Lake Kinkony

Lake Kinkony covers around 100 square kilometres of shallow water at the heart of the Mahavavy-Kinkony wetlands, a mosaic of lakes, marsh, mangrove and remnant dry forest that is one of the most important bird sites in Madagascar. The reason specialists come is a short list of very rare species: the Madagascar fish eagle, the Sakalava rail, the Madagascar sacred ibis and the Bernier's teal, several of which are hard to find anywhere else. Local community associations manage access and provide boatmen and guides, which is how visits are arranged. The area sees very few travellers, and infrastructure is minimal: village accommodation, pirogue transport and no signage. For anyone not focused on birds there is little organised to do, and the journey is long.

What you actually see

• Madagascar fish eagle - one of the world's rarest raptors.
• Wetland mosaic - open lake, marsh, mangrove and forest patches.
• Pirogue transport - dugout canoes as the way to move around.
• Village fishing life - the communities working the lake.

When to go

May to November for passable roads and settled water levels. Bird activity is high through the dry season. From December to April the tracks flood and access is effectively closed.

Honest expectations

Getting here is slow and rough, with river crossings and no scheduled transport. Accommodation is village-level or camping. Everything runs through community associations that must be contacted in advance. Without an interest in birds the reward may not match the effort.

Nearby

Mahajanga lies northeast; Mitsinjo is the access town.