Navigation on the Tsiribihina and immersion in the kingdom of Baobabs, from Morondava to Tulear

Paris Roissy CDG - Antananarivo Flight to Antananarivo, dinner on board. Program drawn up on an indicative basis with Air France.

A member of the Détours Madagascar team will welcome you upon arrival at Ivato Antananarivo airport in the evening, for a transfer to your hotel for the night.

Antsirabe - Miandrivazo Route heading due west towards Miandrivazo. The journey is enhanced by visits to markets in the villages you pass through.

Gradually, the mosaic of terraced rice fields and various crops, with hills overlooking red brick houses of the Central Highlands, gives way to the arid landscape of the Middle-West Sakalava region and the bare mountains jagged by erosion in the south of the Bongolava massif.

We arrive in the early afternoon at the town of Miandrivazo on the banks of the Tsiribihina river.

For 2 days and 2 nights, along the water, we admire the savanna and dry forest landscape of the West unfolding before our eyes with various aquatic bird species, lemurs, and chameleons. You will sometimes be able to admire the body of a crocodile lazily stretched out in the sun on the riverbank with here and there some baobabs…

Nights in bivouac on the riverbank.

Over 2 days and 2 nights, along the water, we admire the savanna and dry forest landscape of the West unfolding before our eyes with various species of aquatic birds, lemurs, chameleons. You may sometimes spot the body of a crocodile lounging lazily in the sun on the riverbank with here and there a few baobabs…

Nights in bivouac on the riverbank.

After breakfast, we will continue our descent for a few hours. Gradually, villages appear and the river becomes increasingly busy. Ferry crossing of the Tsiribihina River. Late in the morning, we dock at Belo-sur-Tsiribihina.

After lunch on board, a chaotic and tedious track awaits us, several stops will be necessary to stretch our legs but at the end of the journey, the spectacle is worth it. We disembark and head due north towards Bekopaka where we arrive at the end of the day, at the foot of the Tsingy de Bemaraha Massif, classified as a natural heritage site of Humanity by Unesco.

Day visit to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, an extraordinary place! The Tsingy are true limestone cathedrals. This dense network of fissures, crevasses and limestone blocks sculpted into blades is one of the most spectacular landscapes in Madagascar.

By pirogue and on foot, through canyons and labyrinths, we set out to discover vast spaces, breathtaking views and thrilling sensations.

We set off to discover wide open spaces: Grand Tsingy de Bemaraha. The circuit begins with a 4x4 transfer 17km north of the village of Bekopaka to reach gigantic limestone cathedrals, dense networks of faults, deep crevasses, limestone blocks carved into blades or sharp points that form the "Tsingy". Through canyons with humid vegetation, dry vegetation on limestone slabs, passing through labyrinths and joint fractures, we will reach the Roof of the "Tsingy".

Return to the village at the end of the day.

In the morning, we head towards Belo-sur-Tsiribihina by four-wheel drive vehicle. The laterite track can be tricky, however the landscapes we cross are well worth a little discomfort.

Arrival in Belo late morning. Folk crossing of the Tsiribihina River by ferry, then we continue on our track. We pass through the famous Avenue of the Baobabs and arrive in Morondava in the evening.

Continuation towards the South and across the dry forest of the South-West. Ford crossings, stops will be necessary to allow us to relax from the harshness of the track.

A day of track that leads us to the village of Manja, renowned for its rice and bean production.

Dinner at the campsite and night under tents.

Morning track drive to the banks of the Mangoky River which we will cross by ferry. Continuation on a smoother track heading due west towards Morombe.

Short rest stop and then we follow the coastal track bordering the Mozambique Channel to arrive at the end of the day in Andavadoaka, a beach and fishing village…

Lunch as a picnic during the journey.

Throughout our journey, always on the coastal track, views of a landscape of thorny bush and arid savanna where the baobab reigns.

Lunch as a picnic en route.

Arrival in Ifaty in late afternoon.

Ifaty, Mangily, Madiorano and Ambolimailaka are small villages facing the majestic Ranobe lagoon with turquoise waters, renowned for its coral reef. They serve as beach resorts here.

Free stay, activities to see with the hotel or your guide: hiking in the hinterland of the dry forest with its diverse varieties of endemic thorny plants, euphorbias, Didiereaceae, pachypodiums and Baobabs. The visit can be done by zebu cart or on foot; or relaxation to enjoy the beach, a beautiful invitation to swim in this magnificent lagoon.

Also on the agenda: speedboat excursion, traditional outrigger canoe ride, trolling, waterskiing, snorkeling or scuba diving…

Or simply a stroll along the beach and meeting with the local population and discovering in depth the life of these fishing villages.

Departure for a day of driving on Route 7, passing through the city of Tuléar before heading back towards the village of Ranohira. Along the way we will see many beautifully decorated tombs of the Antandroy and Mahafaly ethnic groups.

Crossing through several villages and towns of sapphire seekers, most of which were created after the discovery of sapphires in the region.

Before arriving at the hotel, stop at the window of Isalo to witness a magnificent sunset through the massif.

A beautiful day of discovery on foot in the ruiniform massif of Isalo. Isalo National Park was created in 1962, and is classified in the category of exceptional parks. Extending over nearly 100 km from North to South, it is unique in Madagascar because of its geomorphological formation dating from the Jurassic: this ruiniform sandstone massif, carved with deep canyons, hosts endemic rupicole vegetation (Aloes, Euphorbias, Pachypodes…).

It is also home to exceptional fauna, where most species are endemic, such as for example rock reptiles, lemurs and other primates.

The predominant ethnic group in this region is the Bara people, living essentially from the breeding of zebu and agriculture. Considered descendants of the Bantu, the Bara are cattle breeders but also fierce warriors, proud and ready to do anything to defend their freedom.

Ranohira - Ambalavao Road to Ambalavao. Still the immense Horombe plateau until Ihosy. We leave the arid south to begin climbing the foothills of the Highlands.

Stop at the small Anja reserve: a gallery forest of ficus, lianas and orchids has developed between spectacular rocky chaos, sometimes forming caves adopted as shelters by certain animals. On the slopes of the reliefs, the vegetation relay has been colonized by succulent plants, such as kalanchoes and pachypodiums.

In this green paradise live in small colonies these ring-tailed lemurs which are virtually the emblem of the Grande Ile, the ring-tailed lemurs. They spend a lot of time on the ground, are not too shy and are therefore easily observable. The revenues from the Anja site are managed by the AMI association (Anja Miray) and returned to economic and social projects aimed at improving agricultural yields, developing crafts, health and education for the villagers living nearby.

Continuation of our journey to Ambalavao.