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Madagaskar Travel · Trips and journeys · Trekking DAV
Trekking DAV
1st day: journey to Paris
Individual journey from your place residence to the Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris. It’s also possible to start the journey from several airports in Germany flying to Paris. Please ask for it. Flight to Madagascar.
2nd day: Arrival at Antananarivo
Flight at 3:15 a.m. Paris to Antananarivo (Tana for short), the capital city of Madagascar. Arrival at Antananarivo (Tana), Ivato Airport. Arrival at Ivato Airport in the afternoon (3:00 p. m.). Check-out and transfer to the Hotel Gregoire or equivalent, bed and breakfast. Welcome and a short discussion of the journey.
3rd day: Antananarivo - Tsimbazaza
Visit to the zoological botanical garden Tsimbazaza. We catch a wonderful view form the old Rova up to Tana. This is a part of our short sightseeing tour. We inspect old colonial buildings and the sights of the capital city. Hotel Gregoire or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
4th day: Antsirabe
Rice terraces are typical for the highlands. We will cross over Ambatolampy to Antsirabe, 1500 metres above sea-level. The pleasant climate and the hot springs have turned Antsirabe into a well known spa. We walk to a romantic volcanic lake. Many varieties of mineral can be found here. That’s why we visit a precious stone cutter. Hotel Diamant or euqivalent, bed and breakfast.
5th day: Ambositra - National park Ranomafana
Trip to Ambositra, the town of the wood craftsmen. Short walk into the surroundings and visit to a family of the Zafimaniry, with their workshops for woodcarvings and inlays. Continuing the trip to Ranomafana, the famous national park with its waterfall. During a night excursion we will try to meet the mice-maki and the fossa. The golden bamboo lemur and the world’s tiniest frog also live here. Overnight stay in bungalows or camps. bed and breakfast.
6th day: National park Ranomafana - Ambalavao
Daytime excursion to the national park. You will see lots of animals in their natural surroundings. In the afternoon we leave the rainforest. We go to Ambalavao, passing vineyards and tea plantations, where it changes into steppe landscape. Ambalavao has a famous cattle market. We see the production of the world-famous Antaimoro paper from plant fibres here. Hotel Bougainvillees or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
7th day: Sendrisoa - Antanifotsy
Short trip via a poorly surfaced road to Sendrisoa (approx. 1000 m). We set out on an approximately four-hour walk to Antanifotsy (1400 m) from here. In the distance we can gaze at the Andringitra mountain massif, in admiration for its gigantic granite domes. We pass rice terraces belonging to lonely villages where life seems to have stopped a hundred years ago. The Andringitra mountain is a strictly protected region and also a still partly unexplored ecology with religious importance. The holy peak of Ambondrombe is situated here. A native guide will give us the necessary explanations while we take a walk to our starting point. Our baggage will be transported by other natives. The tents will be pitched at our base camp on the banks of the river Zomandao. Full board.
8th day: Andranofady
Today’s walk takes us first along the park and then in the direction of south-west, climbing the “peak of the White Man” (2080 metres) to Andranofady, which takes about 7 hours for experienced walkers. The hilly country is interrupted by deep canyons and giant rocks. Due to the different levels of altitude we will pass through different zones of vegetation. There are palm trees, euphorbias, orchids as well as lizards, snakes and much more, our guide will show us. He will also tell us about the fadys (taboos) which should be strictly observed. This region is holy to the Betsileo and the Bara peoples. Only since 1998 has part of the region been opened to tourism. Camp, full board.
9th day: Vohitsaoka - Ranohira
After a cosy breakfast we take a short walk (2 hours) to Vohitsaoka, where our car is waiting for us. We start our drive to the Isalo-Mountains at Ranohira. Passing giant rock formations, named “Gate to the South” we enter “Le grand Sud”. The countryside surrounding us will be getting ever more spectacular and we’ll be making lots of new impressions. Our excursions through the Isalo national park will start in Ranohira. But first we have the opportunity for a refreshing shower. Hotel Le Joyau del Isalo or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
10th day: Isalo national park
An early morning start takes us to the Canyon of the Council Rats (3hrs) (heights of 500 – 1300m). The sandy rocks have been through extremely long periods oferosion. Over the millions of years many rivers have been cut deep into the canyons. We will climb over small rocks to reach the monkeys’ canyon, tents will be pitched in the shadow of a tapia-wood. Then we will walk along a river through high hedges and try to find lemurs – 7 different species are living here – and reptiles. In this park the difference between rainforest and dry land-vegetation is remarkable. And in the evening we will find in the skies the “Southern Cross” constellation. Camp, full break.
