Photoblog: Life Along the Tsiribihina River, Madagascar
Last Updated on September 29, 2026
Before setting off for Madagascar, I dreamt about its wildlife, its forests and its cities; but only after the trip did I realize that the most memorable moments of my trip were spent watching the locals. I remember watching them sell sugarcane on the streets, make cakes on their steaming hot pans, paint each other’s faces with bark cream… But most of all, I remember sitting by the Tsiribihina River for hours, watching them float up and down the river and going about their daily chores. I was mesmerized.
As I sat by the banks and waited for our car ferry to arrive (it took hours), the flurry of activities unfolded before me. Children ran in circles, women sat and chatted while men took their buffalos out to graze the marshlands. Some toddlers bathed themselves in the milky waters, some washed their laundry by the banks while others frolicked in the waters and did somersaults.
These snapshots captured those moments. I hope they will transport you there to the river bank with me, and hope you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells like I did.
If you’re planning a family adventure to Madagascar, check out my Madagascar with kids guide for tips, tricks, and family-friendly experiences.
After the river, our journey ended on the beaches of Nosy Be, with sea turtles, wild lemurs and the sandbar of Nosy Iranja. Here’s my complete Nosy Be travel guide if you want to add island time to your route.
A boat full of people making their way across the Tsiribihina River.
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Locals preparing to hop on the pirogue (wooden dugout canoe).
Water buffalos grazing along the banks of the river.
Ladies doing their laundry by the river bank.
A girl asks for her picture to be taken. Her playful eyes made me smile.
A crowd gathers as a boatful of pigs are transported on land.
Amidst the crowds, a boy stares into my camera.
Thirsty for more? Here’s a link to more of my Madagascar photos.
The Comments
Nellie Huang
Malagasy ladies like to use a natural facial cream extracted from tree barks on their faces, you often see them with white clay-like mask on their faces as a form of protection from the sun and for smoothing effects. Our guide told us it’s very common for ladies to use it, especially in summer when it gets extremely hot there.