The North of Madagascar is wonderfully varied and allows people to see a huge diversity of scenery and wildlife in relatively short distances.

The main town in the North, Diego-Suarez (Antsiranana), is the starting point for most and from there heading south you will firstly encounter the lush rainforest of Montagne D’Ambre National Park, the country’s first national park. It’s a real gem being one of the most visitor friendly places on the island.

A further few hours south you will find Ankarana National Park which is made up of dry deciduous forest, labyrinths of caves and, most famous of all, the limestone ‘tsingy’ formations.

After anything from 4-6 nights taking in these national parks, most will finish by visiting one or several of the dozens of islands spread along the northwest coastline. These offer idyllic beaches, opportunities to dive and snorkel, and many watersports including fishing and sailing. Some islands have protected forests full of wildlife and, in season, dolphins, whales, manta rays, turtles and whale sharks can all be seen.