand beach and coconuts trees.

In case of excursion by quad:
The tourists must have their driving license, passport and should fill in a form of formality (international driving licence)
Helmet and bandana are provided.

The level of conduct and appearance are gradually and are suitable for both insiders and professionals, ensuring security and usability.
The quad is an ideal mean of transport for exploring the beautiful sights of our region!
Their discovery correspond exactly to what every traveler dreams of living at least once in his life: exploration, plain to the eye, all multiple landscapes as beautiful as each other, a variety of flora and fauna.

We will set out to Diego-Suarez for tourists who chose to take 4x4WD.
However, for those who chose the ride by quad, we will set out through a very pleasant site across the dunes, then on sandy tracks for the village of Ivovona. After that we will go round the Bay of Diego which is meant to be one of most beautiful bays in the world after Rio de Janeiro, where a majestic sugar loaf with its conical karstic structure is towering up above the sea.

Mer d’Emeraude

bleudiego — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:18:19 +0000

We take a sailing boat past by Ramena beach to the Emerald sea. Emerald sea is located in the North of the false pass. It is an immense emerald coloured lagoon. It is shallow enough to allow divers to swim in a natural dreamlike aquarium in the company of fish of all shapes and sizes, with different colours coming to meet the visitor. Other small Virgin Islands (Diego Island, Suarez Island) with white sandy beach, completely deserted allow you to join pleasure with usefulness in a unique site of the region. Completely unspoilt, this intense and magical place will leave you with marvellous memories.

Cap diego and his baobabs

bleudiego — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 07:18:07 +0000

Departure by boat from the port Diego to Cape Jasmine Diego (Panoramic view of both the harbor and the tip of the cap). We follow the coast where you can enjoy to watch an interesting combination of Baobabs. We visit the old military town and its remarkable natural cave. We will go to a desert beach where the boat awaits us. We will discover another secluded beach where crystal clear water will push you to enjoy scuba diving. Picnic and bathing therein.

Tsingy rouge

bleudiego — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:28:35 +0000

Through mountains, in the South East of Diego-Suarez, the Red Tsingy, result of the erosion by the rainwater of a thick coat of laterite, reserves you the other secrets of the nature. Leaving Diego towards the South, we will take the RN6 ( National Road 6 ) along 45kms of winding road through rice plantations and farming fields to the village of Sahafary, then into a side road bordered with Eucalyptus trees (a reforestation project) up to a viewpoint dominating the Indian Ocean, the plain of Irodo, the reserve of Analamera and Lavakas. The visit continues through an overhanging plateau of mountain track bordered with palm trees, reaching a peak landscape, a typical structure formed with the combination of bush fires, erosion and water infiltration. The Red Tsingy, composed of sandstone, lime and marl, offer their beautiful ephemeral draperies inside the only sedimentary basin of Madagascar.