THE WONDERS OF THE SOUTH

Departure by car to Antsirabe. Antsirabe is located some 170 km from the capital and is an integral part of the so-called region of the Central Highlands. Quaint villages whose houses are dyed red, laterite color, are scattered ever where along the way.

However, there are also municipalities more or less important thanks to their industrial and artisanal activities. Thus, the city of Ambatolampy deserves to stop, just to see homemade foundries producing kitchen utensils, especially pots or casseroles as we like to call them here.

Arriving in Antsirabe, the traveler notices the existence of many rickshaws, exotic means of transport par excellence to admire the beauty of the city. But what is special about the city is the existence of thermal springs including the famous "Ranovisy" or "Vichy Malagasy" and healing waters. What earned him the name of "City of Water". In addition, it is surrounded by areas rich in mineral resources, mainly precious, fine or ornamental stones. And the stone cutting are worth visiting, not to mention other workshops such as embroidery or the crafting of objects from zebu horn. Rickshaws tour with a short sightseeing tour of the city.

Overnight in hotel.

Continuation of the tour. Before reaching your destination, that is to say Ranomafana, you have to go through the city of Ambositra, which owes its fame to its craft activities, especially to its wood sculpture and wood carving. And for good reason, in the east remains a primary forest where lives the Zafimaniry people, famous for the wooden sculpture.

The terraced rice field, especially found in the region of Betsileo, eucalyptus forests and especially those of "tapias", endemic wild fruit trees and, in addition to the fields of cultivation of geranium for the production of gasoline, follow the road.

Arrival in Ranomafana at the end of afternoon.

Overnight in hotel.

Morning visit at Ranomafana national park.

You cannot do without a visit to Ranomafana National Park which, literally translated, means « hot water »., lies between steep hills with cascading water with the famous « Andriamamovoka », so called that it looks like dust spilled from a truck.

In terms of fauna and flora, the Ranomafana park is not far behind. It is home to endemic lemurs including the recently discovered the “golden bamboo lemur” (hapalemur aureus). Speaking flora, there are orchids, palm trees and epiphyte plants. But it's not only that, you have to go there to discover them.

After a tough but rewarding and amazing day, nothing like a swim in the thermal pool. All this can be done in half a day, return to the RN7 to join Fianarantsoa, capital of the country Betsileo. The surrounding area is famous for its lakes, famous vineyards and the only semi-industrial tea plantation on the Big Island, better known as "Sahambavy Tea".

As for Fianarantsoa, the city itself is not interesting except that it consists of houses or centuries-old buildings enthroned on the surrounding hills, and the streets and other stairs only accentuate its charm. Fianarantsoa is located between the highlands and the mountain range of Andringitra, it is formed of a lower part called "Tanàna ambany" and a high part called "Tanàna ambony". This last is very old and where resided mainly the nobles, notables and other rich bourgeois.

Overnight in hotel.

To reach Ranohira, it is necessary to pass through rice fields, tobacco plantations and vineyards, mainly those of Ambalavao. This locality also shelters the important market of zebus of the area not to say of the country every Wednesday. As far as activities are concerned, Antaimoro paper manufacturing should not be ignored. A visit of the related workshops is required.

Leaving Ambalavao, Ny Anja Park is very interesting. It is home to lemurs and particularly lemur catta, a ring-tailed specimen, without missing out on the endemic plants of Madagascar, not to mention the region.

It must be said that this city is in fact the gateway to the South. After, we enter in different circumstances, both in terms of climate, fauna and flora, agricultural or economic activities. In fact, the landscape of the South is quite strange with its vast expanses more or less wooded, more or less desert where herds of zebu graze.

We arrive at the city of Ranohira in the late afternoon.

Overnight in hotel.

Full day excursion at Isalo national park. We are now in the South, with the ruin like massif of Isalo in the background. It mainly displays strange, phantasmagorical carvings carved out of granite. Different animal and plant species make up the fauna and flora. It includes birds, reptiles, amphibians, lemurs and, side plants, aloe and euphorbia.

The Isalo plateau covers nearly 82,000 ha and the flagship is the park with its exceptional biodiversity despite its rather dry climate. Fortunately the natural pool, with its clear and fresh water, is here to invite you to a swim and relax.

Overnight in hotel.

Always by car, let's leave the savannas behind and step into the steppes with their drought-adapted thorny plants such as cacti or sisal, without omitting the breeding of animals such as sheep and goats.

On the background of the painting, one can admire the Mahafaly or Antandroy tombs, surmounted by naively worked wooden sculptures, whose motifs are generally of geometrical form and relate daily life.

Arrival in Tulear at around noon, the capital of the South region, going to the shell market.

In the afternoon, drive to Ifaty, a village bordered by a lagoon. Several vezo fishing villages as welcoming as each other are located there.

Overnight in hotel.