Experience the wilds of Madagascar’s lush rainforests and arid baobab deserts. This unique tour takes you through the heart of Western Madagascar travelling for 3 days down the Tsiribihina River in a traditional pirogue. Thereafter trek through some of the most unique and spectacular landscapes on earth in the Tsingy and Kirindy Reserves with an opportunity to encounter lemurs and variety of indigenous birds. The tour ends off with a day on the beach at Morondava before returning to Antananarivo.

Highlights

• Traveling down the Tsiribihina river in a traditional pirogue
• Trekking in Tsingy de Bemahara
• Visiting Kirindy private reserve
• Baobab alley
• White beaches at Morondava

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Antananarivo where you will be met and transferred to the La Varangue Hotel where you will stay overnight on dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2: Very early start by car from Antananarivo to Antsirabe. Break for breakfast in Antsirabe and meet your tour leader. We continue to Miandrivazo. Here is the starting point of the pirogue tour. Overnight at the Hôtel "Le Gîte de la Tsiribihina”.

Day 3: In the morning, we start going down the Tsiribihina River. The trip is slow and you can relax. The only bit of work you may need to do is occasionally help push the traditional pirogue over a sandbank. Meals are served on the shore, and accommodation is in tents on the riverbanks for three nights.

Day 4: Today we continue drifting down the river. At Anosin' Ampela there’s a wonderful waterfall where you can swim and relax a while.

Day 5: We continue to pass the Gorge de Bemaraha with its steep rocks and unique landscape. We may see some lemurs and other animals along the way.

Day 6: The last section of river continues through beautiful landscapes and forests. We arrive at Belo sur Tsiribihina in late afternoon and take a short walk to the “ Hotel du Menabe”.

Day 7: After breakfast at the hotel, we travel by 4WD vehicle in direction of Tsingy de Bemaraha. Arriving shortly after midday enjoy your first walk later that afternoon. We spend the next two nights at the campground.

Day 8: Today you’ll enjoy a full day of trekking with a local guide through the reserve. There are numerous different paths winding through the valleys that allow for extensive exploring. There are some limestone needles that reach a height of up to 60 m. Often nearby are colonies of Sifakas - a kind of lemur.

Day 9: After breakfast we travel by 4WD from the Tsingy de Bemaraha to the private forest station of Kirindy. There you’ll enjoy a nocturnal walk through the reserve. Overnight at the "Gîte de Kirindy".

Day 10: Making an early start, enjoy a morning tour in the reserve of Kirindy. After the tour drive to Morondava. En route we stop to visit the “baobab in love” and the famous baobab alley. Overnight accommodation is in Morondava at the hôtel "Le Renala Au sable d’or".

Day 11: A day for relaxing on the beautiful beaches at Morondava.

Day 12: Transfer to the airport of Morondava for your flight to Antananarivo. Upon arrival you'll be transferred once again to the La Varangue where you will stay overnight on a bed and breakfast basis. The day is at leisure to explore the sights and markets of Antananarivo.

Day 13: Transfer to the airport for your flight home. End of itinerary.