The 23rd and 24th were the first two days of hiking in the Andringitra National Park. It’s beautiful and a series of relentless ascents and descents, about 600m per day and 11-12km. Camping, no electricity and no network. I had four people with me, the park guide who was hiking with me and three others who carried equipment and food. I really admire the porters, they carry heavy loads in quite steep and forbidding terrain, wearing flipflops. Four staff and one payload…
The hike began with climbing up to the near-vertical ridge walls that separate eastern and western Madagascar. On the second day we followed the ridge, and passed through a region with almost no vegetation that they call the moon. The campgrounds were at small lakes that allow swimming and cleaning up; no showers anywhere.
The 24th is Christmas Eve. The porters killed the chicken and prepared a buffet dinner with chicken, soup, potatoes, and fruit. We all sat around the campground table, telling stories and having a good time. The porters have this thing about not associating with the client but that day were we all together. A very interesting day!
The chicken had an interesting day too.
