Discovery · Family or group
Meet the Zen & Back to the Roots
Pirogue trips on the Morira River, Sakalava villages, the dry forest of Ankarafantsika and a sunset catamaran cruise: an immersive journey through north-west Madagascar to reconnect with what truly matters.
- 8 days
- North West
- Quote within 48 h
At a glance
Trip highlights
- The ancestral heritage and culture of Sakalava country
- A meaningful journey, close to village life
- An immersive trip, by pirogue and by zebu cart
- Parks and reserves, including Ankarafantsika National Park
Your route
- Antananarivo
- Mahajanga
- Morira River
- Antsanitia
- Ankarafantsika
- Antananarivo
Return domestic flights between Antananarivo and Mahajanga (not included), then a 4×4 with an English-speaking driver around Mahajanga, plus pirogue and catamaran on some excursions.
Day by day
The itinerary
A 8-day itinerary that can be fully tailored: every stage can be adapted to your pace and wishes.
Day 01
Arrival in Antananarivo
Welcome on arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Antananarivo
Day 02
Antananarivo – Mahajanga: life along the Morira
Domestic flight of about an hour and a half
After a good breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Mahajanga. On arrival, the hotel team welcomes you and you drop off your luggage.
Depending on the tide, you set off in the morning or around 2pm to travel up the Morira River by pirogue through the mangroves; lunch is included. On the way, you stop at the village of Ankabokabe, home to about 80 people, to see its crops of rice, bananas, cucumbers and cassava, or at the riverside village of Ladigy. You then return to the hotel along the river.
Mahajanga
Day 03
Immersion in Sakalava country
A day at the heart of Sakalava life: a boat trip up the Morira River, a visit to the village of Ladigy, then a zebu-cart ride through Antsanitia, taking in the forest, the tree nursery and the fishing village.
You leave between 8 and 8.30am for the small village of Belamoty, by way of the hotel’s tree nursery, where you learn about the local way of life, climate, culture and diet. After lunch, you visit the dispensary and hear about ADTIA and AMADA, two associations that support village development.
In the village of Antsanitia, you can have the traditional mask of Sakalava women applied. You then cross the forest, a mix of eucalyptus, ravinala – the “traveller’s tree” – and superb mandrarofo, before taking in the view over the rice fields of Antranom Vazaha.
Antsanitia
Day 04
Ankarafantsika National Park
About 2.5 hours on a winding road, including stops
The road leads to Ankarafantsika National Park, with lunch on the way. Lying between the Betsiboka River to the west and the Mahajamba River to the east, the park covers some 1,350 km² of dry tropical forest, savannah, lakes and canyons; part of the land is farmed by the Sakalava people.
Protected since 1927 and declared a national park in 2003, Ankarafantsika is home to an enormous variety of species. Part of its territory has been a Ramsar site since 2017, and the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023.
Here you follow the Coquereli circuit to discover the fauna and flora, Lake Ravelobe, the canyon and the endemic baobab.
Ankarafantsika National Park
Day 05
The red cirque and the sacred lake of Mangatsa
You leave the hotel around 8am by 4×4 for the red cirque of Grand Pavois, one of Mahajanga’s most beautiful geological formations, and explore the site.
Next comes the sacred lake of Mangatsa, a place of worship with a legend of its own: a small pond with translucent waters, home to many protected fish. Here you can admire the baobabs and get close to lemurs – white-coated sifakas – as well as crocodiles kept in captivity. A shaded picnic on site, then back to the hotel.
Mahajanga
Day 06
Sunset cruise
An ideal way to enjoy the beauty of the seascapes and the changing colours of the sky at sunset, aboard the Antsanitia Resort catamaran. Over an aperitif and canapés, you share convivial moments with your loved ones while savouring local flavours.
- Duration: 2.5 hours, or until sunset
- Programme: coastal sailing by catamaran at sunset, with tapas and planter’s punch for the occasion
- Departure: 4pm, weather permitting
Day 07
Mahajanga – Antananarivo
Domestic flight
A last morning by the sea, then transfer to the airport and flight back to Antananarivo, where you are welcomed and taken to your hotel.
Then it is time for an orientation tour of the “City of the Thousand”: a visit to the upper town, by way of the Queen’s Palace, then lunch at the Museum of Photography. It is also your last chance for souvenir shopping.
In the evening, “Tana by night” takes you round the trendiest bars and lounges to sample the specialities of the moment. Back at the hotel around midnight, or 1am at the latest, for a well-earned rest.
Antananarivo
Day 08
Antananarivo – flight home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport, with assistance until your flight home. End of our services.
Clear and simple
What the price includes
The price includes
- Hotel accommodation throughout the trip
- Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) throughout the trip
- All transport by 4×4 with an English-speaking driver in Mahajanga, including fuel, road taxes and parking
- All transfers in Antananarivo
- All activities mentioned in the programme, including entrance fees and local guides in each park and reserve
The price does not include
- Activities not mentioned in the programme, and any during free time
- Tips, drinks and personal expenses
- International and domestic flights
- Insurance
Ready to go?
Meet the Zen & Back to the Roots
Ask for a detailed, no-obligation quote or book your dates straight away: we reply within 48 hours.
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