National Park
Parc National Masoala-Nosy MangabeThis 2100-sq-km national park contains one of the best primary rainforests in the country. It is famous for its vegetation, which includes rare hardwoods,…
Image by Michael Runkel / Getty Images
Eastern Madagascar
Eastern Madagascar is travel the way it used to be. There is a wildness here of primordial allure, from the misty mountains of Masoala, down the huge coastline with its pounding sea and overhanging palms, to the lush waterways of the Pangalanes Lakes. This part of the country is largely cut off from the rest, and from itself, by a degraded transport network, including some roads out of an engineer’s nightmare. Travelling here requires a combination of plane, car, 4WD, motorbike, scooter, pirogue (dugout canoe), ferry, cargo boat, taxi-brousse (bush taxi) and motorboat. This inaccessibility results in isolated communities and, for the traveller, a constant sense of coming upon undiscovered locales, including entire national parks. There’s no doubt it can be frustrating at times, but Eastern Madagascar produces more travellers' tales than anywhere else. If you value that, come here first.
Explore Eastern Madagascar
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Eastern Madagascar.
National Park
Parc National AnalamazaotraThis is the most popular park within Parc National Andasibe Mantadia. The real draw of this reserve is the rare indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur, whose…
National Park
Nosy MangabePart of Parc National Masoala-Nosy Mangabe, this thickly forested and mountainous tropical island is one of the crown jewels of the Antongil Bay. With…
National Park
Parc National MantadiaPart of the Parc National Andasibe Mantadia, this park is about 17km north of Andasibe. Created primarily to protect the indri, Mantadia also hosts the…
Beach
Piscines Naturelles d'AmbodiatafanaIn the north of Sainte Marie, near Ambodiatafana village, these natural pools are separated from the Indian Ocean by a granitic gate of about 100m. During…
Viewpoint
Maison BlancheNo stay on the island would be complete without a sundowner at Maison Blanche: this atypical house has a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of the…
Park
Mahay Mitia AlaThe Mahay Mitia Ala (VOIMMA) park, opened in 2011, is managed by a local association to promote biodiversity, conservation and local development. The…
Nature Reserve
Réserve de MaromizahaIf you want real unadulterated wilderness then the Réserve de Maromizaha is what you're looking for. This 100-sq-km ecotourism reserve, about 8km…
Park
Parc MitsinjoLocated on the main road opposite the MNP office, Mitsinjo is a private reserve run by Association Mitsinjo, set up by guides to promote conservation and…
Cemetery
Cimetière des PiratesThis is a fascinating spot from which to contemplate the history of the island. The cemetery overlooks the Baie de Forbans just south of Ambodifotatra,…
Nature Reserve
Vohimana ForestEstablished as a private reserve in 2001, this crucial 1.6-sq-km corridor links the Andasibe area parks with the forests of the south. At present…
Zoo
Parc Zoologique IvoloinaThe Parc Zoologique Ivoloina (ee-va-la-ween) is a very well-run zoo and botanical garden set on a lovely lake just north of Tamatave. Visitors can enjoy…
Fortress
Fort MandaThe evocative ruins of this 19th-century Merina fort, built for Radama I, are about 500m north of Foulpointe. Its walls, which are 8m high and 6m thick in…
Wildlife Reserve
Aye-Aye IslandThis small, privately owned island in the middle of the Mananara River is home to about 15 aye-ayes (and other lemurs). A sighting isn't guaranteed but…
Nature Reserve
Réserve de TorotorofotsyA varied and attractive landscape of wetlands, forests and small villages, this private reserve is known for its greater bamboo lemurs and excellent…
Agricultural Centre
CPALIThis worthy NGO works with rural farmers living on the edge of biodiversity hotspots to develop sustainable livelihoods that support both people and…
Nature Reserve
Vohibola ForestVohibola is one of the last pieces of littoral forest in the country. There are three rewarding hiking trails and you might even get to see the Calumma…
Nature Reserve
Palmarium ReserveVery popular with tour groups, this private reserve is touted by some tour companies as 'the best place to photograph lemurs'. That might well be true…
Nature Reserve
Ambodiriana ForestRare species flourish in this protected humid forest, including the mouse lemur, the candy cane palm (Dypsis paludosa) and a parasitic orchid (Gastrodia…
Nature Reserve
Parc des OrchidéesThis little park is at its most attractive in October to December when the orchids are in bloom. By late summer it’s almost completely dried up. There’s…