Flooded Andromba

Author: madamax  |  Category: whitewater kayak

Julien was about to leave madagascar and I seized the opportunity to send him on a small river we paddled occasionally south of Antananarivo.

With low waters, it’s rather gentle.

Well, that wasn’t exactly low tide!

Julien, Joe and Liva boarded near Behenjy for what was supposed to be a cool day and an half with a few amusing rapids.

They encountered furious lines of challenging rapids for most of the section they paddled and were quite impressed by its potential with high waters.

You can see that the rapids look quite nice for thrill seekers and they left a few lines to be opened by strong groups of dedicated paddlers, …

We caught them at the pull out the next day all excited by this great descent and decided to return there again, …

Julien took the loaded Pyranha through really nice lines all along those two days.

Everybody convinced that Liva was to take the plunge!

Waoow, that was a fun one. Those Ark boats (Made in South Africa) behave very well in this kind of rapids.

Joe and Liva, proud of their performances, and raging Andromba overflowing in the background.

Local shuttle buddy, a seemingly constant of malagasy white waters, …

A cool good bye trip to Imerina rivers for Julien. He had the opportunity of exploring quite a lot of them during those few months spent with us.

Lilly Groupies, …

Author: madamax  |  Category: whitewater kayak

The largest group we ever managed on the Lilly.

4 fully loaded rafts for a fairly large group of local residents and nationals.

Water was high over the week end and sections at a challenging level

We bailed out at “La langue”, a nasty looking drop which keeps boats and flush down swimmers past the hole!
Everything else went more or less smoothly with quite a few swims from unstable passengers, …

2 rafts capsized + 3 swims! That’s the very first rapid 200ms after launching, …

Wish we had more week ends like those, they’re great fun and everybody enjoyed the day.

Le portefeuille, just above “La Lola”, with so much water, the hole is full and it doen’t fold the boats that much!.

We took some time on the river for a cool lunch in the gorges and finished the descent in the afternoon.
Next week again with a smaller group of residents, but I won’t be there for the pictures!

Possibly the best drop of the section. First swimmed by “accident” by Lola, an epic weekend souvenir, ;-)

Last rapids before the pull out 50 meters above “Les Chutes de la Lilly” a classic tourist attraction.

Gilles dilemna!!!

Author: madamax  |  Category: whitewater kayak

Hellooooo vrybody!

andriantoany22.jpg
Local shuttle zebu cart!

Just a few words from distant Madagascar red island.

Paddling really picked up around here, thanks to US paddlers who are definitely more adventurous than french boaters.

lilly13.jpg
Rush Sturges on the Lilly, west of Tana

Over the past few years, we’ve had visits from the best american wild paddlers and their realisations are somehow outstanding

I will try to keep you updated about programs and feats all year long, but connections are loose around here and i’m often behind schedules, …

lilly06.jpg
Mada, It’s not only for lemurs, …

Please feel free to ask me as many questions as you want/need!

i will do my best to help you launching river trips with or without my logistical support.

infos are free and MUST flow freely!