From Antananarivo to Morondava by spending two fabulous and authentic days on the Tsiribihina river which allows an encounter with the local population and their way of life as well as various very interesting discoveries. Then visits of the tsingy and a photo pose on the baobab alley, two places classified as world heritage by UNESCO. A trip that will give you a total change of scenery and unforgettable discoveries.

Day 1 Antananarivo /Antsirabe

Departure from Antananarivo. Stop in Ambatolampy one hour later and visit of a foundry, Ambatolampy being the city where the pots and pans are made. Arrival in Antsirabe at the end of the morning, installation and lunch. (possibly lunch can be taken in Ambatolampy). Possibility to visit the town of Antsirabe in the afternoon: Andraikiba and Tritriva lakes, rickshaw tour, semi-precious stone carving workshops, hand-made tablecloths: embroidery.

Day 2 Antsirabe / Miandrivazo

Departure for the West of the country. Betafo and Mandoto crossings. You will encounter beautiful scenery along the way.

Day 3 Miandrivazo / Tsiribihina If descent by pirogue:

You take the pirogue to start descending the Tsiribihina river. As for the 4×4, it will be driven by your driver to the small village of Antsiraraka, which we will reach in 3 days. In the pirogue, you will be accompanied by a guide and a dugout canoeist. The pirogue has no motor, the whole trip is done by the strength of your arms. This is why the canoeists are strong lads: all the more so as they are the ones who bring the dugout back up, with the help of their long poles, for one or two weeks. From the first day, the Malagasy fauna is at the rendezvous. In the reeds hide magnificent chameleons. At the end of the day, you must stop for the night at the entrance to the Gorges de la Tsiribihina. You will find a sandbank that will certainly suit you. Note that it has been sculpted by the wind in the manner of the Tsingy of Bemaraha. Upon arrival, your guide and his piroguier complement each other wonderfully to set up the coal fire, set up camp and prepare the evening dinner. Tents are precious

If descent by barge
Departure for Masiakampy, 35 kilometers from Miandrivazo: the barge landing stage.

The driver will drop you off there. Embarkation on the barge. Start of the descent of the Tsiribihina. Tsiribihina means “don’t jump into the water”. But today this river seems to bear less and less of its name, because when you reach its natural waterfall at around 5 pm you won’t be able to witness the urge to jump into the water. Lunch on board around 12.30 pm. Entering the Bemaraha Gorge around 2pm, you will meet water birds such as wild ducks and herons. Installation of the bivouac equipment by the crew and during this time you will be able to visit the area. Dinner on board and campfire on the beach around 7.30 pm.

Day 4 Tsiribihina

If descent by pirogue

Departure at 7.00 am by crossing the Bemaraha Gorge or the Tsiribihina Gorge: two species of diurnal lemurs (the sifaka: sifhècus verrauxi, and the gidro; fulvus rufus) can be seen in the forest along the river, stop for about two hours at the waterfall and natural swimming pool, and enjoy a hot lunch. Continuation and visit to the village of Begidro (ancient forest of fluvus lemurs) famous for its bean and tobacco cultivation, supplying Antsirabe’s factories.

Continue the descent of the Tsiribihina after breakfast. The Tsiribihina river is impressive.

Continue the descent of the Tsiribihina after breakfast. The Tsiribihina river is impressive by its width, at least 500m in places. As in Africa, this river has several functions for the local population: washing clothes, washing dishes, bathing and of course artisanal fishing. But for some time now it has found a new mission, to make you live an adventure for lovers of fauna and flora. Crossing of the BEMARAHA GORGE, day of observation of crocodiles and bats as well as other aquatic birds. Stop at the village of Ambatomainty and visit of the forest to discover Sifaka and other varieties of lemurs. Lunch on board around 12:30. Arrival on the beach in front of the village of TSARAOTANA. Installation of bivouac equipment by the crew. Dinner on board and campfire on the beach around 7:30 pm.

Day 5 Tsiribihina / Bekopaka If descent by pirogue:

On the third day on the Tsriribihina, you could photograph lemurs on the riverside. It must be said that they are becoming hard to observe since some villagers hunt them for food. These are members of the species Verreaux’s Sifaka; very agile, they can jump from tree to tree at breakneck speed. At the end of the afternoon, you leave the pirogue.

If descent by barge. Visit of a fishermen’s village, possibly purchase of fresh fish for lunch (grills). Lunch on board Disembarkation in Belo on Tsiribihina, the driver will pick you up, you continue to Bekopaka.

Day 6 Bekopaka

Visit the Tsingy du Bemaraha Reserve, a nature sanctuary listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest protected site in Madagascar (152,000 hectares). Of impressive geological formation, the reserve has eroded karstic peaks in the middle of a vast limestone plateau. Among the almost inaccessible wonders there are 6 species of lemurs (such as the Deckeni recognizable by its white coat), numerous reptiles and 53 varieties of birds. It is also the

habitat of one of the smallest species of chameleon, the Brookesia Perarmata. Its spines remind us of the shape of the Tsingy’s woodpeckers. In the middle of this dry forest, the sinkholes and avens are islands of greenery, with baobabs of the alansonia species and flamboyant trees that can reach 18 m high. The latter, at the end of the dry season, give a red coloring which contrasts with the grey of the rock.

Day 7 Bekopaka / Continue of the park tour after breakfast

Day 8 Bekopaka / Morondava

Breakfast you take the road back to Morondava. After the ferry crossing, which lasts an hour, continue the road through a landscape decorated with baobabs on both sides of the road. Photo pose on the baobab alley at sunset, one of the most beautiful landscapes of the region.

Day 9 Marondera / Tana

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Morondava airport and flight to Tana.