Tsingy de Bemaraha (Bekopaka)

A World Heritage forest of needle-like limestone pinnacles: clip into safety lines and cross suspension bridges over razor-sharp peaks, then paddle a canoe through the Manambolo Gorge.

Tsingy de Bemaraha lies in the Melaky region of western Madagascar, about 200 km from the coastal city of Morondava, and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1990. In Malagasy, "tsingy" means "the place where one walks on tiptoe": ancient seabed limestone has been dissolved by rain into dense razor-edged pinnacles, with canyons, caves and dry deciduous forest in between, home to endemic species such as Decken's sifaka. Visitors base themselves in the village of Bekopaka on the Manambolo River. The Great Tsingy (about 1 hour by car) is the main route, with harness climbing and suspension bridges, and takes 4–6 hours; the Little Tsingy is right by the village and takes 2–3 hours; in the afternoon you can canoe through the Manambolo Gorge and its caves. The northern part of the park is a strict nature reserve, closed to visitors. Season: the park is open from about mid-April to mid-November, and May to October is driest; in the rainy season from December to March roads are cut off and the park is closed. Getting there: take a 4WD north from Morondava, via the Avenue of the Baobabs, with ferry crossings at Belo-sur-Tsiribihina and over the Manambolo River; the one-way trip takes about 8–10 hours, and many people stay a night in Belo. You can also charter a small plane. Plan 2–3 nights in Bekopaka. Entry tickets, guides and climbing routes must be arranged at the park reception; wear non-slip shoes and gloves, and bring plenty of cash and drinking water.

Top sights

• Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park – A world-class karst wonderland of blade-sharp limestone stone forests, where visitors clip into safety harnesses to traverse cableways, sus…
• Grands Tsingy – The core stone forest, where blade-like pinnacles rise dozens of meters; climbers clip into safety harnesses, squeeze through crevices, and…
• Tsingy Suspension Bridge & Viewpoints – A suspension bridge spanning a deep gorge and a lookout on a stone-peak summit, the most iconic sight in Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park.
• Petits Tsingy – A small stone forest next to the village of Bekopaka, with an easy trail where you can explore rock crevices, caves, and viewpoints in two…
• Manambolo River Gorge – A dugout canoe trip upstream into a limestone gorge with towering cliffs on both sides, where you can explore caves and see the ancient Sak…
• Bekopaka – A small village on the Manambolo River, home to the park reception center, guesthouses, and the ferry crossing, and the only base for explo…
• Tsiribihina River – A major river in western Madagascar, where you can drift downstream on a flat-bottomed boat or dugout canoe, passing baobab trees, lemurs…

Where to eat

• Le Soleil des Tsingy Restaurant – Hillside guesthouse restaurant in Bekopaka overlooking the forest and an infinity pool, serving three-course set menus…

Itineraries

• Fly-in Morondava: Tsingy & Baobabs – Fly to the west coast, head north by 4WD to the Bemaraha stone forest, and return via Kirindy and the Avenue of the Bao…
• Grand Madagascar: River, Tsingy & RN7 Loop – Descend the Tsiribihina River to the Tsingy, cross the highlands along the RN7, and end in the eastern rainforests to h…