Sea kayak at St Marie island


Trip description

The plane allows us to reach Tuléar, from where we sail one week south to Morombe. This is the land of the "Vezo", the ethnic group of nomadic fishermen who spread out in outrigger pyrogues. Their existence is closely linked to the sea and their social and cultural followers are passionate, they are the sons of true sea nomads, the others, remaining fishermen, are sedentary. For the Vezo, the sea is life itself. The sea ensures the entire existence of the Vezo, and all that they lack is provided by inland villages with which they trade. For the Vezo, a pirogue (lakana) is at the same time a working tool for eating, a means of transport and for the nomads, a tent (sail and masts in the shape of a tepee). The Vezo pyro, carved from a light fibre trunk, has a square sail and a single beam which indicates the origin of the Indonesian ethnic group. The route follows the lagoon, sheltered from the big waves and the swell of the open sea. It stretches over 200 km of our itinerary and allows a julilatory navigation! A festival of corals, fish, pirogues and joyful encounters! 

Air Madagascar" flight to Tuléar, where we sail for a week to reach Morombe. This is the country of the nomadic ethnic fishermen "Vezo" who travel by outrigger canoe. Their existence is closely linked to the sea and their social and cultural characteristics are fascinating, some are true sea nomads, the other remaining fishermen have settled. For Vezo, the sea is life itself. The sea provides the Vezo with their entire existence, and anything they lack is provided by the inland villages with which they trade. For the Vezo, an outrigger canoe (lakana) is at the same time a tool for eating, a means of transport and a nomadic tent (sail and mast-shaped tepee). The Vezo dugout canoe, carved from a tree trunk made of light fibres, has a square sail and a single outrigger which indicates the origin of the Indonesian ethnic group. The course follows the lagoon, protected from the big waves of the sea. It stretches over 200 km of our journey and makes for glorious sailing! Festival of coral, fish, canoeing and happy encounters!
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MADAEXPEDITIONS


10 days

From : €890*

Day 1: Tana - Tuléar - Mangily

Day 2: Mangily

Day 3: Mangily - Tsiandamba

Day 4: Tsiandamba to Ambatomiloa

Day 5: Ambatomiloha at bay murderers

Day 6: Antsepoka - Andavadoaka

Day 7: Andavadoaka

Day 8: Andavadoaka - Bevato - Morombe

Day 9: Morombe - Mangilt

Day 10: Mangily - Tulear

Day 1 : Tana - Tuléar - Mangily

Charrettes à zébus au port de Tuléar pour prendre les navettes rapides vers Anakao ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


Airport pick-up and transfer to Mangily to the hotel-bungalow "on the beach". The hotel-bungalow is ideally located under a forest of filaos which gives the name, the restaurant terrace offers an extraordinary sunset south of the Mozambique Channel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Overnight in bungalows ("comfort" category DBL or TWN with bathroom and toilet). 

Transfer distance by 4x4: 60 km - duration: +/- 1h30




Day 2 : Mangily

Pirogue à balancier sur fond de marée basse, Belo sur mer ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


Depending on the tide, you are taken out in the morning for sea kayaking, paddling and sailing initiation. Excursion by Vezo canoe and snorkeling in the marine protected area of Ankaranjelita: Garden of sea roses. Lunch in the village, return by pirogue. Visit of the baobab and turtle reserve. Dinner and night "on the beach".

Night in rooms and bungalows (category "comfort" DBL or TWN with bathroom and toilet)




Day 3 : Mangily - Tsiandamba

Enfant de Tsiandamba ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


This first big navigation by pirogue is superb because it is necessary to leave the lagoon by the big pass of Ankaranjelita for longer the barrier of the outside then enters the big lagoon after the mouth of the river, towards Fiserenamasay. We then sail northeast at low tide. The arrival at the Vezo village is spectacular with children gathered on the beach shouting, singing and running to strangers. Dinner and overnight in bungalows in tsiandamba, in the heart of a typical Vezo village to discover. 

Night in bungalows (category "rustic" DBL or family with bathroom and toilet in ext).

Pirogue vezo : duration : +/- 5h00




Day 4 : Tsiandamba to Ambatomiloa

Boutre au large du village d'Ambatomilo ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


Departure from Tsiandamba to Ambatomiloa by pirogue in the lagoon. Picnic on the way. Snorkeling on the coral reef. Extraordinary view on the sea from the promontory terrace. 

