Madagascar rafting expedition
| country: | Madagascar |
| departures: | Summer 2009, dates to be confirmed |
| price: | From £2450 (19 days) excluding flights. Fully inclusive from day 2 (internal flights Tulear-Tana, all fees, logistics, hotels & meals). Max group size 10 plus crew |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This expedition aims to achieve the first descent of the Matsiatra river combined with a four day trek inside the wild and isolated Makay Canyons.
This is a remote area of Madagascar which is still being explored and discovered. The Matsiatra river is fairly inaccessible and no rafted descents of our route combined with a trek through the Makay Canyons have been recorded. This pioneering expedition has therefore never been attempted before.
Madagascar is a one-off; there is no other place like it. Its landscapes, animals and plants are just fantastic!
Near the equator with an astonishing array of habitats, ranging from rainforests to deserts and from mountain tops to mangrove swamps, it is one of the most important countries for biodiversity on the planet. The tropical climate is a perfect host to the process of nature and, like nowhere else, the variety and richness of life has flourished.
Expedition highlights include:
Expedition members do not need previous rafting experience as full training will be given. There are a few days trekking over undulating terrain but no more than a basic level of fitness is required. It will be possible to opt out of some of the longer treks.
Each day on the rivers and trekking in the canyons we shall encounter truly fantastic landscapes and see much of the endemic wildlife including lemur, reptiles and birds. As well as the exotic fauna, we can expect to spot the crocodiles that inhabit parts of these river systems in Madagascar. Inside the Makay range we plan to trek thorough the canyons – a unique and uncharted environment, camping on riverside beaches or possibly in natural caves. After rejoining the Matsiatra we raft through beautiful and narrow gorges until we meet the impressive Mangoky river, where we continue our descent until the pull out.
As this is a full-on camping expedition we plan to spend our last few days relaxing by the beach at a luxurious resort on the warm waters of the Mozambique channel.
We can help arrange flights from the UK and can offer a tailormade service if desired.
This is a remote area of Madagascar which is still being explored and discovered. The Matsiatra river is fairly inaccessible and no rafted descents of our route combined with a trek through the Makay Canyons have been recorded. This pioneering expedition has therefore never been attempted before.
Madagascar is a one-off; there is no other place like it. Its landscapes, animals and plants are just fantastic!
Near the equator with an astonishing array of habitats, ranging from rainforests to deserts and from mountain tops to mangrove swamps, it is one of the most important countries for biodiversity on the planet. The tropical climate is a perfect host to the process of nature and, like nowhere else, the variety and richness of life has flourished.
Expedition highlights include:
- The first rafting descent of the mainly unexplored Matsiatra river combined with exploring the remote and spectacular Makay range canyons
- Observing at close hand, from boats and on foot, the unique endemic flora and fauna
- Relaxing at the end of our adventurous river journey at a luxurious beach resort
Expedition members do not need previous rafting experience as full training will be given. There are a few days trekking over undulating terrain but no more than a basic level of fitness is required. It will be possible to opt out of some of the longer treks.
Each day on the rivers and trekking in the canyons we shall encounter truly fantastic landscapes and see much of the endemic wildlife including lemur, reptiles and birds. As well as the exotic fauna, we can expect to spot the crocodiles that inhabit parts of these river systems in Madagascar. Inside the Makay range we plan to trek thorough the canyons – a unique and uncharted environment, camping on riverside beaches or possibly in natural caves. After rejoining the Matsiatra we raft through beautiful and narrow gorges until we meet the impressive Mangoky river, where we continue our descent until the pull out.
As this is a full-on camping expedition we plan to spend our last few days relaxing by the beach at a luxurious resort on the warm waters of the Mozambique channel.
We can help arrange flights from the UK and can offer a tailormade service if desired.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Antananarivo (Tana) |
| Day 2: | Drive to Fianarantsoa (Fianar) |
| Day 3: | Four wheel drive to the Matsiatra river |
| Day 4-5: | Matsiatra descent |
| Day 6: | Ride high on the Matsiatra |
| Day 7: | Trek to the Makay canyons |
| Day 8: | Trekking the Makay canyons |
| Day 9-10: | Trekking in the Makay range |
| Day 11-12: | Rafting the Matsiatra |
| Day 13: | Joining the Mangoky river |
| Day 14-15: | Mangoky descent |
| Day 16: | Drive to coast |
| Day 17-18: | By the beach |
| Day 19: | Antananarivo |
how this holiday makes a difference
 Our local agent on this trip, Gilles will give you a personal and knowledgeable insight of the region, where he has lived for many years. Our local staff accompanying this expedition will give you a real sense of Madagascan culture. We pay all staff fair wages and treat everybody on the trip, including staff, with equal respect and we expect you to do the same. Once we start our first descent of the Matsiatra river we shall be travelling by raft and on foot. As this is an unexplored region it is difficult to predict what we shall encounter. We do know that we shall observe many of the animals and plants that are endemic to the country. It is principally wildlife tourism that brings people to Madagascar and by using local businesses and services we can inject much needed capital into the local economy. On this expedition we are following a responsible camping procedure which leaves no negative evidence of our presence. We stay in small towns and villages interacting with the locals. By supporting the conservation of the rainforest, we can encourage the authorities to recognise the potential of wildlife tourism and photographic safaris, ensuring the protection of this unique environment. You will be issued with instructions as to how you can help to preserve the environment and we hope that you will follow our advice to help make a difference. |
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