04
Andringitra
4 days
We set course for Namoly, but not before picking up a few last groceries. "This is what we call fresh meat in Madagascar", says Gégé as he puts the live chicken in the back trunk together with our luggage. It takes us 3 hours to reach the entrance to the National Park 45 km from Ambalavao. The road is bumpy and trying not to fly from our seats is a workout on its own. Right after Sendrisoa our car almost slips through the bridge because two planks reposition under its weight.
Every evening on our trek ends with a delicious meal, local rum and singing and dancing together with our crew to the music of the kabosy. The second evening we take it easy, because the next day we climb the second highest mountain of Madagascar: Imarivolanitra also known as Pic Bobby, named after the first soul to reach the top. In this case it was a dog.
We leave at 3:30 in the morning. Giant granite silhouettes of surrounding mountains are visible in the moonlight. Our torches show only a few steps ahead. Slowly the first daylight shows us the peak and the ascent brings a new, beautiful view every minute. Looking back means taking a photo for a moment, but quickly moving on to get to the top in time. On the mountain top the icy wind cuts through our jackets. We regret having left our fleece down. The view and the breakfast, consisting of American cookies, make up for everything. On the way back we enjoy the breathtaking nature we just passed in the dark.
After our real breakfast, we walk back along the first plateau in the direction of the Diavolana plateau. Our guide plays a couple of songs on his kabosy to set the mood. A short climb later we arrive in the moonlike landscape. It is our guide’s favourite place in the national park and we can see why. When we descend, a new view opens before our eyes. Palmtrees between granite boulders accompany us down. Our wonderful porters have already set up camp and made tea. We go for a refreshing swim in the creek and take a nap to recover.
After our real breakfast, we walk back along the first plateau in the direction of the Diavolana plateau. Gégé plays a couple of songs on his kabosy to set the mood. A short climb later we arrive in the moonlike landscape. It is our guide’s favourite place in the national park and we can see why. When we descend, a new view opens before our eyes. Palmtrees between granite boulders accompany us down. Our wonderful porters have already set up camp and made tea. We go for a refreshing swim in the creek and take a nap to recover.
On our last day we enter the windy Tsaranoro valley. With shaking knees from the effort we could not be happier to be down. During our trek we did not spot any lemurs but our stay at Camp Catta more than makes up for that. Dancing lemurs bounce through the gardens.
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