FLAGSHIP OF MADAGASCAR: THE TRAVELLER'S TREE "RAVINALA"

Madagascar is often called “the red island”, yet there are still many places where you can find green landscapes, especially the eastern part of the island. For christmas holidays, or just a private tour in Madagascar at any other time, it is great to discover new things you may have never seen. One of these discoveries is the “Ravinala”, the palm that is also called “the traveller’s tree”. “Ravinala” is its malagasy name meaning “leaves in the forest”. Despite its aspect, this is not a palm tree, but rather closer to banana tree.

Actually, the name given to this plant by the Western is that the leaf sheaths of the plant can retain water, which in an emergency could come to the rescue of a traveler dying of thirst. Despite of that, the water from the Ravinala is not advised to drink, without prior purification. The Ravinala will not be the only thing to discover in  this east part of Madagascar. It reserves many surprises and wonders regarding landscape. Your holiday photos will be more than nice, just good memories!

Even if the Ravinala can be found in some part of the world like in Mayotte, Guyana, or Martinique, come to Madagascar to see the malagasy “traveller’s tree” and also get the pleasure to explore this country, especially its east part. Your tour in Madagascar will be a great and unforgettable adventure.

AVENUE OF BAOBABS

Madagascar is a beautiful country, those who came here even just once can affirm that. Incredible places in this “red island” are to be visited absolutely, such as the Aisle of Baobabs. For a private tour or a memorable holiday, this place is the right one for nature lovers.The Aisle of Baobabs or Avenue of Baobabs is located in the west part of Madagascar, on the road from Belon'i Tsiribihina to Morondava. many tourists come there just to admire the beauty and wonders of this spot.

On the edge of the road, stands a dozen of the most majestic baobabs. These “bottle trees” offer a very spectacular view to visitors at dawn and dusk. From the top of their 30 meters, these giants dominate grass prairie.This beautiful landscape has been classified "national heritage" by the island authorities.The most beautiful species of Baobab are seen on this Aisle of Baobabs. By the way, the island has got 6 endemic species of Baobab.

These 8 centuries old trees are the subject of a cult in Madagascar.On the down side of National Highway No. 35 , is "the sacred baobab."  You may see some people regularly come to lay at her feet offerings in honor of their ancestors. In the alley of baobabs are a series of Baobab  entwined which the inhabitants of the island give the name of "lover Baobab”. Many people believe that they bring luck to couples who come to rest at their feet.

Holidays spent in madagascar will be a new discovery, an unforgetable tour that you have never had. Come whenever! Discover the Aisle of Baobabs during your safari in this island.

BILL GATES IN MADAGASCAR

Many famous people have already come to Madagascar, for private tours may be, or for other reason, but for sure, they must have made a little safari before leaving the island. That what happened in november.

The news come go fast as thunder in the famous town of Fort-dauphin in the afternoon of 21 november. The  private jet of the well-known business man Bill Gates landed at the airport. The billionaire was with members of his family in this jet. Nobody could believe it in the capital of Madagascar. It seems so incredible that the Microsoft giant, one of the richest and most influential man in the world would ever set foot in Madagascar.

Actually, he was really in Fort-dauphin, even though just for a while. The famous Bill gates planned to visit Berenty, a site located at 86 km west of Fort-dauphin.It is natural reserve that covers 250 ha in order to discover fauna and flora typical of southern Madagascar.

On the road leading to the reserve, a discovery trail to enjoy the scenery and lush vegetation of Anosy  aws offered to the Gates family.

After admiring the river Mandrare and lemurs in Berenty, Bill Gates and his entourage did not stay in the area. They then flew to join another tourist site, one of the most beautiful areas of the country: Anjajavy. Away from prying eyes, Bill Gates and his family have therefore used the idyllic landscape of the peninsula Anjajavy. Located 120km north of Mahajanga, this unique site in the world is only accessible by air. This site is the botanists’ favorite and these botanists are from the 4 corners of the world, just because there are 1,800 plant species protected in a nature reserve of 450ha in this site.

November is the most favorable months to see wildlife, including the Sifaka and birds on the peninsula, and this visit seemed to be planned by Bill Gates in order to discover Madagascar in its most beautiful state.

The Microsoft boss was conquered by the beauty of what he has seen, come for a private tour in Madagascar; you will not be disappointed at all! It is an island of wonders.

