Tsiribihina River

The Tsiribihina descent runs about 150 kilometres from Miandrivazo down to Belo sur Tsiribihina, taking two or three days in a dugout pirogue paddled and poled by a crew, or rather faster on a motorised chaland barge. The river passes through a gorge with waterfalls that boats stop at for swimming, then opens into wide braided channels between sandbanks, with villages, zebu herds and lemurs and birds along the banks. Nights are spent camping on sandbars, cooking on fires, which is much of the appeal. It is not white water: the river is placid, and this is a slow journey rather than an adventure sport. Most travellers do it as the approach to the Tsingy de Bemaraha, continuing by road from Belo.

What you actually see

• The gorge and waterfalls - swimming stops on the first day.
• Sandbank camps - nights on the river under the open sky.
• River villages - settlements, zebu herds and crossings along the banks.
• Lemurs and birds - wildlife in the gallery forest on the banks.

When to go

April to November, with water levels highest early in that window. Late in the dry season the river drops and boats ground on sandbars, which slows everything. December to March is the wet season and trips do not run.

Honest expectations

This is camping without facilities: no toilets, no shower, sun all day on an open boat. Pirogue trips take three days and are slow; the motorised barge is faster but noisy. Crews and equipment vary enormously in quality, so the operator matters more than the price. Sunburn and dehydration are the real risks.

Nearby

Belo sur Tsiribihina is the end point; Tsingy de Bemaraha lies north of it.