The Pic Boby hiking is a must-do when you go to Andringitra National Park. A nice relaxing three-day pace perfect for enjoy the scenery and admire the plants, that you would find nowhere else in the world. On this hike, no timeout: each meter you will walk offers a unique diversity of landscapes.

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

Overview

Circuit Imarivolanitra (or close to the skies): a 28km 3-days journey, it is the climbing of the peak Boby and the meeting with its high-altitude inhabitants after crossing the grassy savannas. The 3-days ascent of Pic Boby involves overnighting at campsites. Three days in the heart of this mineral world perfectly suited to hike, with sustained physical efforts but not excessive. Any occasional hiker, even beginners, will find yourself tempo to achieve the 5 to 6 hours walk per day. It is not a timed competition. This hike is more a slow ascending passing through passes and valleys, stunning viewpoints, meetings with local population in the heart of Madagascar. The circuit will progressively lead you to the summit, go by the most beautiful sites: Idondy pass, Andrianalika, Riandahy and Riambavy waterfalls, peak Boby and at last the Sahanambo Valley.
Coming in at 2 658 meters, you feel every bit of it during that dark, chilly, early morning summit. Being at the top it is a surreal experience. Perhaps you have been to the top of many mountain peaks, but there is just something truly magical about this one. Before the sun rose high enough to light up the sea of clouds that will filled the Namoly Valley, you will enjoyed tea, coffee and toast while watching the sunrise feeling like you had the entire Andringitra National park to ourselves.
ENJOY THIS… ascending the Pic Boby.

Trip Highlights

Andringitra National Park;
the Peak (Pic) Boby;
The sunrise feeling like you had the entire Andringitra National park to ourselves!

Day 01 :

Ambalavao - Andriantelo- Andringitra

You meet our guide at 05:45 at the reception of your hotel with our guide. At 06:00 on your 4×4 car you go in the direction of Namoly.
After the destroyed Andriantelo bridge, porters will already be waiting for you.
This is where your hike will begin. First you will need to cross the river at a ford, but the river is not deep. A little above the knee. You will then continue on a fairly level trail through the valley with a few small ascents and descents to the Interpretation Center (located at an altitude of 1450m above sea level).
Then you will go (approximately 1h 30m) along the path leading directly to the entrance to the park. You will overcome one ascent and descent. And pass through the traditional village of Antanifotsy.
After entering the park, you will climb (approximately 2 hours) on a path leading through small villages and bushes, so you will be more or less in the shade.
After this ascent, there will be only a few steps left until the halt (altitude 2000m above sea level).
From the halt there is a stunning view of the entire valley and the forest on the east side.
Here you will have a picnic lunch.
After this pause, you will continue across the plateau, making a short detour to a natural pool.
Then, having refreshed yourself in the water (or near the water), you will continue (another 2 hours hike to the campsite (camping) Andriampotsy (altitude 2050m above sea level).
The campsite is located on the banks of the river, this place is the starting point for climbing Peak Boby.
Rest and dinner, overnight in a tent.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Tent Stay

Day 02 :

Pic Boby - Diavolana - Iantaranomby

If you want to be at the peak before sunrise, and enjoy this amazing view of the sun rising over the mountains and valley, we need to leave the camp at 03:00 in the morning.
So, whether you start at 03:00 am or later, you will first pass through a false plateau. The climb (approximately 1 hour) gets steeper and steeper as you walk up irregular (uneven) steps to the pass, which is located at an altitude of 2400m above sea level.
You will then cross a hollow (about 30 minutes) and another false plateau before reaching the second ascent on the left side of the Peak.
This climb will take about another hour and you will reach the top of Peak Boby (altitude 2638m above sea level) and marvel at the 360° panorama (of course, depending on the weather, as you know, the weather in the mountains can often be cloudy).
Enjoy the scenery (possibly sunrise) and hot coffee or tea with sandwiches.
The return trip will be the same way and after about 2 hours you will return to the campsite and have lunch. Don’t worry while you are climbing the Peak, your luggage will be well looked after by porters.
After lunch you will continue your hike through the plateau next to the mountain range. After about 1 hour we will reach the Diavolana (or full moon) plateau, where, after a rather steep descent, you will see a completely different landscape than before – granite. At the highest point, 2 100m, there’s a rock slab that serves as a convenient picnic spot and offers an excellent viewing point to spot the ring-tailed lemurs on the opposite cliffs. These high mountain lemurs have grown thick feathers to protect themselves against the cold of this high altitude habitat.
After passing through the landscapes of alpine palms and places similar to alpine meadows, gradually descending to an altitude of 1650m above sea level, you will arrive at the Iantaranomby campsite, located by a natural pool with crystal clear water from mountain streams, of which there are many.
Just in time to enjoy the sunset.
Dinner and overnight in a tent.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tent Stay

Day 03 :

Morarano - Vallee De Tsaranoro

After breakfast, a short descent (about 1h 30m) to the village of Manamisoa. Along the way you will enjoy the view of the vallée de Tsaranoro with its green terraced rice fields and sheer cliff.
Then, along the fields of rice and other local crops, you will come to the village of Morarano, where your 4*4 car will be waiting for you.
The whole walk on this day will take a maximum of 3-3.5 hours.
End of our services.
Your return to Ambalavao will take approximately 2.5-3 hours.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch