Welcome to spend a night (or more) at the Mitsinjo-MDI Research Station

Mitsinjo has now more options to offer for staying overnight close to the nature. Those who prefer a bed to a sleeping bag and tent at the campsite, may find a room at the Research station of the Mad Dog Initiative (MDI) very suitable and affordable.

The station is a fruit of collaboration between the Mad Dog Initiative and Association Mitsinjo. The house is hidden by the forest, though it is only at a stone’s throw from Mitsinjo’s office. From May to July, the scientists and veterinarians need the station for their activities, but otherwise it is open to tourists and other visitors.

The station is a two-storey building with eight rooms for accommodation. Upstairs, there are two single rooms and five rooms for 1-3 persons. The other facilities on the 2nd floor include two toilets and two showers with hot water.

A single room

Examples of rooms for 1-3 persons

Downstairs, there are two toilets and one shower. There is also one single room and a large dining hall with a cosy corner.

The paintings on the wall were created by two young scientists who were volunteering
with the Mad Dog Initiative in Andasibe in 2022.

For further details, please see Ecotourism/Fees and prices.

Photos: Ulla Aitakangas

C’mon let’s have some fun!

Eddy Christin MANATIJARA (left) and Dilifera MANANTSOAVINA (right), brothers filled with passion for tree climbing, have organised activities for tourists in the trees of Mitsinjo Park – Analamazaotra Forest Station since 2005, first with the Mad’Arbres climbing association, nowadays with their new company Gasyclimb.

You can climb a tree and observe the surrounding nature from the top or spend the whole night in a hammock admiring the stars and listening to the sounds of the forest. Before it is time to go to sleep, Eddy will play Malagasy music with his guitar and valiha, a traditional instrument to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

Now the company is building the first outdoor tree climbing adventure park in Madagascar in collaboration with the EnZpire Foundation and the Mitsinjo Association. In April 2021, the grounds were cleaned to make space for construction. The first parkour was operational seven months later at the beginning of December and was ready to receive climbers. The course of obstacles is suitable for visitors from children to the elderly. The writer of this post can confirm. She definitely is not in her twenties any more, but she succeeded in passing all the obstacles, though her visit in April 2022 was her first ever to an adventure park. A trained professional was looking after her all through the parkour.

You begin the course by walking on a tight rope that is followed by many different obstacles challenging your balance and the muscles of the middle body. If you want an experience of great speed, there is also a zipline you can glide on. The writer is afraid of high places, but she got over her fear and jumped from the platform. It was not terrible at all, could do it again!

Eddy helping a group of children to prepare for the adventure

In addition to offering tree climbing in Mitsinjo’s forest and activities in the Adventure Park where a parkour for adults is currently being built, Gasyclimb organises climbing tours in the east coast and west coast of Madagascar. They also climb trees all over Madagascar supporting research and filming projects on the tree canopy.

In the lush forests of the Masoala pensinsula in eastern Madagascar

 

 

 

 

 

The Alley of the Baobabs in western Madagascar near Morondava

 

 

 

 

Read more about Gasyclimb and their services on their website and in Facebook.

Contact information:
gasyclimb@gmail.com
tel. +261 34 56 110 13

Mitsinjo rainforest canopy

Photos: Gasyclimb

A New Women’s Group in Torotorofotsy

One of the main challenges linking tourism to sustainable development in the Andasibe community is finding ways to ensure more than just your local guide benefit from a visit.

That’s why this past month we have been working with Project Manondroala and the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation to launch the new Association Vehivavy Menalamba-Torotorofotsy, a women’s group dedicated to making local artisinal handicrafts for the Andasibe tourist market.The group of 25 women have been working with us and the Finns to learn ways to make original handicrafts that are of a high-quality for visiting tourists. Although there are a number of small markets that sell souvenirs in the area, currently almost all are made elsewhere in Madagascar and brought to Andasibe for resale.With this new organization the group works collectively, with all profits going back to the cooperative and directly to individual artisans. The official launch of the association and the inauguration of the women’s showroom took place on November 10th 2015. No visit to Torotorofotsy should be had without passing by to have a look!

