We start the trip by exploring the wild island of Nosy Hara on foot and by boat between the ridge and the lagoon. A real Robinson Crusoe experience. From there, we reach the mainland to continue with a trek from the French Mountain to the Red Tsingy. A totally exclusive itinerary on foot leads us along wild paths used by the locals. From villages to villages, we will be able to observe landscapes of rice fields, baobab forest, mangroves … Our adventure will be rich in encounters. We then leave to explore during two days the Tsingy of Ankarana from West to East: discovery of the roofs of the Tsingy, passage in the underground caves, crossing on the suspended bridges, ladders… Finally, we end the adventure in Nosy Komba, one of the most beautiful islands of the archipelago of Nosy Be.
Flight to Diego. Arrival in Diégo Suarez, luggage deposit at the hotel, then we leave for a walk in the city to discover the capital of the great north.
Dinner and night at your hotel
Early in the morning, we leave Diego Suarez to reach the small village of Ampasindava, 1 hour away by track. Boarding on board a traditional hull with sail and motor towards one of the most beautiful archipelagos of the great North. Consisting of islets of limestone origin (marine Tsingy), the archipelago of Nosy Hara is surprising thanks to its isolation. Its lagoons, its beaches and its underwater biodiversity are perfectly preserved. A real exclusive robinsonnade experience! For this morning, we leave to discover at least two islets and alternate swimming and snorkeling. Towards the end of the morning, we reach our bivouac point located at the bottom of a small bay surrounded by a white sand beach. Lunch on the spot. In the middle of the afternoon, we leave for a small walk of one hour to join a pretty point of view. Walk inside a forest canyon where we could observe several species of birds and reptiles. With a little luck, we will also see the Brookesia Micra, the smallest chameleon in the world, endemic to Nosy Hara.
After breakfast, we leave to discover the inland from one end to the other of a ridge line overlooking lagoons and islets. This magnificent route combines discovery of Tsingy, Baobabs, typical fauna of the habitat; and discovery of the bat cave. The walk ends at the seaside on a wild beach of fine white sand. A well-deserved swim before embarking on a boat to reach the mainland.
We take the same track and take the time to visit the villages, to meet and exchange with the local population. This track also passes by impressive salt flats that we will visit.
3h30 walk
Picnic lunch on the way.
Arrival in Diego-Suarez in the middle of the afternoon. Our guides will take the opportunity to make the last purchases for the next bivouacs.
Dinner and night at your hotel
Departure very early in the morning. Short transfer by vehicle to the foot of the French mountain. A great morning of panoramic hiking through the mountain from West to East. The first part of the ascent follows a path of the cross with breathtaking views of a bay where a sugar loaf stands. Then, we go up a long semi-tunnel to reach the summit before going down on the other side towards the valley of the Parrots. It is a little bit technical, not very developed, strewn with baobabs, rice fields and other typical vegetation of the Malagasy north. A completely different scenery!
4 hours 30 of activity, altitude difference +450 / -350 meters.
Road to the beach of Ampondrafeta where we will take our picnic lunch.
Free afternoon on the edge of the Indian Ocean. The beach of Ampondrafeta is of an incredible beauty, deserted and wild on several hundred meters. Be careful, the sea is rough for most of the year. Bivouac in a dream setting!
Dinner and night in bivouac
After breakfast, short transfer to the starting point of our second day of trek. Moment of immersion in the fishermen's village of Ampondrahazo before crossing on foot a plateau of shrubby savanna towards the plain of Antanimivelatra. The place is impressive: wide expanses of rice fields, pastures and small villages. From a viewpoint, we will observe a fascinating forest of baobabs very particular. We then leave this plain to go up on a dry plateau in direction of the small typical and isolated village of Sankazo. Visit of the village, then we continue to our next bivouac.
6 hours walk
Dinner and night in bivouac
Departure, on foot, from our camp for another day of trekking, where other surprises await us. The first part of the trek crosses a dry river bed on sandy ground to the village of Ambolobozibe. We will then enter a green oasis formed by lush rice fields dotted with palm trees. We will cross on foot some rivers of which Saharenana is the most important, before arriving at the next camp, located near the village of Andrafiamena.
Dinner and night in bivouac.
