MCC : DESTINATIONS MANDRARE RIVER CAMP

Set in the grounds of an old colonial plantation house, the camp is just 3km from the village of Ifotaka and opposite the sacred ancestral forests of the Antandroy Tribe. Descend a few steps to a large sandy beach and a purpose built terrace right on the river's edge. Sit back, relax and watch the many goings on in and around the Mandrare River, the lifeblood of this otherwise dry region.

Our six tents are generously spread out high up on the shady river bank, all with views across the tranquil water and the mountains beyond. In the evening a trip to the beach with a pair of binoculars or with our astronomy telescope quickly reveals that there is no light pollution here. Being hundreds of km’s from the nearest big city, the stars fill the night sky and you can spend hours gazing up to the heavens in awe. This area is home to the Antandroy tribe, regarded by many as the fiercest and most traditional in Madagascar. The mainstay of the Antandroy is Zebu herding with some subsistence agriculture of Sorghum and Cassava; they, like all Malagasy, are a proud people steeped in traditions of ancestor worship and Fady (taboo’s) with a fascinating culture and social structure.

Located near the Southern tip of Madagascar, just 3½ hrs drive from Fort Dauphin, Madagascar Classic Camping’s Mandrare River Camp offers both nature and culture, in a stunning locale. This is a true luxury camping experience, with strong attention to local culture and ecotourism. As you fly down the haut plateau and into the town of Fort Dauphin, the mountains covered in verdant rainforest contrast magnificently with pure white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean. Landing in this tropical seaside town you continue eastwards to the giant sand dunes of Lac Anony and on still further into the spiny desert to your camp on the banks of the mighty Mandrare River.

The camp is set in the shade of Tamarind Trees, a strand of deciduous gallery forest in an area predominantly covered by spiny forest and sisal. You won’t appreciate the true beauty of the site until the following morning when the sun rises over the distant mountains sending soft orange light across the river to the camp. You will awake to the sound of the local Antandroy tribe singing as they fetch water from the river, or the morning calls of the Coucal and Crested Drongo.

Staying with MCC in the Ifotaka area you will have the opportunity to see first hand the life of the Antandroy and experience this rich culture. By protecting the Sacred Forests, where the Antandroy ancestors rest in their ornate tombs, the tribe have managed to preserve large pristine wildlife areas and through the traditions of Fady they not only protect but seem to genuinely live in harmony with their environment.

The Sacred Forests of Ifotaka harbour a great diversity of wildlife. Present are both the Southern Spiny Forests (Spiny Desert) and the Deciduous Gallery Forests. Day and night walks will allow you to see both forests in detail and the particular wildlife that lives in them. There are 4 species of lemur: Ring Tailed, Verreuxs Sifaka, Mouse and White Foot Sportive (both nocturnal). We also believe we have seen a 5th species on the Western edge of its range and are planning a survey with a naturalist to confirm this. The birding is exceptional with at least 15 resident species in camp and many more in the surrounding wooded areas, including Scops Owl, Malachite Kingfisher, Verreaux’s Coua and many raptors (a species list is available on request). Although we have a 3-night minimum stay policy we strongly recommend 4 nights to all clients. If the culture, scenery and wildlife aren’t enough to keep you here indefinitely, our head chef Patrick’s fresh pain au chocolate or ‘Magret de Canard’ will make sure you never want to leave!