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deep inside the most hidden canyons of isalo, outside the National Park;  

This tour seems so uncertain, with those endless meanders of the Benahy

draped in Jurassic sandstones, having cut through thousand feet high rock curtains.

Walls sometimes get so narrow that sun light never reach its bottom.

That's when the idea of Adventure itself, takes its full dimension,

when blisters and cramps melt in too much beauty.

We, usually manage to cling on a sand bar but always on the watch for sudden storms

Miners go back to villages long before dusk and canyons are ours for the night.

A stripe of starry sky overhead, clear over silent walls.

A late and lonely giant bat flying home, the river music, nights are rather quiet around here.

Crocodiles moved away along time ago. Disturbed by men and man made mud!!!

An experience Out of Time, a fantastic geology 101 course, something you won't forget, ever, ...! 

Welcome in the Canyon of Saphires and maybe you'll find a fortune shifting Benahy sands.

D1 : We usually meet in Ranohira but on request 

we can arrange pre or post tour accomodations and services.

The day start early and we try to pick you up in your hotel at 7.30 am.

We need to drive south for 30 miles, a bit further than Ilakaka 

till Manombo Be, a boomtown built for and by, 

 business of saphire, The malagasy Far West .

We follow good tracks to put in,

near Benahy and at the entrance of the canyon we will follow 4 days.

Benahy canyon can get flooded rapidly during heavy storms

but it is usually more like a peaceful aquatic trek

and gentle paddling!

After the rains, water level is usually too low to float on the whole journey.

As a matter of fact, we, often drag boats through soft sand bars

Halfway down, with a bit more water and very narrow stretches,

progression gets easy and we spend most time paddling smoothly.

You’ll meet thousands of persons in this “remote” canyon,

all ot them, busy, shifting the most promising gravels.

We try to take along some miners to help you with the trade.

He’ll show you how to choose the best riverbeds, the art of shifting gravels,

how to recognize saphire from quartz chunks,

and maybe find the stone of your dreams.

We always carry mining equipment, a small shovel, grids, magnifying lens,

and you’ll get one or two hours daily to play with Benahy sands.

Some of our clients manage to find classic water saphire

and get a good flash of adrenaline, even with cheap stones.

And occasionally, we’ve had lucky finds of a nice little sparkling crystal.

Perfect color, no cracks, great purity, the stone to dream of, ...