We start the day with a plateau of palm forest intermingled with forests rooted in the mangrove. The route drifts along the sea, on a black and sacred beach. It is possible to meet there the fishermen of mini-crevette or crab of mangrove. The morning hike ends at the entrance of the fishing village Antafiampatsa. Picnic lunch. Swimming possible. We continue towards Irodo and the canyons of the Red Tsingy. These tsingy are issued from an erosion also called lapiaz. The mixture of different oxides and the work of time have given birth to a set of several hundred small fairy chimneys. Light at the end of the day is magnificent!
Road in direction of the village of Ankarongana, located at the edge of the beautiful black river of Irodo. Ankarongana is one of the most isolated, rich and fertile villages. Meeting with the villagers. We join on foot the river located a little upstream of the village for a bathing pause. We extend our discovery to the plateau of Borarivano overlooking the whole valley. It is surrounded in the West by the massif of Tsingy Rouges, in the East by the massif of Analamera and full south by the mountain of Amber. We continue to Anivorano and will see some individuals of the sacred Crocodiles of the Anivorano lake.
Lunch in a local restaurant before joining the Tsingy of Ankarana.
Dinner and night at your lodge
Day devoted of crossing the Tsingy of Ankarana from East to West, discover the Big Tsingy of Benavony. You will enjoy astonishing landscape of the Tsingy, its underground with caves, dripstone. Passing through suspension bridges, which join 2 small canyons. People suffering from dizziness should refrain.
Amongst fauna, you will not miss Crowned lemur, Sanford’s lemur … Inventories have listed 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, 96 species of birds, 50 species of mollusks and great number of snails. 14 species of bats, that is half of the bats of Madagascar, live in the caves of Ankarana. This western part of the area is dominated by caves. The caves form either long galleries or are sheltered by large and long, 50 to 60m high tsingy walls. This tsingy wall, interspersed with canyons, is the natural boundary of the western park, known as the "Wall of Ankarana".
After the visit, we drive to Iharana Bush Camp (about 1 hour of track).
Dinner and overnight at Iharana Bush Camp.
After breakfast, discovery of the Tsingy in front of the Camp. Going for a stroll named “Tsingy Tsingy” that is designed especially by the Speleologist Jean Claude Dobrilla. Laid out private path with ladders, bridges, guardrails and panoramic viewpoint for Iharana’s guests are set for this stroll. The starting point is the camp itself with two choices: depart on foot or on a boat. Passing through the chameleon cave, this stroll will lead you to the roof of the Tsingy with breathtaking panorama of the surroundings.
Necessary equipment: light pants or short, walking boots, hat/cap + suntan lotion
A good health condition is necessary because there are narrow and steep passages as well as small step ladders.
Spare lunch (provide a picnic lunch or have a spare lunch at the camp).
In the afternoon, go to the Mandresy cave, after a stroll of about 20mn from the camp, along the Ankarana villages. At the entrance of Mandresy Cave, the guide will provide you cap lamp which is necessary to explore this huge cavity full of stalagmite and stalactite. A track has been designed so as to make the cave accessible for everyone. You will have the privilege to see some blind fish and the famous fruit bats of Madagascar called “Roussette” (Rousettus madagascariensis). You will also be amazed to see the different shapes of the stalagmites and particularly the size of the cavities which hide various magic places! On the way, you will find some cooking utensils, cooking pots and glasses because the caves were used as a shelter by the Ankarana people.
Dinner and overnight at Iharana Bush Camp.
Departure for Ankify after breakfast. There, you will board a speedboat for a twenty to thirty-minute crossing to Nosy Be or Nosy Komba.
Dinner and night at your hotel
Nosy Komba, this volcanic island located southeast of Nosy Be is the ideal place to live the "mora mora" the Malagasy expression meaning to take your time. Take advantage of the beaches and the virgin creeks for sweet baths...
Several sea or land activities can be organized from the hotel:
Dinner and night at your hotel
Depending on the flight schedules, transfer to the airport for the flight back to Antananarivo.
The walking times are given as an indication and are not contractual. They can change according to the physical condition of the group or the weather conditions. It is the same for the transfer times.
TRAVEL AGENCY – DMC – CAR RENTAL
AGENCE DE VOYAGES – TOUR OPERATEUR – LOCATION DE VOITURES
