8/ Madagascar, the red island

INTRODUCTION
This tour combines a quick view of the highlands, a leisurely river descent, a hike in the Tsingy de Bemaraha, a days of 4×4 drive to the Baobab alley and ends on the West coast.

HIGHLIGHTS
Variety of landscapes
Antsirabe
Tsingy de Bemaraha
4×4 drive
Baobab Alley
Morondava beach

DAY TO DAY PROGRAM

DAY 1 : TANA – ANTSIRABE 170Km

After breakfast, if time permits, we have city tour of Tana, the capital of Madagascar. Then with a private car, 3 to 4 hour drive southward to Antsirabe across the highland landscape with its beautiful teraced rice-fields and its spectacular eroded hills called “lavaka”. Optional stop in Ambatolampy, an agricultural city, also known for its aluminum recycling workshops that we might visit during the weekdays. The next hours, we’ll drive among rural scenery with thatched roof villages, valleys, rivers, rice and vegetables fields. This region supplies vegetables and rice to almost the whole country. Arrival in Antsirabe, if time permits, well have a short city tours, visit a lapidary of semi-precious gem, then a workshop making “pousse pousse” and cars in miniature
ANTSIRABE Located 169 km south of Antananarivo, Antsirabe is an elegant city in the heart of Ankaratra massif. The name “Antsirabe” means ? the place of much salt “, because of its natural hot spring and salty thermal source. Because of its mild and even cold temperature, Norwegians missionaries were attracted by the city and founded Antsirabe in 1856 and later used it as their base. Antsirabe is actually the only place which feels and looks like a European city because of its mild climate, its beautiful villas along the large tree-lined avenues. Also known for its beerbrewing, Antsirabe is the main malt, barley and hops growing region in Madagascar. With its temperate climate and volcanic soil, all fruits and vegetable which grow in temperate/cold climates are found in Antsirabe. Surrounded by mines of semi-precious stones, Antsirabe is also known for gems and semi-precious stones factory and is a good place to buy gems and semi-precious stones. BETAFO Located about 20 km westward of Antsirabe, on RN34, the road to Miandrivazo, a charming small town, Betafo gives visitors an excellent view of what it is a real highland activities. We will see erected stone in memory of dead warriors. Well visit the “Tatamarina Lake”, a crater sacred lake where it is a taboo to swim and to bring pork in the surrounding.
BETAFO Located about 20 km westward of Antsirabe, on RN34, the road to Miandrivazo, a charming small town, Betafo gives visitors an excellent view of what it is a real highland activities. We will see erected stone in memory of dead warriors. We’ll visit the “Tatamarina Lake”, a crater sacred lake where it is a taboo to swim and to bring pork in the surrounding.

Day 2 : ANTSIRABE – MIANDRIVAZO 220Km

Breakfast at hotel. City tours of Antsirabe with visits to various artisans workshops then we head on to Miandrivazo for 3 to 4 hours drive. The landscape is changing step by step, from green highland to savannah, erosion called « lavaka ». Overnight in Hotel

Day 3 : MIANDRIVAZO – MASIAKAMPY – TSIRIBIHINA: 30Km

Morning transfer to Masiakampy where the riverboat is waiting to navigate down the Tsiribihina River. Boarding and beginning of the cruise. Stop around Sahambano village, diner and camping on the bank of the river on full board.

Day 4 : GORGE OF BEMARAHA

Departure around 07.30, breakfast on board. This day is set for seeing animals like lemurs, crocodiles, birds, bats along the river, and to have a look at primary semi- dry forests along the river. Around 09.30, hike up to the natural swimming pool and waterfalls for bathing. Lunch on board. Arrival in Berevo around 15.30. Visit of Berevo village. After 1 hour of navigation, stop and have our tent ready for the camping on the bank of the river on full board.

DAY 5 : COASTAL PLAIN OF MENABE – TSIMAFANA – BELO – BEKOPAKA 110Km

Departure around 07.30. After the end of the « Gorge of Tsiribihina », we cross the plain of Menabe which is characterised by rice fields on the riverbanks. We can also observe the life of the Sakalava tribe living along this big river. Arrival in Belo then 4 hours drive to Bekopaka in one of the driest part of the country to experience the genuine life of the locals. Night in hotel

DAY 6, BEKOPAKA

Morning, after breakfast, 4 to 6 hours hiking in the reserve of “ Tsingy de Bemaraha”. This limestone massif is classified as an international heritage site. This massif is spectacularly eroded into a chaos of karsts pinnacles. The reserve is home for outstanding flora and fauna such as the stump-tailed chameleon, the Decken’s Sifaka, the Baobab etc. Night at the same hotel.

DAY 7, BEKOPAKA – MORONDAVA : 200 Km

Breakfast at hotel then, cross Manambolo river and take the dirt road to Morondava. Stop in Belo sur Tsiribihina where we cross the Tsiribihina river with a local ferry to reach Tsimafana. From there another 4 hours to reach Morondava. We are in the region of splendid Grandidiers baobab, Andasonia grandidieri. We stop in « ALLEE DES BAOBABS » and enjoy the sunset picture of this unique moment, with its different colours and lights. Night in Hotel.

DAY 8, MORONDAVA – TANA (Domestic flight) – EXTENSION

Transfer to the airport
END OF SERVICE