Gaston Kotovavy

Since joining roadhouse as a piroguier in 2003, Gaston has become one of our very best piroguiers. His knowledge of the river, wildlife and birdlife is outstanding, but it is his great sense of humour that sets him apart. Depending on the season he may give you a lesson in mud-wrestling or running barefoot on a sandbank. Gaston likes to explain the small details and his lessons on how to spot chameleons are very memorable as all is done in Malagasy language! His excellent eyesight makes him a great spotter.

  I am working since early 2003 as piroguier  /  boatman on the Tsiribihina River. Already in autumn of the same year I joined the roadhouse crew of Johary, first as piroguier. Since 2006 I created my own crew and got chief.

Before coming to tourism I worked long years on the Tsiribihina River also as boatman for transport of timber and goods. Quantities of beans and tobacco are shipped upstream to reach a road and continue transports to industrial centres as Antsirabe or Antananarivo. At this time motorboats had been rare and most goods had been transported by traditional pirogue.

I was born in a little village eight walking hours north of Miandrivazo. At this time, the first republic, there had been huge tobacco plantations. My father was tractor driver in a big plantation and already as little child he carried me out to the fields. There I had been to public school and spent my youth. After the first republic came to an end the plantation degraded more and more and, meanwhile a young man, I started to keep cattle. Later I moved to the highlands, where my mother is from, and I was hired for roadwork during some years. After been married I settled in Miandrivazo where I still live.