Tsingy!

The end of our trail was Bekopako, the mouth of the Tsingy de Bemaraha, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. Until 1998, it was completely closed to the public, and even now, only a small area is open, with specific circuits. There are several types of places to stay - even a few nice if rustic hotels. We stayed in a place with these cute thatched A-frame bungalows. There was a generator for a few hours at night, and a barrel of water at the back. Since it was Saturday night, we decided to take Sunday off and see the Tsingy, before heading back on Monday.
The hike through the big Tsingy starts with a forest hike, with fantastic lianas, strangler figs, and creepers.Then you have to put your belay harnesses on...Scoot gingerly through the mouth of a cave.... (crevasse behind us)and start your climb! The Tsingy are limestones karsts - fantastically shaped pinnacles that have been fashioned by erosion. They pretty much go straight up - the course is a series of ladders, toe holds, and well-anchored rocks that you clamber up, some of it while clipped in, so you don't fall to your death. (You'll see why in a minute) Up we go!Looking down at the way we came upAt the top! This is 120-150 feet high! From here, you can get an idea of the structure of the tsingy, and of the jagged edges.At the top with Luciano and Aimee