Madagascar Classic Camping (MCC) at Mandrare River
Located near the Southern tip of Madagascar, a 4 hour drive from Fort Dauphin, Madagascar Classic Camping’s Mandrare River Camp offers both nature and culture, in a stunning locale. This is a true luxury camping experience, with strong attention to local culture and ecotourism. As you fly down the haut plateau and into the town of Fort Dauphin, the mountains covered in verdant rainforest contrast magnificently with pure white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Landing in this tropical seaside town you continue eastwards to the giant sand dunes of Lac Anony and on still further into the spiny desert to your camp on the banks of the mighty Mandrare River.

The camp is set in the shade of Tamarind Trees, a strand of deciduous gallery forest in an area predominantly covered by spiny forest and sisal. You won’t appreciate the true beauty of the site until the following morning when the sun rises over the distant mountains sending soft orange light across the river to the camp. You will awake to the sound of the local Antandroy tribe singing as they fetch water from the river, or the morning calls of the Coucal and Crested Drongo.

Set in the grounds of an old colonial plantation house, the camp is just 3km from the village of Ifotaka and opposite the sacred ancestral forests of the Antandroy Tribe. Descend a few steps to a large sandy beach and a purpose built terrace right on the river's edge. Sit back, relax and watch the many goings on in and around the Mandrare River, the lifeblood of this otherwise dry region.

The six tents are generously spread out high up on the shady river bank, all with views across the tranquil water and the mountains beyond. In the evening a trip to the beach with a pair of binoculars or with our astronomy telescope quickly reveals that there is no light pollution here.  Being hundreds of km’s from the nearest big city, the stars fill the night sky and you can spend hours gazing up to the heavens in awe. This area is home to the Antandroy tribe, regarded by many as the fiercest and most traditional in Madagascar. The mainstay of the Antandroy is Zebu herding with some subsistence agriculture of Sorghum and Cassava; they, like all Malagasy, are a proud people steeped in traditions of ancestor worship and Fady (taboo’s) with a fascinating culture and social structure.

Staying with MCC in the Ifotaka area you will have the opportunity to see first hand the life of the Antandroy and experience this rich culture. By protecting the Sacred Forests, where the Antandroy ancestors rest in their ornate tombs, the tribe have managed to preserve large pristine wildlife areas and through the traditions of Fady they not only protect but seem to genuinely live in harmony with their environment.

The Sacred Forests of Ifotaka harbour a great diversity of wildlife. Present are both the Southern Spiny Forests (Spiny Desert) and the Deciduous Gallery Forests. Day and night walks will allow you to see both forests in detail and the particular wildlife that lives in them. There are 4 species of lemur: Ring Tailed, Verreaux’s Sifaka, Mouse and White Foot Sportive (both nocturnal).

The birding is exceptional with at least 15 resident species in camp and many more in the surrounding wooded areas, including Scops Owl, Malachite Kingfisher, Verreaux’s Coua and many raptors (a species list is available on request).

Culture of the Ancestors
Ancestor worship is the most important part of Malagasy Culture and permeates all areas of daily life. When a member of the Antandroy tribe dies their body remains on display at the family house for several days. All the important relatives take this time to travel from near and far to pay their respects.  The body is then taken for burial in a predestined tomb deep in the heart of the sacred forest. This part of the forest has many tombs, some a big as 20m2 and each individually decorated with something pertaining to the deceased’s favourite activities or interests. When the burial takes place Zebu (African cattle) are slaughtered and the skulls set to decorate the tomb.  The more Zebu skulls on each tomb, the more wealthy and important the person was. Your guide will walk with you through the sacred forests to find the tombs. A local Antandroy guide will also accompany you explaining all of the traditions and rituals associated with their ancestors and the sacred forests. He will also take you to his own ancestor's tombs, providing a unique and personal insight to the historical culture of the Antandroy tribe.

Important, please note:

• A 30% deposit is required to secure your booking.
• Due to the rainy and cyclone season the camp will not operate between 05JAN to 31MAR unless by special request. MCC reserves the right to alter itineraries should adverse weather conditions make it unsafe to operate the camp.
• Laundry facilities are not available in camp
• French Champagne is available on request and subject to stocks, payable locally (please pre-order).
• The minimum stay at MCC is 3 nights.
• Please bring rubber shoes and hiking boots. Rubber shoes are necessary for crossing the Mandrare river.

Nahampoana Reserve
This reserve is situated 7 km to the north of Fort Dauphin (about 15 minutes by road). This 67 ha park has four species of habituated lemurs, Ring-tailed, Red-fronted Brown, Bamboo as well as the dancing lemur, Verreaux’s Sifaka; Radiated Tortoise (Geochelone radiata); chameleons and some birds. This reserve is a botanical garden where you will also see some of the natural vegetation of the dry south-west and the Intermediate Zone. Examples of these include the Octopus tree (Didierea madagascariensis), species of Euphorbia, the Madagascar Triangulate Palm (Neodypsis decaryii), the Traveller’s Palm (Ravinalia madagascariensis) and species of Pachypodium.  In the forest there are waterfalls and natural swimming pools offering quiet and secluded picnic sites. One can also do a short excursion by pirogue through the mangroves.

