Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It's rare for anyone to do the Manambolo independently, but Herman Snippe and Jolijn
Geels achieved it in 1999. They took a variety of
taxi-brousses
from Tana to Tsiroanoman-
didy and on to Belobaka. From here they hired a guide to take them on foot to Ankavandra
alongtheRoutedeRizusedbyriceporters.Thiswalk'tookthreedaysandwaswonderful'
although they warn of a shortage of drinking water in the dry season. Ankavandra is
pretty much owned and run by a M Nouradine, who owns the only hotel and river-worthy
pirogues. The trip downriver cost Herman and Jolijn about €100, including two piroguiers
andtheirfood.InApril,afterrain,thetwo-and-a-half-daydescentoftheriverwas'thrilling
and spectacularly beautiful'.
MANGOKY
The journey from Beroroha to Bevoay (approx 160km) runs through an isol-
ated region in the southwest of the island, with no roads north or south of the river for
morethan100km.Thiscalm waterstretch offersexpansive beaches forcamping andmany
yet-to-be-explored side canyons. The Mangoky passes through sections of dry deciduous
forests which are dominated by perhaps the largest baobab forest on earth. There are three
species, the most predominant being the huge
Adansonia grandidieri
.
However, this is no longer a pristine experience as large fires to the south in recent years
have forced local populations to move closer to the river; small villages are appearing and
the effects of their presence are bound to become more evident.
MAHAVAVY
The Mahavavy was first explored in 1998, when the rafting team from Re-
mote River Expeditions put in at Kandreho and ended in Mitsinjo. The area is extremely
richinbothlemursandbirds(includingfisheagles),withlargeexpansesofbeautifulforest.
Lemur-viewing is far superior to the other western rivers, with plenty of Decken's and
crowned sifakas and red-fronted brown lemurs - especially around the Kasijy forest and
the riverine tamarind gallery forest between Bekipay and Ambinany.
