Trip West Highlands

Departure at 8:00 am, head to the ”thermal town” of Antsirabe, down the road you  will  stop at the Behenjy  village famous for its ”foie gras”, Ambatolampy known for its artisanal factories of aluminum objects like canner. Arrival in Antsirabe around noon, free lunch; 2:00 pm you hit the road to the West  to arrive in the late afternoon / early evening at the village of Miandrivazo; during the royal time, the king Radama awaited his first wife, who was a daughter of Sakalava King’s.Miandrivazo is located at sea level, and considered one of the hottest cities in Madagascar. Installation at the hotel Princesse Tsiribhina. ( If you travel on Tsiribhina River the day after, briefing with your guide around 7:00 pm )  (Step 390 kms, 12h00 – – possibility o cut in 2 days with night in Antsirabe )

Your departure is scheduled around 9am from Miandrivazo, Transfer to the heart of the savannah, for the Pier near Masiakampy village. (count 1 hour, 20 minutes of tar, 40 minutes of track). The crew welcomes us on the barge. Barges are motor boats formerly used for the Tobacco transportation. They were then arranged for tourists transport. 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 to Begidro village 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, Berevo village, 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 our 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, we you participate, around a sympathic campfire at a traditional dance show. Second Camp.

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 by the end of the morning at Bereketa pier in Belo sur Tsiribihina; lunch on board the barge. You join you 4WD which has left Morondava in the morning. It will take more or less 4 hours of track to reach Bekopaka, starting point for excursions in Tsingy of Bemaraha. (120 kms stage, track – 4 to 5  hours) Accommodation Orchidées du Bemaraha * *

After breakfast, you will go for an excursion on a traditional pirogue all along the Manambolo river; it lasts around 1 hour and a half. You will see caves, Vazimba Tombs ( Vazimba were the first ethny leaving in Madagascar) , birds.
Then departure with your 4WD from Bekopaka to join the starting point of ”Grands Tsingy” ( 17 kms of a bumpy road, it will take from 1 to 2 hours driving according the season ).  The trip is called ”Andamozavakay”, it takes around 4 hours It is not a trek but a slow and observation walk. This not requiere not a particular physical condition, but it is not good for those subject to vertigo or claustrophobia. During the hike you will discover: secondary forest, caves (bring a headlamp) of the diaclases, panoramic views of this unique massif in the world. You  cross a suspension bridge. The set is perfectly safe and very well laid out by the National Park that provides safety harnesses.Back to the hotel after the visit.

Departure at 7:30 am, we return on track to join Belo Tsiribihina. Lunch advised at the restaurant ”Mad Zebu,” one of the best in Madagascar. You will take a ferry boat and cross again the Tsiribihina (45 minutes crossing). It will remain 2h30 to 3 hours to reach Morondava. On the way, you will stop at the Sacred Baobab, a tree with a thousand years of notoriety. End afternoond we will stop at the baobabs alley to enjoy the sunset and take pictures. Arrival at the hotel Sun Beach early in the evening. (Step 220 kms – 8-9 hours of track)

Rest day after track. In the afternoon 2 hours of excursion on local pirogue in the middle of the mangroves, stop at Betania , the fishers village, you will see fishermen sailing back on pirogue,

Departure 6am am. Road to Antsirabe. It is advisable to have lunch halfway to Miandrivazo in Princesse Tsiribhina. . Arrival in the late afternoon / early evening. Installation at the hotel. (Stage 550 kms – 12 hours .)

