Adventure
Makay Massif, the jewel: hiking & wilderness immersion
Four days’ trekking in the heart of the Makay, a wild and rarely explored massif: rock paintings, canyons of crystal-clear water, lakes seen from the summits and nights under canvas in the wild.
- 6 days
- Central West
- Quote within 48 h
At a glance
Trip highlights
- Four days’ trekking deep in the Makay, a little-known and rarely explored ruiniform massif dating back to the Jurassic
- The rock paintings of Mahatiny Cave
- The narrow Ambinanitelo Canyon, then the ridge and plateau of the massif, overlooking the Nosilahy lakes
- A day on the floor of the Nosilahy and Sakamanitra canyons, where crystal-clear water flows
- The panorama over Lakes Sariaka and Nosilahy from the summit
- Crossing the Mangoky by ferry and nights under canvas on the banks of the Makay River
Your route
- Ranohira
- Beroroho
- Beronono
- Morafeno
- Nosilahy
- Sariaka
- Ranohira
Dirt tracks from Ranohira, a motorised ferry across the Mangoky, then four days’ trekking with a team of porters.
Day by day
The itinerary
A 6-day itinerary that can be fully tailored: every stage can be adapted to your pace and wishes.
Day 01
Ranohira – Beroroho – Beronono
220 km on dirt tracks, with a ferry across the Mangoky
An early start from Ranohira, heading north past the Isalo massif to the Mangoky River: around 6 hours’ drive along 165 km of poorly maintained track, through savannah dotted with small baobab trees.
A motorised ferry carries us across the Mangoky, the river that separates Isalo from the Makay, to Beroroho, the main town in the area and the last outpost of civilisation before the wilderness. After a quick lunch, we head north again along the track to the village of Beronono, where our team of porters is waiting for us.
Setting up camp on the banks of the Makay River
Isalo National Park · Makay Massif
Day 02
Beronono – Mahatiny Cave – Morafeno
The trek begins: four days of total immersion in the mountains of the Makay, a massif dating back to the Jurassic, 150 km long and 50 km wide. Little known and rarely explored, it is a true sanctuary for flora and fauna that have yet to reveal all their secrets.
We set off for Mahatiny Cave to discover its rock paintings, then climb to the summit of this eroded massif of yellowish and red ruiniform sandstone, largely covered in dry vegetation.
Night under canvas on the banks of the Makay River
Makay Massif
Day 03
Morafeno – Ambinanitelo Canyon – Nosilahy
After breakfast, we explore the narrow Ambinanitelo Canyon, then climb to the summit to discover the ridge and plateau of the massif, with views over the Nosilahy lakes.
Night under canvas at Nosilahy
Makay Massif
Day 04
Nosilahy – Sariaka
A day devoted to the canyons. We make our way through the gorges of the Nosilahy canyon, where crystal-clear water flows, then follow the stream along the floor of canyons that are several hundred metres deep in places and home to moisture-loving vegetation.
Water is everywhere in these canyons. Views then open onto the Behetaheta forest before we continue to the second canyon, Sakamanitra.
Night under canvas
Day 05
Sariaka – Beronono
We visit Lake Sariaka, then trek up to the summit for an impressive view over both lakes, Sariaka and Nosilahy, before heading back to the village of Beronono.
Night under canvas at Beronono
Day 06
Beronono – Beroroho – Ranohira
We leave the Makay behind and take the track back to Ranohira, passing through Beroroho once more.
Overnight at a hotel in Ranohira
Ranohira
Clear and simple
What the price includes
The price includes
- What the price includes is set out in your personalised quote
The price does not include
- Any service not specified in your quote
Ready to go?
Makay Massif, the jewel
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