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valley with rice fields and a mountainous background, as if out of a movie setting. In Mahavelona we stayed at [[Hotel Malala]]. After we checked in we went for a swim in the river. In the evening we had a very delicious dinner in the restaurant of our hotel.

'''[[Mahalevona]] - [[Tanambao]] - [[Fizono]] - [[Ankovana]]'''<br>

After breakfast with tea and fried bananas at our hotel we left the village around 6am. As the day before the trail followed the river downstream, sneaking up and down small hill and through valleys with rice fields. Today was the first time we had to cross the river by foot, which turned out to be no problem with a bit of balancing. After 1 hour we reached Tanambao, another 1 hour and 20 minutes later Fizono and from there about 1 hour and 45 minutes later our final destination Ankovana at noon. Ankovana is a very small village with very basic accommodation. After a chat to the woman renting out rooms at [[Hotel Centrale Ankovana]] she invited us to stay at her private house next door for 5,000 Ariary per person. We accepted her invitation and were rewarded with a huge dinner (rice, fried egg, boiled vegetables and cucumber salad). Happy and with a full stomach we fell asleep.

[[File:Tanambao 007.jpg|600px]]

'''[[Ankovana]] - [[Ambatolaidama]] - [[Ambohimarina]] - [[Ampokafo]]'''<br>

To avoid the heat of the day we started our walk as usual around 6am. The scenery is similar to the one the day before. However, the highlight is the short walk through [[Park Ambatolaidama]]. At the park entrance the trail starts at an elevation of 375m and goes up to 542m at the exit. The maximum 90 minutes walk through the Masoala forest is steep, humid and very slippery on wet days. The forest is filled with the sound of numerous birds.

After leaving the park we reached at 11.45am Ampokafo, where we found a bed for the night at [[Hotel Esperante]]. A short stroll from the village we enjoyed our obligatory refreshing bath in the river. Thereafter we discovered the village and found a shop with a cinema behind. The owner agreed to recharge our camera batteries whilst showing a film in the evening. We just had to pay for the diesel.

'''[[Ampokafo]] - [[Manakambahiny]] - Tsaratanana - [[Andrakadilana]] - [[Androfary]] - [[Antakotako]] - [[Ambalaharongana]]'''<br>

Heavy rain in the night and early morning hours delayed our departure a bit. We soon realised that the trail had turned into a mud pool, making it quite difficult to walk. Sliding backwards down a hill with the hands stretched out in the hope to hold on something, whilst trying not to completely loose the balance or searching for a shoe which got stuck in the mud were only some of the challenges we had to solve. But after even our guide once ended up on his buttocks we did not feel too much like clumsy [[vazaha]] anymore. At around 1.30pm we arrived in Ambalaharongana where we went straight for the river to clean us and our clothes from the mud of the day. Beside a school and football field there is nothing to see in the village, so we went early to bed.

'''[[Ambalaharongana]] - [[Antsambalahy]] - [[Analampotsy]] - [[Antsahabe]] - [[Antsefapiana]] - [[Tsarafanahy]] - [[Marofinaritra]] - [[Maromandia]] - [[Antombana]] - [[Antsahandriana]] - [[Antserasera]] - [[Mahatsara]] - [[Fiangonana]] - .... - [[Antalaha]]'''<br>

The most challenging day - not in elevation but distance, as we walked over 50km to make it to Antalaha before night. After leaving Ambalaharongana at 6am we reached Marofinaritra at almost 10am. The trail ends at Marofinaritra and the road to Antalaha starts. But "road" does not necessarily mean cars. There is the occasional taxi 4x4 or more likely taxi motorbike on the road. The scenery changes slowly from rice fields to more and more villages and fruit plantations. As it was Sunday, we walked the last few kilometres together with hundreds of kids which left their villages for a week of school in Antalaha. As the distances are too long to walk back and forth each day, the kids stay throughout the week in the city. After 63,086 steps we finally reached Antalaha just after sunset, exhausted but happy and very proud! It was a great feeling to have been able to answer with "YES" when being asked at the borders of the city if we came from Maroantsetra and to see the appreciation in the eyes of askers!