Day 1| Ampefy| Antananarivo

Highlights [top]

• [To fill]

Description [top]

This adventurous circuit proposes to discover a still little known region, west of Madagascar "The Ménabé Country". Bushwalk through the Bongolava mountain range and canoe the Manambolo River.

As you paddle through this magical region you can see the Bemaraha plateau all around you which it is famous for its World Heritage listed ‘Tsingy’, sharp distinctive limestone pinnacles that may reach 150 feet in height.

Tour Map [top]

Enlarge Map

Days detail [top]

Day 1 | Ampefy, Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Antananarivo - Ampefy
Meet and greet upon arrival and depart to the town of Ampefy, west of Antananarivo. Cross the volcanic and hilly landscapes of the Itasy region. Lunch by the lake and visit ‘’Ilot de la Vierge’’ or ‘’chute de la Lily’’ before settling down at the hostel for the night.

Day 2 | Belobaka, Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Ampefy - Belobaka
Early morning departure to reach the little town of Tsiroanomandidy where we will be crossing convoys of zebu, native cattle, pulling their carts and taking their harvest to the big market. We continue on dirt roads through rolling hills and vales before reaching the village of Belobaka, the last township before the big western arid zones. We continue on a small windy track to get to the foothills of the Bongolava Range. Camp overnight.

Day 3 | Bongolava, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Early in the morning, we start hiking with our local guides and porters. The wild and pristine landscapes are formed by hills carved out by "Lavaka" or natural erosion which creates distinctive gullies in the rock. On the way we will meet with local inhabitants travelling on these trails as it’s the only route available for transportation and communication in this remote area. Camp overnight.

Day 4 | Ankavandra, Toliara, Madagascar

We reach the western side of the mountain range which dominates the large and arid plains of Menabe. The Manambolo River winds its way down drawing nets of greenery. Walking on a rocky path along the ridge, we follow a pretty river which waterfalls have created natural ponds in the rock. Further down we can see the picturesque town of Ankavandra, the final stage of our hike. Night in a bush hostel located in the heart of this typical town.

Day 5 | Ankavandra, Toliara, Madagascar

Same as day above

Day 6 | Ankavandra, Toliara, Madagascar

Ankavandra is our base and is the starting point of our canoeing trip. The boat men and cooks are all natives from this area and
they will be pleased to show you around their village. Early in the afternoon, a famous "fomba" or ritual takes place by the riverside to ask the river spirit’s blessings for a safe journey. Afterwards, we start our trip down stream with the convoy carried away by the watercourse while we cross a lunar landscape sculptured by erosion. Camp on the sandy bank in the afternoon.

Day 7 | Akavandra, Toliara, Madagascar

As we are leaving, children of the nearby village wish us well on the next leg of our journey. The watercourse gets lost in his sand bed and compels us to follow the guide to find the right channel. Sometimes narrowing down between two hills, the river runs along small cliffs where clear water spring splashes. Enjoy another pace of life on the water as we can watch nature unfold around us while the current gently takes us to our next camping spot. Camp overnight by the river.

Day 8 | Morondava, Toliara, Madagascar

The landscape changes as we approach the Bemaraha mountain range and we enter the foothills of the unique Tsingy rock formations. Little by little, villages disappear and the banks reveal tall sandy walls carved out by river floods. We peg down our tents in the gorges on a sandy and camp overnight.

Day 9 | Bekopaka, Mahajanga, Madagascar

In the morning, drawn in vegetation, we will explore the lush canyon by foot. As we follow a bubbling stream we find succession of natural swimming pools. Its crystal clear water invites us to bathe. Back on the canoe by the afternoon we travel along the river surrounded by the impressive silence and peace of the gorge. A long parade of vertical cliffs carved by the river isolate us from the rest of the world. Getting out of the gorge, we approach our campsite under the mango trees along the river. Camp overnight.

Day 10 | Bekopaka, Mahajanga, Madagascar

Early morning departure in a four wheel drive to the most beautiful part of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. This unique site, formed by limestone peaks of more than 40m high have been classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Located about 20km from the village of Bekopaka, we travel by foot in the Great Tsingy before returning to the camp later in the day.

Day 11 | Morondava, Toliara, Madagascar

Bekopaka - Morondava
We head towards Belo sur Tsiribihina where the first kilometres of track cross a dry forest, then a grassy savannah surrouned by tiny villages. After an unusual river crossing at Belo, we pass the famous « Allée des Baobab » before reaching Morondava. Arriving in the evening we spend a night at the hostel.

Day 12 | Morondava, Toliara, Madagascar

Breakfast with fellow adventurers and leave with lasting memories.

Trip notes [top]

Period [top]

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec

Included [top]

• Full boarding while camping: Day 1 to Day 11 including luch.
• Hostel accommodation on day 1 to day 11
• Car transfer according to program
• Porters while hiking
• Staffing by a English spoken guide, a cook and a crew of river guide.
• All camping gear except sleeping bag
• Tourist vignettes and coucil taxes

Not included [top]

• Dinner on day 11
• Alcholic and soft drinks
• Entrance fees and local guide indemnities in the Tsigny of Bemahara National Park
• Tips
• Any other excursions or activities not mentioned in the program

Notes [top]

• Booking date limit: 48h before departure.
• Children’s rate: Up to 12 years old: -50% between 12 and 15 year old: -30%.
• It takes two days to get to the starting point of the canoeing trip with an average of 3 hours of moderate walking in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon. You require a reasonable level of fitness to fully enjoy your bushwalking experience.
• Climate is dry and temperate from April until October throughout the island. A few thunderstorms may occur during the first half of October but the rainy season begins towards mid-November onwards.
• There are no rapids or obstacles in the sandy river and the average depth is between 50cm to a metre during the dry eason from June to October. From October onwards, the water levels and current increase slightly after the first rains. Buoyancy vests are provided
• We get our water supply from the fresh natural springs on the way and we treat the water. We provide one bottle of mineral water per person per day in addition to beverages during meals. We encourage our clients to bring your own water bottle and water purifying tablets with you. For washing, we will bathe in the river or nearby streams. The water is very clean as there are no motorised boats on the water and the only few houses are far from shore.

Equipment [top]

• Sunglasses
• hat
• torch
• sunscreen
• jumper
• wind stopper
• short
• t-shirt
• towel
• bathers
• flip-flops
• comfortable walking shoes
• water bottle
• camera
• batteries
• sleeping bag
• mosquito repellent
• personal medication