Zoto and his Tour of Madagascar on foot: Walking to the ends of the Earth with and for his family

Recently, Zoto, whose real name is Maurice Randrianarison, has become a social media star in Madagascar. Everyone is captivated by the adventure he is undertaking with his family: walking around Madagascar on foot. But why now, when the country (and even the world) is still on edge due to the Covid-19 pandemic? And why bring the entire family along?

The origin of Zoto’s adventure

Zoto hails from Vangaindrano, an urban commune 75 km south of Farafangana and 20 km from Madagascar’s eastern coast. In his constant struggle to survive and support his family, he eventually settled in Antsiranana, more than 1,865 km (via RN6) from his ancestral village (tanindrazana). 

While details remain unclear, his three sons, approximately 6, 8, and 10 years old, stayed with his father in Vangaindrano. The journey to visit his children became a grueling ordeal, yet also an epic adventure. 

Taking public transportation (taxi-brousse) from Antsiranana to Vangaindrano costs at least 400,000 ariary per person—an exorbitant sum for the average Malagasy. Understandably, this devoted father considered making the trip by bicycle. 

Though it’s uncertain how long it took, he completed the round trip. After his father’s death, Zoto’s children were left without a guardian, forcing him to bring them back. Realizing it was impossible to transport everyone by bicycle, he decided at the age of 68 to turn this challenge into a family adventure: touring Madagascar on foot.

The route taken by Zoto and his family

Zoto and his wife left Antsiranana upon hearing the news of his father’s passing. They traveled by bicycle along the eastern coast from north to south, taking the shortest route. On the return journey with their three children, they opted for the longest path: from Vangaindrano to Fort-Dauphin (southeast coast), through Toliara (southwest), Ihorombe (south-central), Ihosy (central), Fianarantsoa, Ambositra, Antsirabe, and Antananarivo, before heading east and finally back north. 

After more than four months on the road, they reached Antananarivo. It was around this time that their story gained traction on Malagasy social media and news outlets. Many expressed empathy and assisted them along the way, providing shelter, food, and clothing. 

Their journey has since been widely covered, including a feature on TVM (the national television station) on May 16. Updates about their adventure have been shared step by step on Facebook. 

Zoto is now well-recognized for walking while pushing his bicycle loaded with their belongings, accompanied by his wife and sons. Admirers praise their courage, offering support in the name of sportsmanship, kindness, hospitality, and mutual aid—values that embody the Malagasy concept of *fihavanana*. 

In these challenging times, the Randrianarison family’s journey reminds us of life’s realities: pandemic or not, life goes on, and certain responsibilities—like caring for one’s family—cannot be ignored. Covid-19 won’t stop people from loving and helping one another. After all, there are far more significant challenges in life than the coronavirus. 

However, this enthusiasm was abruptly interrupted when Antananarivo authorities detained the family for Covid-19 testing. They are now waiting at the hospital for results and authorization to continue their journey, as their travels violate lockdown regulations.

Zoto: A legacy of perseverance

For those unfamiliar, this Zoto is not the original Zoto. The original Zoto was Louis Michel Ramarosata, a man from Antananarivo who walked around Madagascar three times. He passed away on September 20, 2012, at the age of 69, leaving behind a book recounting his experiences: Three Tours of Madagascar on Foot (2006, Tsipika Editions). 

He even promoted his book across Madagascar with an educational purpose. Unlike Zoto’s namesake, Ramarosata undertook his tours not out of necessity but as a physical, mental, and spiritual challenge. He adopted the nickname "Zoto," meaning zeal, diligence, or dedication, to highlight the courage, tenacity, perseverance, and endurance that defined his accomplishments. 

"Zoto" became his brand. He was even featured in a documentary on MBS television in 2007 or 2008. Unfortunately, the end of his life was marked by hardship. After a severe traffic accident left him weakened for months, he passed away despite a public appeal for donations to support his recovery. 

Today, his legacy lives on in those who walk around Madagascar on foot and solo. In parallel with Maurice Randrianarison’s family trek, another individual named Jean Joseph Randriamaro is also walking around Madagascar. Social media followers of the Zoto family have shared a photo of Randriamaro, but little else is known, apart from it being his third tour. Could there be more Zotos out there? How many?

© Détours Madagascar - 19 Mai 2020