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 Newsletter May 2009 |
www.remoterivers.com
Chez Maggie Hotel
Morondava, Madagascar
www.chezmaggie.com
|
May 2009
Madagascar NewsCyclone FaneleOn January 21, 2009 Cyclone Fanele struck the west coast of Madagascar with extreme fury and power. In Morondava many homes were destroyed but thankfully there were no severe injuries. At the Chez Maggie we were hit with 200 - 280 km / hr winds for over 9 hours! There was extensive damage to the gardens and roofs hotel but all the staff was safe and we suffered no real structural damage. We're happy to report that repairs are complete and the garden is coming back stronger than ever! See photos at the end of the newsletter. SOS: Belo sur Mer On Madagascar's Vezo (south-western) coast the village of Belo sur Mer is one of the last remaining outposts for the construction of wooden sailing vessels. Many people in Menabe Region from Morondava south to Belo sur Mer earn their livelihood building and operating the famous 'boutres' (gaffe-rigged goelettes) sailing ships and fishing along the coast. 
Cyclone Fanele devastated Belo sur Mer with almost 95% of the homes and public buildings destroyed along with the hospital and all schools! The impact on the daily lives of the people was catastrophic and the majority of their boats were destroyed as well. 
Emergency first aid and food supplies did reach Belo sur Mer shortly after Fanele struck but as yet there has been no further help for the community. With the present political crises in Madagascar the Vezo fishermen and boat builders of Belo sur Mer have no hope of assistance from the Malagasy government. We ask for your support on behalf of the people of Belo sur Mer to rebuild schools, churches and their lives. Please join us in supporting the recovery effort. Any and all support is welcome. Thank You! Please Contact: SOS Belo sur Mer | Email: belosurmer@free.fr Safety & Security The recent coup d'état in Madagascar has had an impact throughout the country. And sadly damaged the country's long standing reputation as a peaceful and safe travel destination. Thankfully the situation is not as dire as the picture painted by the international press. Although things remains unsettled, any problems at the moment are for the most part are confined to the capital, Antananarivo. We all hope for a swift and peaceful solution. International travel alerts have, of course, affected tourism. But many people continue to travel to Madagascar and there haven't been any problems or threatening incidences involving visitors. Throughout the vast majority of the island life goes on as normal. Malagasy hospitality is as strong as ever and we encourage you to continue to consider Madagascar in your travel plans. We are based on the island here full time we receive information daily and closely watch events throughout the country. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We'll be happy to offer current and honest information regarding safety and security. Madagascar Visas: No Cost ! Following an announcement by the Tourism Board of Madagascar (ONTM ) beginning May 11, 2009 there will be no charge for visas for any stay of less than one month. With the return of calm and the changes in travel alerts things are getting back to normal. Circumnavigation of Madagascar by Sea Kayak In February the Chez Maggie Hotel hosted South African adventurer and sea kayaker, Riaan Manser. After paddling for six months Riaan reached Morondava and stayed with us for several days. Then he continued his extreme adventure to be the first to circumnavigate the island by sea kayak! Riaan is due to complete his journey in Tamatava in June 2009. 
Riaan - we wish you all the best for the successful completion of your journey. Cheers!  Launch of "Nofy Be" - "Big Dream"Congratulations to our friends Laetitiea and Fred on the successful launch of their "Big Dream"! Built in Belo sur Mer, the 58-foot wooden "botry", "Big Dream", is a traditional wooden ship which has been specially adapted to host up to 10 passengers. Starting in June 2009 they will begin offering journeys of exploration along the diverse 1,000 mile west coast of Madagascar. Pure Adventure: visiting undiscovered and unexplored locations and islands, meeting local people, snorkeling and even whale watching from the end of July to October. Based in Morondava, the "Nofy Be" will offer full board and accommodation sailing tours and charter options. A truly new and unique way to explore the 'vezo' coast with family and friends. Just right for incentives, team building, scientific research and film crews. You name it! All inclusive packages will be available from the Chez Maggie Hotel. Please contact us for details. Ethiopia NewsDams on the Omo RiverConstruction of the Gibe III dam on the Omo is moving ahead quickly and when completed the dam will be the second largest dam in sub-Saharan Africa. 240 meters high, the tallest of its type anywhere in the world with a reservoir over 150 kilometers long! In September 2008 we saw first-hand the Gibe III dam project. We camped one night just below the dam site with a view of the construction. After floating this stretch of the Omo for over 20 years it was a truly surrealistic experience. It's hard to imagine but once all the proposed hydro projects are in place the majority of the river from Gibe Farm past Bele Bridge will be lake! 
Omo River: After completion of the Gibe hydroelectric projects. 
