Masoala Forest Lodge

Masoala Forest Lodge sits inside the coastal rainforest of the Masoala Peninsula, a region that carries one of the largest continuous tracts of lowland rainforest left in Madagascar. The lodge is accessible only by boat — from the water, the canopy closes over it so completely that the camp is nearly invisible from the sea. Pierre and Maria Bester built it over two decades.

Seven rooms are traditional canvas tents raised on stilted timber decks within the forest canopy, each looking out through the trees directly onto the beach below. Gauze windows on both sides of each tent catch the breeze off the ocean and through the forest, acting as natural ventilation. Each room has an en suite bathroom with shower and a private deck or verandah.

The main activities run into the forest and onto the water. Guides lead walks through primary and coastal littoral forest — by day for endemic wildlife, by night for nocturnal lemurs, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Pirogues go out on the Tampolo River into the forest, or offshore at sunset. Sea kayaks reach hidden coves and mangrove rivers along the coast. Snorkelling is available at several points, including one directly in front of the lodge. Whale watching is also possible from the coast.

A short excursion reaches the nearby village of Ambodiforaha, home to the Betsimisaraka community, where visitors can meet local people through music, dance, food, and agriculture. The lodge has a communal dining area, a library, and battery charging facilities.