On the road between Morondava and the Tsingy of Bemaraha, we will discover the peculiar landscapes of western Madagascar: arid and eroded lands, rivers, baobabs, canyons, rocks of all shapes… On the way back, we will see rice fields and all sorts of planting and landscaping!
Stages include a crossing of the Baobab Alley, a ferry ride on the Tsiribihina River, a trek to the feet of the Tsingy of Bemaraha Mountains.
Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, displays unparalleled scenic beauty! Imagine a multitude of skyscraper-like sharp rocks piling up, leaving only narrow passages leading to crevices and caves! The vegetation here has found a way to adapt to the environment, as have the animals. The program also includes walking and canoe tours of labyrinths and canyons…
From Bekopaka to Morondava, we will pass through Belo sur Tsiribihina. After the Bongolava massif and its bare and rugged mountains, the landscapes give way to terraced rice fields and varied cultures. Hills are strewn with red brick houses, characteristic of the Central Highlands. The road to the capital will also introduce us to Ambatolampy and its aluminum foundries.
Day 1Flight from Antananarivo to Morondava
Antananarivo - Morondava
Transfert to the Ivato Airport for your connecting flight from Antananarivo to Morondava.
The Détours Madagascar team welcomes you upon arrival at the Morondava airport, and transfer to you hôtel.
Day 2Morondava > Belo sur Tsiribihina > Bekopaka
Morondava - Bekopaka
Early departure towards Bekopaka. We pass by the famous Baobab Alley, which we will see again on our way back at sunset.
After crossing by ferry the river Tsiribihina, we drive on a chaotic track, along which some stops will be needed to strech out our legs. But the ride is very beautiful, and definitely worth it.We arrive at Bekopaka at the end of the day, on the foothills of the Massif of theTsingy of Bemaraha, classified Natural World Heritage by the UNESCO.
Settling down at the hotel for the night.
Day 3Pirogue on the Manambolo and Hike in the Tsingy
Bekopaka - Bekopaka
A day visiting the outstanding Tsingy of Bemaraha National Park.
The Tsingy are real limestone cathedrals. This dense network of faults, canyons and limestone blocks shaped like blades, is one of the most spectacular landscape in Madagascar.
Inboard a pirogue and by foot, inside canyons and mazes, we set foot to discover great spaces, vertigo and sensational hikes.
Day 4Aerial Hike in the Great Tsingy of Bemaraha
Bekopaka - Tsingy of Bemaraha
We go to discover great spaces : the Great Tsingy of Bemaraha.
Our tour starts by a transfer by car, 17 km North of the village of Bekopaka, to reach these huge limestone cathedrales, the dense faults network, deep canyons, and limestone blocks carved in blades or peaks forming the Tsingy.
Through canyons with humid vegetation and mazes, we will reach the "Tsingy's Rooftop".
Back to the village at the end of the day.
Day 5Back to Baobab Alley at Sunset
Bekopaka - Morondava
In the morning we make our way to Belo sur Tsiribihina with our SUV. Despite the condition of the track, the landscape we cross make up for a little discomfort. Arrival in Belo at around midday.
Crossing the River Tsiribihina with the ferry, then continuation on the track. We reach the famous Baobab Alley at sunset, and spend the evening in Morondava.
Day 6Morondava > Antsirabe, The City of Waters
Morondava - Antsirabe
Road to Antsirabe, crossing the rice fields.
After the small village of Mahabo, the landcape becomes more rough until Miandrivazo.
We stop in some small villages to visit the market.Little by little, the dry landscapes of the middle-west and the eroded mountains of the Bongolava leave space for the patchwork of terrace rice fields and diverse crops, with hills overlooked by the typical red brick houses of the central Highlands.
Arrival in Antsirabe at the end of the day.
Day 7Antsirabe > Antananarivo, back to the capital
Antsirabe - Antananarivo
Little walk around the city of Antsirabe. We will visit the local craftsmen, who make miniature bicycles and cars, work with zebu horn… Then we drive on to Ambatolampy.
Rice fields and typical Highlands villages draw the landscape around us, as we make our way to Antananarivo.