Attractive travel ideas

For lovers of minerals Madagascar can be considered a veritable Eldorado. From emeralds to rubies, rock crystals, gold, garnet, hambergite, phenakite and rose quartz to spinel, titanite, topaz and tourmalines in all colors can be found on this island. countless precious and semi-precious stones as well as many other important and exciting mineral finds are discovered. Already since the beginning of the 20th century, therefore, various research trips have repeatedly focused on the versatile mineral resourcesthat were to be found on Madagascar and are still to be found today. It can be noted that even today, a good hundred years later, still only a limited part of what is possible on Madagascar in terms of mineral resources has been discovered.

But not only for researchers are the hardly countable mineral resources of Madagascar of great interest: In some places on the island, the local population has also fully committed itself to the mining of the various mineral resources. Unfortunately, this does not always take place according to regulated guidelines and far too often the overexploitation has drastic consequences for the original nature on the island. It is therefore all the more important Tour of Madagascar with a focus on mineralogy which in a way sets a counterpoint to the overexploitation practiced in many places. This is precisely what we have been advocating for years. In this way Turn your vacation in Madagascar into a mineralogical adventure and you can additionally make a small contribution to the Protection of nature in Madagascar perform.

General information about a mineralogical tour

If you have a Journey through Madagascar and would like to photograph, buy or possibly even salvage one or the other mineral treasure yourself, you should be aware that you are on an incomparable adventure get involved. Many mines and mining areas are located in regions that are difficult to access, which is why even getting there can be quite spectacular. However, in most cases this also means that without an experienced guide you will not really get anywhere and often have to take on additional hardships. We have already been guiding for quite some time Travel through Madagascar We carry out training courses in which we focus specifically on the needs and requirements of our customers. Mineralogist interests set. This means that we can show you the most interesting corners and mining areas for you. For this we work not only with the most experienced guides together, but have also been providing stable contacts with mine owners and traders here. We can also look after your interests with regard to permits for mineral purchases or an export of your own finds. This way you can ensure that you can actually harvest the fruits of your labor yourself and take them home.

Sample tour plan for your trip through Madagascar

If you have already taken a more or less detailed look at the various offers on our site, you should already be well informed that we are committed to Your trip to Madagascar not only intensively with the preparations, but also with the execution at your needs orientate. The itinerary presented below is consequently a first Suggestion for your specific vacation planning and is intended for your Trip with mineralogical focus first of all serve as inspiration. This is a mineral tour we did in 2011 together with a group of researchers and privately interested people. The tour leads along the route Antsirabe - Ambatofilhandrana - Ilakaka and focuses on important sites for mineral resources in Madagascar. Finally, a few days stay directly on the Indian Ocean are also planned. If you wish, you can follow the presented tour directly as a package for your vacation in Madagascar book with us. Otherwise, however, we can still make various changes in your interest. You only have to inform us about these.

Day 2: Gemstone exchange in Antananarivo and drive to Antsirabe

On the second day then after breakfast the Visit of a gemstone exchange in the congress center of Antananarivo on the schedule. During this visit, the travelers were not only able to learn about various Gemstone deposits on Madagascar inform, but if desired quite already the one or other mineral purchase. On the exemplary trip in 2011, a blue topaz crystal, which was formed as a perfect single crystal, was purchased.

Afterwards, the trip continued by car to Antsirabe. The mineral market there, which takes place daily, was the next highlight on the itinerary of the participants and red tourmalines as well as quartz specimens were purchased there.

Day 7: Continue towards Ambalavao

First, at the beginning of the day, the trip participants dealt intensively with the purchase of best quartz grades at particularly pleasant prices in Ambatofinandrahana. Of course, all purchases were packed very well and safely for further transport, so that even the sometimes very large steps had no damage to fear. After that, the travelers turned their backs on Ambatofinandrahana and set off on the Trip to Ambalavao. There you spent the night in bungalows and enjoyed a good meal.

Day 12: Visit of an abandoned aquamarine mine

The twelfth day of the trip through Madagascar was marked by a relatively spontaneous action, because a local, who had heard about the travelers' search for minerals, paid his respects and offered many different crystals such as star sapphires, rubies or smoky quartz for sale. Since the quality seemed more than reasonable for the price, some of the trip participants purchased a few of the finds. Afterwards the man accompanied the participants to an abandoned aquamarine minein which it was still possible to get hold of a few finds.

Day 14: Visit to Ilakaka

Ialakaka reminds in a way of a City from the Wild West. Whereas gold prospecting fever had spread among the population there at that time, in Ilakaka it is the sapphires that people are after. The Visit a Saphirmine is in Ilakaka the highlight of the day. Seeing how the workers there, who are mostly poorly paid day laborers, laboriously make their way without protection is not always easy, but nevertheless a spectacular experience.