NORTH MAKAY TREKKING – 9 DAYS

From 4 to 12 persons.

We went all over the south of Makay, from Mangoky river to Andranomita cave, so we went around and start from the north to discover new faces of the massif. We got so excited to what we found there that we went back again and again, now we know it enough and we are able to take you for an unusual trek.

Leaving Antananarivo, we head straight to the massif and spend 5 days on spot with guide and porters crew. Huge plateau, canyons, long faults of sandy rivers, it is a passionating discovery of this exceptional site.

Highlights

Day 1: Antananarivo – Miandrivazo

Depart southward. Right out from Tana rice fields and characteristic villages of the highlands draw the landscape. At Ambatolampy we have a break and are going to discover the work, rather amazing, of manufacturers of aluminum cooking pot), those that we find in all Madagascar. We have lunch in town. Lunch at Antsirabe and drive to Miandrivazo where we spend the night.

• Duration: +/- 7h
• Distance: 400 km

Day 2: Miandrivazo > Malaimbandy > Makay

Drive to Malaimbandy and a track will lead us to the north base of the massif of Makay after 4 to 6 hours drive. It is the starting point of the expedition. It’s here that we find our guides and porters , they will be our fellows during these wonderfull days in the mountains. We set our tents at the exit of the village.

• Duration: +/- 5h
• Distance: 200 km including 80km of track
• We organise your meals 

Days 3 to 7: Trekking in north Makay

This part of the massif has been prospected in 2013 ; we’ve been dragging on more than fifteen days there searching for the best spots, camp points and view points. We have good knowledge of the south and centre part but we are particularly impressed by this area.

Now we guide you inside these huge straight faults where sun ray rarely gets through and amazing plants grow along the walls. We’ve discovered several traces of big crocodiles there.

Sakapaly river runs right through these mountains, we “navigate” inside those canyons and put up our camp on the white sandbanks.

Our hike passes inevitably inside sections of forest where lemurs can be observed easily but difficult to get close.

This trek is quite a sustained pace, there is no particular difficulties apart from the heat, the walk in the soft sand or in the water up to the knees, short going up hills but very steep, going down hills inside canyons might need ropes, underhand itching plants, pebbles rolling under shoes, numerous saka-saka, deep cliffs where it is better not to have vertigo, pass rocks piles with stability and nimbly.

So no difficulty … apart from being isolated, we are indeed far from everything here, so these 8 days trek are just unprecedented.

In addition of all that, several evening campfires with guides and porters will be unforgettable moments.

Nights are in tents or under the stars of southern sky.

• Duration: 6 à 7h de marche par jour
• We organise your meals 

Day 8: Massif of Makay > Miandrivazo

All good things must come to an end, we leave the local crew and Makay with regret. We join back Malaimbandy on the track, then the main road to Miandrivazo where we’ve been for quite some time. We are back in our little bungalow by the pool.

• Duration: 6 to 7h
• Distance: 80 km track and 120 km of road
• We organise your picnic lunch

Day 9: Miandrivazo > Antananarivo

Drive to Antananarivo via Antsirabe where we visit local artisans ; work of zebu (cow) horn, shaping and polishing, transformed to tat jewelry and different inside decoration items ; miniature workshop (bicycle, cars …) recycled tins and cans. Lunch in town and drive along Ankaratra massif towards Antananarivo.

• Duration: +/- 7h drive
• Distance: 400 km