Trekking tours, climbing and paragliding in Madagascar

Sports activities in Andringitra Mountains and Tsaranoro Valley

It was not until 1998 that the mountain landscape in the  Andringitra Massif declared a national park, the spectacular 32,000 hectare area is an unparalleled attraction in Madagascar!
The alpine landscape is - despite certain similarities with other mountain regions of the world - interspersed with tropical and highly peculiar animals and plantsabove all 15 species of lemurs alone. Mountain hikers and alpine climbing enthusiasts will find in Andringitra not only days of hiking blessed with incredible panoramas, but also spectacular rock faces for free climbing. Since technical climbing is not allowed, the famous rock walls in the Tsaranoro Valley have become fixed in the hearts of numerous freeclimbers, and almost weekly new routes are explored at all levels of difficulty. Several camps below the walls are regularly occupied only by friends of the exciting alpine sport.

For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the extensive hiking trails reveal all the magic of these multifaceted mountains, where two weather zones meet and therefore provide for equally varied life as well as weather. On the western side of the mountains you will find tropical vegetation such as palm trees, while on the eastern side the vegetation is very similar to that of the Alps.
A climb to the 2658 m high Pic Imarivolanitra - also called "Pic Boby called! - represents already because of the height the highlight of hikes in the Andringitra-.
National Park. The second highest peak of Madagascar is not particularly difficult to climb: like all the trails of Andringitra well prepared, draws
the way over artificially created steps.
In the higher regions in the midst of the legendary "moonscape", that prehistoric rocky landscape, and in view of the multicolored sunsets, the traveler gets impressions and images that he will never forget. Namoly and Tsaranoro - the two mountain valleys that are open to the traveler as a gateway to Andringitra present themselves very differently: those who choose the northern access to the national park climb up gradually from the village of Namoly, in front of them the magnificent "amphitheater" of the highest peaks of Andringitra.

The two sacred waterfalls shoot down into the valley in white clouds of spray, the alpine plateau that you have climbed to the first camp seems strangely familiar and makes many parallels to European mountains clear. It is rarely cloudless up here because the moisture-laden winds from the nearby east coast bring in a lot of water, so rain gear is advisable here as well as warm clothes for the evening! Frost is not uncommon here!

The western access valley Tsaranoro presents itself as a relatively narrow cut into the mountains. The climate here is quite different from that in Namoly, so Andringitra may be called a climate and weather divide. Already the approach through a hot, dry and steppe landscape indicates this. Nevertheless, the heated traveler who hikes on foot to the camps at the foot of Pic Chameleon can take a refreshing bath at the river on the way.
Who from Tsaranoro Mountain world Andringitra to explore, has to undertake disproportionately greater efforts here: Although the Pic chameleon Although steep, but in a good hour "conquerable". The climb up to the "Paysage de la lune", the lunar landscape and then on to Pic Boby requires a laborious uphill climb, technically not very difficult, but just steep and long......

In order to do justice to the national park, one should plan at least two camping nights, better three, because a hike to the countless beauties of the park should take place without rushing. Depending on condition and interest, the guides in Ambalavao or locally offer different tour variants, a trekking tour of several days should be booked in advance in any case, the organizers in Ambalavao usually need only one night for preparation, who books in the afternoon, can start the other morning early. Of course, most climbing enthusiasts naturally go to Tsaranoro and expand the impressive catalog work in the camps below with new, unheard-of tours through the attractive rock faces. Ader also the "amphitheater of Namoly is already the destination of free climbers, but the climbers are threatened by the changeable weather due to rainfalls, which after a short time shoot out the rock walls as real waterfalls and make the stay a risk.

If you simply hike through the quiet mountain world, Andringitra is the best place to explore and experience some of the most beautiful and contemplative moments of a Madagascar trip: again such unexpected and all the more beautiful scenery, rustic meals around the common fire in the refuges, grandiose
Starry skies and sunrises and sunsets.

We also offer paragliding trips in this fantastic landscape.

For good hikers and multi-day tours, the Andringitra Mountains are more advisable than the completely overcrowded and expensive Isalo N.P.

Travel offers on the subject of Andringitra can be found under this LINK

More about Andringitra National Park can be found under this LINK