Duration: Half-day – Full-day – Multi-day (3–4 days with village bivouacs)
Services that can be included:
– Transfer by 4×4 from Sambava to the river put-in point
– Kayak or canoe with paddles and safety equipment
– Experienced local river guide
– Paddling through forest corridors, rice paddies, and Malagasy fishing villages
– Picnic lunch on the riverbank
– Multi-day descent from Manantenina to the Indian Ocean coast near Farahalana
– Bivouac or village accommodation for multi-day trips
– Optional extras: village cultural visit, night at a local family home, birdwatching along the river
Price: €30 – €180 / person (depending on duration, private or shared kayak, and included meals and accommodation for multi-day trips)
– Free cancellation 24 hours before
– Free consultation on WhatsApp
– Fully customizable services, duration, and itinerary
– Price depends on options, group size, and availability
Paddle the Lokoho River through the heart of the SAVA region
The Lokoho River flows down from the slopes of Marojejy National Park to the Indian Ocean near Sambava, carving a scenic corridor through primary rainforest, lush rice basins, and remote Malagasy villages rarely visited by outsiders. A kayaking or canoe descent of the Lokoho offers a uniquely peaceful way to explore the SAVA hinterland — no roads, no crowds, just flowing water, birdsong, and the warm hospitality of riverside communities. Choose a half-day paddle close to Sambava, a full-day descent, or the full 3–4 day river expedition all the way to the Indian Ocean coast near Farahalana with bivouac nights in villages along the route.
Suitable for beginner and intermediate paddlers. No strong rapids — this is a relaxed scenic river journey. Message our local booking managers on WhatsApp for a free consultation and to plan your river itinerary.
The Lokoho River: A Remote and Scenic Paddling Route in Northeast Madagascar
The Lokoho is one of several rivers draining the Marojejy massif toward the Indian Ocean, and its middle and lower reaches offer an exceptional multi-day river descent that has been described by operators as an immense relaxation far from the conventional tourist circuits of Madagascar. The route passes through a succession of forest patches, banana groves, vanilla plantations, and traditional villages where dugout canoes remain the primary means of transport.
The descent can be organized as a continuation of a Marojejy National Park trekking experience — starting the hike up the mountain and paddling back down to the coast — creating a memorable one-way wilderness circuit from the summit forest to the sea. Local guides handle logistics, portaging equipment through any shallow sections, and organizing overnight stays with village families, providing an authentic immersion into the daily rhythms of life along one of Madagascar’s least-visited river valleys.
Wildlife sightings along the Lokoho are common, particularly birds (kingfishers, herons, ducks, raptors) and occasional lemur sightings at the forest fringes, making this an ideal complement to a natural history visit to the Sambava region.
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