A fabulous trek in the North of Makay

Early in the morning, we head towards Antsirabe located 180km from Antananarivo.
Crossing the landscapes of the Highlands along a winding road bordered by a patchwork of fields with various crops and terraced rice paddies.

Several stops along the way to meet the farmers and villages along National Road 7.

Heading full west towards Miandrivazo.
The journey is enhanced by visits to markets in the villages we pass through.

Gradually, the mosaic of terraced rice fields and various crops, with the hills overlooking red brick houses of the Central Highlands gives way to the arid landscape of the Middle-West Sakalava region and the bare mountains jagged by erosion in the south of the Bongolava massif.
We reach early in the evening the town of Miandrivazo on the banks of the Tsiribihina river

We resume our journey to Malaimbandy.

It is beautiful and runs along the Mahajilo river which flows into the Tsiribihina river.

From the small town of Malaimbandy, we take the trail to reach the northern base of the Makay massif. This is the starting point of our unique hiking expedition.

After lunch, we begin our hiking excursion. The Manampada river is now crossed, we leave the crops and the village behind us.
Due south, across the plateau, we reach the first sandstone reliefs of the Makay.
Suddenly, our gaze falls upon a superb meander of the Manampanda river, nestled within the sandstone cliffs. The preserved forest is also well present.
Our camp is established in this enchanting location.

We leave the Manampanda river bed and climb higher to walk across the vast tabular reliefs.

The ruiniform sedimentary plateau of Makay is composed of friable sandstone, and it is also the northern extension of the Isalo massif.

The slow and inexorable work of time, aided by some tectonic movements and the flow of water, has patiently eroded these rocks.
We set out to discover this unique massif.

Late in the morning, via a steep path, we reach a gorge called Ankaromokotry, named after a fruit we find on the plateau. The clear water flows peacefully. We take advantage of this spot to have lunch.

Through a beautiful gorge, with our feet in the water, we reach our camp pitched on a lovely tongue of white sand on the riverbank.

Very quickly, we reach the heights to overlook this vast hydrographic network.

This spectacular and inextricable geomorphology has allowed, deep within unexplored canyons, groups __of original animals and plants__ to develop far from the world, to the point of creating new species.

Lemurs are very present in these isolated forests but we catch glimpses of them rather than observe them, being unaccustomed to any human presence.

In this unique environment, our progress on foot allows us to soak in astonishing nature. From time to time, we climb onto the domes and eroded peaks, the panoramas are exceptional.

We reach a gorge with dry sands, Ampasimaiky.

We leave the bed of the dry Andranomanga river via a steep path. We gain footing on the ridge that separates us from the next fault line. The route is somewhat complex between the deep faults that cut into the plateau.
By a steep path, we reach the waters of Andranomanga at the bottom of a magnificent canyon.

We progress upstream all afternoon in an enchanting environment. The canyon is sculpted by the waters giving surprising relief with great diversity.

We camp in this magnificent gorge.

We continue our progress down this magnificent canyon. The water becomes increasingly scarce and a few acrobatic passages add a playful touch to our hike.

In this gorge, the spectacular and inextricable geomorphology has allowed groups of original animals and plants to develop away from the world, to the point of giving birth to new species.

The lemurs are very present in these isolated forests. We catch glimpses of them rather than observe them, as they are unaccustomed to any human presence.

We reach the pass that marks the watershed line between Manampanda and Sakapaly.
A well-marked trail frequented by dahalos (the real ones, not the bandits) allows us to reach the head of Sakapaly.
Here, parrots are omnipresent, their cries echo through these long corridors. A few raptors such as buzzards, kites and striped polyboroïdes glide above the mountains.
Bats, guardians of the place, emerge at night to make their silent rounds.

Our bivouac is established on white sands.

• Once again, through a complex path, we navigate more than we walk through these entanglements of ridge lines to reach a magnificent canyon.
  We slip through this narrow passage, our feet in crystal-clear water. The phantasmagoric walls are sculpted in astonishing ways and the play of colors is bewilderingly varied.
  The river becomes calm and we emerge onto a very beautiful forest that is completely preserved, topped by high cliffs varying from gray to mauve.
  Our bivouac is set up on a beautiful white sand beach.
  In the late afternoon, we will climb higher to admire this incredible Sakapaly valley.

Our caravan winds through the cliffs, an easy route, we set foot on the plateau. The objective is now to reach a narrow crevice, covered with pandanus, palm trees and ferns that opens the passage to us towards the large hydrographic basin of Manampanda.

Our progress unfolds once again with our feet in the water, in a lush vegetation environment. The lemurs, very present, slip away into the canopy.
At our feet, trapped in the blocks of the river bed, petrified wood testify to the remains of a fossil forest. These silicified witnesses are very useful for the study of geology, paleobotany and paleoenvironment. Needless to say, this unique heritage must be protected.
Our tributary joins the Manampanda river and the water flow suddenly becomes much more significant.

Our camp is established on a beautiful sandy beach by the river.

The Manampandana river traces our progress for a good hour before we leave it to reach the plateau. After joining the ridge line, we head towards the Bara villages on the northern edge of the Makay massif.

We reach the village of Tsiazorambo late in the morning. Our vehicles are there, waiting for us. It is the end of our unique and unprecedented journey through this magnificent Makay massif.

After lunch, we say goodbye to the porters and trackers.
By track, we take our 4x4s to reach the city of Malaimbandy. The road leading to

Early in the morning, we drive to Antsirabe, the capital of the Vakinankaratra region.

After lunch, we continue our journey to Ambatolampy. The rice fields and typical villages of the Highlands shape the landscape.

Arrival in Antananarivo at the end of the day.