Exploring Madagascar

"As I gaze upon the sea, all the old romantic legends, all my dreams, come back to me."
Henry Longfellow.

All charters are for a minimum of 6 nights.
It is important to note that on a six night charter it is only possible to go EITHER north to the Mitsios OR south to the Radamas and not both. However, on a 10 night charter it is possible to incorporate them both.
Please also visit our sister website at www.madagascat.co.za for land-based extensions to charters, and/or totally land-based hotel tours.

SOUTH - the Radamas
Day 1: Arrive Nosy Be and transfer to your boat in time for dinner on board.
Overnight Crater Bay.

Day 2: Get an early start and head for Baramahamay River via the “James Bond” island for some snorkelling. You pass the fifth brother (thrown out of the family of four brothers legend has it) and arrive in the afternoon. Go ashore with the skipper and explore the village. For the brave you can taste some of the local rum made with wild honey.
Overnight Baramahamay River.

Day 3: Head on south towards the Radamas. Incredible snorkelling and great fishing, both reef, off shore and deep sea.
Overnight Kalakajoro.

Day 4: More of the same but different reefs, different drop offs and different beaches.
Overnight Nosy Ofy.

Day 5: Return north via the most beautiful of them all, Nosy Iranja. Stop here for swimming, explore the island and lighthouse built by Gustav Eiffel of tower fame. Lunch on board before moving on towards Nosy Be. You will almost certainly be guaranteed of a dolphin encounter.
Overnight Russian Bay

Day 6: Spend the morning snorkelling or diving Tanikely Marine Reserve and searching for the resident lemurs. Later in the afternoon arrive at Nosy Komba.
Overnight at Nosy Komba.

Day 7: Get up early and visit the Lemur Park for the “lemur on the shoulder” experience and a last minute shop in the beach market for presents for loved ones back home. Return to your boat for a last shower and pack before disembarking at Madirokely Beach for your transfer back to the airport and home.


It is important to note that these itineraries are SAMPLES only and the final itinerary can only be agreed on when you arrive as it is very much tide and weather dependant. If you want to include both the north and the south in your charter you will need a minimum of 10 days.

NORTH - The Mitsios (for specialist fishing or diving charters)
Disadvantage: not many moorings
Day 1: Arrive Nosy Be and transfer to your boat at Crater Bay in time for dinner.

Day 2: Leave early in the morning and head north via Nosy Fanihy (Sacred Island) where you will stop for a quick swim in to explore the island. There are some very unusual birds here and a huge population of hermit crabs dressed in a range of different shells. You may also see the giant Flying Foxes for which the island is named.

Afterwards you will push on further north passing the Four Brothers and the Organ Pipes – a geological phenomenon of which there are only a few others in the world.
Overnight at Grand Mitsio.

Day 3: Spend the day exploring the islands of the Mitsio Archipelago (13 in total). Enjoy incredible snorkelling/scuba and great fishing in crystal clear waters. Walk deserted beaches and have islands to yourself for picnics.
Overnight at Grand Mitsio

Day 4: Return slowly south via Tsjarabanjina (Beautiful land) Island where we can anchor and you can snorkel and scuba. With permission from the owners you could stop in for a drink at their beach bar, but this is not guaranteed.
Overnight at Nosy Komba – the lemur island.

Day 5: Get an early morning start to visit the Lemur Park and entice these delightful, furry creatures out of the trees with a banana or two. Included in the park are a “wrap around the neck” boa experience and an encounter with a few chameleons. After the animals take a leisurely stroll through the market and shop for a few well priced momentos.

Return to your boat and head for Tanikely Marine Reserve where you will spend the afternoon snorkelling or scuba diving, paddling around the reef on the kayak and climbing to the top of the island to the lighthouse – you may spot a few more lemurs here as well as chameleons.
Overnight at Russian Bay and visit the remains of the Russian settlement.

Day 6: Move on to via the reef to do some serious fishing and hope to catch the school of dolphin that live around here. Then on to Nosy Sakatia for the night. Spend sometime snorkelling this magic reef before perhaps visiting Jose at Sakatia Lodge for a sundowner.
Overnight at Sakatia Straight.

Day 7: Return slowly to Madirokely Beach for your transfer back to Nosy Be airport and home.

Day Charters: There are some times when the boats are not on charter and during these gaps we enjoy taking the land based tourists out for the day. Our day charter includes two excursions in one. Both Tanikely and Nosy Komba are taken in with loads of time at both places. We collect you from your hotel, give you coffee and fruit juice on arrival, a cold lunch is served on board and a cash bar is available. After your days outing we will return you to your hotel. We need to put together a minimum of six people to arrange these charters at a cost of €60 per person.