Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park
A landscape of limestone needles reached by a multi-day overland journey, where suspended bridges cross chasms deep inside the stone forest.
The journey to Bekopaka is a commitment: two days by 4×4 from Morondava, crossing two rivers by ferry. This is not the accessible limestone of Ankarana in the north; Bemaraha is a larger, more isolated massif. The reward is a cathedral of stone, a forest of grey limestone pinnacles that one crosses not on ground-level trails, but on suspended bridges and via ferrata routes bolted directly to the rock.
The park is only reachable during the dry season, from roughly May to early November. The dirt tracks from Morondava become impassable during the rains, and the park closes entirely. A proper visit requires a minimum of two full days in Bekopaka to explore both the Great Tsingy and the Small Tsingy, plus the overland travel time on either side.
Best time to visit
Where to stay
Beach LodgeModern lines on the sand, facing the channel of migrating whales.
Forest lodges overlooking the sea on a volcanic island
Mountain LodgeA perspective of stone and light in the Isalo massif.
Frequently asked questions
The 200km journey takes two full days by 4x4, with an overnight stop in Belo sur Tsiribihina required to time the two ferry crossings correctly.
A good head for heights and a moderate level of fitness are necessary; you will be climbing ladders and clipping into a via ferrata system with a harness. It is not a simple walk.
No, the park and the roads to reach it are closed during the wet season, typically from mid-November to April, when the tracks become impassable.
We recommend a minimum of three nights in Bekopaka. This allows for two full days to explore both the Great and Small Tsingy circuits without being rushed.
