A mosaic of scenery characterizes the National Road 7. From villages to villages, we will go through magnificent landscapes composed of mountainous massifs, terraced cultures, dense forests, valleys, savannas and majestic lagoons. Continuation for days of hiking to discover the protected areas of the South, the Tsaranoro Valley, the Isalo National Park and the National Park of Tsimanampetsotsa. The trip gives a beautiful overview of the spiny and arid country of the south and its lagoons. A real immersion experience!
After breakfast, we will take the road to the South. Discover the rural world of the Highlands of Madagascar, the architecture of its traditional houses, its rice fields and its own cultivating techniques … Stop at Ambatolampy. This village located at the foot of the Ankaratra massif is famous for its workshops manufacturing utensils exclusively made of aluminum. Then drive to Antsirabe.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Whether on foot or by mountain bike, you will have the opportunity to discover the fascinating landscapes that characterize the Highlands: the hills, the villages set on their sides, the fields, the rice fields that extend as far as the eye can see … This tour will lead to beautiful encounters with peasants and artisans.
Necessary equipment: walking shoes or good sneakers, sun protection items, bottle of water.
Picnic lunch prepared by us.
In the afternoon, tour of the city of Antsirabe. Antsirabe is an industrial city famous for its thermal baths and rickshaws, with its large colonial buildings and wide avenues, inherited from the missionaries and settlers. Tour of the city. Meeting and sharing with ingenious artists and craftsmen, working zebu horn or wood, manufacturer of miniatures, embroiderers…
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
Long day of transfer with possibility of stop in some villages. After breakfast, drive to Ambositra. A multiethnic commercial crossroads where the geniuses of precious woodworking meet. We will stop for a while to discover sculptors and markers in their neighborhoods; skilled and friendly craftsmen who will be happy to welcome us in their home.
Continue to Fianarantsoa.
Overnight at your hotel.
Walk in the old town of Fianarantsoa, to discover its history. Fianarantsoa, is an old royal city which became in 1830 administrative capital of the Betsileo region under the colonial power. Leave Fianarantsoa to go to Ambalavao. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of terrace-rice fields and vineyard. Stop at Anja’s Reserve, a dry forest located at the foot of an enormous granitic dome, for the discovery of the « Ring Tailed Lemur ». It is a 2h30 ride. Then, continuation towards a point of view to admire a splendid panorama on the valley. At the end of the day, connection through the lateritic track of Vohitsaoka to join the magnificent valley of Tsaranoro, situated at the foot of the Andringitra massif.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Great day of discovery of the Tsaranoro valley. Nestled at the foot of the Andringitra Mountain, it is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the south. A mountainous landscape characterized by splendid granite domes, small traditional villages scattered throughout the valley, rice fields here and there. We will then get to Tsaranoro valley, and after settling, we will leave for a hike towards “the peak of the Chameleon”.
The climb to the top of the Caméléon, in the heart of Tsaranoro valley, offers a breathtaking view of the landscape of the Andringitra massif. We will visit the sacred forest of Tsaranoro, where inhabitants of the valley are buried. Early in the morning, it is possible to see lemurs taking advantage of the heat of the first sunrays. The climb will lead us through torrents, slopes and plateaus.
Approximately 6h of walk round trip, height difference: 600m, moderately difficult trail, climbing route. Necessary equipment: walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, insect repellent and water bottle
Tsaranoro offers several other possibilities for more accessible or adventurous walks, (from 3h to 8h, between 250 m to 700 m of uneven heights, easy to difficult walking, hiking trail or climbing path) according to your physical condition. The excursions will lead you to meet the local population, but also to discover the landscape of the massif of Andringitra.
Picnic lunch prepared by us or at the hotel reserved according to the type of walk chosen.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
We leave the valley of Tsaranoro and continue our road towards the South. Change of climate and landscape at the entrance of the Great South. The rocky massifs, some of which are sacred, will henceforth constitute the panorama. Passage by the legendary doors of the South and crossing of the plateau of Ihorombe. We are in full territory Bara, a people of breeders of zebu. Continuation towards Isalo and arrival on the spot at the end of the day.
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
There are several options for a walk. Half-day visit of Isalo National Park. Transfer to the entrance of the park for a hike that will take you through the most beautiful sites of the massif. We will first go to the natural pool … through a path that passes through magnificent rocky walls that shelter some Bara tombs. We will stop at some points that offer breathtaking views on the massif. After swimming, we will continue the hike along a ridge line on the eastern part of the massif to end up at Namaza creek and forest. With a little luck, we will see some groups of lemurs. For the bravest ones, the walk will go on to the black and blue swimming pool, then to the Nymphs’ Waterfalls.
5h walk, 350m to 500m slopes and drops, medium difficulty level, hiking trail. Necessary equipment: walking shoes or good sneakers, items to protect from the sun, mosquito repellent, bottle of water
Picnic lunch prepared by us.
Activities at hotel :
Dinner and overnight at your hotel
We head south to Toliara, a city located on a broad coastal plain, surrounded by dunes and mangroves near the Tropic of Capricorn in the Mozambique Channel. Enjoy the first glimpses of baobabs rising majestically in the middle of the savannah and the magnificent Antandroy and Mahafaly tombs. Arrival on Tuléar planned in the early afternoon.
Overnight at your hotel
After the breakfast, transfer to the port. Boarding speedboat for a one-hour navigation to Anakao.
Welcome by the team of the Domaine d'Ambola and continuation by a rolling track to Ambola. The village of Ambola is nestled between a beautiful lagoon and the National Park of Tsimanapetsotsa - This area is populated by different ethnic groups including the "Vezo" (fishermen), the "Tanala" working the land, the Mahafaly and the Antandroy ... So different and diverse cultures. The rest of the day is free (relaxation, visit of the Vezo fishing village of Ambola, beach, snorkeling, canoeing...)
Lunch, dinner and overnight at Domaine d’Ambola
Morning dedicated to the discovery of the National Park of Tsimanapetsotsa, a lake saturated with lime sulfate. We leave for a circuit of 2 hours in the middle of the Mahafaly limestone plateau. We enter a forest of baobabs, which gathers various specimens of which the giant baobabs; Pachypodium and other endemic plants of this region also scatter our road. The observation of these plants shows us the different techniques put in place by them to overcome the drought. We also discover caves, some of which contain the blind fish, living in the crevices little lit.
An abundant fauna is also present in the park: terrestrial birds, reptiles, turtles, and we will have perhaps even the chance to cross the famous radiated turtle "Geochelone radiata".
Back to Ambola and rest of the day free
Lunch, dinner and overnight at Domaine d’Ambola
Breakfast and then, morning dedicated to the visit of the Association ABC Domino.
The association works mainly in the field of education and acts for the environment, health and hygiene. In a few figures, it counts 113 employees, 3538 schooled children (primary, secondary and high school) with a success rate of 100% at the Brevet and 96% at the Baccalauréat. You will visit the ABC Domino Complex in Efoetsy, with a middle school and a high school - 618 children welcomed by 22 teachers in 2021. On the way back, you will visit the first school established in Ambola, opened in 2006, where, at the beginning of the school year 2021, 576 children were welcomed by 12 teachers.
Back to the Domaine for lunch.
Free afternoon to relax and chill out.
Lunch, dinner and overnight at Domaine d’Ambola
Early breakfast and transfer to Anakao where you board again for Tuléar. Welcome at the port of Tuléar by Bakuba Concept and transfer to the hotel for a "Day Use" before your flight back to Antananarivo.
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AGENCE DE VOYAGES – TOUR OPERATEUR – LOCATION DE VOITURES
