Magical Malagasy Mosaic

We head toward the town of Ambatolampy, located south of Antananarivo. We cross the typical landscapes of the Central Highlands, taking a winding road bordered by a mosaic of fields and various crops, and terraced rice paddies.

We encounter a vibrant and omnipresent rural world. As we approach Antsirabe, various agricultural productions stretch along the roadside. We arrive in Antsirabe, the spa town, nestled in the heart of the Central Highlands.

Antsirabe is a charming spa town surrounded by volcanic massifs. It is the third largest city in Madagascar. With its clean air and cool climate all year round, Antsirabe is the perfect destination for holidays with family or friends. A city tour by pousse-pousse (not included) along the wide avenues lined with jacaranda and plane trees would be the ideal way to discover a new facet of local life in Madagascar.

A short tour of the town includes visiting local artisans who craft miniature bicycles and cars, and work with zebu horn.

Early in the morning, we leave Antsirabe heading west. We take a short drive through the wide Vakinankaratra Valley, which flows between extinct volcanoes. We reach the outskirts of the small town of Betafo.

On foot, we set out to discover the mosaics of rice paddies displaying a beautiful range of greens and yellows. Dominated by graceful volcanic slopes, this Vakinankaratra Valley offers magnificent landscapes emblematic of Madagascar’s Highlands, with hills, perched villages, red brick houses with thatched roofs, and rice paddies. We will go from village to village, from home to home, meeting our hosts.

The small town of Betafo is also interesting in many ways. We encourage you to read our article to learn more: Betafo, cradle of the Andratsay kingdom.

After this wonderful discovery, we return to Antsirabe.

We then continue south,
Crossing the high plateaus toward the town of Ambositra, the famous capital of woodcraft.
Arrival in the late afternoon.

We meet with marquetry artisans: in their workshops, they display great imagination and ingenuity in crafting marquetry items and wood carvings.

We then continue our journey toward Fianarantsoa, the historical and cultural capital of the Betsileo region. It is also the Malagasy city with the largest number of cultural buildings and schools.

Like Tana, the city is divided into three parts:

• The Upper Town, once home to the Merina governor’s palace, where today you can admire Protestant temples, a Lutheran college, the brick cathedral in Tuscan style, the Jesuit school of Ambozotany, and Antsenakely Square, where a small market is held.
• The New Town, the administrative district, where the zoma (Friday market) is also located,
• The Lower Town, Ampasambazaha, the heart of the city, where the Chinese and Indian commercial districts can be found.

Fianarantsoa is also known for its tea plantations and vineyards.

Departure to the village of Mahasoabe, located about 20 km Est of Fianarantsoa.

Once we get there, we meet with the sailors. Starting our descent on a traditional pirogue, which will last for 2 hours and a half. The river slithers between rice fields and granite mountains. We will stop a few times to meet the locals and discover their rural lifestyles. We might also be able to spot various aquatic bird species.

Reaching the village of Iseta, we will hike across fields and villages, and get back our car to Sahambavy.

In the afternoon, we will visit the unique tea plantation of Madagascar in Sahambavy, and do a tea tasting. The factory was built in 1978 by the Malagasy State. It was then privatized by an Anonymous Society. About 20 tons of humid leaves are being collected there daily on average, on the 355 ha of plantations, among which 94 ha are held by local farmers.

Back to Fianarantsoa at the end of the day.

Duration : +/- 2h30 of navigation, +/- 1h30 walking, +/- 1h car transfer.

Distance : 40 km

Through the patchwork of terraced rice fields and various crops displaying every shade of green, we drive to Ambalavao, known for its vineyards.

Stop at the small Anja Community Reserve: a gallery forest of ficus, lianas, and orchids has developed among spectacular rocky outcrops, sometimes forming caves used as shelters by certain animals. On the slopes, the vegetation has been replaced by succulent plants such as kalanchoes and pachypodiums.

In this green paradise live small colonies of ring-tailed lemurs, almost the emblem of the Great Island, the makis catta. They spend much of their time on the ground, are not very shy, and are therefore easily observed. The revenues from the Anja site are managed by the AMI (Anja Miray) association and reinvested in economic and social projects aimed at improving agricultural yields, developing crafts, and supporting health and education for the surrounding villagers.

Continuation south into Bara country and crossing the largest plateau in Madagascar, the desert-like Horombe, before catching sight of the village of Ranohira, which we reach in the late afternoon.

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 towards Tulear. We cross the villages of Ilakaka and Sakaraha, still on top of the Horombe plateau, small towns which used to be quiet, until a huge sapphire reservoir was discovered there, turning these quiet towns into mining cities worthy of the American Far West Gold Rush.

First sight of the baobabs and crossing the Mahafaly limestone plateau, with its famous and impressive burials called « Aloalo », painted with naive everyday-life scenes.

Visit of Tulear and lunch. Road early in the afternoon to Ifaty, about thirty kilometers north of Tulear, to join the Vezo fishermen countries.

This is where we say farewell to our tour guide, which will return to the capital city the next day.

Check-in at the hotel in Ifaty. Here we say goodbye to our driver-guide, who will return to the capital the following day.

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.

Activities and transfers at your own charge, to give you more flexibility according to your envies at that time. Possibility to organize excursions on demand, please consult us.