Itinerary (5 nights)

DAY 1: Depart from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport and fly to Fort Dauphin (Taolagnaro), on the far south-east coast of Madagascar. On arrival you will be met by the representative of Air Fort Services and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon an excursion to the Nahampoana Reserve offering many photo opportunities of the lemurs. Overnight stay at the La Croix du Sud Hotel (Dinner, bed and breakfast).

La Croix du Sud ***
This is a new hotel in Fort Dauphin. There are 20 rooms built in a semi circle around the pretty garden. The rooms are spacious with air-conditioning, standing fan, TV, fridge and modern bathroom with shower and toilet. In each bedroom there is an alcove with a couch and chairs. The restaurant is nearby and there will a car available to take residents to the Libanona beach. There are standard rooms have bathroom with showers and can accommodate 3 people. The upper rooms have a bathroom with bath tub and terrace and take up to 2 people only. On the mezzanine level there are bigger rooms taking up to 4 people with bath tub and private balconies. Please note that for all meals you should walk to the Hotel Dauphin (next door).

DAY 2: You will be collected by the representative of Madagascar Classic Camping (MCC). You will be heading west towards the town of Ambosary in a 4x4 vehicle. Shortly after the town of Ambosary you will turn south through the Sisal plantations to Lac Anony (approximately 2 ½hrs). After a shaded picnic lunch by the lake shore you continue to the southern end of the lake to marvel at the enormous dunes, some 70ft high. A large variety of aquatic birdlife can be seen in and around the lake, with Flamingos in September and October. The dunes are magnificent and the view at the back of the dunes is just breath taking, miles and miles of completely un-spoilt beach with beautiful water and waves. Back in your vehicle for the final 1¾ hour drive to the camp. Approximate time of arrival at the camp is 5pm.  After settling into your tent you will gather for canapés and sparkling wine. A traditional group from the nearby village perform Antandroy music and dance around the campfire before dinner. Overnight at the MCC Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Madagascar Classic Camping ****
Each of the Canvas Tents are 9m long and 3.3m wide, with extra large insect mesh roof vents and side windows, to allow maximum ventilation in our hot and dry climate. The main bedroom area can be fully zipped up to prevent any unwanted tiny nocturnal visitors. Sleep in luxury 4-poster beds with white mosquito-net curtains; 1 large double or 2 single beds depending on your request. The tents were hand made to specifications in South Africa and are designed to withstand the daily stresses of our rugged local environment. Inside the main Inner tent (5.4m x 3.3m) there is a canvas covered wardrobe, dressing table with mirror, bedside tables with lamps and a large baggage trunk. Each tent has a private veranda with 2 comfortable canvas safari chairs and a drinks table; a great place to sit and relax away from the midday sun or with a gin & tonic in the evenings.There is electric lighting in every tent, two bedside lamps and a main bathroom light, all run from our solar charged batteries. The bathroom section is attached to the rear of the tent and includes a shower area, chemical toilet and wash stand with basin. Hot water for the basin is provided in the morning and evenings and the hot bucket showers are ready after your sundowners or delivered on demand.

Day 3: After a breakfast of eggs, bacon, freshly baked Croissants and Pain au Chocolate, you will head for the sacred forests and ancient tombs across the river. The car trip to the Ifotoka village where you will cross the river takes a about 20 minutes. In the forest your guides will explain the culture of ancestor worship and may show you how to use a Piletse, the traditional Antandroy slingshot. Return to camp and relax before a sumptuous BBQ lunch. Mid afternoon you drive to a local village to experience a traditional ‘Ringa’ competition. This Antandroy form of wrestling is a deeply proud and historical tradition.  Some participants walk for up to 2 days from outlying villages to compete. This is an activity which the contestants take seriously, and although injuries are rare, they may occur from time to time so it is not advised for children. After the Ringa we take a night walk looking for Mouse and Sportive lemurs then drive back to the camp for dinner. Overnight stay at the MCC Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

Day 4: An early start takes us to nearby Gallery forests with excellent Sifaka and Ring Tailed Lemur populations, as well as great birding. Then back to camp for a late breakfast. The remainder of the morning is at leisure to go bird watching along the river, sit in the hammock reading a book.  The more energetic may like visit a local market or school. After a barbeque lunch is served in camp, the afternoon is spent exploring nearby spiny forests for more lemur sightings and bird watching. After dinner a step down to the beach with a pair of binoculars or with the astronomy telescope. Being hundreds of km’s from the nearest big city there is zero light pollution. Overnight  at the MCC Camp on a fully inclusive basis.

DAY 5: Transfer to Fort Dauphin and check in for your flight to Antananarivo. Transfer to the Palissandre Hotel & Spa (B&B).

DAY 6: Transfer to the airport and check in for your flight to Johannesburg.

Pricing include
International (departure from Johannesburg with Air Madagascar) and internal Malagasy flights, all accommodation and meals as indicated, all excursions with car and driver, guides in the reserves, entry permits and all airport-hotel transfers.

Does Not include
Meals not indicated, drinks, tips to guides, porters, etc., any personal expenses, travel insurance, airport taxes and visa fees.

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Below is an approximate price per person sharing (October 2009)

±Euro2350

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