A rural guided walk around Manandona (located 20 kms South of Antsirabe), picnic included. It consists to visit the villages and It is about 3h to 5h of walk. Discover an old farmers village and wild silk, Protective ditches (or hadivory), the famous ”tamboho” of old time, You will also be brought to meet different types of customs (Famadiana, Famorana, Ala volon-jaza), which may reflect the culture of Malagasy people (season: June, July, August, September). You go for a walking tour in the rural countryside, crossing rice fields and small villages in the area, schools and meeting the real highlands peasant that will make you discover their daily life Folksongs and dancing around a fire with the villagers and families who welcome us at the end of the afternoon (Tandonaka)

Breakfast at the hotel and city tour: you will visit a particular miniatures shop’s (rickshaws, bicycle, and trucks). The gem (amethyst, tourmaline, garnet …) are one of the main attractions of Antsirabe. The craftsman ”Chez Joseph” may make cutting demonstrations gems. Continuation to the Southern part. After Ankaratra’s mountains, we cross of the cultural heritage rice terraces Indonesian.  Break in Ambositra the artisanal capital; one street of the city is dedicated to shops sculptors on Wood specialized in marqueteire. Advised lunch at ”Artisan Hotel” to savor the Malagasy dish. Romazava ”meat and leafy vegetables.  Following the road, in the heart of Betsileo lead us to Fianarantsoa  Installation at Hotel Ambalakely.( Step  200 kms, 8 to 9 h )

Morning departure from Fianarantsoa. you  cross the vineyards (possibility of wine tasting ”Lazan’ny Betsielo”) at Ambalavao. 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. The capital of zebu is also known for its factory Antaimoro Paper and beautiful silk weaving shop. At the South of the city, visiting the reserve Anja. This reserve was created by a villagers association that provides protection. The walks are between 45 minutes and 2 hours;we will see Catta lemurs. Continuation of the N7 south direction; the landscape becomes more desert. Crossing the plateau of Horombe. We move to Bara’s countries one the ethnic group of the Island, known for the breeding of zebu. Arrival late afternoon at Isalo, exceptional site in Western décor which presents a variety of majestic landscapes, impressive canyons, rock formations carved by erosion. Installation at the hotel Isalo Ranch. (Step 270 kms, 6 to 7  hours)

The Isalo National Park, criss-crossed by rivers and tributaries, covers 81,540 hectares. This ruiniform massif is a plateau of continental sandstone dating from the Jurassic. Heavily eroded, only witnesses fragmented by the sandy valleys and canyons remained. A truly exceptional show! There are several possible walking tours in the park. For example, you can take a walk in the morning and another in the afternoon or even make a complete loop during the day, a village association can prepare you a lunch in the middle of nature. We include for you 2 circuits that can be combined including:
– The natural pool ( Piscine Nturelle ): easy level, takes place in half a day, the water is very clear, you can swim there (fresh from June to August). From the pool, the park guide will take you to a lookout 10 minutes from the site (panoramic view of the Isalo)
– The waterfall of the Nymphs ( Cascade des Nymphes ): easy level up to the waterfall, it can be extended via rugged paths to the black and blue pools in the heart of lush vegetation.

Early morning departure towards Tulear, desert landscape where thorny plants emerge. Crossing villages gems of researchers which the more known is Ilakaka, which is Sapphire’s city. First glimpse of Baobabs and passing by Mahafaly country’s, overlooking the famous tombs of the same name, topped by large carved posts called ”Aloalo”. You will visit the Arboretum of Antsokay which is located at the entrance to the South Tulear grouping typical flora and many endemic medicinal plants in Madagascar. Lunch advised at Tulear. It remains one small hour to reach the seaside resort of Ifaty. (Step 250 kms – 5h30). Accomodation Hotel Ifaty Beach.

Seaside stay to the hotel which offers various activities: visiting a baobab forest, output Vezo dugout along the coral reef, diving, fishing, snorkelling, quad biking, turtle village … All these activities can be arranged on site.

Transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Tananarive. Transfer to Hotel Belvédère.

City tour in Antananarivo, begining with the hightown, where there is the Queen palace, continuing to the independance avenue, which is limited by the rail station. After Lunch visit of the flowers market and ended by the handicraft shop to buy some sovenirs. Assistance at the airport to fly back home. End of our services.