Following National Road 4, you reach the Mahajanga region, the gateway to western Madagascar, where Sakalava traditions, lively markets, and centuries-old baobabs blend together. Crossing the Bombetoka Bay by ferry brings you to Katsepy and Soalala, before entering the remote lands of the Baly Bay National Park, a sanctuary for the rare Angonoka tortoise and an exceptional biodiversity.
The adventure continues toward the mysterious Namoroka Tsingy National Park, where impressive limestone formations shelter lemurs, chameleons, and endemic birds. Between wilderness camps and rough tracks, each stage is a deep immersion into authentic Malagasy village life.
Finally, the Antrema region and the Boeny Bay reveal a fascinating cultural and natural heritage: bismarckia palm forests, mangroves, pristine beaches, and Arab ruins on Antsoheribory Island, witnesses to a thousand-year-old past.
This exceptional journey is designed for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and explorers looking for an off-the-beaten-path expedition.
Early morning departure and crossing of the Bombetoka Bay by ferry to reach Katsepy, a fishing village marking the entrance to southern Boeny. The track to Soalala is among the most challenging in Madagascar. After lunch in a small local restaurant in Mitsinjo, near Lake Kinkony known for its aquatic birds, the journey continues through dry forests, savannahs, and isolated villages. The 150 km between Katsepy and Soalala require two full days due to extremely difficult road conditions.
Overnight camping or basic bush hotel.
Day 3 – Soalala → Baly Bay → Soalala – 50 km, approx. 6 hours driving
The day is dedicated to exploring Baly Bay National Park, a natural gem of north-western Madagascar. This remarkable park combines dry forests, mangroves, rivers, beaches, and coral reefs. It is the only habitat in the world of the Angonoka tortoise, one of the rarest and most endangered species on Earth. Wildlife observation, hiking, and spectacular coastal viewpoints punctuate this immersion in exceptional nature.
Overnight camping in the bush.
Day 4 – Soalala → Vilanandro – 75 km, approx. 5 hours driving
Early departure toward Vilanandro, located at the entrance of Namoroka Tsingy National Park. The journey includes crossing a river by ferry before the first limestone formations of the park appear. Camp setup near the park entrance.
Overnight camping near the park.
Days 5 to 7 – Namoroka Tsingy National Park
Three full days are dedicated to exploring this little-known park, visited only by true adventurers and nature enthusiasts. The tsingy form a labyrinth of sharp limestone pinnacles inhabited by eight species of lemurs, numerous reptiles, rare birds, and endemic plants such as pachypodiums and several baobab species. Streams run through the gorges, creating wetlands ideal for nesting birds. Hiking and wildlife observation offer total immersion in a still-pristine territory.
Camping inside the park.
Days 8 & 9 – Namoroka → Mitsinjo → Antrema – 170 km, approx. 12–13 hours on rough tracks
Return to the track toward Mitsinjo, then continue to the Antrema Reserve, located a few kilometers south of Katsepy. This two-day journey crosses savannahs, mangroves, and remote Sakalava villages — an authentic adventure through the wild landscapes of Boeny.
Overnight camping or rural guesthouse.
Day 10 – Antrema
Day dedicated to discovering the Antrema Biocultural Reserve, the first biocultural site created in Madagascar. The peninsula hosts a mosaic of ecosystems including dry forests, mangroves, beaches, and vast bismarckia palm groves. The crowned sifaka lemur is especially protected here, considered an ancestor in Sakalava tradition and placed under the symbolic protection of Prince Tsimanendry. Birds, reptiles, and amphibians are also abundant.
Overnight camping or rural guesthouse.
Day 11 – Antrema → Boeny Bay → Antrema – 40 km, approx. 5 hours
Excursion to the splendid Boeny Bay, bordered by savannahs and satrana palms. Visit the fishing village of Boeny Aranta before boarding a dugout canoe to Antsoheribory Island. This 2.5-km-long island, classified as a historical heritage site, contains remains of a 17th-century Arab trading post: a sultan’s house, mosque, tombs, and small fortifications now overtaken by baobabs. A unique exploration blending nature and history.
Overnight camping or rural guesthouse.
Day 12 – Antrema → Katsepy → Mahajanga – 20 km, approx. 2 hours
Morning return to Katsepy, then ferry crossing of the Betsiboka River back to Mahajanga. End of our services.
Price per person
1 traveler: €4,500
2 travelers: €2,500 (1 twin/double)
3 travelers: €2,200 (1 triple)
4 travelers: €2,000 (2 twin/double)
5 travelers: €1,900 (1 twin/double + 1 triple)
6 travelers: €1,800 (3 twin/double)
For other options, please contact us.
Departure / Arrival: Mahajanga
Best travel period: June – October
Included
Private vehicle with French-speaking driver | Ferry Mahajanga – Katsepy – Mahajanga |
Local guides | Entrance fees to listed excursions and parks |
Full-board camping from Day 1 to Day 11
Not Included
Entry visa (€35 per person) | Drinks | Hotel in Mahajanga |
Personal expenses | Anything not mentioned under Included
Mahajanga
Mahajanga is the largest city in western Madagascar and the country’s third-largest city. Despite its somewhat ghostly atmosphere and dusty appearance, it is well worth a stop. Mahajanga has a distinctive charm thanks to its ethno-cultural mix and Sakalava, Indian, Muslim, colonial, and Merina architecture. It is also one of the hottest places in Madagascar.
Soalala
The small port town of Soalala is very rural and serves as the departure base for excursions to the Namoroka Tsingy and Baly Bay National Park.
Baly Bay National Park
Located in north-western Madagascar, about 150 km from Mahajanga, the park covers 57,162 hectares. Between rivers, mangroves, coastal dunes, and lakes, it offers outstanding discoveries alongside superb beaches and coral reefs within the marine park.
Namoroka Tsingy National Park
This park offers a unique landscape of majestic crystalline limestone formations rising up to 30 meters high, where caves, cliffs, dense semi-deciduous dry forest, savannahs, marshy areas, canyons, and natural pools coexist.
Antrema Protected Area
Located 6 km south of Katsepy, this protected area features an ecosystem composed of dune dry forest, humid forests, lakes, and a marine park with mangroves. Crowned sifakas are considered sacred in the region.
Boeny Bay & Antsoheribory Island
Baobabs and palm trees endlessly punctuate the landscape of Boeny Bay. Antsoheribory Island, just opposite the bay, is a remarkable site within the Mahavavy Kinkony Protected Complex. It preserves remains of sultans’ houses, tombs, barracks, and a mosque from a 17th-century Arab trading post — traces of the Antalaotra civilization — as well as an impressive forest of Adansonia digitata baobabs.
