(416 km – about 8 hours) Early morning departure by private car to Antsirabe, the second-largest city in the central highlands, located 170 km away, south of Antananarivo, reachable along a road that winds through the countryside, where you can admire extensive rice fields and the work of the fields that varies according to the seasons; also the typical villages of the crossed regions, the Imerina and the Vakinankaratra; along the way, stop in the large village of Ambatolampy to visit the artisans who manufacture valuable aluminum objects, both decorative and for daily use; upon arrival lunch in a restaurant; then continuation of the road towards the West; the landscapes gradually change through a mountainous region, sparsely inhabited up to Miandrivazo, a large village on the banks of the Mahajilo River, a tributary of the Tsiribihina; accommodation at the Princesse Tsiribihina Hotel (Ecolodge) or similar; Dinner and overnight. Read more

Miandrivazo

(40 km – about 1 hour by car) After breakfast, continue along the national road and after about 20' entrance of the track that will lead to the banks of the river in about 40' at the village of Masiakampy; on arrival, embarkation and start of navigation; these boats are motorized barges, used in the past for the transport of tobacco, later adapted for tourist river transport; at the back are the pilot's seat and behind the kitchen; on the lower deck there are benches that serve as a dining area; the cruise will begin mid-morning, crossing vast cultivated plains; sailing near the banks and gorges of the Tsiribihina River you will be able to see the inhabitants of the villages belonging to the Sakalava ethnic group, whose huts are mainly made of reeds with roofs of rice thatch or palm leaves; around 04:00pm stop at the waterfall of Nosy Ampela (the women’s island) where you can take a refreshing bath in the pristine nature, sometimes observed by shy lemurs; the camp will be set up on a large sandbank nearby; meals on board and overnight in tents. Read more

Campsite

(about 7 to 8 hours of navigation) Breakfast on board, then continuation of navigation into the heart of the meanders of the Tsiribihina River, during which you can spot various species of birds along the banks of the river, such as herons of various colors, bright kingfishers, the cute drongo with the typical plume, various species of birds of prey including, sometimes, the eagle-fisher; during navigation you will encounter barges used for the transport of local products, as a means of exchange and transport for the villagers, and pirogues; stop at the village of Begidro, famous for its former tobacco concessions, now cultivated in an artisanal way; the cruise resumes, the landscapes follow one another, in particular you can admire high cliffs where bats nest (Kina Kina), which serve to pollinate the majestic Kapoaka tree, precious because its fruits contain a woolly fiber, the lightest in the world with only 0.35gr/m3, used to stuff pillows and mattresses but also in eco-sustainable clothing; towards the end of the day, new stop at the village of Ambatomisay to admire the first baobab trees "Andasonia Za"; the barge crew will set up camp on a beach; the location may change from one year to the next, depending on the rains; after dinner, there will be a small night animation with traditional dances around a campfire; meals on board and overnight in tents. Read more

Campsite

(about 2 hours of navigation + 100 km – about 5 hours of piste) Breakfast at the camp, then continuation of navigation along the savannah where imposing baobabs and Sakalava villages, on the banks of the river, become more and more numerous; lunch on board before the end of navigation, then landing and continue by car along the track through the shrub bush, where you can see, among other things, the funerary constructions of the Sakalava people, painted in bright colors; arrival at the Manambolo river and new crossing on raft; then you reach the village of Bekopaka; accommodation at the hotel L'Orchidée de Bemaraha (Ecolodge) or similar; in the evening, dinner and overnight at the hotel. Read more

Bekopaka

Excursion to the Manambolo gorges and the small Tsingy. After breakfast, you reach the banks of the Manambolo river and departure for an excursion of about 1.30 hours on special traditional pirogues reaching the majestic gorges of the river, characterized by high sheer walls, where birds of various species nest; further on, walking to visit some caves dotted with stalactites and stalagmites; at the end, return to the village; in the available time, we can visit the village, observe the activities and daily life of the people on the river, explore the offshoots of the forest and see its harmless animals; lunch in a restaurant; in the afternoon, departure for the visit of the small Tsingy, limestone rock formations that are found in the surrounding savannah; this circuit of about 2 hours passes through a labyrinth of limestone pinnacles connected by wooden stairs and walkways, where you will have good opportunities to spot lemurs, especially the red-fronted sifaka and the decken brown lemurs , as well as chameleons and rare birds; at the end of the visit, return to the village; in the evening, dinner and overnight at the hotel. Read more

Bekopaka

Excursion to the Great Tsingy. Breakfast at the hotel; whole day dedicated to visiting the fantastic Great Tsingy, an impressive stone wall about 100 km long, almost impenetrable, which has preserved this primitive environment intact; approach to the park entrance by car through the savannah, at the base of the cliffs, an ancient coral reef sculpted into spires by weathering over geological eras, which can reach a height of up to 60 meters above the ground; exploration of the park, a UNESCO World Heritage site; this is probably the most rewarding hike; the trails leads inside the park, into the depths of the forest and between limestone pinnacles, passing through a series of suspension bridges with the impressive karst formations underfoot; the trail is not technically difficult and even older children can do it, but we certainly should not suffer from vertigo! picnic lunch during the excursion; return to the hotel at the end of the day; dinner and overnight at the hotel. Read more

Bekopaka

(200 km – about 7 hours) After breakfast, return to Morondava, always fascinated by the natural wonders along the way, stopping in the most interesting places; lunch in a restaurant along the way; at sunset, along the way that leads to Morondava, the famous Baobab avenue, where these gigantic and wonderful trees take on surprising colors when the sun sets, stop in the savannah to watch the impressive spectacle; arrival in Morondava at the end of the day and accommodation at Palissandre Côte Ouest Resort (3*) or similar; in the evening dinner and overnight at the hotel. Read more

Morondava

Breakfast at the hotel; in due time, transfer to the airport. End of services.