PRIVATE PARK OF IVOLOINA

A lot of  people have already heard about Madagascar and its beauty, and many have already had the chance to see this island of wonders. For special holidays in Madagascar, it is a great idea to visit Ivoloina park, a place that will please you that you will want to get back there someday.

In a big forest station 12 km from Toamasina, you will discover some wonderful things in the heart of the forest. On the way to Ivoloina, you will see an incredible landscape that is breathtaking. If you get there, prepare yourself to sommunicate with nature, forget about all your stress, you are in holidays and you will leave Madagascar with a great memory. Actually, this is a botanical park and a zoo. A park that covers 282 ha, this place has gathered the animals which are confiscated by the government because of smuggling. These are lemurs, tortoises, reptiles, and they are captive.Some of these are also species that are endangered, the Prolemur simusare among that.

If you are those people who like staying up at night, you can meet many nocturnal lemurs such as Aye Aye, Microcèbus the smallest specie of lemur, and other lemurs, and red frogs. Just do not forget to bring you torch to have the pleasure to see their faces.

If you are ready for an adventure in a beatiful place, you will not be disapointed, as you will discover many things in a park like Ivoloina. You may want to visit Madagascar for a tour guide next time, you may want to visit another place, but Ivoloina will be an unforgetable memory for you, this place is so incredibly beautiful!

SUNNY AND WONDERFUL BEACH FOR CHRISTMAS

What about getting rid of the same old routine we’re used to living with? Christmas and the New Year are coming, these are indeed good occasion to leave in holidays in a good, sunny, tropical country and forget about snow and its frizzing breeze.

Let us introduce you a new destination which we think helps lots of travellers to find their happiness: Madagascar.

Madagascar is the fourth biggest island in the world and nicknamed as the eight continents or the continent-island. Located about 400 km from the big Africa, the big island is somehow spoiled by nature. Indeed, apart from the several species of Fauna and flora which are mostly endemic to the island such as the Lemurs, Geckoes, Butterflies, Frogs, Birds, Chameleons, Orchids, Palms (ravinala) and the great Baobabs, Madagascar is also gifted by some 5000 km of beautiful whitened wild beaches. From South to the North or East to the West, wherever you’ll go to, your trip will end by a marvellous wild beach.

In the North of Madagascar, after a long tour inland, travellers can spend some couples of days in some sea resorts like, Nosy Be and its archipelago (Nosy Komba, Nosy Iranja, Nosy Sakatia…) which is now recognised by the world as one of the most wonderful sea spot in the planet. Lots of interesting maritime activities are practised in these places such as Fishing, Surfing, Kite surf, wind surf, diving and scuba… This is in order to satisfy all kind of travellers.

In the South, after a long route along the famous national 7, travellers will have couple of choices to beautifully end their trip. At Anakao which is a peninsula at some minute boat from Tulear, white sandy beach, with fewer fishier men villages, perfect for diving. At Ifaty, the Laguna is just perfect for a farniente and relax. About a couple of hours from Tulear, Northward, one would enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches in Madagascar if not in the world: Salary, Ankasy, Ampasilava and Andavadoaka. 

In the East, travellers can enjoyes some unforgettable stay at the Island of the Pirates, Nosy Boraha or Sainte-Marie. That islet is recognized by the beauty of its seascapes and its colourful fishes that reign under the water. But from July till September, Sainte-Marie is just the perfect places for people who want to observe the Cetaceans and enjoye a Whale Safari. Indeed, these big mammals give birth in the warm Indian Ocean in these periods and provide some marvellous, incomparable moments to travellers when the Mothers teach their baby whales to jump over the sea. For information, it’s possible to get closer to enjoy the spectacle.

In the West of the island, after discovering one of the Wonders of the world (the Avenue of the Baobabs and the Tsingy of Bemaraha), travellers can go to Kimony beach which is the most frequented beach in that part. Just perfect for a farniente and relax.

A discovery travel in Madagascar cann’t just be performed without finishing at one of these places and is not complete unless you discover one of them...

The whole team of Lulu Tours Madagascar is hoping that this article will help you decide on where you should go this coming Christmas and welcome 2015!

