Vakona Forest Lodge

... the edge of the country's central plateau  and at over 1,000 metres is often quite cool. Our destination was Vakona Forest Lodge, near the park and it was a  very welcome sight after 30 hours travelling. Especially welcome ...

... with our visit, and rather smug that we had seen so much when everyone had been saying we'd see nothing. Then headed for Vakona Forest Lodge, where we were to stay that night.  On the way we stopped at Ile des Lemuriens (Isle of Lemurs).  ...

... had lunch and then we went off to Vakona lemur sanctuary which is within the massive grounds of the posh and overly expensive Vakona Forest Lodge. There is a crocodile farm and small zoo which we choose not to visit but they did have an area apart from ...

... and some good wildlife later (we see the largest chameleon Mr. Florent has ever seen), we reach our destination without a drop of rain falling: Vakona Forest Lodge (www.hotel-vakona.com).  I drop my bag in my room and we head right out for a night ...

... flora: clove trees, cinnamon trees, cocoa trees, vanilla plants and other orchids. Avoid T-trap of Nosy Komba. * Vakona Forest Lodge (private) is in Andasibe, near Andasibe national reserve. Rent bungalow within forest lodge, (horseriding, trekking) ...

... They arrived just after lunch and it was suggested by us, that because we had Lova and a car that we should visit Vakona Forest Lodge. It was about 10kms away from where we were staying and so it seemed too good an opportunity to miss, taking advantage ...

... out from the Lodge at 7.30 a.m for a morning exploring the Andasibe national park which is a relatively small area of primary forest but rich in endemic species. The main attraction is the Indri but there are loads of weird and wonderful creatures ...

... pours... and we see a whole bunch of lemurs (brown, golden, and Indiri Indiri) in one small section of the national forest.  Speaking of rain, the skies are undecided and there seems to be a constant change of weather as light sprinkles turn ...

Mantadia is a much larger area of primary forest than Andasibe, wilder and more interesting in some ways, but being bigger you have less chance of seeing the lemurs.  We werent particularly lucky but the mass of ferns and palms of every description ...

... a wooden structure, but kept very nice. There are other, more posh, hotels located near the village, one being the famous Vakona Lodge, which I have never been to (too expensive!). The first day of collecting was spent in Mantadia National Park, which ...

Its welll worth taking an evening stroll after dark to see what you can see.  Without a guide almost nothing.  With a guide all this and more.  Also worth going out just to see the night sky. There is so little light pollution there seem ...