 

Top 5 Andasibe Experiences

1) Meet the Indri

Madagascar’s largest lemur, the Indri (Indri indri) is the reason Analamazaotra forest of Andasibe was originally set aside as a reserve more than 40 years ago. Their big black and white furry forms are easily viewed in both Andasibe National Park and Mitsinjo’s Analamazaotra Forest Station.

In our forest we have two groups habituated to humans, and on lucky mornings it’s possible to get within a meter of wild Indri. It’s a truly intimate experience not to be missed.

2) Take a Dip in the Lac Sacré

A 60 minute drive north of Andasibe is Mantadia National Park. While there are a number of popular “piscine naturelle” in the protected areas around Madagascar, the cascade and pool in Mantadia is just what will want after having hiked the rugged terrain of this less visited and more adventurous part of the Andasibe-Mantadia complex.

A visit to the cascade in Mantadia National Park, a 60 minute drive north of Andasibe.

3) Night Hike in Rainforest

While almost all visitors to Andasibe make a morning trek through the forest, many miss out on the numerous nocturnal creatures that are hidden during the day and only emerge after dark.

Mitsinjo offers night hikes through rainforest for nocturnal wildlife viewing. With luck, you’ll have a chance to observe the locally-endemic Goodman’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara). Common encounters also include the Greater Dwarf Lemur (Cheirogaleus major), Leaf-tailed Geckos (Uroplatus sikorae and U. phantasticus), and an impressive sample of Andasibe’s amphibian diversity such as the common tree frogs Boophis viridis and Boophis pyrrhus.

4) Tour the Village

Don’t miss out on an afternoon stroll through Andasibe village. The town has a population of around 5,000 people, with around 12,000 living in the surrounding Commune. Market is centrally located and busiest on Saturdays. There is even an internet café with WiFi and four computers should you get the urge to send photos to some of your friends back home!

A walk through Andasibe village will introduce you to the people and culture not experienced in the forest.

5) Plant a Tree

It’s not just about taking the experience away but also giving back. Association Mitsinjo offers a chance for visitors to contribute to conservation in Andasibe by going on our “Reforestation Circuit” which lasts a few hours and tours not only Analamazaotra Forest Station, but also our tree nurseries and recently reforested habitat.

At the end of the circuit, you can also plant your own tree if you like. We hope you can come back and visit when it has grown.

Meet a Guide – Roger RAZAFITSIRESY

Roger with a group of tourists in Andasibe National Park

Born in Andasibe in 1983, Roger has been a Mitsinjo member since 2004. Before then he was a student, but grew up in Andasibe and has always been familiar with the local flora and fauna. He began working as a guide with our Association in 2006.

Since working with Mitsinjo he has participated in a number of our projects, including assisting visiting researchers in studies as diverse as:

• Behavioral monitoring of the Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur (Allocebus tricotus)
• Forest mapping with Project Manondroala
• An ecological survey of the Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus diadema) in Andasibe National Park

Roger on the road to Andasibe eyeing a mixed flock of vangas

One of Roger’s specialties is the birds of Andasibe. He is skilled in finding even the most difficult-to-see species, such as the Helmut Vanga, Pygmy Kingfisher, Scopes Owl, Crested Ibis, Madagascar Wood and White-throated Rail, and even the Pitta-like Ground Roller. He worked with a German ornithologist in 2012 to lead and participate in a training course for guides regarding the birds of Andasibe and their natural history.

The Helmet Vanga is one of Andasibe’s most iconic birds but difficult to find without a trained guide. This photo was taken by Roger near Eulophiella Lodge.

Before your visit, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Mitsinjo to work with Roger. He can also be reached directly at rogerandasibe (at) gmail (dot) com or by telephone at +261 33 02 568 44 and +261 34 06 566 86