Iharana Bush Camp

Numerous seating areas dotted throughout the thatched main building invite you to settle back to admire the view or the artworks, or to rest with a book from the library. Meals are served in the dining area; the food is sourced locally and the chef produces good, creative dishes with fish, zebu and vegetarian options. Wi-fi is available in the office, on request. There's a small pool (check its cleanliness before swimming), around which breakfast is served. Massages are offered.

The 16 cottages, or cabanas, are built from local materials, mud, palm thatch and walls whose construction resembles a partially covered wicker basket. (You'll welcome the breezes that come through.) Each cottage has a private bathroom with a shower with running water (solar-powered) and a toilet, and an open-sided sleeping area on a mezzanine level, its large bed swathed in effective mosquito netting. Outside is a large outdoor terrace, perfect for watching the sun setting over the lake.

Exploration of the wilderness is the main reason for visiting. Take a guided hike around the massif – there's an excellent path you can climb, with metal ropes, ladders and some stairs for support – and venture into the caves. (The guides here are experts whose sharp eyes spot animals large and tiny from far away.) Head out in a 4x4 for an excursion into the mountains and nearby Ankarana Reserve, or paddle around the lake in a canoe.