Jewels of Madagascar

Begin your journey in Richards Bay, one of South Africa’s busiest ports. Enjoy access to the Indian Ocean, where you can take part in water-based activities and explore the coastline. Venture into Hluhluwe Game Reserve to spot crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of bird species among subtropical vegetation. Discover the culture and heritage of Zulu country through nearby excursions. Richards Bay combines a working harbor, natural habitats, outdoor activities, and regional cultural experiences.

Spend time enjoying the ship’s facilities as you sail between destinations. Unwind in the spa, work out in the fitness center, swim in the pool, or relax on deck. Attend onboard talks and performances, browse the boutique, or connect with the ship’s photographers. Head to the upper deck to take in ocean views and watch for marine life. This time at sea combines relaxation, recreation, and onboard experiences.

Located to the south-west of the island of Madagascar, near the mouth of the River Onilahy, Toliara is a port town that opens onto the Mozambique Channel. Inhabited for several centuries, becoming prosperous during the colonial period in the 19th century, Toliara is a cheerful town with unspoilt nature and exceptional flora that will certainly appeal to fans of botany. The Antsokay Arboretum botanical garden with nearly 1,000 Madagascar plant species, 90% of which are endemic, is worth a fragrant and charming detour. Cultural heritage will not be outdone, with the interesting museums of Mahafaly ethnology and the Museum of the Sea.

Included Excursion
Ifaty Escape: Spiny Forest Discovery and Beach Break
Duration : 4h30
On this trip, you will discover one of the most beautiful natural wonders of semi-desertic southern Madagascar. You will board your bus and travel in the direction of Sangoritelo village. As you leave Tulear, you will drive by a covered market that is very popular with local people given the lively atmosphere that reigns there. At Sangoritelo, you will discover the mangrove forest, a source of food and work for local people, facing the Mozambique Channel. Members of the Vezo community live here - Vezo meaning "nomads of the sea" in Malagasy. They are one of the last nomadic ethnic communities of Madagascar and they are gradually losing their traditions and customs.

You will then resume your journey for another 28 kms to reach Ifaty and the gateway to the Renala Private Reserve. This small park, barely 60 hectares in total, was created with the goal of creating responsible and sustainable tourism in the region, but especially to ensure the urgent preservation of the spiny forest. Recognised as a terrestrial ecoregion by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) this zone is home to a unique thorny forest, consisting of some 2000 different plants. With your guide, you will visit the park and discover the species of indigenous plants and the rare animals living in the forest, such as grey mouse lemurs, spider tortoises or the warty or spiny chameleon.

After your exploration, you will take a short drive to the village of Mangily. There you will be offered refreshments and a snack in a seaside hotel. Take your time to enjoy this break on the shores of the Indian Ocean before boarding your bus for the 45-minute journey to the port of Tulear.

This excursion involves approximately 0.6 mile (1km) of walking on flat but sandy ground. Transfers are made in a vehicle without air-conditioning. The team  recommends you wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing and protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. Take with you a bag with your swimsuit, waterproof shoes and a towel from the ship.

Five kilometers out to sea from the Malagasy village of Anakao, Nosy Ve is an unspoiled paradise of exceptional wild beauty. Located on a two-kilometer (1.2 miles) long coral bank, this island is unique in that it is home to a colony of endemic birds commonly called red-tailed tropicbird. This nature reserve, a nesting site for rare birds, is unique because it is this species’ only reproduction site. The duckboards installed on the island will enable you to observe the birds hidden from view under the forest of Madagascar jewel. This Eden dotted with natural pools is also a setting for coral, fish and sea turtles you can discover while snorkeling.

Sarodrano is a small village in the south-west of Madagascar in the province of Atsimo-Andrefana, at the mouth of the Onilahy River. This village of Vezo fishermen possesses the authentic and unspoiled charm of remote places. You will be surprised by the dexterity with which these “nomads of the sea” steer their outrigger canoes to fish, or keep up their ancestral traditions like seaweed cultivation. If the tide allows it, you will also have the possibility of discovering the sacred cave of Sarodrano, a natural fresh water pool separated from the sea by just 10 metres (33 feet) of rocks.

Included Excursion
Sarodrano Discovery: Fishermen Village and Coastal Caves
Duration : 3h30
After a wet landing at Sarodrano beach, set off to discover the small fishing village. If the tide is low during your visit, you will be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the seaweed plantations maintained and harvested by the Vezo women. Observe the daily life of the villagers, before boarding a traditional Vezo watercraft for a charming panoramic cruise.
 
This exploration involves walking on mostly flat ground. The team recommends you protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. The duration of the visit may vary according to tide level and weather conditions.

To the south-west of Antananarivo lies a peaceful city on the Mozambique Channel: Morondava, capital of the kingdom of Menabe, and departure point for many discoveries in the surrounding area. Bordered by the Mozambique Channel, the city is crossed by two rivers: the Mangoky and the Manambolo. Its many forests are full of abundant fauna and flora, especially the Kirindy Mitea National Park and its famous baobab alley.

Included Excursion
Morondava Baobabs: Iconic Landscapes and Natural Wonders
Duration : 3h00
You will arrive in Morondava by Zodiac© directly on the beach. From there, you will board your four-wheeled vehicle and set off for the baobab forest. Once outside the town, you will leave the tarmac road and drive along a rough laterite track.
The Baobab forest offers magnificent views over the countryside, punctuated by these impressive trees, the symbols of Madagascar. Here, accompanied by your guide, you will discover three species of baobab: the Adansonia Zà, the Fony and the Grandidier. These varieties can grow to 30 meters tall and up to 10 meters in diameter.

