Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
zebu carts from Betioky 'and absolutely loved their trip down. I used zebu carts to go back
and forth to market day in Betioky and it was one of my most memorable experiences. We
were asked to leave in the middle of the night to make sure the zebu didn't overheat. A
moonlit/starlit ride through the bush is enchanting! It takes about six hours. Take a cush-
ion.'
CAMPING The campsites are situated under groves of tamarinds which are the sleeping
trees for the friendly groups of ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas. If you don't have
your own tent, you can hire one or stay in a local house. There is water from a well for
showers and to drink (bring purifying tablets or a filter). Toilet facilities are simple but
clean. Camping costs 10,000Ar per night.
WHAT TO SEE There are well-marked trails in the gallery forest directly across the road
from the research camp, with habituated ring-tail and sifaka groups. The spiny forest is
worththehikeandheat(butgoearly).Guidescost5,000Arpercircuit,whichvaryinlength
up to 12km. Night hikes (7,000Ar) are not to be missed: lepilemurs and mouse lemurs
abound and their vocalisations are the last sound you'll hear as you drift to sleep under the
tamarinds.
TofullyappreciateBezayouneedtostayafewdays.ThatwaythereistimetovisitEha-
zoara Canyon, a 3km (1½ hour) hike from the campsite which takes you through a local
Mahafaly village. There is also a lovely sacred banyan forest 30 minutes' walk along the
rivertothenortheastofthereserve,protectedbyalocal fady .Severalsifakaandring-tailed
lemur groups live here, although it is in the midst of agricultural fields.
THE ROAD TO TAOLAGNARO (FORT DAUPHIN)
A taxi-brousse from Toliara to Taolagnaro takes two to three days. It's a shame to pass
straight through such an exciting area, however. Much more interesting is to rent a vehicle
and driver, or to do the trip by taxi-brousse in stages, staying at Betioky, Ampanihy and
Beloha or Ambovombe, or - most interesting of all - by a combination of walking and
whatever transport comes along, taking pot luck on where you'll spend the night.
TOLIARATOBETIOKY TheturningforRN10isat Andranovory, 70kmfromToliara.
It takes about four hours to get to Betioky by 4x4, or eight hours by taxi-brousse
(10,000Ar)onaverypoorroad.MarketdayisTuesdayand Mahasoa isasimplehotelhere
- each room is named after a different car manufacturer!
Search WWH ::




Custom Search