Madagascar: 9-Day Tsiribihina River and Tsingy Tour｜Madagascar

Day 1: Antananarivo to Antsirabe

Depart from Antananarivo and head to Antsirabe, a charming and quiet city. Enjoy the scenic drive through lush landscapes and rice fields. Stop at the artisanal foundry of Ambatolampy to see how pots and works of art are made by skilled artisans.

Upon arrival in Antsirabe, check into your hotel and explore the city by rickshaw. Visit the large market, embroidery workshops, and precious stone shops. Spend the night in Antsirabe.

Day 2: Antsirabe to Miandrivazo

Take a morning walk through Antsirabe, a former spa town known for its colonial architecture. Discover historical monuments and meet talented craftsmen who transform tin and zebu horn into decorative items, jewelry, and toys.

Continue your journey to Miandrivazo, a peaceful village and the starting point for your river adventure. Spend the night in Miandrivazo.

Day 3: Miandrivazo to Tsiribihina River

Begin your 3-day river descent on the Tsiribihina River. Register with the town hall and police in Miandrivazo before departing for Masiakampy, where you’ll board a barge. Enjoy a leisurely journey through stunning landscapes, spotting diverse bird species and chameleons along the way.

Spend the night camping on the riverbank, with meals cooked over a campfire.

Day 4: Tsiribihina River

Continue your river descent, passing through the Bemaraha Gorge, with its towering limestone cliffs. Admire the unique flora, including kalanchoes and two-colored pachypodiums, and keep an eye out for lemurs, herons, and other wildlife.

Camp on the riverbank again, enjoying another night under the stars.

Day 5: Tsiribihina River to Bekopaka

Spend a half-day on the Tsiribihina River, watching for parrots, bats, and possibly crocodiles. In the afternoon, travel to the village of Tsingy, crossing the Manambolo River by ferry. Settle into your accommodation in Bekopaka.

Day 6: Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

Explore the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique karst formations. Begin with the Great Tsingy, navigating a labyrinth of limestone peaks and crossing a hanging bridge. In the afternoon, visit the Little Tsingy.

Day 7: Bekopaka to Kirindy Forest

Travel through Sakalava villages, passing baobabs, rice fields, and dry forests. In the evening, take a night walk in Kirindy Forest to spot nocturnal lemurs and the elusive fosa. Spend the night in Kirindy.

Day 8: Kirindy Forest to Morondava

In the morning, explore the Kirindy Forest Reserve, home to birds like the Coua and Paradise Flycatcher, as well as white and brown lemurs. After lunch (at your own expense), drive to the famous Baobab Alley before continuing to Morondava. Spend the night in Morondava.

Day 9: Morondava to Antananarivo

Fly back to Antananarivo, concluding your adventure.