Makay Madagascar, the North South crossing

During breakfast, you will be introduced to your guides and driver. Following this introduction, you will travel along National Route 7 in the morning, through the heart of rice paddies, past thatched-roof houses, and into the vibrant atmosphere of Malagasy life.

Today you leave the Ankaratra massif and its rice paddy landscapes to reach the Bongolava massif, with its more arid hills and the Tsiribihina river which runs alongside the town of Miandrivazo, where you will spend your last night in a hotel, in a comfortable setting.

As the journey progresses, the atmosphere changes: the heat becomes intense, and the faces and architecture sometimes evoke a West African setting. Antsirabe and Miandrivazo, although only 220 km apart, perfectly illustrate the extreme climatic contrasts of Madagascar, between the coolest and hottest cities in the country.

Arrived at the hotel at the end of the day.

After about 2.5 hours of driving, you leave the paved road and join a laterite track. A stop allows you to do some shopping and participate in the lively exchanges and traditional haggling of the local markets.

You then continue for about 3.5 hours on the track, where the first reliefs of the Makay massif begin to appear on the horizon.

In the early afternoon, you reach your campsite. While setting up camp, a visit to a local village is offered with your guide, providing an initial glimpse into the daily life of the inhabitants. This is also the time to meet the team who will accompany you throughout the trek: tracker, cook, and porters.

First day of trekking on a gradual trail which leads you to a plateau located on the eastern foothills of the Makay massif.

You then begin the descent towards the river, which you cross before following it again a little further on. The route continues through beautiful, still-pristine sections of forest, offering a wild and authentic atmosphere.

You finish this first stage with your feet in the water, in a particularly pleasant setting, with a bivouac set up facing the walls of the massif, for a particularly spectacular end to the day.

A day of contrasts, starting with a river trip that gradually leads you towards a magnificent canyon approximately 2 km long. Welcome to the heart of the Makay massif.

You then exit via a sustained climb leading to the upper plateau, which overlooks the entire region. The view is remarkable, and the path winds its way between the various peaks.

The crossing then continues across a long grassy plateau of about 5 km, towards the river and your evening bivouac.

You get into the habit of starting the day with your feet in the water, before embarking on a few kilometers of uphill climbing leading to a plateau.

A gradual descent then takes you back towards the river, which you follow along a very pretty shaded path to its resurgence.

The end of the day unfolds in the heart of gently vegetated hills, offering as a highlight a magnificent panorama of the forest that welcomes you for the evening bivouac.

The day begins with a walk in the shade, through the heart of a rich and unspoiled forest, along pleasant and varied trails. You then reach the upper plateau via a steeper path, before continuing across rolling terrain.

Most of the stage takes place at altitude and in full sun, with some exposed sections requiring good physical condition. The route follows the edge of the cliffs and regularly offers superb views of the surrounding landscapes.

At the end of the route, you cross a pass via a narrow path before beginning the descent to your bivouac for the day, set up on the edge of the forest, on the banks of the Djanza River. A long and demanding stage, but particularly rich in panoramas and diverse landscapes.

You progress gradually through the heart of a magnificent canyon, a true immersion in the massif, with some sections over rocky blocks during the ascent towards the source of the river.

Once you emerge from the canyon, you reach a plateau composed of rounded hills characteristic of the region. You then continue upwards, crossing a pass that offers a 360° panorama of the path already traveled and the one still to come.

The crossing continues through a long, dry, sandy canyon, seemingly devoid of water… until its end. There, the river reappears at the bottom of the bed, where you set up your bivouac on the riverbank for the end of the day.

The only loop day of the trek, it is dedicated to the discovery of a resurgence, which then becomes a river heading west before flowing into the Mozambique Channel.

The first part of the route plunges you into a veritable maze of dry canyons, in the heart of dense vegetation composed of tall grasses and bamboo. Then, the ascent of a nearby summit offers an exceptional 360° view, the first of its kind, into the heart of the Makay massif, aptly nicknamed "the Cerebellum".

Depending on the density of the vegetation, it may be necessary to backtrack and take another canyon, sometimes wading through water, leading to the river's resurgence. The route continues between majestic walls and dry canyon floors, with the possibility of observing Rufous-tailed lemurs in their natural habitat.

Then back to the bivouac at the end of the day.

