Adventure

The Mangoky Reserve Team organises environmentally friendly adventure tours to one of the world’s most remote places: the unique biological hotspot of the Mangoky River basin. We can offer the following tours – customised for individuals and small groups.

 Kayak tours down the Mangoky River

The Mangoky basin from Beroroha in the East to Ambika in the West where the national road number 9 (RN9) meets the river, is only accessible by small boats. A 4 to 5 days boat trip on the Mangoky River is a unique experience in an area cut off from all modern civilisation. From April 2025, the Malagasy association Mangoky Reserve organises guided kayak tours on this about 180 km long part of the river – for 2 – 3 people with a certain stamina and a sense of simple life close to nature. This tour requires some endurance and the readiness to live a very basic life for some days, but compensates generously through the unique possibility to dive into a nature and culture far from what is known in other parts of the world. The Mangoky Reserve with its camp site, trails into the forest and basic food and beverage supply will function as a recreation area on this journey.

1 ½ days drive from Toliara to Beroroha – 5 days paddling on the river in modern kayaks from Beroroha to Ambika with a stop at the remote Mangoky Reserve – visit of Madagascars largest Baobab tree in the remote forest of Andombiry – 1 day drive back to Toliara by car with an optional stop at a beach resort close to Ifaty.

This is included in the tour package and is organised by Mangoky Reserve:

  • Five days guided kayak paddling on the Mangoky River – Madagascar’s longest and most remote river
  • Transport from Toliara to the deployment site on the river and from Ambika back to Toliara
  • Rent of boats, tents and necessary gear
  • Local guides (English/French)
  • All accommodation underway in hotels and tents on the riverbank
  • Foot-tours in the forest of the Mangoky Reserve (optional)
  • Visit of local villages along the river; tase of local food (optional)
  • Visit of Madafascar’s largest Baobab treein the forsdt of Andombiry
  • All food and water on the journey
  • Transfer from and to Toliara airport
  • Possibility for a visit of the Isalo National Park (additional)
  • Stay at a beach resort at Mangily (Ifaty) on the Indian Ocean to round off the trip (additional)

You provide

  • Journey to/from Toliara by aeroplane or local bus
  • Personal tour equipment including sleeping bag (tents can be provided)
  • Personal medical supply
  • Travel insurence
Free camping on a sandbank on the Mangoky River. The tents can be provided by Mangoky Reserve.

Further information

  • All tours are tailormade for an average for 2 – 3 people and with the possibility to meet individual wishes; longer stays at the Mangoky Reserve campsite for animal spotting as well as a subsequent stay on the beach of the Indian Ocean near Ifaty can be arranged;
  • Best travel time on the Mangoky River is April to June/July depending on the water level in the river;
  • There is no network connection along the Mangoky River;
  • Average fitness level and good health are required;
  • Accommodation in tents on sandbanks is very basic; only “tour food” and water are available;
  • Prices between 800 € ans 1200 € per person depending on number of participants and individual wishes (Additional costs apply for a stay at Isalo National Park and/or Ifaty Beach).

When you book this tour, you are supporting a very important cause: the preservation of a biological hotspot and one of the few remaining unspoilt areas of Madagascar’s nature. By means of clean tourism with as little pollution as possible and without harming the environment conservation can be financed and the local population can be made aware of the need to preserve their unique natural environment. Please contact us for further information. We will organise an unforgettable adventure for you and for the benefit of this unique part of the world!

For more information please have a look at the this video from a trip on the Mangoky River in April 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d1Y2ENCsXg&t=1s

Individual tours that can be organised through Mangoky Reserve

Boat trips upstream to the Mangoky Reserve.

Journeys on local boats upstream from Ambika can be organised between April and July, when the river carries enough water. The trips can take several days – with tent mounts on sandbanks on the way – and can be organised individually for particularly interested people.

Tours with mountainbikes, ox carts and on foot.

In the dry season (Mai – October), the forest of Mangoky Reserve can also be reached by ox cart (from Ambika to the village of Vohitovo in 1 ½ day) and from there 3 – 4 hours on foot. The tour requires good physical condition and a certain ability to suffer.

Furthermore, we are exploring the possibility for mountainbike trips from Ambika to the Mangoky Reserve and back with kayaks on the river. If everything goes according to plan, the first combined mountain bike/kayak tours can be offered in 2026.

Visit Mangoky Reserve

The Mangoky Reserve team invites all who are interested in the unique nature of the area to visit the forest of the Mangoky Reserve. Transportation can be organised in different ways( (see above), food and beverage will be provided at the camp site. Please contact us and we will organise an unforgettable tour for you!

A special invitation is extended to scientists and researchers who would like to study the little-explored flora and fauna of this area

Activities in the Mangoky Reserve

Foot tours through the forest on marked trails.

The main activity for visitors of the Mangoky Reserve will be individual foot tours through the unique nature of the area. According to their interest, the visitors may learn about the numerous endemic trees and plants or watch the characteristic bird, reptile and lemur species of the area.

Round tours with local river boats

Shorter tours on local boats in the closer vicinity of the Mangoky Reserve as well as longer tours to points of interest along the river can be organised. The highlights of these tours will be the observation of various lemur species in the gallery forest along the river.

Visits of local villages

The Mangoky Reserve supports the local development through building and equipping schools. Trips to the villages where the schools are built can be organised in understanding with the local communities.

Just being there!

The Mangoky Reserve invites you to switch off and be by yourself for a few days, one with the nature around you and without the opportunities and constraints of civilisation. It is a unique experience to sit by the riverside without any disturbance, following the course of the sun, listening to the birds and lemurs in the forest and occasionally taking a bath in the river…

Common for all activities in and around the Mangoky Reserve is the close cooperation with the local people. Through renting out boats and ox carts, preparing food, serving as guides, guards and workers for protection activities, they shall benefit from inviting visitors to the forest of the Mangoky Reserve. This will be crucial for motivating them to cooperate with us in protecting the area and will open their eyes for the possibilities of a sustainable and environmentally friendly management of their resources.