A Hike in the Tsingy of Madagascar?
Closer to Rock Climbing!

COVID slowed us down for a couple of years, and now a few health issues challenge us.  We're still traveling if not writing about it quite so much. Our goal in 2022 was get to all seven continents in one year... and we did it.

Going forward health issues may not allow us to travel.  No one can take away those memories though.  We hope all of you are well and staying safe... and that you find some inspiration here for YOUR future travels. 

Ring-tailed lemur Madagascar

I didn't know about Tsingy when I started planning to travel to Madagascar. 

I thought of lemurs.

Is that a type of lemur?




I mean there are lemurs called Sifakas and Indris and Aye-ayes.

So exactly what are we talking about?

Our tour company described it as "fantastic limestone formations," and they suggested a hike in this geologic wonderland.

Ah ha!


OK... The Tsingy Must Be A Place

A friend told us that even though he travels to see primates, it was his hike in the Tsingy of Madagascar that amazed him.

Tsingy de Bemaraha
Big Tsingy Madagascar

If you look up the World Heritage Center site, this is what they say....

"Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve comprises karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive 'tsingy' peaks and a 'forest' of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks.

The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds."

Madagascar Red Ringtailed mongoose
Decken's Sifaka - mom and baby
Madagascar Giant Coua

OK... limestone pinnacles with lemurs and birds. Sounds good.

We decided it should be included in our itinerary, but even with all of this I still really didn't know what to expect.

Level of Fitness?

Another clue came just before departure when the tour operator e-mailed asking our fitness levels so they would know how to schedule the hike. Hummmm....

Mark climbing in Big Tsingy
Tsingy of Madagascar
Good handholds, but Tsingy are sharp

I don't think most tourist brochures will really prepare you for what to expect, so let me tell you what we encountered.

No Easy Way To Get There - But Go Anyway

There is no easy way to get to this National Park, but that shouldn't keep you away!

The best way is to fly to the beach town of Morondava. Air Madagascar flies there, and there are decent hotels to stay in. The Tsingy are about 150 km or 93 miles from Morondava.

Not bad, you're thinking... but let me tell you, the road isn't good.

Read this again... the road is not good.

And you will have a couple of adventurous ferry crossings. It will take all day to go that 150 km, but more on roads on another page!

The Roads -  Baobab Alley and Zebu Carts
Ferry across the Manambolo River Madagascar

You can break your drive at a river town called Beka.

To our way of thinking, driving straight though in one day is better than spending the night in Beka. The hotels are better in Morondava. We would, however, recommend having the gambas (big river shrimp) for lunch in Beka.

Know It Will Be HOT

Next there is the heat. You can only visit the Bemaraha National Park in the dry time of year; the roads would be impassible during the rainy season. Dry season translates to HOT!

They are promoting eco-tourism, and new accommodations are going up, but be advised you may not have air conditioning. There are ceiling fans and cold Three Horse Beer (the local beer).... so it could be worse.

OK now for National Park itself....

Tsingy means "pointed peaks" in Malagasy...

...or "where one cannot walk barefoot" depending on who's translating. That last translation is more graphic!

There are 165,000 acres of these pointed peaks.... so many soaring, jagged needles of rock that it looks like a forest of rocks... thus the World Heritage description of a forest of limestone needles. Some needles are 100m high.

This vast area was once covered by ocean. You can see fossils in some of the rocks. Over the centuries, rain and wind have carved and etched the rocks into this surreal landscape.

One at a time! Suspension bridge Tsingy
Rest stop Big Tsingy hike

Start Your Hike EARLY

That's right... Start your hike as early in the morning as you can because of the heat.

You or your guides must get hiking permits from the National Park Office which state an approximate starting time. Get these as soon as you can after you arrive, especially during the high tourist season.

It took us an hour to get from our lodge to the parking lot where our hike in the Big Tsingy started. That was when our guide pulled out the climbing harnesses.

Whoa... Climbing Harnesses?

Yes, climbing harnesses. 

This could be more than I was counting on I was thinking.

As it turned out it was a strenuous hike and as close to rock climbing as we will ever come... but it was not really climbing, and it was all worth it.

