From 4 to 12 persons.
The heart of this trip is an itinerant hike in the granite massif of Andringitra. It is a world apart, a world unknown and little traveled, which in no way corresponds to what we can imagine. Here, the foothills of the mountain are flooded with terraces, cultures combining the green intensity of primary forest and the gray austerity of granite peaks. Aesthetically, the mountains are very close to alpine landforms, only the vegetation differs. The large cliffs of Tsaranoro and Anja dominate the green valleys where small villages hide themselves away from everything. From the summits, the view is panoramic and embraces a vast territory. This land of trekking will delight all the unconditional of beautiful mountain roaming, spotted with magical encounters.
Highlights
- Trekking in Andringitra and Peak Boby
- Meeting a Malagasy mountainous culture
- Discover the green valley of Tsaranoro
- Approach a fauna and flora very diversified
Travel identity card
- Duration: 9 days
- Participant: From 4 persons
- Guiding: English-speaking Malagasy Guide
- Accommodation: Camping + Hotel
- Transport: 4×4 vehicle
- Period: April to November
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Effort = 4
“Steady”Days are from 5 to 7 hours of walking and these during several days in a row (5 to 10). No technical difficulty, but the elevation changes can be consequent: from 800 to 1200 m certain days. In Madagascar, the height is not a determining factor but it is to be considered. Your bag contains your personal belongings for the day. -
Confort = 2
“Adventure”
Majority of of nights under tent (camping) with hotels and / or hostels where possible.
In camping, meals are prepared by the Malagasy Tours team with fresh products, even in trek.
Attentive service in bivouac. Frequent showers, but not daily.
Travel by all-terrain vehicle on tarmac roads and / or tracks.
Day 1: Antananarivo > Antsirabe
We have breakfast in the hotel and start heading south passing through Antananarivo.
Rice fields and typical villages of the Highlands represent the landscape right after Antananarivo.
We stop in Ambatolampy to discover the rather amazing work of aluminum to make cooking pot for the whole country.
We take lunch in town. Continuation towards Antsirabe in the afternoon.
We take our time for a city tour and experience “pousse-pousse” (rick shaw) riding for those who want, it is the main transport for locals.
- Duration: +/- 3 h
- Distance: 170 km
Day 2: Antsirabe > Anja Reserve
We stay on road N7 and progress towards the south. We shop around and visit Zafimaniry artisans workshop, trying to find carved wood or a piece of marquetery box finely done. We stroll around in town and head to Fianarantsoa where we get lunch with Malagasy specialities and then go on till Ambalavao.
The landscape changes as we leave gradually the highland. We set up our camp in a spectacular granite mass foothill. Anja reserve is situated between two domes in a specific setting of forest and big rocks where different groups of Lemur catta live and are there protected.
- Duration: +/- 7 h
- Distance: 325 km
- We organise your meals
Days 3 to 6: Andringitra and Peak Boby
Anja Reserve is located at twenty kilometers south of Ambalavao. Groups of lemurs live in a nice forest at the bottom of a huge granite rock blocks. We learn about local customs of Betsileo and also Bara tribes. The latter bury the deceaseds inside natural caves in the rock cliff after fairly complex rituals. The local guide will give us more details.
We climb rocks without difficulty until the pass. Many interesting hikes are possible around.
This Reserve is run directly by villagers. All profit goes to improve the local people’s life conditions in the surrounding. We follow to Tsaranoro valley in the afternoon.
- Duration: from 7 to 8h of daily walking
- We organise your meals
Day 7: Andringitra – Tsaranoro Valley
We leave the massif behind us and join the valley of Tsaranoro. Six plant formations are represented in this area of great richness. Researchers listed 20 species of mammals, of which 4 of them are endemic to the massif, and also 62 species of birds. The most strange plants of the area are Kalanchoe, aloes and pachypodium. The plain is full of terrestrial orchids. The huge granite domes make of these mountains with narrow valleys, an amazing sight, especially at sunrise and sunset.
- Duration: from 5 to 6h of walking
- We organise your picnic lunch
Day 8: Tsaranoro > Ambositra
We get back to the main road. At Ambalavao, we visit the craft factory of the paper Antemoro. This secular process to make this paper with bark of the mulberry tree Avoha (Bosqueia danguyana) was introduced in Madagascar in the XVth century by the first Arabic migrants to retranscribe the Koran. He(it) is always made to Ambalavao according to the same processes.
We take back the road in the direction of Fianarantsoa. We lunch on the way and continue until Ambositra. Walk in the village and an evening in the hotel.
- Duration: +/- 5h
- Distance: 240 km including 4km of track
Day 9: Ambositra > Antananarivo
Ambositra is the town of the woodcarvers. Visit the workshops of craftsmen Zafimaniry. We hunt around in search of the sculptured piece of wood or of the finely decorated square of marquetry. Arrival at the end of morning at Antsirabe for the lunch.
Continuation in the afternoon to Antananarivo.
- Duration: +/- 5h
- Distance: 250 km
Include:
- A driver/guide and his vehicle all along the trip,
- Accommodation according your choice (Standard or Superior),
- Camping equipment (bring a sleeping bag),
- National parks and indicated sites fees,
- Local guides and porters for the trek,
- All transfers.
Not include:
- International flights,
- Tips and drinks,
- Your personal insurances,
- The visa: +/- 35€.
RESERVATION – CONFIRMATION
Reservation: Please use the form below to book your trip or change this itinerary. We will respond within 24 hours.
Confirmation: It will be effective upon receipt of the completed registration form that we will send you, as well as a deposit of 30% of the total amount of the price of the travel.
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