For the Malagasy people, Lake Tritriva inspires respect and fear, while for travelers and foreigners, it is above all a natural site of great beauty not to be missed during a visit to Antsirabe. In any case, it is undeniable that the place is steeped in a particular atmosphere. The guides make it their duty to recall the fady (prohibitions) of the lake and to recount with fervor the story of the two lovers!

The story of Madagascar's Romeo and Juliet

The story of Lake Tritriva today boils down to that of Rabeniomby and Ravolahanta, two lovers who are said to have committed suicide in the lake because of their forbidden love. This event is said to have taken place during the time of King Andrianampoinimerina. Before that, it is unclear whether the small volcanic lake had another story.

The two protagonists are said to have fallen head over heels in love, while one came from a royal family and the other from a modest family. Their union was impossible in the eyes of their respective families and the society of the time. Yet they are said to have loved each other and sworn that death alone could part them: "Faty no isarahana". Desperate from persecution by their families and villages, they are said to have wrapped themselves together in a silk cloth before throwing themselves into the lake.

Local legends and beliefs

After the suicide of the two cursed lovers, their souls are said to have reappeared in the intertwined trunks of a tree growing on a rock on the lake shore. These would bleed if one were to cut them.

The lake (strangely reminiscent of the shape of Madagascar) is to say the least sacred, turning red when a major event is about to occur in the country, according to legend. It is also said that half of the lake's waters would turn red each time a young girl died in the village of the unfortunate bride. And if a young man died in the bridegroom's village, all the waters of the lake would turn red.

There is said to have been a third death in the lake, that of a Chinese man who defied the fady forbidding swimming in the lake after eating pork.

The best ways to discover the lake

Surrounded by a pine forest and displaying beautiful green waters, Lake Tritriva is nestled at the foot of the eponymous mountain, which rises to 1,651 meters. Before deciding to swim there, you should keep in mind that the lake's depth is 160 meters! You must stay on the shore! The lake deserves to be studied, but no notable scientific research has been conducted there.

To reach the site, you must travel 15 kilometers west of the town of Antsirabe, on the road to Betafo. The site is accessible by car, except that the taxis-brousse (local buses) stop at Belazao, leaving still 10 kilometers of walking before arriving. This is not a bad thing since the hike is quite scenic! Travelers and some local vacationers actually climb Mount Tritriva by mountain bike.

The splendid landscapes of Vakinankaratra are notably characterized by red earth houses with thatched roofs, rice paddies, vast fields, eucalyptus and pine trees… Once there, you can take photos, swim, kayak, rock climb or zip-line. A boat trip on the lake leads to a cave inhabited by bats. The experience is unforgettable!