Top Tips for Trekking in Marojejy Park
Craig and Erin's mutual love of travel helped bring them together andit wasn't long before they were creating their own patches andapplying for matching visas. Long-term travel is liberating andawe-inspiring, but it can also have some true moments of stress. WhenErin and Craig started exploring the world together, they came up witha plan to high-five to a cheer of, "Adventure!" any time the travelgods threw them a curve ball. Since then, they've travelled throughover 20 countries together successfully to add to the 30-some patchesthat already adorned their packs.We cheered as we approached the tiny village in the outskirts of Marojejy National Park in North-Eastern Madagascar and the driving rain finally subsided. Only a few kilometers remained to our three-day trek. We left with a mix of feelings: we wanted to tell everyone about it, but also wanted to keep it secret. Below are our recommendations to help you get there, but promise you'll do your best to keep it between us.
Know your Limits
There are three camps in the park; we did not venture beyond Camp 2 as it turns into a steep, dangerous climb to the summit. It involves scrambling up rocks that are likely slick from rain. When planning, be sure to factor in the extra hour of hiking to reach the trailhead from the park office and the uncomfortable taxi-brousse ride (Madagascar's 'bush-taxis' that travel between towns) from Sambava.
Choose your Comfort
We're tall, so we got on an empty taxi-brousse so we could have the front two seats next to the driver (a taxi-brousse can be a range of vehicles but is often a 12-seater van that is stuffed full of 20 adults plus a few small children). However, they will leave only when they're full, so it took over an hour of driving the main street looking for passsengers before we actually hit the road.
Ask the driver to let you out at the Park Office (French is a near-must to travel independently in Madagascar)
Make Friends
For even a group of just 4, the cost of paying for all of the seats in a brousse is inexpensive and will save you so much time (clarify the price carefully - does it include gas/return trip for the driver/your extra baggage? Explicitly request that there will not be stops to pick up cargo)
BYO-Food (or Bring Your Own Food)
Unless you love plain rice, take your own food with you to cook.
Some Extras are Worth It
Pay the extra money to hire the Silky Sifaka guide. The largest lemur in the world is worth the extra pennies!
Tip your Guide and Porters Well
As of 2013, the salary for these barefoot men was a fraction of what guides made in the other parks, and that's really saying something.
