Southern Madagascar Getaway

According to the flight schedule to Tuléar, meet at Ivato airport and fly to the major city in the South.

Upon your arrival in Tuléar, you will be welcomed by our team at Tuléar airport and transferred by car to Ifaty, a fishing village located 45km north of Tuléar.

Ifaty, Mangily, Madiorano and Ambolimailaka are small villages facing the majestic Ranobe lagoon with turquoise waters, renowned for its coral reef. They serve here as beach resorts. Free stay, activities to be arranged with the hotel or with your guide: hiking in the hinterland of dry forest with various endemic thorny varieties, euphorbias, Didiereaceae, pachypodiums and Baobabs. The visit can be done by zebu cart or on foot; or relaxation to enjoy the beach, a beautiful invitation to swim in this magnificent lagoon.

Also on the agenda: speedboat excursion, traditional outrigger canoe ride, trolling, water skiing, snorkeling or scuba diving… Or simply a stroll along the beach and meeting with the local population and discovering in depth the life of these fishing villages. Humpback whales pass through the lagoons of this region from July to September.

Meet your Détours Madagascar driver-guide in the morning who will introduce themselves to you at the hotel. Departure for a full day of driving, on Route 7 passing through the city of Tuléar, we head up to the village of Ranohira. At the exit of Tuléar, we make a detour to the Antsokay Arboretum which is a botanical park located 12 km southeast of the city of Tuléar. Antsokay refers to a small hamlet nearby where limestone stones are found that are used to make quicklime. Built by Swiss botanist Hermann PETIGNAT, the Arboretum spans 40 hectares. Over 900 species are preserved there, of which 90% are endemic to the southwest region of Madagascar and 80% have medicinal properties.

After a visit of approximately one hour according to our pace, we head onto the iconic Southern Road where we will see many beautifully decorated tombs from the Antandroy and Mahafaly ethnic groups. Crossing through several villages and towns of sapphire hunters, most of which were established only after the discovery of sapphires in the area. Before arriving at the hotel, stop at the Isalo Window, a place where you can watch the sunset through the massif. Hotel check-in at the end of the day.

A beautiful day of discovery on foot in the ruiniform massif of Isalo. Isalo National Park was created in 1962 and is classified in the category of exceptional parks. Extending nearly 100 km from North to South, it is unique in Madagascar due to its geomorphological formation dating from the Jurassic period: this ruiniform sandstone massif, carved with deep canyons, hosts endemic rupicole vegetation (Aloes, Euphorbias, Pachypodes…). There is also exceptional fauna found there, where most species are endemic, such as rock reptiles, lemurs and other primates.

The predominant ethnic group in this region is the Bara people, living essentially from zebu herding and agriculture. Considered descendants of the Bantu, the Bara are cattle herders but also fierce warriors, proud and ready to do anything to defend their freedom.

Route to Ambalavao. Always the immense Horombe plateau until Ihosy. We leave the arid south to begin climbing the foothills of the Highlands. Stop at the small Anja reserve: a gallery forest of ficus trees, lianas and orchids has developed between spectacular rocky chaos, sometimes forming caves adopted as shelters by certain animals. On the slopes of the reliefs, the vegetation relay has been colonized by succulent plants, such as kalanchoes and pachypodiums. In this green paradise live in small colonies these lemurs with ringed tails which are almost the emblem of the Big Island, the ring-tailed lemurs. They spend a lot of time on the ground, are not too shy and are therefore easily observable. The revenues from the Anja site are managed by the AMI (Anja Miray) association and allocated to economic and social projects aimed at improving agricultural yields, the development of crafts, health and education for the benefit of local villagers.

Continuing our route to Ambalavao. In Ambalavao, possibility to visit the famous artisanal Malagasy antemoro paper factory which has existed since 1936 and is world-renowned. This craft, of Arab origin, uses the bark of the "ivoha" shrub, imported from the southern region of Madagascar. It is transformed in Ambalavao to obtain a unique paper adorned with flowers or paintings.

We resume our journey towards Fianarantsoa, historical and cultural capital of the Betsileo region. It is moreover the Malagasy city which contains the most cultural buildings and schools. Like Tana, the city is divided into three parts: The upper town, where the Merina governor's palace stood, and where one can today 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, administrative district, where one also finds the zoma (Friday market), The lower town, Ampasambazaha, heart of the city where one finds the Chinese and Indian commercial quarters. Fianarantsoa is also known for its tea plantations and its vineyards.

After a quiet breakfast at the hotel, we head west towards the Betafo mountains, then take a small track for about thirty minutes to reach the lakes site. A walk around Lake Tritriva, the lake of lovers, sacred to Malagasy people and therefore surrounded by many fady (taboos). Its mysterious dark green color and great depth (160 m) give it a strange impression, fueling legends and myths around this lake of volcanic origin, filling an ancient caldera surrounded by pines. History to discover on site with a local guide…

After a visit of about an hour, we head back to Antananarivo. At the entrance to the Capital, possibility of visiting Donné Vy: Violette and Dieudonné's ironwork workshop which is a true model of solidarity entrepreneurship, managing a self-sufficient village of craftspeople. An unusual place to discover absolutely in Antananarivo, with the possibility of bringing back beautiful travel souvenirs.

Transfer to your residence address in Antananarivo at the end of the day. Misaotra (thank you) and see you soon!