Tsingy Bemaraha + Descent Tsiribihina: together for a better circuit Madagascar

Tsiribihina -Tsingy tours

Strong points for Tsiribihina river and tsingy of bemaraha tour:
- A navigation of another age by dugout,
- Majesty of the Tsiribihina river and the mystery of its gorges,
- The discovery of the unreal world of Tsingy of bemaraha national park
- Morondava, and the baobab trees’ country.

Two adventures for the same circuit: it is possible with Tsingy - Tsiribihina offer. Before we transfer you to Miandrivazo, starting point of the descent to Tsiribihina, you will spend a few days in Antsirabe or the city of water. Many curiosities deserve your glance at the heart of this spa site of the big island. After Antsirabe, the west of Madagascar is finally at hand for the famous descent on Tsiribihina. A beauty sometimes sweet and sometimes austere that will make you the greatest adventurer in history. During the descent, you will observe the gorges and its inhabitants: lemurs, birds and reptiles. Do not forget the aquatic riches like harmless caimans and multitudes of fish. The descent will end at Antseraraka Bekopaka, the door of Tsingy, where you will go camping and ride a zebu cart to access 4X4 cars. There, another adventure awaits you in the heart of Tsingy of Bemaraha, a living sanctuary where the fauna and flora live freely. It will be a breathtaking discovery that continues to Morondava, to the Baobab alley, and to the city center to reach your hotel overlooking the Mozambique Channel.

DAY 1

Antananarivo

Meet at Ivato international airport and transfer to the hotel. Live intensely your first contact with the City of the Thousand, one of the most picturesque capitals in the world where the rice plantations besiege to the footing of its bordering districts. Sort of pyramid-city but with a base which does not cease extending, Antananarivo is built on three levels and at the summit the emblematic Queen's Palace right in rehabilitation. Visits of Ambohimanga “the Blue Hill”, and of the Old City with its superb panoramic sight.

DAY 2

Antananarivo - Antsirabe

We choose to leave early to discover the countryside of Imerina during its wakening with its undulating landscapes, its hamlets of cob walls, and always the feeder ricefields. At the km No 170 of this RN7, also called the Road of the South, Antsirabe is the first thermal site of Madagasikara and has a climate particularly vivifying. In the afternoon, we will not refuse the pleasure of strolling by rickshaw between two visits of lapidaries and craftsmen workshops'. We will pass the night at the hotel according to the client choice.

DAY 3

Antsirabe - Miandrivazo

We will not leave the Town of Water without a small detour to the most famous volcanic lake of Madagasikara, the Lake Tritriva. Then we will head into the West, the fertile lands of Vakinankaratra gradually give up the place to the aridity of Bongolava. Miandrivazo on the side of Mahajilo, an affluent of Tsiribihina, will be our port of boarding. This region is famous having the highest temperatures of Madagasikara! Relaxation at the Coin d'Or or Rasalimo hotel.

DAY 4

Tsiribihina river

Boarding at 8.00 a.m. after the breakfast, then we go for a tour by the dugout which will watch the malagasy West scenery, in its austere beauty, pass before our eyes. We will stop as much as anyone will want to stretch his legs a bit in a virgin nature, and to discover endemic species of birds such as wigeons, égrettes, herons and chameleons. Stop for meal at the semi-day and the guide-cook will concoct you something with meat certainly - based - on zebu, fish, chicken, and vegetables. Only fresh things! Then we resume the navigation until the evening , preparing the bivouac on a sand bank. Meditation guaranteed by listening to the whistle of the night insects and by contemplating a beautiful starry sky...

DAY 5

Gorges of Tsiribihina river

The passage of the Gorges through the solid mass of Bemaraha is one of the strong points of the descent. Fantastic landscapes, a deciduous dry forest, a diversified fauna where one will recognize in particular the lemurs which should not be missed such as propithèques of verraux or fulvus lemurs, very rare Pygargue of Madagasikara or 'Ankoay', or large parrots, chatterers with wish. Bathe in a natural swimming pool collecting crystalline water of a very beautiful waterfall. We will see lemurs watering themselves there by a little chance.

DAY 6

Antseraraka

We take breakfast on a sand bank - as usual - and then new departure with a background of tobacco fields. It is told that they were Greek migrants who have launched this intensive culture from the end of 19th century. Under the impassive eye of black cap herons, our boats will pass in front of the rock blocks where groups of dogfishes are hung. Last camp-site at the edge of Tsiribihina.

DAY 7

Antseraraka - Bekopaka

All the ways lead to Bekopaka, the 'door' of Tsingy. We will start ours by zebu- cart to the 4 X 4 wheels which will bring us to destination via Belo on Tsiribihina river. Camp-site in the shade of the mango trees at the edge of the Manambolo River.

DAY 8

Visit of Tsingy of Bemaraha

In 1990, declared Site of the World Inheritance by UNESCO, tsingy of Bemaraha became a National Park in August 1997 in order to develop its ecotouristic potentialities. Tsingy constitute a very dense system of faults, cracks, calcareous blocks carved in sharp-edged needles. Basically, they have a complex hydrology with underground cavities which would have been used as shelter for the 'vazimba', first occupiers of the island. Fauna is very rich with 13 species of lemurs, mammals like Fosa, terrestrial and aquatic birds, amphibians, reptiles. For the flora, 85% of the species are endemics. A broad variety of tours, with different levels of difficulty, allows a 'free choice' visit of this exceptional site. In Bemaraha the Discovery is written with a capital "D". We will do it together!

DAY 9

On the road of Morondava

It is inconceivable to finish this tour without seeing closely the strange baobab trees which make the celebrity of Morondava region. While coming from Belo on Tsiribihina, which will help us a little as hub, we will greet the Sacred Baobab tree (make your wishes!), the Baobab tree In love reproduced more and more on the markets by the craftsmen basket makers, and the Alley of the Baobab trees which many people from the world come to admire. The arrival will be at the end of the day at Morondava and relieving at the Bougainvilliers Hotel giving sight on the Channel of Mozambique. Nota: The descent of Tsiribihina can be also made by barges with your choice. These boats were formerly used exclusively by the plantations of tobacco. Today ten have been comfortably equipped to receive the tourists. One will particularly note the solarium arranged on the roof, whose heightening makes an ideal observing post of it during the entire course.

DAY 10

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continuation by plane to Antananarivo or to Toliary.