Malagasy Southern Getaway

Take off to Tuléar.

Car transfer to Ifaty, a fishing village located 45km north of Tulear.

Ifaty, Mangily, Madiorano and Ambolimailaka are small villages that face the majestic lagoon of Ranobe with turquoise water, renowned for its coral reef. They are here as seaside resorts.
Free stay, activities to see at the hotel or with your guide: hiking in the backcountry of the dry forest to various varieties of endemic spiny, euphorbia, Didiéracées, pachypodium and of Baobabs.

The visit can be done in zebu charette or on foot; or relax to enjoy the beach, a beautiful invitation to swim in this beautiful lagoon.
Will also be at the rendez-vous: excursion featured, balade in traditional dugout canoe, trolling, water skiing, snorkeling… Or simply walk along the beach, meet the locals and discover in depth the life of these fishing villages.

Departure for a day on the road, driving along the RN7. From the city of Tulear, we go North to the village of Ranohira.
On the road we will see many well decorated tombs of the Antandroy and Mahafaly tribes.
We also cross several cities of sapphire researchers, most of them created after the discovery of sapphire in the area.
Before arriving at the hotel we stop at the window of Isalo, a place where we will be able to watch the sunset through the massif.
Settling down at the hotel.

The Arboretum of Antsokay is a botanical garden located 12 km South-East of Tulear. Built by the Swiss botanist Hermann Petignat, the Arboretum spreads on 40 hectares. More than 900 species are conserved there, among which 90% are endemic to the South-West of Madagascar and 80% have medicinal virtues.

A beautiful day of hiking, discovering the Isalo National Park, between deep canyons, plateaux, natural swimming pools… We should be able to spot many endemic species of lemurs, birds, reptiles, plants and butterflies.
Isalo National Park was created in 1962, and is classified in the category of Exceptional Parks. Its area is 100 km large from North to South. It is unique in Madagascar thanks to its geological formation, dating from the Jurassic period. This mountain massif made of continental sandstone and dug with deep canyons, welcomes a rupicolous vegetation (Aloes, Euphorbias, Pachypodium…).

You can also find there an exceptionally rich fauna, where most species are natives, such as rock reptiles, makis and other lemurs.
The main ethnic group in this region is the Bara, living essentially of farming zebus and agriculture. Considered as descendent of the Bantu, the Bara are livestock breeders but also fierce warriors, proud and ready to give up their life to defend their freedom.

Road to Ambalavao.
We keep on driving on the Horombe plateau until Ihosy. We leave the dry South and start climbing the foothills of the Highlands.
We make a stop at Anja's reserve : a forest of ficus, lianas and orchids developed in between a spectacular rock chaos, sometimes forming caves used as shelter by animals.

The rocky slopes have been colonized by succulent plants such as kalanchoes and pachypodiums.

In this lush green paradise live in small colonies the makis catta, this lemur with a striped tail which represents Madagascar. They spend a lot of time on the ground, are not too wild and so easily observable.
The profit of Anja's reserve are managed by the AMI (Anja Miray) organization, and are donated to finance social and economical projects, which purposes are to improve crop yield, crafts development, health and education towards the villagers.
We keep going towards Ambalavao.

We will take advantage of our passage through Ambalavao to visit the famous paper factory antemoro malagasy which exists since 1936 and is world famous.
This handicraft, of Arab origin, uses the bark of an ivoha shrub, imported from the southern region of Madagascar. He is transformed at Ambalavao to obtain a unique paper adorned with flowers or paintings.

We hit the road again towards Fianarantsoa, the historical and cultural capital of the Betsileo region. It is the Malagasy city which gathers the highest number of cultural monuments and schools.

Just like Antananarivo, the city is divided in three parts:

• The Upper town, where used to be the Palace of the Merina Governor, and where we can admire today protestant churches, a Lutheran school, the brick Tuscan-style Cathedral, the Jesuit school of Ambozotany, and the Antsenakely Square where is held a small market, as its name indicates.
• The New town : the administration neighborhood, where is also held the zoma (Friday's market).
• The Lower town Ampasambazaha, heart of the city where are located the trading Chinese and Indian neighborhoods.

Fianarantsoa is also well known for its tea plantations and its vineyard.

Departure to Antsirabe located 240km to the North.
A few stops along the way to explore the surroundings of the remains on the road.
Arrival in Antsirabe at the end of the day, check-in at the hotel.