Expedition Paddling in Madagascar: The Mangoro and Namorona Rivers

Madagascar, famed for its exotic wildlife and rugged landscapes, hides some of its greatest secrets in its wild rivers. Our team of seven—Brenton Petrillo, Cody Adams, Elsa Kelly, Luke Andraka, Nic Williams, Michael Charles, and myself—set out to explore the untamed whitewater of the Mangoro and Namorona rivers. This journey wasn’t just about conquering rapids; it was about facing the unknown, learning from the land and its people, and pushing ourselves beyond our limits.

The Mangoro River: 170 Miles of Remote Whitewater

The Mangoro, a 170-mile stretch of fierce whitewater, was our first challenge. In the past 20 years, only a few teams have dared to paddle it, and we were determined to make history with the first women’s descent, led by Elsa Kelly and myself. The Mangoro was remote and unpredictable, with multiple channels offering various challenges—one could be a steep, low-volume slide, another a boulder garden, and a third a powerful ledge hole, all running side by side.

 

Beyond the rapids, we faced obstacles off the water. Our gravity water filters failed to protect against viruses, and several team members became ill from drinking the river water—an unexpected setback that tested our resilience. But in the wilderness, you don’t choose your challenges; you only choose how to face them. Fortunately, we had a large supply of antibiotics allowing for a quick team recovery in just a few days.

Time and daylight were precious commodities. The short winter days meant we couldn’t scout every rapid as a group, so we had to trust each other’s judgment to decide whether to run it or portage. The Mangoro’s towering gorges, cold rain, and biting winds added to the difficulty, making every mile feel earned. Yet, despite the hardships, the river rewarded us with breathtaking scenery and unforgettable moments of teamwork and camaraderie.

 

Village Encounters Along the Mangoro

As remote as the Mangoro felt, its banks were home to thousands of villagers living in huts, gold mining, and tending rice fields. Our brightly colored kayaks attracted the attention of curious onlookers, especially children, who waved excitedly as we passed. These interactions were brief but warm, a reminder that while we sought adventure, these rivers were a lifeline for the people who lived alongside them. The generosity of the locals was humbling. Villagers often helped carry our gear on grueling portages, offering us a glimpse into their lives as we navigated through their world.

The Namorona River: Steep and Technical

After the Mangoro, we turned to the Namorona—a 70-mile technical run that, while shorter, offered its own challenges. A three-day drive from the Mangoro take-out, the Namorona flowed through a national park, offering different scenery but no less intense whitewater. Its steep rapids required almost constant scouting, slowing our progress but providing exhilarating moments as we tackled long, steep drops that pushed our skills to the limit. The final stretch of the Namorona was unforgettable. After days of tough rapids, we were rewarded with an epic, fun-filled slide that had us laughing and celebrating together—a perfect reminder of why we undertake these adventures.

The Importance of Local Expertise: Andry Ravony

No expedition of this scale happens without local knowledge, and we were fortunate to have Andry Ravony as our guide and logistics expert. His deep understanding of Madagascar’s river access points and his expertise in navigating the country’s notoriously rough roads were invaluable. The 17-hour drive from Antananarivo to Ranomafana, covering just 250 miles, would have been impossible without his skill.
Andry also arranged our shuttles, ensuring that we could focus on the rivers while he handled the complex logistics. When one of our vehicles broke down, stranding half the group eight hours from Antananarivo with flights looming, Andry pulled off a last-minute solution, getting everyone back in time.

Overcoming Fears and the Unknown

Before the trip, I had my fears. The thought of Madagascar’s wildlife—especially crocodiles and leeches—kept haunting my mind. I was also nervous about paddling a larger kayak, knowing I’d be tackling the hardest whitewater I’d ever faced. With little time to train in the medium Gnarvana, I worried about handling the loaded kayak in challenging rapids and wondered what would happen if we encountered rapids without a portage option.

But as it turned out, those fears never materialized. There were no crocodiles, no leeches, and nearly every rapid had a portage option. The medium Gnarvana handled just like the small model and proved to be the perfect multi-day expedition kayak for running intense whitewater.
The real challenges came from the river itself, but we managed them—even when it meant carrying our boats over long, steep portages. This trip taught me that fear is a natural part of adventure; often, it’s the unknown that holds us back. Once you’re out there, paddling through each challenge, you realize just how capable you truly are.

An Unforgettable Adventure

Paddling the Mangoro and Namorona was more than just an adventure—it was a true expedition into Madagascar’s raw wilderness. Our team faced illness, unforgiving rapids, grueling portages, and challenging elements, yet we also experienced the beauty and joy of exploring one of the world’s most remote regions. For each of us, this journey was about pushing beyond our perceived limits and growing stronger as a team. There remains so much to discover in this epic, untamed land, and we leave grateful for the experience and eager for what lies ahead to be explored.

Photos by Luke Andraka and Nic Williams