11th day: Isalo national park
Our trek leads an exhausting path today up onto the plateau. We reach the Piscine Naturelle after five to six hours. We can take a bath in crystal-clear water at this incomparably beautiful place. During the walk we pass regions of yellow dust and grey stones, it is rather like being on the moon. We will see euphorias, palm trees, pachypodias and aloes as well as lizards, chameleons, lemurs and non-poisonous snakes. The Isalo Park offers a beautiful countryside scenery due to the picturesque rocks and the canyons, grottoes and caves. Camp, full break
12th day: Isalo national park
We will see once again tombs of the Bara and Betsileo. The graves are taboo. The advice given by the guides should be strictly observed, so as not to offend the natives After lunch we take a walk to “God’s Window”, a rock with a round hole through which the sunset may be observed. Hotel Le Joyau del Isalo or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
13th day: Tulear
After the breakfast we journey to Tulear through a landscape getting drier and drier and turning into semi-desert. We see Palm trees and baobabs along the way and the tombs of the Mahafaly. Time for a shower and recreation in the hotel. We visit the ethnic arts museum. Whoever still feels up to it can do a small town tour in the evening. Hotel Plazza or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
14th day: Tulear
Today must be planned in accordance with the departure time of our aeroplane (internal flights are subject to changes). In the event of a later flight we visit the arboretum (botanical garden) with its great variety of dry plants. A Swiss enthusiast has laid out the garden in Tulear over many decades. Hotel Plazza or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
15th day: Tana - Adasibe
If our flight takes off in the early morning, we will start the journey by bus through the mist-capped rainforest to Andasibe and on to the Perinet-Analamazaotra nature reserve, just after arrival in Ivato (Tana). The reserve lies in a mountain massif in the heart of tropical vegetation and is one of the highlights of this journey. The night excursion will become an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget your pocket torches! Bungalow accommodation at Feon ny Ala or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
16th day: Perinet nature reserve - Tamatave
Another walk – this time during daylight to get different impressions of the flora and fauna of Madagascar’s western rain forest. Rare butterflies, chameleons and orchids are found here. We will also look for the indri-indri, the biggest of the lemurs. In the afternoon there’s a trip to Tamatave, this is Madagascar’s biggest port. Hotel Le Toamasina or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
17th day: Diego Suarez
Flight to Diego Suraez (Antsiranana) at the furthest north of Madagascar. We will be picked up by a German (King de la Piste). He’ll bring us to the Hotel Kings Lodge, the base of our north excursions. In the event that we arrive during the morning we’ll plan the rest of the day accordingly. After arriving a short city-tour will be possible (45 miniutes). The rest of the day is reserved to use as you please or to take further excursions. A marvellous panorama shows us the big bay and the emblem of Diego, the small sugar-loaf. Hotel Kings’ Lodge or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
18th day: L’Ankaranana (Tsingy)
Together with cook and guide we start out for the nature reserve of L’Ankaranana (Tsingy),arriving after a 4 hour-car drive. We pass villages where white people are not seen very often. Arrival at the camp at about 1:00 p. m. This camp is found in the nature park and is the starting point for several walks. The sanitary installations are rather minimal, but usable. There are 2 flush toilets and 2 showers, for which the administration of the park is responsible. After lunch there is a 2-hour walk to the grotte de skelettes, quite unique, and also boasting stalagmites and stalactites. This cave was discovered only 2 years ago. Dinner at the camp, full board.
19th day: L’Ankaranana
Depending on your fitness, there’s a walk of 5 – 7 hours passing through Andrafibe Grotte and two canyons. Then we cross Grotte Cathedrale and head further on to canyon No. 3. We will see picturesque rocks, walk through different caves and have to overcome quite a stretch of boulders. No big changes in altitufe, at least. Camp, full break and board.
20th day: L’Ankaranana
After breakfast we go by jeep to Camp Anglais (17 km), situated in the northern part. From there we do a walk of 4 – 5 hours to the top of the mountains, we pass Lac Vert (150 metres above sea level) and climb up to 1800 metres. This is the best stop for getting an impression of the Tsingys and can be reached fairly easily. In the afternoon we will have high temperatures. Lunch at Camp Anglais and a drive back to base. From here there’s a 2 hour-excursion to the most beautiful swimming pool of the world, this is at least what tourists say who have been there. It is a pool situated at the exit of a cave. Time for relaxing there. Camp, full break and board.
21th day: Montagne d’Ambre - Diego Suarez
After breakfast in the early morning we walk to the nature reserve of Montagne D’Ambre. We pass the former resort of Joffreville and arrive at a different climate due to the altitude of 1000 metres. We visit a great waterfall. For a swim, we must head off into the depths for 20 minutes. We go on a 40-minute walk along the botanic path. The plants sport plates with names. Lunch in the open at a woodedresting-place. To conclude the outing we visit of one of the many crater lakes on foot or with the car. We have a marvellous visual summary of the north from two vantage points up here. In the evening we return to Diego. Hotel Kings’ Lodge or equivalent, bed, breakfast, lunch
22th day: Diego Suarez - Tana
Once again, today, you really can relax on the beach directly in front of our hotel. In accordance with the short-haul flight schedules, our flight heads back to Tana in the late afternoon. So, whoever so wants can start out for an excursion into to the Montagne de Francaise directly behind the hotel just after breakfast (optional). On the way there are different baobabs, orchids, geckos, lemurs and chameleons to see. In the afternoon we head to the airport and transfer to Hotel Gregoire, or equivalent, bed and breakfast.
23th day: Tana
Depending, once more, on the flight schedule, we should have enough time for a visit to the kings’ hill at Ambohimanga, also named Bluehill. After this we pay a short visit to the market “Marche de Artisanat” for the last few souvenirs. Transfer to Ivato airport, check in and flight back to Paris. Dinner and breakfast on the aeroplane.
24th day: Arrival in Paris
Arrival in Paris. Then individual journeys back home to your respective places of residence.
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