Mozambique Strait, Madagascar, Sep 2023

Mozambique Strait, Madagascar, Sep 2023

Tsingy National Park

We stayed in bungalows in the Kirindy Forest and watched the local wildlife. The island of Madagascar separated from the African continent millions of years ago. As a result, about 90% of all plants and animals on the island are endemic.

The fossa is the major predator on the island. They are elusive and we were very lucky to see it. This beautiful, cat-like animal stayed for a long time and allowed us to take a good number of photos.
The fossa is the major predator on the island. They are elusive and we were very lucky to see it. This beautiful, cat-like animal stayed for a long time and allowed us to take a good number of photos.
To see wild lemurs, we did not even need to leave the hotel’s dining area
To see wild lemurs, we did not even need to leave the hotel’s dining area
Stopping at the Avenue of the Baobabs one more time to watch the sunset
Stopping at the Avenue of the Baobabs one more time to watch the sunset

In the evening, we reached the coast where we spent two nights. After breakfast, everyone went to the beach for a long-awaited relaxation day.

The locals from the nearby village are pulling a fishing net out of the sea
The locals from the nearby village are pulling a fishing net out of the sea
The catch gets sorted right away. Jellyfish and other inedible fish are discarded. The long, thin, silvery fish called beltfish and it is considered a delicacy.
The catch gets sorted right away. Jellyfish and other inedible fish are discarded. The long, thin, silvery fish called beltfish and it is considered a delicacy.
We paid some small money to the women and they fried the freshly caught fish and prawns for us on an open fire right on the beach. This was the freshest seafood that I ever ate.
We paid some small money to the women and they fried the freshly caught fish and prawns for us on an open fire right on the beach. This was the freshest seafood that I ever ate.
We spent the entire day lazing on the beach without returning to the hotel for lunch. Water in the Mozambique Strait is cloudy and shallow, but it was nice to swim in it anyway and to watch the locals.
We spent the entire day lazing on the beach without returning to the hotel for lunch. Water in the Mozambique Strait is cloudy and shallow, but it was nice to swim in it anyway and to watch the locals.

Next morning, we took another dip in the Mozambique Strait. It was probably my last opportunity to do that. It is unlikely I will be coming back. After dinner, we went to the airport. The original plan was to fly Morondava – Antananarivo and Antananarivo – Toamasina on the same day. However, Madagascar Airlines rescheduled the second flight to an earlier time just before our arrival to the country. According to the new flight schedule, we were expected to leave Antananarivo before we got there from Morondava. Multiple email exchanges with the airline did not get us anywhere. They suggested to wait until the next available flight and no refund for the changed flight that we could not take.

On the plane to Antananarivo
On the plane to Antananarivo

Our tour operators handled the situation extremely well. They changed our itinerary on the fly and provided us with ground transportation to the east coast at no additional cost to us. The flight to Antananarivo was just 50 minutes, then a painfully slow bus ride to our next stop. It was midnight when we got there and it rained. The front door of the reception area was locked for the night. We waited outside for the receptionist to wake up and to give us the room keys. Dead tired and wet from the rain, we made our ways to the respective bungalows and fell into beds.

Madagascar East Coast

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