Tsiribihina River Descent & Tsingy Adventure
This trip is a combined adventure, first go by barge along the Tsiribihina river. Experience the local people and their everyday life on the side. Wildlife in the forest such as Lemurs and Birds can be seen in the trees. Then drive northward along the West part of the Country to the Tsingy de Bemaraha, where the guests enjoy hiking through the limestone. The landscape here is gorgeous. Biodiversity is as well present here.
Day 1: After Breakfast, drive to Antsirabe. The landscape for this first bit of the journey is made of typical Merina countryside, of mixed rice paddies, and vegetable crops. Few wildlife such as stonechat, hamerkop, egrets, kingfishers are seen on the way.
Stop at Ambatolampy to visit an aluminium handicraft workshop.
Check in and have lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, different workshop visits around Antsirabe town.
Breakfast then drive to Miandrivazo. “Peaceful” feeling while crossing the wide middle West landscape of the Island. If it is not the worked land crop, most of this part of Madagascar will look humanless. Here and there, traditional gold miners are at work. Lunch at a restaurant at Miadrivazo. Check in at the lodge then afternoon rest. Dinner and night at the lodge.
Day 3: Transfer to Masiakampy. Boarding in the ferry and slow boat ride down the Tsiribihina River. Sunbathing and lazing about on the upper deck.
Lunch is on the way, served in the lower deck. In the afternoon, stop at Nosy Ampela (= the “Ladies’ Islet”) waterfall. Take a shower at the bottom of the waterfall.
Camping set up on a sand beach then dinner. Night at the camp.
Day 4: Breakfast then slow riding down the river. All along, meeting little boat or ferry carrying goods and people. Little stop and visit at Begidro village. The slow motion of the ferry allows really a better view and understanding of the local life.
First Baobabs at Ambatomisay. Camp setting on a sand beach in late afternoon. In the evening, bonfire and eventually, traditional dance. Dinner and night at the camp.
Day 5: Continuation of the boat ride down to Belo where the cars are waiting. Boarding and transfer to a restaurant for lunch then drive to Bekopaka town. The road crosses one of the most remote part of Madagascar: Total change of scene is guaranteed.
Arrival in late afternoon and check in.
Day 6: Soft day to recover from the previous day long trip.
After breakfast, boat ride on the Manambolo river and wandering through the Manambolo canyon. View of some Vazimba (the first to arrive) tombs in the rock cracks and crevices in the Canyon.
Lunch at the Lodge. In the afternoon, hike in the Little Tsingy as an appetizer for the next day Hike. Dinner and Night at the Lodge.
Day 7: After breakfast, drive to the Grand Tsingy, the main highlight of the journey. Hiking through the Tsingy forest first then inside the Karst in some caves, on top of the Tsingy or in deep canyon. The view is fabulous on several points. Selfies and photos in order. With chance, meeting with some animals such as Lemurs, Ring-tailed mongoose, endemic Birds. Picnic Lunch in the Parc.
Walk out then drive back to Bekopaka.
Dinner and night at the lodge.
Day 8: Early breakfast then drive back the same road to Morondava. Lunch on the way at Belo. Stop at the Baobab avenue for an unforgettable sunset.
Arrival at Morondava and check in. Dinner and night at the Lodge.
Day 8: After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some final moments at leisure depending on your flight schedule. You will then be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight back to Antananarivo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel or connect with your international departure flight.
End of Tour.
Tour price is per person sharing a double room.
