INTEREST : Would you like to contribute to a scientific research program on marine turtles in Madagascar? We propose you the opportunity to contribute to a conservation project on marine turtles in the Melaky region. With the participation of WWF, the Museum of Geneva and the IHSM of Toliara, we have developed this ecotouristic trip of 9days/8nights dedicated to the observation and conservation of marine turtles in collaboration with the local team of the project. Based on meetings and exchanges with the Vezo community, you will assist the local team in the research program and you will contribute personally to the conservation of this reptiles.

Really isolated from the rest of the island, the Melaky region presents an exceptional touristic potential with many different biotopes and the authenticity of the Vezo community. This trip offers you the possibility to discover the wonders of this region, you will meet the traditional Vezo fishers, you will assist the local team in the research, and you will discover the exceptional fauna and flora of the Soahany’ river and the natural reserve of the Tsingy of Ambinda.

Among the seven species of marine turtle in the world, five of them are known to visit regularly the coastal region of Madagascar : the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the olive ridley turtle, the loggerhead turtle and the leatherback turtle. They are subject to hight human pressures in most of their feeding and nesting areas. So they are endanger because the Vezo community stay the last people near the world to consume regularly marine turtle eggs and meat. This project aims to support the setting up of an integrated conservation and management plan and make aware the Vezo community to this problem.

If you choose this trip, you contribute directly to the conservation program because all the benefits of the excursions go for the fund of the project and will be used for concrete activities. Moreover, Mosaique Malgache will reverse 10€ per person in the fund of the project.

J1 SUN : TANA / MAINTIRANO

Flight Tananarive/ Maintirano via Tsiroanomandidy and Ankavandra, with MD5803/MD5832 at 6.40pm, arrival at Maintirano at 10.20pm. Transfer at the hotel. Lunch at the hotel.
During the afternoon, depending the tide, we go discover the rare fauna and flora of the mangroves close Maintirano. Back at the end of afternoon. Briefing with the local team of the project.
Dinner and night at the hotel.

J2 MON : MAINTIRANO / NOSY MAROANTALY

Breakfast at the hotel then we go aboard traditional pirogue (with motor), and we go to Nosy Maroantaly (2h30 of navigation) in the Barren archipelago. Arrival on the island, installation of the campsite and picnic lunch.
During the afternoon, we go discover the island and the Vezo fishers village.

J3 TUE : NOSY MAROANTALY

Today, we assist the local team to fish some marine turltes, equiped with a fishing net, the objective is to catch them delicately and bring them on the beach. Then we set about examinations, measures and ring them.
Picnic lunch based on fish and seafood. Then, depending the tide we go for a walk on the coral plateau.
Dinner and night in tents at Nosy Maroantaly.

J4 WED : NOSY MAROANTALY / NOSY LAVA

Breakfast then transfert in pirogue to Nosy Lava (1h of navigation). Arrival on the island and installation of the campsite. Then we go to discover the island and the Vezo fishers. Back to the campsite and picnic lunch.
During the afternoon, we continue the marine turtles fishing with the local team, measures and ring them. Possibility of snorkeling.
Dinner and night in tent at Nosy Lava.

J5 THU : NOSY LAVA

During the morning, we go for snorkelling and fishing marine turtles to measure and ring them. Then we take our picnic lunch.
During the afternoon, we sail around closes Islands of Nosy Andrano, Nosy Manghily and Nosy Dondosy to found some marine turtles. Back to the campsite at the end of afternoon.
Dinner and night in tent at Nosy Lava.

J6 FRI : NOSY LAVA / SOAHANY

Breakfast and transfer to Soahany’ river (1h30 of navigation). Arrival at the mouth, installation of the campsite and picnic lunch.
During the afternoon, we go back up the river on ten kilometers to discover the exceptional fauna and flora really rare in Madagascar. We can observe the Ankoay (fishing eagle), one of the seven bird of prey really endanger near the world. We can discover many other bird species, bats, crocodiles… Back to the campsite at the end of afternoon.
Dinner and night at the Soahany’mouth.

J7 SAT : SOAHANY / MAINTIRANO

Breakfast and transfer to Maintirano (3h of navigation). Arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Lunch at the hotel and free afternoon.
Dinner and night at the hotel.

J8 SUN : MAINTIRANO / TSINGY OF AMBINDA / MAINTIRANO

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer in 4X4 to the natural reserve of the Tsingy of Ambinda (2h30 of pist). Then we go for a walk in the reserve. Arround the tsingy, the forest is dry, with his typical fauna, but inside the tsingy we can observe an humid forest with many lemurian species. We discover this strange karstic formations and our guide of BCM (Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar) will explain us the history of the caves. During the past, the Vazimba (ancestral tribe of Madagascar) have leaved here. Also, we can observe some beautiful traditional tombs of Sakalava Kings. Picnic lunch. Back to Maintirano at the end of afternoon.
Dinner and night at the hotel.

J9 MON : MAINTIRANO / TANA
Breakfast at the hotel and free morning. Lunch at the hotel then transfer to the aeroport for the flight Maintirano/Tana with MD5815 at 13.30am. Arrival at Tana at 15.00pm. END.

NB : During the nesting season between end of November to half April, we organize nocturnal walk on the beach to found some nesting females, memorable instant. Then we try to count the eggs and put them in safety area if necessary.
From January to June, it’s the hatching season, if we are lucky we could observe the little marine turtles dawning from the sand and joining the sea.

This trip is possible during all the year, with one departure by month.
Group size : from 2 to 10 persons.