Nosy Varika (Madagascar)

Halfway between Mananjary and Mahanoro, cruises on the Pangalanes Canal stop off here for the night before getting back on the road - excuse me, the canal - the next day. The name of Nosy Varika supposedly comes from the presence of many lemurs in the forests that used to surround the town.

The Sakeleona Falls, the highest waterfalls of Madagascar with a height of 200 metres, are located near Nosy Varika, but getting there is no easy matter. For those adventurers who are interested, go towards the village of Ampasinambo about hundred kilometres to the west. The track is difficult and requires an all-terrain vehicle. From there, it takes about a day's walk to reach the falls, where you spend the night before taking the path back in the opposite direction the next day... an experience that is guaranteed to be off the beaten path!