Crossing Madagascar

Transfer to the Airport. Flight to Fort Dauphin. Assistance airport and transfer to an hotel closed to Libanona Beach. Fort Dauphin is a  ancient colonial port discovered by Portgugueses durnig the 16th Century. It is the main town of the region ”Anosy”, south East of Madagascar. The area is green and fertile and very rich for landscapes, flora and fauna like : Nahampoana Reserve, Lokaro Bay, Berenty Reserve., Pic Saint Louis, Vinanibe Lake ou Andohela National Park. Talinjoo Hôtel.

All day of excursion to the wonderful Lokaro Bay : a little cruise on the salted lake of Lanirano till the village of Evatra, a short trek to the bay passing by the fisherman village. Possibility of swimming . Picnic lunch included. Turn back to Fort Dauphin at the end of the afternoon. Leave the hotel around 7 . 7:30. Very beautiful excursion to Lokaro Bay and Evatra Village. 2 kms by car to join Lake Lanirano then motor boat transfer to Evatra (fishermen village): Ballad of one hour around lakes, rivers and Mangroves. Then for the most courageous, we could extend the ballade by 3 / 4 hours walking : we will cross creeks, beach where we can swim, small valleys with nice view points. Pic Nic Lunch at Evatra, balad around the dunes according to the weather. Around 4 pm come back to Fort Dauphin. Talinjoo Hôtel.

Visit of Nahampoana Reserve which is located 7 Kms from the town. half day excursion within the green forest, discovering the medicinal plants, 6 species of lemurs, chameleons, reptiles, birds … A quite and relax full balad by pirogue on the mangroves. Back to the hotel after the visit. Talinjoo Hôtel.

Direction  Berenty. Installation in the Lodge. In the afternoon visit of the reserve of Berenty which contain a large populations of lemurs such as the ringtailed lemurs, Verreaux’ sifaka, birds like ”coua”. It is an easy walk of 1 / 2 hours. After visit of the very interesting Androy Museum. Around 6 pm excursion by night to observe Microcebius. (Step: 114 Kms – 03h30)

Track for the towns of Ambovombe, Tsihombe and junction on Lavanono. Along the trail you will discover the mahafaly and Antandroy tombs.   Installation at Lavanono Lodge: surprising Ecolodge with a botanical garden, the bungalows of impeccable hygiene were built of local wood from the Androy region. The toilets (impeccable) are common and there is even hot water (stage 215 kms – about 7h). Depending on your timing of the circuit and to cut the track, you can add an extra day to rest, visit the Lavanono Lodge Botanical Park, walk on the huge beach ”Madio” and in the high sand dunes, visit the small Fishing village of Lavanono (the arrival of the Pirogues Vézo fishing is an unforgettable sight)

Trail to Ampanihy village, well known for its Mohair carpets.. You  will crross the village of Tranoroa and one of the biggest river of the South : The Manarandra. Installation in a very simple hotel ”Angora” ( Step of 200 kms, 8h )

Continuation towards Betioky, you will join the national road 70 kms before Toliara at the village of Andranoroy. We will see the first baobabs. Installation in hotel. ( Step of 200 kms, 7 to 8h ). Check-in Hotel Victory.

Head to Ranohira in the morning , desert landscape where thorny plants emerge. We visit the Arboretum of Antsokay at the entrance to the South Tulear grouping typical flora and many endemic medicinal plants in Madagascar. Passage of the country Mahafaly, overlooking the famous tombs of the same name, topped by large carved posts called ”Aloalo”. Crossing villages gems of researchers which the best known is Ilakaka, the city sapphire. Installation at your hotel in the one site Isalo Western décor which presents a variety of majestic landscapes, impressive canyons, rock formations carved by erosion. (Step 215 Kms – 5h).. Check-in Isalo Ranch.

The Isalo National Park, crisscrossed by rivers and tributaries, extends over 81,540 hectares. This massive ruiniform is a sandstone plateau continental Jurassic. Heavily eroded, only the parceled witnessed by the sandy valleys and canyons remained. A truly exceptional show! There are many possible circuits in the park. We can make a walk in the morning and another in the afternoon or even make a complete loop in the day, the hotel can prepare you a picnic. We include two circuits which can be combined as follow :
– The cascade of the Nymphs : level easy to the waterfall, can be extended through the rugged trails to the black and blue swimming pools in the middle of lush vegetation.
– The natural pool : easy level also, done in half a day, the water is very clear, we can swim (a little cool from June to August ). Since the pool, the park guide will take you to a lookout 10 minutes of the site (for panoramic view of Isalo)

You continue the descent to the National 7 about 5 hours. We pass through countries ethnicity ”Bara”, zebu breeders. Crossing the Horombe tray. Before the arrival of Ambalavao, bifurcation towards the Tsaranoro Valley. (Step 210 kms, 5 hours) Accomodation Camp Catta

