Ambilobe

On the banks of the Mahavavy River, in the northeast part of the island, is Ambilobe, a bustling town in the Mahavavey Valley and strategic transport hub for onward connections to the north and east coast. While in Ambilobe, pay a visit to the vibrant market, where you can see local life in action. Admire local handicrafts and travel to the outskirts for the sacred waterfall and sugar cane plantations. Ambilobe also serves as a superb starting point to Ankarana National Park, a striking natural beauty comparable to nowhere else on earth. It is largely covered with eroded limestone karsts that make up a dramatic sea of rocky spikes known as ‘tsingy’, alternated with lush rainforest, sacred caves, and rushing rivers. This stony wilderness is a sanctuary for some of the planet’s rarest and most endangered species, including various species of lemurs.