You leave this lovely bivouac to traverse numerous dry canyons dotted with a few vegetation obstacles that you'll have to overcome… well, let's just say it's made much easier by the work of trackers tasked with "clearing" the trail. These passages at the bottom of the canyons are made fabulous by the views of these majestic vertical walls, but also by the numerous tracks left by certain species, including the fossa, which remains practically impossible to spot! After a few hours of walking without water, you climb onto an open plateau. Beyond it, you reach a riverbed which you follow before climbing a hill that separates you from the next river. At this point, you can fully appreciate the outer foothills of this gigantic massif and truly grasp its immense size. A "technical" descent is planned to reach the riverbed, which you must then follow upstream to your next bivouac. Silence is essential here, as numerous groups of lemurs of various species usually play at this time, closely watched by yellow-billed kites. You will arrive at your riverside campsite in the late afternoon (depending on your walking pace).

You begin the day at nature's pace, lulled by the morning chorus of birds and local wildlife. With your feet in the water, you walk upstream for several kilometers before taking a narrow path that climbs between forests and open hills.

Along the way, lemur sightings are possible, as is the discovery of numerous bird species found in the massif. This gentler and more varied stage reveals another side of the Makay, different from the previous days.

At nightfall, walking along the banks with a headlamp, it is possible to spot the discreet mouse lemur, a tiny nocturnal lemur of great agility, moving with ease between the branches.

After breakfast, you cross the river to reach the upper plateau, which you ascend to its western slope. Drawn by the Makay cliffs, you then descend into a dry riverbed via a natural erosion passage.

In this mineral labyrinth, the path flows smoothly and is bathed in sunlight, before opening onto a still untouched forest. The pleasant crossing sometimes offers the opportunity to observe numerous bird species, including the Drongo.

Once you pass through this wooded area, you'll encounter the impressive yellow sandstone walls rising like ramparts around the dry canyons. You then enter a vast landscape of spectacular terrain, where you fully grasp the complexity and isolation of the Makay, with its countless, often impassable, canyons.

Emerging from this long and varied canyon, you reach the bed of a small river, where it is sometimes possible to spot a pair of ibises. The day ends following this river, bordered by high cliffs, as you approach the Menapanda forest and the base camp area located in the southeast of the Makay massif.

An early departure for the final leg of the trek takes you approximately 4 hours through rivers, forests, and dry plateaus to a local village. There, you'll meet your drivers and have time to explore while the vehicles are loaded.

You then resume your journey in a 4x4, experiencing the thrill of the bumpy tracks that run along the eastern flank of the Makay massif. The route takes you across the Makay River before reaching a bush town located on the banks of the Mangoky River, the longest in Madagascar.

The setup of the bivouac and the organization of the evening will be done according to your arrival time.

Cross the Mangoky River by ferry or dugout canoe, the longest river in Madagascar. You then embark on a long 4x4 journey of approximately 9 hours heading south, until you reach National Route 7 and the Ranohira region.

The trail, while not technically demanding, is long and winds through varied landscapes dotted with majestic baobabs and traditional villages. You also skirt the eastern flank of the Isalo massif, enjoying spectacular views throughout the journey.

At the end of the day, settle into quality accommodation, ideal for resting after these days of adventure: swimming pool, comfortable rooms and fine cuisine await you for a well-deserved relaxing evening.

Enjoy your morning in an exceptional setting. The vast desert plains and foothills of Isalo National Park gradually give way to the wide expanses of Ihorombe, before the reliefs of the Andringitra massif appear on the horizon.

As you approach Fianarantsoa, ​​the landscapes change again, revealing terraced rice paddies and green hillsides, marking the entry into Betsileo territory.

A day spent traveling through the Betsileo country on National Route 7, winding and bordered on both sides by magnificent terraced rice paddies.

A lunch stop is planned at our local guide's house, followed by a visit to a small marquetry museum.

You then resume your journey towards Antsirabe, where arrival is scheduled for late afternoon.

The final stage of your journey, the connection between Antsirabe and Antananarivo, gradually takes you from the southern highlands to the Malagasy capital.

The road winds through landscapes typical of the Highlands, between rolling hills, bustling villages, and terraced rice paddies that once again define the contours of the Betsileo and Merina region. As the journey progresses, human activity intensifies, gradually signaling the approach to the large city.

Arriving in Antananarivo at the end of the day, with a gradual return to the urban bustle after several days of immersion in the heart of Madagascar.

End of stay in Madagascar. After these days of exploration and discovery through landscapes as varied as they are spectacular, it is time to say goodbye to the Great Island.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to Antananarivo International Airport. Last views of the capital and final memories of a trip rich in encounters, emotions, and immersion in the heart of Malagasy nature.

Departure from Madagascar, with memories of the beautiful landscapes, the warmth of the exchanges and the intensity of this extraordinary adventure.