TSIRIBIHINA RIVER WITH PIROGUE FOR 6 DAYS.
« Precious stones, 3 Days camping, canoe trip, Avenue of baobab tree, Lemurs, Bats, waterfall »

(Best time to do this tsiribihina river is From April till Mid December) .

TOUR ROUTES :

ANTANANARIVO - ANTSIRABE - MIANDRIVAZO – TSARAOTANA VILLAGE - MORONDAVA.

Day 1 : ANTANANARIVO - ANTSIRABE . ( 169 km or 4 hours in the car )

Start the tour from Antananarivo to Antsirabe with your personal driver. This drive will take about 4 hours on a good, but twisting road. On route, you will meet the beautiful landscape of the rice field and merina typical tombs, villages. Stop at Ambatolampy to visit local forging making cooking pot by aluminium (metalwork). This is the largest town between Antananarivo and Antsirabe and the good place to have lunch. When you arrive in Antsirabe, you can relax for a while after the drive or take a walk to see around antsirabe including markets etc ...........Note that you can ride rickshaw which known as pousse-pousse use for local transportation.
Recommended accommodation : ( bed and breakfast are included )
  • Hotel des thermes. ( Mid range hotel option ).
  • Hotel Aro . ( Luxury hotel option ).
  • Hotel villa camellia. ( Luxury hotel option ).
  • Hotel le voyageur. ( Mid range hotel option ).

rice fields
vegetable stall
antsirabe

Day 2 : ANTSIRABE TO MIANDRIVAZO. ( 220 km or 4 hours in the car ).

After the morning breakfast, your driver will pick you up from the hotel to visit the highlights around Antsirabe town including precious stone factory where you can learn how they polish the stones. We then visit the natural source of the spring water at the thermal bath and then onto Andrakiba lake. You can have horse ride around Andrakiba Lake (fees is not included) and this is an optional. We then make our way to Miandrivazo. On the way we pass a waterfall in Betafo village, as we pass through the changing Malagasy countryside. When you arrive in Miandrivazo there is no real reason to stay here long as it only serves as a place to organize a trip along the Tsiribihina River to descent the 160 km through the wild landscapes of the far Malagasy West. The river trip lasts for 3 and half days, by pirogue (dugout wooden canoe) or you can choose to pay more and travel instead in a comfortable motor boat that takes 1 day less.
Recommended accommodation : ( bed and breakfast are included )
  • Chez La Reine Rasalimo. (mid range hotel).
  • Hotel La Pirogue . (mid range hotel).
Day 3 - 4 - 5: ALONG TSIRIBIHINA RIVER BY PIROGUE. ( 160 km long )

FIRST LEG: Start the day with your pirogue paddler and personal guide on the impressive Tsiribihina River, as it cuts its way through the rugged mountains that, in places, tower 600 meters above you. View a range of birdlife and many species of large chameleons, all by the riverbank. In the late afternoon your guide will pitch a tent, on a secluded island in the middle of the river. He will build you a fire and cook your dinner. Then sit back and enjoy your meal listening to the sounds of the river and watching the sun go down. Camping at night. (Full board is included).

SECOND LEG: Start the morning with a cooked breakfast as your guide packs up the camp. Then continue your adventure as the river winds through thick forests full of wildlife. Floating peacefully by, you have the opportunity to closely observe the many different types of lemurs, playing in the trees. Your guide will call a stop for lunch at the fabulous waterfall. This is a great place to rest and sometimes to observe curious lemurs. You can swim with this waterfall. Camping at night as before. (Full board is included).

THIRD LEG: Start the morning with breakfast as before. Then it’s back to the river passing tobacco farms and waving to locals as they collect their water. Then stop at a traditional Malagasy village. Isolated and hidden in the jungle this village can only be reached by riverboat, as it’s a 2-day walk to the nearest road. Watch how the villages work and live in their hand built wooden houses. Then back to the river and a surprise as you pass right next to some open caves. This is where hundreds of bats sleep through the day hanging upside down, from the ceiling of rock. Next you will see many Baobab trees on the riverside. These species of unusual, but beautiful trees can only be found in Madagascar. Camping at night as before. (Full board is included).


Day 6 : TSARAOTANA VILLAGE - MORONDAVA. (120 km or 5 hours by jeep)

After morning breakfast, take your jeep with driver from the riverbank in tsaraotana village to morondava. This ride will take about 5 hours with truck road and you will meet the dry forest, chameleon, lemurs on the side of the road along the way. Stop at the famous Baobab Avenue by the sun set on route. This is the best time of day to see the trees, as their colours change and their long shadows are most pronounced. We arrive at Morondava, where you are free to relax for the rest of the day.


Recommended accommodation : ( bed and breakfast are included )

  • Hotel chez Maggie. (Comfort hotel)
  • Hotel Renala du sable d’or. (Comfort hotel)
  • Hotel baobab cafee. (Comfort hotel)
  • Hotel Pallissandre. (Top range hotel).


NB : Our hotel will transfer you to the airport where you can take an onward flight to Tulear or Tana, or simply relax on the beach at Morondava until you are ready to move on.
Please note it is strongly advised that you purchase your air tickets before you start the tour, to avoid delays, although arrangements can also be made here. If you want to stay more days on the beach in Morondava, we suggest you take a 4WD or motor boat from Morondava to Belo sur mere for a spot of diving or snorkeling. This can also be organized through our agency