Then you will drive to the famous Avenue of the Baobabs, one of the most popular sites on the island. Discover the charm of this laterite track lined with baobabs, surrounded by a forest of acacias, rosewood and ebony trees, considered to be sacred woods. You will have the chance to talk to the inhabitants of a neighboring village, members of the Sakalava ethnic group, who will offer their arts and crafts for sale. Your tour will conclude with the drive back to Morondava, from where you will board the Zodiac© to go back to your ship. 

This excursion involves approximately 0.6 mile (1km) of walking on irregular and sandy ground. Expect a wet landing. Transfers will be made in a bus without air-conditioning. Part of the journey will be in bus on tracks that are in poor condition. As a result, this excursion is not recommended for people with back problems. The team recommends you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes. Given the state of the roads used, bring light clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. Purchases at Baobab Alley can be made in euros and US dollars. Card payments are not accepted.

During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness center. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

A lively and cosmopolitan town on the west coast of Madagascar, Majunga, also called Mahajanga, will be a port of call rich in discoveries. The former capital of the Sakalava kingdom, then a significant interchange due to its prime position between Africa and the Middle East, the city displays an interesting cultural patchwork. Also renowned for its outstanding natural sites, this port of call will provide you with the opportunity to discover the Cirque Rouge, immense red sandstone formations classified as national heritage.

Included Excursions
The Red Circus of Majunga: A Natural Wonder
Duration : 4h30
From the pier, board your vehicle for a 10-minute drive to the Baobab.
Rebord your vehicle to Grand Pavois Beach. From here, you will walk a few minutes to join your zebu-drawn carriage which will bring you to the heart of the red circus. Zebu-drawn carriages are frequently used by locals as transportation and for labor work. It is a typical transportation in this region.
The Red Circus is a sedimentary formation from the Quaternary Period. It was a former delta 1.8 million years ago and has an area of 40 hectares. The site consists of sedimentary layers, colorful sandstones and marls which could be both fluvial and marine.

The Red Circus offers a multitude of endemic fauna and flora and is of great geological and palaeontological importance. See the 12 colors the circus has to offer and discover its lunar landscape, the fairy chimneys and silicified wood, which bear witness to the site’s age. The Red Circus has been classified as a National Heritage Site since 2010.

Back on the beach, refreshments will be served. You will have some time to walk along the beach. Before returning to the port, stop in a Sakalava workshop to observe a local artist making beautiful drawings with colored sand. You might be tempted to buy a bottle of the colorful, layered sand.

Tourism resources (transportation and guides) are scarce. The team asks for your understanding in this if the quality of transportation does not match what they normally provide. Vehicles are non-air-conditioned and carriage ride will be bumpy. Stepladders will be at your disposal to board the zebu-drawn carriage. This tour involves walking on flat sandy ground and 2.5 miles (4 km) of driving over bumpy tracks. This tour is not recommended for guests suffering from back and/or neck problems. There are no restroom stops on this tour. The team recommends you wear comfortable walking shoes and protect yourself from the sun. Euros and USD are accepted for your purchases.

Sacred Lake Adventure: 4WD Exploration in Majunga
Duration : 4h00
From the pier, you will board the bus passing through the city of Majunga. You will stop at the famous giant Baobab Mahajanga tree which  is the town symbol of Majunga with its 14 meters circumference. The drive will continue along the boulevard including the Mahabibo market an active and colorful crowded place with displays of vegetable-tropical fruit-fish. Passing by the St Joseph Cathedral, the oldest church in the city. Then continue to Mangatsa, sweet potatoes and kasava plantation can be seen along in a lateritic and bumpy track.

Once at the Sacred Lake with its fish and sacred eel. Here is an important site for customs and beliefs for Sakalava tribe, tamarind tree are wrapped of red and white materials with zebu skulls as distinctions and honor signs to ancestor. Still at the mangatsa area where you will enjoy its big baobab and might have possibility to see some lemurs on the way. Refreshment and fruit will be served at the end of the visit. Finally, you will make your way back to the pier.

This tour is not recommended if you have mobility issues.

During your cruise, your ship will stop in Nosy Komba, otherwise known as “lemur island”. Not far from the Madagascar mainland, this volcanic island shaped like a gigantic turtle shell is covered in dense tropical rainforest. This vegetation is home to amusing black lemurs – furry orange-brown and black creatures that are surprisingly agile and call to each other from amongst the trees. The many small beaches and the emerald-colored water make Nosy Komba a natural gem that only a select few visit.

Its limestone rock formations rising from the waters, or marine “tsingies” typical of Madagascar, make Nosy Hara both exceptional and immediately recognizable. Located to the north-west of Madagascar, the island is a protected area due to its incredible biodiversity. It is a veritable open-air aquarium inhabited by around 280 marine species. The rocky columns edged with gorgeous white-sand and pebble beaches fading into shades of deep blue make an idyllic place cut off from the world. Succumb to the charms of this untouched jewel that will welcome you into its stunning decor for a special experience. This is an ideal location for snorkeling.

Nosy Be (from the Malagasy: Nosy meaning island and Be meaning large), in the Mozambique Channel, is located near the north-eastern coastlines of Madagascar. A former French protectorate, known under the promising name of “the scented island”, of volcanic origin, it is located on a maritime route with access to India and Asia. Cosmopolitan, a boulevard of encounters, its mixed-race and multicultural population still remembers its past as a significant trading post. Today, its 321 km² enchant lovers of nature and idyllic beaches. Its sumptuous primary forest is home to animals that are endemic to the island as well as surprising flora.