Responsible travel: Our commitment to the new protected area of Makay

What unites us with Détours Madagascar, you travelers, and us, creators of journeys, is an unlimited passion for extraordinary places. The Makay massif, with its ruiniform sandstone formations, is one of those rare places where we can quench our thirst for discovery.

(Makay location in Madagascar)

We have been deeply involved and highly interested in this massif since the beginning of its exploration. It took several expeditions to trek through the lands of Makay and establish a mutual trust relationship with the local populations. Our approach was clear and straightforward: we wanted to admire the beauty of this unique place, share it, and work for its environmental, human, and cultural preservation.

However, the vulnerability of this natural space remains a major issue in the protection of Madagascar's biodiversity. This is why we are fully committed and involved in preserving the Makay through a close collaboration with Naturevolution, the manager of the New Protected Area. We are fully engaged in the decision-making process and sustainable management as stakeholders in the Makay.

Détours Madagascar, the first tourism operator in the Makay in direct contact with travelers

 The Makay confidential in a few numbers:

• Around 170 travelers in 2018,
• An average duration of three days,
• A total of 33 trips
• 60% of the trips made in the southern part of Makay (Beronono).

(Source : Naturevolution)

Détours Madagascar and Makay:

• The second tourism operator in terms of number of travelers.

• About thirty people have trusted Détours Madagascar and were able to explore the unexplored canyons of the Makay.

• An average duration of 9 days. We are committed to offering long stays that allow our travelers to fully appreciate the depth and paradox of these landscapes, both vast and hidden, while being fully immersed.

• A quarter of the total stays in the Makay are organized by Détours Madagascar. We favor small groups to align with the places and our travel philosophy.

• *75% of our trips are located in the northern part of the massif, which is less frequented. Exploring the northern part of the Makay offers a unique discovery of a mystical, generous, and preserved biodiversity, nestled within rocky labyrinths, more isolated and forgotten by hikers.*

• 224 cumulative days in the Makay generating over 9,000 workdays for the 126 locally employed people.

• 27,100,000 MGA directly allocated to the Makay region and its population by Détours Madagascar in 2018.

(Exchange Rate -
1 € = 4 000 MGA)

As you can see, this massif is very dear to us, and it is important to act responsibly and sustainably for its environmental, cultural, and human preservation.

Your travels, key players in local development

In addition to the transparency of your expenses, what matters to us is the fairness of the economic impacts, the involvement of the local population, and the contribution to local development in the regions traversed.

Your travels generate a multitude of positive ripple effects on a very local scale: whether it's the farmer on the side of the RN7 from whom we buy vegetables for the evening meal; the creation of a team, at the agency and on-site, almost entirely Malagasy; or the enhancement of spaces threatened by human activity, your spending is useful, and its impacts are tangible.

The geographical isolation of the Makay populations and their very low density hinder the development of economic activities in the region, especially since it has been excluded from state and international aid. The recent integration and ownership of the tourism sector by the local populations seems to be a way to supplement traditional sources of income, which have so far been primarily pastoral.

Understanding the Price of Your Journey

In the spirit of transparency, it is important for us to provide you with a breakdown of the costs of a trip to the Makay.

In six months, for about thirty travelers, nearly 130 direct local jobs were generated by our trips to the Makay, mostly porters, but also guides and cooks (precisely 109 porters, 9 guides, and 8 cooks), paid at least three times the Malagasy minimum wage. Thus, between salary payments (20,545,000 MGA - 5,050 euros) and entrance fees to the protected area (6,555,000 MGA - 1,620 euros), over 27 million ariary (6,700 euros) were directly allocated to the Makay region.

This financial contribution is crucial for such an isolated region as the Makay; it represents economic dynamism and offers the local population a means to act directly for the preservation and enhancement of their environment while being fully integrated into local tourism development.

Our concern, commitment, and involvement in preserving Makay’s biodiversity

While traversing the monumental valley bottoms, the secrets of the fauna and flora of Makay with its exceptional rate of endemism will be revealed to you. The ridges and semi-desert plateaus, the lush forests nestled within the canyons, the unique forms of plant and animal life, make Makay a biodiversity vault and one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots.

Until now, Makay was naturally protected due to its isolation, but the increase in anthropogenic pressure on environmental areas has caused gradual degradation, particularly due to the rise in bushfires.

The populations living around the massif are the first concerned and involved in defending their environment, and we are committed to spreading healthy and reasonable practices, as well as raising awareness among our partners and travelers. Because we care about the impact of our activities on the territories that host us, we prioritize a gentle approach, respectful of the natural and human environment of Makay. Improving the quality of our camping gear has allowed us to reduce weight and, consequently, significantly decrease the number of porters during hikes, thus reducing anthropogenic pressure on natural spaces.

Who is Naturevolution?

Naturevolution Madagascar, a Malagasy legal entity created by Evrard Wendenbaum and locally managed, is responsible for the management of the New Protected Area of Makay, by ministerial delegation. It works in synergy with local communities, scientists, tour operators, and national and international institutional actors to promote and protect the Makay region in harmony with the socio-economic and environmental interests of the population.

The objectives are multiple: protect, explore, enrich environmental science and knowledge, raise awareness and educate, restore endangered areas, and work for reforestation…

For more information : Expédition Makay 2018 by Détours Madagascar - Article Détours Madagascar