Overnight in bungalows ("Comfort" category DBL or TWN with bathroom and WC).

Meals : lunch / dinner

Pirogue Vezo : +/- 3h00, depending on the weather.




Day 5 : Ambatomiloha at bay murderers

Pêcheur Vezo. ©Laurent BOSCHERO


Departure from Ambatomiloa to reach the Bay of Assassins by sailing pirogue in the lagoon. The stage is carried out in outrigger canoes. At Antsepoka, you have to leave the lagoon in front of the "Baie des Assassins" for a spectacular pass that runs out of steam among the rollers that the Vezos know how to master with skill. The Bay of Assassins was named after the shipwrecks of the galleons in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tide decides hours of travel and we can get up early. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.

Night in bungalows (rustic category DBL or family with bathroom and toilet outside).

Dugout time: +/- 3 hours, depending on weather conditions.

Ambatomiloa departure to join the Baie des Assassins by pirogue in the lagoon. Dinner and overnight camping.

Overnight camping

Meals : Picnic / Dinner

Sea kayaking: +/- 6h00, depending on the weather.




Day 6 : Antsepoka - Andavadoaka

Tortue hawksbill. ©BlueOrange Studio - Fotolia


When the tide allowed it, we returned to the spectacular pass to weave in and out of the delegates that the Vezos mastered with skill. The tide decides hours of travel and we can get up early. If we are lucky, we will see sea turtles as the area is used as a nesting ground. Picnic on arrival in Andavadoaka, snorkeling, then we go to the village of Andavadoaka for a visit.  

Vezo canoe: +/- 2 hours, depending on weather conditions.

The stage takes place entirely in outrigger canoes and takes to exit the lagoon in front of the "Bay of Assassins" through a spectacular pass that winds through the rollers that the Vezos master with skill. The "Bay of Assassins" owes its name to the shipwreck of galleons in the 15th and 15th centuries. The weather decides the hours of travel and we can get up early. Picnic on the beach, snorkeling, and then to the village of Andavadoaka. Dinner and night at "Coco-plage".

Night in bungalows (category "Comfort" DBL or TWN with bathroom and WC).

Meals : lunch / dinner

Pirogue Vezo : +/- 3h00, depending on the weather.




Day 7 : Andavadoaka

Baobab près d'Andavadoaka ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


A trip to Andavadoaka to discover in depth the village that represents the identity of the Vezo: fishing and snorkeling on the edge of the pyrogues balancing in the lake with us, Vezos and night in bungalows at the "Coco-beach" (or similar). Dinner in front of the sunset over the Mozambique Channel. The visit to Andavadoaka allows us to observe closely the fashion of the old and the particular customs of the Vezo, the family events are close to us.

Nuit en bungalows (catégorie "confort" DBL ou TWN avec salle de bain et WC).

Horaire pirogue : +/- 3h00, selon conditions météo.




Day 8 : Andavadoaka - Bevato - Morombe

Coucher de soleil sur la plage d'Ifaty ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


Départ d'Andavadoaka en pirogue Vezo dans le lagon jusqu'au village Vezo de Bevato (17km) en passant par l'île déserte de Nosy-Ve. Le village n'a rien. Nous rejoignons ensuite Morombe via l'île de Nosy-Ratafanika et son village vezo au milieu des baobabs. Dîner et nuit en chambre d'hôtes.

Night in bungalows (category "comfort" DBL or TWN with bathroom and toilet).

Vezo pirogue: +/- 5 hours, depending on weather conditions.




Day 9 : Morombe - Mangilt

Mangily beach. ©Laurent BOSCHERO


Transfer by car from the track to Mangily. The journey allows us to observe the bush landscape (dry forest euphorbia) and the country's Mikeas rubrostipa baobabs, last representatives of the Bantu ancestors. They are hunter-gatherers, they live hidden in the thorny forest and are very shy. Picnic en route. Swimming in the afternoon. 

Overnight in rooms and bungalows ("Comfort" category DBL or TWN with bathroom and WC)

Meals : Picnic / Dinner

Transfer distance by 4x4: 100 km - duration: +/- 6h00




Day 10 : Mangily - Tulear

Fruits de mer au menu sur les côtes malgaches (ici, au Jardin de Beravy près de Tuléar) ©Arnaud BONNEFOY


End of our services in Tuléar or at the airport, at the time of the return flight to Tana.




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