What unites us with Détours Madagascar—you, our travelers, and us, journey creators—is an unbounded passion for extraordinary places. The Makay ruiniform sandstone massif is one of those rare locations where we can fully indulge our thirst for discovery.

We are driven by strong commitment and keen interest in this massif since the early days of its exploration. It took us several expeditions traversing Makay's lands and establishing reciprocal trust with local communities: our approach was clear and genuine—we wanted to contemplate the beauty of this unique place, share it, and work toward its environmental, human, and cultural preservation.

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Learn more: The Makay massif according to Tolo, a shared passion - Détours Madagascar article

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The vulnerability of this natural space remains a major challenge in protecting Madagascar's biodiversity, which is why we are fully committed and involved in Makay's preservation through close collaboration with Naturevolution, the manager of the New Protected Area. We actively participate in the decision-making and reasoned, sustainable management processes as stakeholders of Makay.

Détours Madagascar, the leading tourism operator in Makay with direct connection to its travelers

The confidential Makay in a few figures:

• Approximately 170 travelers in 2018,
• An average duration of three days,
• And 33 trips in total,
• 60% of trips conducted in the South Makay area (Beronono).

Source: Naturevolution

Détours Madagascar and Makay account for:

• The 2nd tourism operator in terms of traveler numbers.
• Approximately thirty people have trusted Détours Madagascar and were able to explore Makay's unexplored canyons.
• An average duration of 9 days. We are committed to offering extended stays that allow our travelers to fully grasp the depth and paradox of these landscapes—simultaneously gigantic and intimate—through complete immersion.
• One-quarter of all Makay trips organized by Détours Madagascar. We favor small groups to ensure harmony with the places and our travel philosophy.
• 75% of our trips located in the north of the massif, less trodden. Exploring northern Makay offers a unique discovery of mystic, generous, and preserved biodiversity nestled within rocky labyrinths, more isolated and overlooked by trekkers.
• 224 cumulative days in Makay generating over 9,000 work days for the 126 people employed locally.
• 27,100,000 MGA directly allocated to the Makay region and its population by Détours Madagascar in 2018.

Reference -
1 € = 4,000 MGA

As you can see, this massif truly matters to us, and we are committed to acting responsibly and sustainably for its environmental, cultural, and human preservation.

Your travels, key actors in local development

Beyond transparency in your spending, what matters to us is the fairness of economic returns, community engagement, and contribution to local development within the regions we traverse.

Your travels generate numerous positive ripple effects at a fine-grained territorial scale: whether it's the farmer on the edge of Route 7 from whom we purchase vegetables for evening meals; the constitution of a team, both in the office and in the field, composed almost exclusively of English-speaking staff; or the enhancement of spaces threatened by human activity—your spending is meaningful and its tangible returns concrete.

The severe geographic isolation of Makay's populations and very low population density hinder the development of economic activities in the region, particularly as it has suffered from exclusion from state and international aid. The recent integration and appropriation of the tourism sector by local communities appears as a means to supplement traditional revenue sources, until now essentially pastoral.

Understanding the price of your journey

In the spirit of transparency, it is important to us to convey the cost breakdown of a journey in Makay.

In six months, for approximately thirty travelers, nearly 130 direct local jobs were generated by our Makay journeys—predominantly porters, but also guides and cooks (precisely 109 porters, 9 guides, and 8 cooks), compensated at least three times above the Malagasy minimum wage. Thus, between salary compensation (20,545,000 MGA - €5,050) and entrance fees within the protected area (6,555,000 MGA - €1,620), more than 27 million ariary (€6,700) are directly allocated to the Makay region.

This financial contribution is crucial for a region as isolated as Makay; it represents economic dynamism and provides local populations with a means to directly act toward the preservation and enhancement of their environment by being fully integrated into local tourism development.

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

As you traverse the meanders of monumental valley floors, the secrets of Makay's exceptional endemism rates will be revealed. The semi-desert ridges and plateaus, lush forests nested within canyons, singular plant and animal life forms make Makay a stronghold of biodiversity and one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots.

Until now, Makay was naturally protected by its isolation, but the increasing anthropogenic pressure on environmental habitats has caused progressive degradation, particularly due to the proliferation of bushfires.

The populations living around the massif are the first concerned and involved in defending their environment, and we are committed to promoting healthy and reasonable practices, as well as raising awareness among our partners and travelers. Because we are mindful of our activity's impact on the territories welcoming us, we favor a gentle approach, respectful of Makay's natural and human environment. The improvement of our camping equipment quality has enabled weight savings and, consequently, a notable reduction in the number of porters during treks, considerably decreasing anthropogenic pressure on natural spaces.

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Who is Naturevolution?

Naturevolution Madagascar, a legal entity created by Evrard Wendenbaum and locally driven, is responsible, through ministerial delegations, for managing Makay's New Protected Area. It works in synergy with local communities, scientists, tour operators, and national and international institutional actors to enhance and protect the Makay region, in harmony with the population's socio-economic and environmental interests.

The objective is multifaceted: protect, explore, enrich environmental sciences and knowledge, raise awareness and educate, restore endangered spaces, and act toward reforestation…

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Learn more: Makay Expedition 2018 by Détours Madagascar - Détours Madagascar article