The Malagasy Summits

Day 1: Fianarantsoa - Andringitra Approx. 95 km of road including 45km of track Duration: 4h of walking Difficulty: Not Difficult Elevation gain: 350 meters Departure for Andringitra National Park. In Ambalavao, visit the handcrafted paper factory Antemoro. This vegetable paper made from the bark of the Avoha mulberry tree was introduced to Madagascar in the 15th century by the Arabs and is still produced today using the same process in this small workshop in Ambalavao. And departure for the Anja reserve (located +/- 10 km) to observe the lemurs. Continuation by a sometimes difficult track but with splendid landscapes, we head to the heart of the Andringitra park. This huge massif is in front of us and bars the horizon of its granite ridges. You thus enter the Namoly valley dominated by the cliffs of the Andringitra massif, in which you spot two large waterfalls. Go down across the Zomandao River to reach a small clearing. This is the place of your first bivouac, Belambo, which means a lot of wild boars in Malagasy

Day 2: Andringitra National Park Duration: 6 hours of walking Difficulty: Not very difficult Ascent: 750 meters Description: Your discovery of the park begins with a small morning loop in the forest to access the feet of the Zomandao waterfalls. The water here is a great wealth and you are in a tropical rain forest, typical of the eastern rain climate and very different from the dry valley forest of the camp valley. Through abundant vegetation where medicinal plants from Madagascar, Orchids, Ferns, Phylipias and Calenchoees rub shoulders, you reach the edge of the river. There is a cave and its remains, the past home of zebu guardians before the forest was protected. After a point of view on the circus and its waterfalls, you plunge back into the vegetation composed little by little of large trees of the family of Dombeyas and Agoryas, in which many lianas intermingle. You also pass by canals that irrigate rice paddies in the Namoly valley. The path leads to the impressive Andrianbavy waterfall or the Queen's Waterfall. In the dry season, you can cross the torrent to approach the bottom of the second a little further, the Andriandahy waterfall or Cascade du Roi. The names of these Sacred Waterfalls, 250 and 300 meters high, result from the coming of the Queen and King of Ambalavao, in search of pure water which allowed them, under the advice of a healer, to give birth of their eight children. After this walk, you turn back to climb quietly on the plateau overlooking this circus. At the end of the climb, a superb view opens out before you over large granite cliffs, the supports of the famous Pic Boby. On this immense meadow of altitude grow only different varieties of Phylipias as well as beautiful Orchids. You then begin its crossing to the South, passing by the magnificent pools of Andranolava. Ideal place to relax, the less chilly can also swim there. To reach the site of the camp, you continue walking towards the cliffs, in the company of many birds, most of them endemic. You cross the river one last time at a place called Andrianbola or Cascade du Prince, then you come to a small torrent. You finally go up the latter to arrive at the place of your second bivouac, Andriampotsy, meaning white waterfall, where you are at the foot of the Andringitra cliffs

Day 3: Andringitra National Park Duration: 8 hours of walking Difficulty: Difficult Elevation gain: 858 meters Description: Now is the time to climb the highest point of the Andringitra range. A path, fitted out with 3000 steps, allows you to cross the cliffs and access the famous peak. It begins by crossing several torrents and you notice on its border some Aloes, Tree Ferns, pretty Hibiscus as well as the very rare Drosera, a small carnivorous plant of wetlands. You also observe the grooves of the rocks, due to the erosive action of the water. You then arrive at a pass, from where you can finally discover the object of your hike. From there, the path descends into a very humid basin, where Mosses, Lichens and certain Phylipias proliferate. After crossing it, a final steep slope on the slabs allows you to reach the summit of Pic Boby. You are at 2,658 meters above sea level, on the second highest peak in Madagascar. His name is that of the dog that accompanied the first group of geologists to go there. But it is also called Imarivolanitra, which means close to the sky in Malagasy. If you are lucky not to be in the clouds, a panoramic view of the entire region is available to you: the park and the Isalo massif in the South, the Tsaranoro massif and the Bonnet mountain of Bishop in the West, the South Gate and the Circus of Ambalavao in the North, and it is sometimes even possible to distinguish the Coast in the East You have of course a panorama on the Andringitra massif, and in particular on Pic Bory. After this unforgettable moment, you descend by the same path and pass through the camp to cross the plateau, this time towards the North West. The path gradually leads you to a small pass. You thus arrive on a small grassy plateau, which you travel quickly to enter the Plateau des Extraterrestres or Plateau des Lumières. In the lunar atmosphere of this granite expanse dotted with small natural pools, you can admire the stacking of stones in balance. You will find here the vegetation of the western slope: Palm trees, Paws of Hen and Calencoees. The path takes you to the north of the plateau, from where you rediscover the Tsaranoro massif and the Sahanambo valley. You then descend from the Andringitra massif into a forest of ferns and wild palm trees, to win your third and last bivouac. To name Iataranomby, the place where the zebus come to drink, the camp is located in a corner of a meadow bordering a pretty little river.

Day 4: Andringitra National Park - Tsaranoro Valley Duration: 4 hours of walking Difficulty: Not very difficult Ascent: 250 meters Description: You leave the camp, leaving the massif and the Andringitra National Park behind you. You then walk through large meadows, used as pasture for zebus, and overlooking the southern part of the Sahanambo valley. A slightly steeper path then descends into the camp valley on reaching the village of Mananishoa. You then cross the Sahanambo river to reach Morarano, where a market is held once a week. From this village, you take the carriage track which takes you back to the camp bypassing the Chameleon. If you are not too tired, do not miss a visit to the only dispensary in the valley between Soavahiny and Andonaka, as well as the Tsaranoro School just before joining the camp. Night at the hotel

Day 5: Tsaranoro Valley Possible activities: picnic provided - Circuit Mont Caméléon: From the camp, there is a 4 hour walk to reach the top of the Caméléon. On the last part of the climb, there is a difficult passage: you must not be dizzy! Upon arrival, you will have a superb view of the Tsaranoro Valley. - Tsaranoro circuit: You leave early in the morning. From the camp, there are 4 to 4 and a half hours of walking to reach behind the top of the Tsaranoro (Mount Tsaranoro itself is only accessible by climbing). In the middle of the hill you will find the Bara tombs inserted in the hill itself. On the last part of the climb, there is a difficult passage. Upon arrival, you will have a superb view of the mountains of South Malagasy. - THE PARAGLIDER IN THE VALLEY. An exceptional view over the valley! The valley offers 5 paragliding jump points, depending on the wind. Baptisms are possible. For the sake of efficiency, please notify us at least 48 hours in advance if you plan to jump in a paraglider. Return to Fianarantsoa in the late afternoon. End of our services.