The Anjajavy Private Nature Reserve
The Anjajavy private nature reserve is found on a small fishing peninsular that is located in the north western part of Madagascar. It is found in a very remote area and it has a beautiful view that can be enjoyed by the different people who come to Madagascar for their own holidays that is honeymoons, getaways, work holidays, relaxing and others.
Activities that can be carried out in Anjajavy Reserve
There are various activities that can be carried out in the Anjajavy Nature Reserve and these include the following:
Cultural visit to the locals
The local people who live in the area were the Reserve is located are…. And they have quite a unique culture that you would not want to miss out on knowing. They also have a lot of souvenirs that you can buy from them at an extremely cheap price, get to taste the local food and enjoy folk songs that are sung for the children by their parents in the evening. You will also be able to participate in the fishing process with the locals and get cute clothes that are hand designed by the locals and also get to mix with them to know more about their lifestyle.
There are two villages that you can visit so as to get to know the local people and these include the Amodro Ampasy village and the Anjajavy village. The best time to visit the Anjajavy village is on Sundays where you will be able to engage in the market day that is conducted under a mango tree every morning. You can use any available means of transport like road or water so that you get to meet these local people.
The Amodro Ampasy village can be visited any day and here you will be able to mix with a lot of local of people, get to visit the NGO schools and Dispensary that has greatly improved the education in the area and you can buy the crafts that are sold by the locals as the money got from these crafts is used to develop the village.
Birding
For all those that enjoy birding, the reserve has unique bird species that might interest you. The different bird species that can be seen in the reserve include the kingfisher, the sacred Ibis, the Madagascan harrier hawk, the paradise birds and many more others.
Lemur tracking
The lemur is the most famous primate in Madagascar and it can be seen in the various mangrove forests that can be found in the area. Trekking of lemurs in the reserve is mostly done in the morning in the months of October and December and the trekking is done using clearly marked trek trails and with the help of an experienced tour guide to take you through the reserve.
Wildlife viewing
There are various wild life that can be seen in the Reserve which include the Lemurs, the Fossa which is known to be the largest carnivore animal in Madagascar that preys on the Lemur, frogs, snakes, chameleons, different species of lizards and many more others.
The Reserve in 2018 introduced the Giant tortoise species which has been extinct for more than 750 years. The Giant tortoise scientific ally known as the Aldabrachelys gigantea is still leaving in captive mode in the reserve but will later on be re-introduced so that they are free to roam around their habitat. These can be seen when you visit the caves that are found in the reserve and the coconut grove where they are being kept at the moment. Do not miss this chance to see the extinct tortoise with your eyes by visiting the reserve.
Trekking
Trekking in the reserve is mostly done when one has a final destination where they want to go within the reserve. You can go a nature walk, wildlife viewing walk, village trek and other fun filled treks. Some of the treks that you can take while on a visit to the reserve include:
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A trek to the Sakalava cave
The Sakalava cave is found deep within the reserve and you can first use a car but the rest of the journey is always done on foot. The inside of the caves has stalagmites and stalactites that you do not want to miss and the most interesting bit about them is that locals always attach spiritual stories to them.
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A trek to the creek
Anjajavy is located on a peninsular and has various creeks and you will be able to trek from one creek to the next and enjoy all that nature has to offer. You can also have your packed lunch from here or a picnic with your family and mostly for those who live their privacy.
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A trek through the Baobabs
The trek through the baobab trees which are referred to as the crab highway and it is an exciting trek that can be taken by both the children and the old. Through this route you will be able to see the different bird species, limestone caves and you end your trek with a fishing expedition.
Take a botany class
For all those who love plants this is the best to visit due to the various unique plants that are found in the area. The Reserve is filled with over 13000 plant species which can be seen in the various parts of the reserve and these act as habitation grounds for the various wild life that is found in the Reserve. It also has numerous species of flowers and these add on the beauty of the Park as they come in different shades of color.
The Reserve is also filed with mangrove forests and baobab trees which can be seen as you trek through the reserve.
Transportation to the Anjajavy nature Reserve
The reserve is located in a very remote area and the best way to get there is by using air transportation. There is a light aircraft that is used to transport tourists from the capital city of Madagascar to the Reserve and this makes several trips to and from the Reserve. The standard time taken on this flight is 40 minutes to one hour.
When you get to the reserve you can use cars for your game drive but the best way to enjoy the wild that it has to offer is by trekking. The trekking will be done with the help of a tour guide and you will get to see and feel the wild of Madagascar and also get to take as many photographs as you want.
When to visit the Private Nature Reserve
The when question is always connected to the different activities that one wants to do when they visit the Reserve.
For those that love birding, the best time to visit the reserve is between the months of November and December since most of them can be seen during the rainy season.
Game viewing in the Reserve can best be done between the months of July and October and it is the peak season for the reserve and this is because during the months of May and June, the wild life is always hard to spot.
For all those that love Lemur trekking, the best months are October and November. Since most baby lemurs are born in the month of October, you will be able to see various lemurs during this month jumping from one tree to the next.
Amphibian watching can be done in the months of November and December due to the rains that are received in the area. Amphibians become more active especially when there are rains and most of them can be seen at night.
The months of January to March are not recommended due to the Fact that there are heavy rains during this period and the country receives cyclones which might end up being harmful to visitors. If it is possible wait until these months are over and then plan your visit to the Reserve.
Accommodation facilities in Anjajavy private Reserve
The Anjajavy Nature reserve has one accommodation facility that can be used by the different tourists and this is the Anjajavy hotel. The Hotel has wonderful gardens that can enjoy from the comfort of your room which is self-contained and has a private balcony.
The Hotel has over 24 villas all facing the beach, the rooms are spacious and decorated uniquely to give each room a uniqueness of its own and they have free WIFI and air conditioning in each room. The Hotel also has a restaurant where they provide tasty local Malagasy food and the food can be served anywhere of your convenience like the gardens, terrace or the beach given the weather is appropriate. Unlike other hotels around Madagascar, these allow for the easy stay of children as they have family rooms, there is a swimming pool where you can easily relax from and you get to enjoy all the beach activities that you can think of.