MYTHICAL SOUTH: Great south

  Destination : South

   Durée : 10days

This tour is the best way to discover the great south of Madagascar and what make it so mythical. The different expression of Malagasy culture, the contrast of landscape and emblematic fauna of the Big Island are footprint of the authenticity of this tour.

  • Ambatolampy foundry : pot maker
  • Zafimaniry village
  • Rail journey
  • Discovery Pangalane Channel
  • Experiencing the Malagasy culture by contact with local people
  • Visit of the famous Isalo National Park
  • Discovering the beauty of natur : natural swimming pool, endemic fauna and flora
  • Visit of the Antsokay arborethum

1st   day   :    Antananarivo- Antsirabe

Beging from Antananarivo, Stop at Ambatolampy an hour later and visit a foundry,

Ambatolampy is the city where pans are made. Arrival at Antsirabe at the end of the morning, installation and lunch. Possibility to visit the city of Antsirabe in the afternoon: Andraikiba and Tritriva lakes, rickshaw tour, semi-precious stone cutting workshops, hand-made tablecloths: embroidery.

 2nd DAY : ANTSIRABE / AMBOSITRA / FIANARANTSOA

Early departure from Antsirabe after breakfast. Arrival in Ambositra after 2 hours of road: city of Malagasy crafts. Opportunity to visit workshops manufacturing Malagasy arts including marquetry and buy souvenirs . Visit of a Zafimaniry village: it is a typical Malagasy village. This visit makes it possible to be in contact with the inhabitants and to see them working the craft which is in addition to agriculture, one of the first resources of the village.

Back to Ambositra and have lunch

Continue the road after lunch.

Arrival in Fianarantsoa after 4 hours drive.

Possibility of visiting the upper town on foot if weather permits.

 3RD DAY : FIANARANTSOA / MANAKARA EN TRAIN

Breakfast very early because the departure of the train is at 7 pm . The car drops you off at the station and leaves for Manakara. The scenery is fabulous and at each stop the villagers sell their specialties, still take a snack   .   Arrival in Manakara 7 to 8 hours later.

4TH DAY : MANAKARA

Breakfast and departure for a pirogue trip on the Pangalanes canal to the fishing village. The pangalanes canal is a rich nature, authentic landscapes, villages breathing the sweetness of life … Built since the beginning of the 20th century, the Pangalane Canal is a continuation of a multitude of lakes and natural lagoons that stretches nearly 665kms from Tamatave in the North to Farafangana in the South totaling an area of 18 000 Ha, separate of the Indian Ocean by a thin fringe of land on the eastern coast of Madagascar. It is the second stretch of water of the Island by its area after the lake Alaotra. The arrangements made it possible to link these watercourses with each other and especially to make this route navigable, thus ensuring a safe navigation. The boatman will prepare you to eat on site.

Back to Manakara in the afternoon

 5TH DAY : MANAKARA – RANOMAFANA

 Beging for Ranomafana after breakfast. Arrival after 3 hours drive . Visit of the village on foot : the thermal baths, the hot water pool of the thermal baths possibility of bathing there but check anyway the state of the water before entering . Possibility of a night tour of the park.

6TH DAY :  RANOMAFANA – RANOHIRA

Beging from Ranomafana after breakfast and morning park tour if you did not have time to do it the day before. Arrival in Ambalavao, the city of wine, 1 hour later. Visit the antaimoro paper factory (the specialty of the city). Possibility to visit also the Anja lemur park.Then we continue the road through  the beautiful mountains and beautiful landscapes of the south. Arrival at Ranohira (Isalo) 4 to 5 hours later.

7TH DAY :  RANOHIRA

Early departure for the visit of the national park. There are several possible tours to do such as: monkey canyons, maki canyon, natural swimming pool. The massif of Isalo culminates at an altitude of one thousand meters. These piles of continental sandstone have undergone significant erosion and these elements are in the form of large canyons very deep, entangled pierced with caves more or less large but still amazing. The park includes a number of great spectacular canyons with surprising names: the Monkey Canyon .At the heart of these canyons flow large rivers, mostly permanent.

8TH DAY :  RANOHIRA – TULÉAR – IFATY

Beging from Ranohira, en route to Tulear. Opportunity to visit the arboretum: it is a botanical park located 12km south-east of Tulear, created around 1980 on the initiative of a Swiss botanist Hermann PETIGNAT. The Antsokay Arboretum plant collection consists mainly of succulent species dominated by the Europhorbiaceaeae and Didieraceae families. More than 900 species are conserved, 90% of which are endemic to the southwestern region of Madagascar and 80% have medicinal properties.

Visit Tulear then finish on Mangily Ifaty.

9TH DAY :  IFATY MANGILY

Relaxation by the sea. Possibility of diving, surfing to the coral reef (beware, it’s quite violent), canoe trip, visit of the baobab forest, horse …

We advise if you have time to stay several days on Ifaty or Mangily to rest after the journey on the national road number seven

10TH DAY :  IFATY MANGILY – TULEAR – ANTANANARIVO

Beging from Ifaty, en route to Tulear. Depending on the weather, you can visit the city of Tulear before flying to return to the capital