The Lodge
Barefoot Luxury in a hidden and unspoiled place
The lodge is designed as an eco-haven to touch lightly on earth and allow an intimate experience of this unique environment and all the diverse species that call it home.
Accessible only be foot or by boat, with a maximum capacity of just 14 guests, the lodge is a haven of tranquillity.
Your Adventure Begins…
Your journey begins with a flight to the small town of Maroantsetra where you board the motorboat for the exciting voyage across Antongil Bay, a World Heritage Site and breeding ground for humpback whales, to the Masoala Peninsula.
Once landed in the warm coral rich waters of our bay, you are free to explore the lodge…
- A 10 hectare private forest reserve makes up part of the lodge grounds. This gives us the advantage of offering night walks (usually banned in Madagascar's National Parks) which gives our guests the chance of spotting nocturnal wildlife, such as Mouse lemurs, Leaf-tail geckos or even Aye-Aye. During the day you are likely to see White-fronted Brown, Woolly Lemurs and many of an amazing variety of birds seen in the reserve.
- Night walks offer an exciting opportunity to spot Masoala's nocturnal wildlife.
- A network of clearly marked trails makes it easy to explore the forest at your leisure stopping to take photographs along the way, without the company of a guide. Again this is an exclusive privilege of the private reserve and not one you will find in Madagascar's National Parks.
- The seven palm thatched tree-houses are elevated on stilted wooden platforms, to provide uninterrupted views of forest canopy and sea and allowing visitors to experience the forest from the perspective of the lemurs and birds. This elevation from the undergrowth is also luxurious and maximizes privacy and natural ventilation from all sides.
- It's really hard to capture how beautifully the tree-houses are located, literally with your feet in the water. Between the bungalow and the calm sea is only a few metres of beach, depending on the tide.
- In the night you fall asleep to the sounds of the waves splashing gently onto the shore and the noises of the forest; the chirping of insects and tree frogs and the breeze whispering through the palms on the beach.
- In the morning you awaken to the song of the birds around you and the soothing sounds of ocean waves lapping on the beach.
- Using fast-growing indigenous Ravenala and Raffia palm, bamboo and sustainable indigenous timber, the tree-houses are inspired by the traditional designs of the local Betsimisaraka tribe in design and construction, with steep thatched roofs to aid in the run-off of rainwater and allow for the natural cooling of the internal spaces.
- Natural lighting and ventilation has been elegantly provided by the exclusion of exterior walls and the inclusion of a canvas and mesh inner tent, creating a bug free and private sanctuary that is extremely energy efficient. All creature comforts are provided without excess.
- The private en-suite bathroom facilities are complete with hot water.
- A hammock to admire the view.
- Enjoy a quiet drink and the view of the beach beneath the shade of your tree-house.
- The beach is less than a stone throw from your treehouse tent and the water is safe and perfect for all ages to enjoy.
- The two communal areas known as 'The Beach House' and 'The Sea Deck' are also stilted, thatched and open-plan, providing natural lighting and ventilation in a minimalist and energy-efficient style.
- The beach house, with views over the beach and Antongil Bay, serves as a communal dining, lounge and bar area.
- Guests can relax with a book or connect to the outside world if required.
- Our bar is fully stocked with delicious wines and refreshing beverages.
- Guests dine on wholesome three course meals which are catered to all tastes, with organic produce from the lodge gardens and fresh rainforest fruits and seafood provided by the local community.
- In 2015, we challenged (Craig Cormack, acclaimed South African chef and restaurant owner) to the task of training our chefs and kitchen staff and to create a variety of new dishes using locally available ingredients.
- Craig's visit was a huge success. Current guest favorites include octopus salad, vanilla-corn soup, homemade gnocchi in a fresh lemon and cream sauce, freshly caught bonito in caper sauce, and chocolate mousse with caramelized bananas.
- So when you come back from your morning walk in the forest or from discovering the beautiful coastline in our sea kayaks, you have something else to look forward to – a delicious homemade meal prepared by our chefs, with all the best ingredients that the forest and the sea can offer!
- ...and friendly and warm service!
- After dinner drinks around a campfire on the beach.
- The sea deck is spectacularly sited on the rocks overhanging the sea, with wrap around views of the sea and forested coastline and the fish below.
- Here guests can relax and take in the view of rainforest as it meets the sea...take a good book along... or roll out one of the available yoga mats for a yoga session with a sea view.
- It is the best lookout area for whale spotting.
- This deck provides a venue for breakfasts, the daily “tea-time” and sundowners.
- Breakfast always includes fresh rainforest fruits provided by the local community.
- Snacks, fruit juice, local teas and infusions from the rainforest and locally grown and roasted coffee are always available.
- As well as deliciously fresh wood-oven baked bread!
- Every day guests gather on the Sea Deck at tea time.
- Sundowners is a special time at Masoala Forest Lodge - especially when enjoyed from the Sea Deck.
- View of the Sea Deck at night.
- A candlelit dinner as the sun goes down.
- As part of our sustainable work and community upliftment programme, we invited South African Beauty Therapist Sue Retallack to train four of the Masoala Forest Lodge team in massage therapy.
- The Masoala Spa tent is located on one of the private lodge beaches and offers uninterrupted views over the beach and the sea. Close your eyes and let the sound of the waves lapping the shore wash over you as our privately trained masseuse provides a choice of three relaxing massages using coconut oil harvested and made at the lodge