MADAGASCAR at I.O.R.A or Indian Rim Association

On the 20th of  November 2014, Madagascar joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association in Seychelles. This year the main theme was "Tourism & Travel in IORA" during the ministerial meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Malagasy delegation led by the Minister of Tourism, RAMANANTSOA Ramarcel Benjamina has been in Seychelles for 2 days to attend the meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to share knowledges and information that will contribute significantly to the future growth of the tourism industry in the Member States of the IORA.

In fact, "the vision expressed by the Head of State in January 2014, resulted in the EMP is to make tourism a key sector for economic growth, inclusive development and the fight against poverty.

The ministerial meeting discussed the outlook for emerging markets and the need for networking to increase competitiveness and market promotion "tourism and travel" in the Indian Ocean.

Other topics were discussed, such as the maximization of regional development through sustainable tourism, green tourism, bridging the gap between tourism policies and aviation, air connectivity between the islands and tourism development cruise in the Indian Ocean.

Madagascar currently has document recovery of this sector that the Ministry of Tourism officially presented in July. Driving in consultation, and an interdepartmental approach, it aims to provide better service to users.

People working in the field of tourism will have better work conditions, according to the expectations and needs of the sector. Many conditions are necessary to ensure the quality, employment and tourism development in Madagascar.

Thus, the Ministry of Tourism increases cooperation with partners and other countries to implement the guidelines of this strategy. That was one reason why Madagascar took part in this ministerial meeting IORA. Tourism agents like Tours operators, Travel agencies, Hotels, restarants and others, in the continent-island just hope that positive results will be generated by that meeting to bring high the Tourism in Madagascar.

NATIONAL PARK OF ANKARAFANTSIKA

Life should be full of fun, it is so good to feel alive! Discoveries of new place and trips make life more exciting. For a private tour in Madagascar, a park located in the west part of this country is an interesting destination: Ankarafantsika. Acually, it is 450 from Antananarivo the capital, and 114 km from Mahajanga. A wide park that covers 135 000 ha. Ankarafantsika has its wonders and treasures, only waiing for people to discover.

For those who like camping and sleeping under stars, it is the right place! Ankarafantsika is also for those who love trekking, it is the best place for that! If you are those bight owls, you can have night tours to encounter nocturnal animals such as lemurs or other animals that may impress you. During the night and in the dawn, you will hear these animals shrieking everywhere, you will have free ticket for a free show! Just listen and guess who’s making noise!

In fact, this park is sheltering the smallest species of lemur in the world, the Microcebus that is typically nocturanl, but you may meet them by chance in the daylight. Prepare your feet for a trekking if you want to discover all the beauiful things in this park, and do not forget to bring camera! Lemurs like Dredrika,  Matavirambo are found there. These are endemic species of lemurs. I is very probable that you will meet the Acrantophis madagascariensis or “Do” in Malagasy, a snake having a length of up to 3 m. Many species of birds are also living in this area, and some of them are endemic species.

Apart from animals, many species of plants and trees are found in the park. The bottle trees or Baobab, ebony tree, and many interesting trees can be found in Ankarafantsika. your choice to come there will not be a mistake, but just the right one!

AMBOHIMANGA HILL, WORLD WONDER OF UNESCO

Do you want to have fun and learn about Madagascar history at the same time? Antananarivo is the best place for you to visit. It is the capital of Madagascar. For an unforgetable holiday, Antananarivo or Tanà is waiting for you, the town of many surprises and discoveries! If you want to learn about some histories of Madagascar, it is the right place to visit, as it the place where malagasy civilisation was actually born.

Let us explore a little bit a very special place located in Tanà. At about 24 km from Tanà is located Ambohimanga, one of the 12 sacred hills that surround this big capital. The name “Ambohimanga “means “the blue hill”, it was the ancient city of a powerful kingdom. For a strategic reason it’s located on the top of the hill, so that people can see it from all the villages around. You will learn more about the history if you get there, many things of a great wonder that cannot all be told with words, your eyes need to see to enjoy it!

Ambohimanga is a sacred place, people go there on pilgrimage and for cult or just for a visit and the intake of porks is highly forbidden since it is considered as a “dirty” and profanatory animal. This is an important detail for all the people who want to get there. This place is a royal burial site that is why some people come there to ask blessing from ancestors, that is for some Malagasy people who believe that died kings and queens bless those who worship them. This place is classified as one of Unesco world heritage. If you ever come to the “blue hill” you will be amazed, surprised. This is of course a non missable excursion while travelling in Madagascar.