Some narrow ledges in the Tsingy
Tunnels in Big Tsingy
Steep and narrow ladders in Tsingy

There are many areas where you will be climbing up through crevasses and though cave-like tunnels.

There are several steep ladders. There are many areas where small rocks have been pounded into small crevasses to provide rock "ladders".

There are narrow ledges and very steep ups and downs... and you will feel like you're climbing, but none of it is technical climbing.

In many of these areas, the guides want you to hook onto cables for safety.... that's what the climbing harnesses are for.

Rock ladders - almost rock climbing Tsingy
Climbing gear is for safety in the Tsingy

Know What To Expect and Go For It!

Three of us went for it and loved it... once we were done. One of our group opted out when the guide pulled those climbing harnesses out.

If you know what to expect, you can go for it and enjoy the whole experience.

A Less Strenuous Hike?

There is a hike closer to the river and the hotels called the Little Tsingy. It is a shorter hike, and from what we heard, it's easier but still gives you a good idea of what this whole geological wonderland is all about.

The guide books say there are impressive limestone pinnacles in the northwest of the island, but I can't tell you about that.

Getting back to forest - hike almost done

What we will tell you is that to round out an itinerary to Madagascar, a visit to the Tsingy is well worth the effort.

En route to the Tsingy de Bemahara, you'll see a whole area of Madagascar that you would miss otherwise, spend a night or two in an interesting beach town, drive through Baobab Alley, have some incredible ferry crossings, a great lunch and hike through geologic areas that still defy adequate description as far as I'm concerned.

So we say, go for it.... we just wanted you to know what to expect.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

Return to Madagascar
Madagascar Itinerary  Africa Dream List
MouseToursTravels Home Page

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.

Timely Tips

Summer Vacation
Travel is fun in the Northern summer... but don't neglect the Southern Hemisphere at this time of year.
Yes, it's winter in South Africa, but that's their dry season. It's a good time to travel there.

Lions stop traffic in Kruger NP South Africa

Sometimes you need to watch rain patterns instead of just seasons to figure the best time to travel...

Whether you're taking a road trip close to home or traveling abroad...

Whether it's summer or winter in your part of the world...
the way you pack can make it all more pleasurable.

Check out all our Packing Lists and Tips.

Need travel ideas?
Things to See in Europe
Africa Calls!
Travel In America

Don't just dream about it...
Start making plans!

Custom Tour Planning List
International Travel Planning Tips
Foreign Is Fun - Not Scary!
Get Your Passports and Visas

And Expect Good Things
There Are Tourist Angels

Search

Search MouseToursTravels
Travel questions or destination info?
Find our answers faster..
.

Translate

We want you to feel comfortable out in the world and on our pages - so surf away in your own language...

Updated Tips & New Travel Stories

  1. 2022 Travels To All Seven Continents

    After COVID, all seven continents in one year was a worthy goal for our 2022 travels..

    Read More

  2. 2021 Travels - Another COVID Year?

    Our 2021 travels were only domestic. COVID kept us close home. Road trips and a cautious flights but still fun.

    Read More

  3. 2020 Travels - What Travels?

    Our 2020 travels were slim. COVID kept us home too. One trip to the Three Guyanas, but dreaming of travel next year.

    Read More

Two Ways To Like Us!

Like Our Site Top Left
Like Our Fanpage Below
Thank You!

Navigate Our Site

What We’ve Written On Africa
So Far

African Dream List
African Tented Camps
Botswana Adventure

Collect Passport Stamps In South Africa
Ethiopia
Madagascar
Madagascar's Tsingy
  Our Madagascar ItinerarY
Mountain Gorilla Facts
"Our" Silverback Mountain Gorilla

Rwanda Mountain Gorillas
South Africa

Timbuktu or Dogon Country?- Mali

Other Travels Include Africa

2008 Travels
2011 Travels
2013 Travels
2019 Travels

Border Crossings

For A Little Humor

Backsides of Africa
or
Africa Seen From Behind

Ready For A New Adventure?

We escape by traveling…
But there are more ways to escape. 
Work on something you LOVE…
With A Website
SBI Teaches You Everything

First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life