A guided tour in the Valley of Tsaranoro. The walks are not lacking on the site and you can choose on the spot according to your physical condition. Among these, the chameleon circuit is  more complete (duration  maximum 6 hours) you will cross the Sacred Forest Tsaranoro cemetery of the inhabitants of the valley. The morning, you will have a good chance to see lemurs Catta reheating the sun. After climb towards Tsaranoro , we turn to go cross the stream that comes from the top. A short break for refreshing and  we go back along the stream up lead on the board. Then you branch off on left towards the top of Langera called  “The Chameleon”. A last slope steep , we must be carefull , reaching the edge where you can enjoy the scenery while at leisure. Picnic, or just a snack in depending on the time, then you descend towards the village of Morarano, the car gets you. If step falls on a Wednesday or Thursday morning you can attend one of the largest markets of the Zebu: thousands of heads are delivered twice a week. Special entertainment prevails. Drive to Ambalavao, the capital of zebu is also known for its factory Antaimoro Paper and beautiful silk weaving shop. Continuation to Fianarantsoa we cross the vineyards (possibility of wine tasting ”Lazan’ ny Betsileo”). . Installation at the hotel Villa Sylvestre in downtown (Step 130 kms – 2 hours )

Tour of the high city of Fianarantsoa, named also ”the old town”. Fianarantsoa is the capital of Wine. Vines coming from France and Switzland, give a fruity taste. Short way to Ranomafana ( aorund 2 hours ). Set in hotel Chez Gaspard. In the afternoon you can relax to Thermes wtih hot source water ( Step : 61 Kms – 2 hours )

In the morning,  visit of the  Ranomafana National Park, ( from 2 to 4 hours ). It is is a park covering 41,601 ha of forest. In 2007, it was ranked Heritage as World Natural of the Atsinanana (”The East”) . It shelters a rich endemic biodiversity, which includes rare species of lemur. The park  is in addition the genetic reservoir of rare and  some endemic plant species. It is traversed by many rivers that are tributaries of the river Namorona; visit from 2 to 4 hours. ( you can adapt the visit timing according to your fitness ).  Then we tahe the highland road until Amboistra, the artisnal capital. After the city tour, continuation to Antsirabe. Installation in your hotel Chambre du Voyageur. ( Step of 280 kms, 6 to 7 hours )

Breakfast then city tour by rickshaw: we can notably visit a miniature workshop (rickshaw, bicycle, trucks). Precious stones (amethysts, tourmaline, garnet …) are one of the main attractions of Antsirabe. The craftsman ”chez Joseph” will be able to make demonstrations of cutting of precious stones. you  take the road due west, at the village of Betafo, we can make a detour to the historic Lake Trtriva, then direction the town of Miandrivazo, where in royal times, King Radama 1st was waiting for his future wife daughter of a Sakalava king. Miandrivazo, located at sea level, is considered one of the hottest cities in Madagascar. Installation at the hotel Princesse Tsiribhina. The guide who will ensure your descent of the river will appear around 7 p.m. for a short briefing. (220 kms stage, 6 hours)

Departure around 9am from Miandrivazo, Transfer to the heart of the savannah, for the Pier near the village of Masiakampy. (count 1 hour, 20 minutes of tar, 40 minutes of track). The crew welcomes us on the barge. Barges are motor barges formerly used for the transportation of tobacco. They were then arranged for the transport of tourists. At the back of the barge is the cockpit and the kitchen. Passengers have benches on the lower deck where meals will be served. A staircase leads to the Solarium equipped with deckchairs.
The cruise will begin in the middle of the morning, you  will cross vast cultivated plains, will sail along the banks and gorges of Tsiribihina and will cross the villagers of the river; they are part of the ”Sakalava” ethnic group, their huts are built mainly of reeds, and roofs made of rice straw or palm leaves. In the late afternoon, refreshing stop and swim at the waterfall of Nosy Ampela (women’s island), a small corner of paradise that houses families of lemurs. The Camp will be set up nearby on a large sandbar.

The barge continues its navigation in the heart of the meanders of the Tsiribihina river. You will meet piroguiers, motor barges for the freight of local products and by means of transport and exchange for the villagers. In the day, stop at the village of Begidro famous for its old tobacco concessions. The peasants still cultivate it in a traditional way; you can visit the warehouse. You  resume the cruise, landscapes follow one another: cliff bats (Kina Kina), the giant capoquin, rice fields, the village of Berevo, more modern, with a Catholic school, a dispensary and a gendarmerie. At the end of the day, stop for 30 minutes to the village of Ambatomisay to see yout first Baobabs ”Andasonia Za”. The crew will put up the Camp on a beach that can change from one year to another, depending on the rains. After dinner, you  will participate, around a campfire, in a traditional dance show.

The landscapes are confused with tamarinds, mango trees, jujube trees, ricins, sensory mimosas, balsas, and date palms. Last day of your cruise to greet once again herons, fishermen, drongos, green bee-eaters, teals, humpback ducks. Arrival at the end of the morning at the village of Tsimafana on the left bank of the river; lunch on board the barge. Then transfer by 4×4 to Morondava. Photo stop in front of the Sacred Baobab and the famous Baobab Alley for the sunset. Arrival in the evening at the hotel Sun Beach hotel in Morondava. (Stage of 110 kms – 3 to 4 hours  of track).

Morondava Airport transfer for correspondance. End of Madagascar Circuits Tours.