Lemur Tours · The east and surrounding areas
Indri calls near Andasibe, forest trails and a boat journey to the Palmarium: plan your eastern trip around the experiences that matter to you.
Choosing your places to visit
If you want to visit national parks in eastern Madagascar, two different travel ideas quickly emerge: rainforest walks around Andasibe and a stay in the Pangalanes area. The Palmarium is a private reserve, not a state-managed national park.
Both can be part of a trip to the east. But choosing is about more than the distance on the map. Access roads, boat connections and the number of nights you want to stay also determine what works well together.
Two different kinds of stay
First consider whether you want to focus on forest walks or also spend time by the water. This helps determine how far east you travel.
National parks and protected areas near Andasibe
Forest walks east of Antananarivo
Analamazaotra and Mantadia are different visitor areas with different access routes and walks. Around Andasibe, indri calls are a special part of the forest experience. Which animals you actually see cannot be guaranteed.
Planning tip: Choose the forest you want to visit in advance. Do not try to cover every area in a single day.
Private reserve
A stay on Lake Ampitabe
The Palmarium is in the Pangalanes Canal area and is reached by boat. The reserve, accommodation and transfer need to be planned together. The visit differs from a walk in a large state-managed protected area.
Planning tip: Confirm the boat transfer and accommodation together, and allow enough time for your stay.
Conservation and research
Betampona lies northwest of Toamasina and is a strict nature reserve. Conservation and research come first here. It is therefore not a conventional extra excursion on a trip to the east coast.
Whether a specific activity is possible must be confirmed with the relevant management authority, along with any required permits. For a holiday with forest walks, we can instead discuss the options around Andasibe. We plan any onward stay at the Palmarium together with the boat transfer and overnight accommodation.
Time for nature observation
In humid forest, the large trees catch your eye first. Small animals may be right beside the trail without being immediately obvious. If you are also interested in frogs, chameleons or plants, leave time to look for them.
A slow walk may therefore suit you better than covering as many kilometres as possible. Discuss what you would like to see with the guide and give animals their space.
Fitting visits into your trip
Andasibe offers several visiting options. Confirm the specific park and walk before deciding how many nights to stay.
For the Palmarium, the transfer is a separate part of the trip. A long travel day should not also be counted as a full day in the reserve.
The east can be wet even outside the rainiest months. Shoes with good grip and waterproof clothing are part of the preparation. More about weather and travel seasons.
Suggested itineraries
The honeymoon itinerary with nature and island stays is an existing itinerary that includes Andasibe and the Palmarium. Even if you are not travelling on honeymoon, it can offer ideas for combining these stays with time by the sea.
If you would like to travel from the highlands through the south to the east, also take a look at “From the south to the east with some beach time”. Ranomafana lies in the southeast and is covered separately in the guide to the southern route. We work out which stops fit together based on the time you have.
Good to know
No. They are different visitor areas around Andasibe, with different access routes and trails. Choose according to the walk you want and the time available.
No. The Palmarium is a private reserve with accommodation on Lake Ampitabe. The boat journey and stay are planned together. Its visiting arrangements differ from those of state-managed national parks.
It depends on your starting point, onward travel and available days. The journey east and the boat transfer take time. If your schedule is too tight, it is better to choose fewer places and enjoy more time there.
A regular day trip is not promised here. Betampona is a strict nature reserve with special protection status. Any specific activity needs prior agreement with the responsible authorities.
An accredited guide is required for visits to protected areas managed by Madagascar National Parks. Private reserves have their own rules. Madagascar National Parks visitor rules.
Plan your trip with me
Tell me whether you are looking for forest walks around Andasibe, time by the Pangalanes Canal or a combination with island stays. Your travel dates and planned trip length will help us choose.