Tanzania NewsSelous National Park: We're pleased to announce new dates and a revised schedule for a most unique journey the Rufiji River Safari. Please see details below.MadagascarA Taste of MadagascarTsiribihina River, Rainforest, Kirindy Forest Perfect for families! An excellent introduction to some of the wonders of Madagascar: eastern rainforest; a relaxing 3-day calm water float in traditional Malagasy canoes; exploring the western dry forest and relaxing time on the beach on the Mozambique Channel. Highlights:
Available May through December for small groups or individuals. East meets West Contrasts of the Great Red Island! The Best of Both Coasts: the unique flora and fauna of the dry western forest and the exotic rainforest of the east. Highlights:
Mangoky River, Rainforest & the West 2010 A comprehensive look at the Great Red Island. Featured in the book: "1,000 Places to see before you die" by Patricia Schultz On the tranquil Mangoky River we enjoy a relaxing and truly remote camping experience. Floating past the world's largest baobab forest we experience a wide variety of endemic Malagasy endemic flora and fauna. Highlights:
EthiopiaOmo River ExpeditionA Remote River Expeditions speciality for over 20 years! A journey back in time and into the seldom traveled world of south-west Ethiopia. If you wanted to design the 'perfect' river expedition you might just come up with the Omo. Long known as one of the world's best rafting trips, Ethiopia's Omo River has it all: exciting rapids; great campsites; beautiful scenery; hot springs; good birding; abundant wildlife; and some of the most unique and unvisited people in Africa. The full expedition is a sometimes startling combination of scenery, wildlife and people. Truly the trip of a lifetime! We hope you'll be able to join us this September for what may be our final full expedition on the Omo River. Full Expedition: September 27 - October 21, 2009 / 14, 18, & 25 - Day Options TanzaniaRufiji River SafariRufiji River - A Unique Floating Safari! Wilderness Walks & Wildlife Unlimited An exceptional calm water rafting safari combining wildlife viewing, daily game walks and wilderness camping in Africa's largest protected area, the wild and wonderful Selous Game Reserve. Excellent birds, a full variety of African big game along with a nearness to nature and wildlife impossible to find anywhere else. The Selous' more than 18,000 square miles is home to vast numbers of wildlife, including the continent's largest remaining elephant population. DATES: Dec 28, 2009 - Jan 09, 2010 Jan 11, 2010 - Jan 23, 2010 June 14, 2010 - June 26, 2010 June 28, 2010 - July 10, 2010 Chez Maggie HotelAn Oasis on the Mozambique Channel ~ Gateway to the Wonders of Western MadagascarChez Maggie Hotel is located directly on the beach in the tranquil coastal town of Morondava on the Mozambique Channel. A wonderful hide-away featuring: air-conditioned bungalows and 2-story chalets; superb cuisine; swimming pool; full service bar; laundry service and wondrous sunsets. From the moment you set foot on the grounds you'll know why the Chez Maggie has long enjoyed the reputation as the hotel of choice in Morondava. A small, intimate property, the Chez Maggie is known by locals and international travelers alike, the hotel will quickly becomes your "home away from home" in Madagascar. Whether for a night, a long weekend, or an extended stay, the Chez Maggie offers a relaxed and secure setting. We are happy to offer our services for individuals and families as well as small group retreats and gatherings. Our unique and exclusive setting is also perfect for business events, parties, and catered affairs. Le Masoandro "The Sunshine" Restaurant & Bar offers a wonderfully relaxed and comfortable setting. House specials include crab sauté, lobster grille, and BBQ jumbo shrimp all with that special Malagasy touch. The menu selection is based on the flavorful fruits, vegetables, seafood, meats and cheeses of the country. Quality Excursions & Activities in the Menabe (Western) Region:
AND THE CHEZ MAGGIE TODAY!! 
If you haven't yet discovered the magic of the Chez Maggie we invite you to come see for yourself. To all those who have made a visit we say hello and many thanks! We look forward to seeing you again in the future. 
Finally, many thanks to Boris Pasek (our webmaster) for all his assistance, support and adivice and congratulations on the formation of his new company Betterclicks Webdesign His website is in German but Boris is fluent in English and happy to work with all languages. We encourage you contact Boris for all your IT needs: www.betterclicks.de | info@betterclicks.de Thanks for visiting and please drop a line if you have a chance. We hope this message finds you well and to see you soon! Sincere Regards, Gary Lemmer RRE & CM Remote River Expeditions ~ World of Travel (For more information select any of the 'blue' text links.) Remote River Expeditions is a small hand's on company offering unique family and small group travel options. We hope you'll find something that strikes your fancy. We specialize in custom programs and we're happy to design an individualized itinerary to meet your interests, time frame and budget. Whether you are interested in a relaxing family vacation, an in depth natural history program or an upscale tour we'll be happy to assist. *If you would rather not receive email from us in the future, send us an email at remove@remoterivers.com and we'll remove your email from our database. * All texts and pictures © 2001-09 Remote River Expeditions | ||||||
Remote River Expeditions in Madagascar, Ethiopia, Tanzania - River Trips and Tours
Experience the romance of East Africa. We invite you to join one of Remote River Expeditions' adventures into Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Tanzania and see the atrractions of those countries. Each trip is completely unique. Each expedition has its own special challenges and serendipitous, human connections. What you can expect in every instance, however -- and why many of our clients return, year after year - is an outstanding wilderness experience including great food, magnificent wildlife, and friendships forged that last a lifetime.remote, rivers, rivertrips, river, trip, tour, rafting, east, africa, madagascar, ethiopia, tanzania, rafting, tour, camping, trip, expedition, challenge, wilderness, animals, birds, lemmer, gary, gallery, expeditions, birding, gameviewing, watercolor, paint, painting, whitewater, paddling, vacation, beach, Selous, Omo River, Rufiji River, Zambezi, Tsiribihina, Mangoky river, scenic, natural, cultural, conservation, floral, fauna, lemurs, safaris, Zambezi, birdwatching, adventure, exploration, Afrika, nature, Africa
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© 2001-2010 RRE
© 2001-2010 RRE