The Southern Road: Ranomafana, Andringitra, Isalo and idleness
13 jours
ITINERARY IDEA IN THE SOUTHERN ROUTE WITHIN 13 DAYS.
This trip allows you to discover a diverse and lush landscape: from the capital to the village of Ifaty via the Highlands. The Southern route is a true concentrate of National Parks such as the Ranomafana Rainforest and Isalo National Park.
It is the best option to discover the diversity of landscapes: the rice fields on the terrace, the ruiniform massif of Isalo and to immerse yourself in the Malagasy culture thanks to the discovery of authentic villages, the meeting of the local population smiling and warm. An opportunity to live an exceptional adventure in the company of the Malagasy!
Carte
Gare Soanierana, 7, Tananarive, Madagascar
Antsirabe
Ranomafana, Madagascar
Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
Sacred Forest - Tsaranoro valley, Madagascar
Ranohira, Madagascar
Ifaty Baobob Tree Reniala Nature Resrve, Madagascar
Ifaty, Tuléar, Madagascar
Tananarive, Madagascar
IVATO AÉROPORT STUDIOS ANNEXE 1, Tananarive, Madagascar
Jour par jour
1
Warm welcome at Ivato Airport and transfer to the hotel
After a few hours of flight, you land in Madagascar. Upon arrival at the airport, your driver-guide will greet you and transfer you to the hotel. The capital of Madagascar is a city of thousand facets and colors. It offers a very contrasting landscape of red bricks and rice fields, valleys and sacred hills.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: –
2
First day of connection to the national road 7 (170 km +/- 4 hours)
Departure for the former colonial city: Antsirabe. Crossing of the Highlands with its traditional houses in adobe and rice terraces. You discover hilly and green landscapes that contrast with the arid landscapes of the continuation of the circuit. First stop in Ambatolampy to visit the workshop of the aluminum smelter to manufacture kitchen utensils such as pots, ladles, salt shakers… Arrival in Antsirabe, rickshaw ride in the spa town. Immersion in the heart of the city with your driver-guide for a few visits to craft workshops that manufacture miniature toys for example.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
3
Antsirabe – Ranomafana (250km +/-5hours)
Go for a stroll in the city where unveils Merina houses with red-brick and old colonial buildings. Visit the local artisans: miniature cars, silk weaving workshop, sweetshop (or confectioner’s shop) and a lapidary workshop, making objects in zebu horn. Then drive to Ambositra, the city is famous for the beautiful woodcarving knowledge and art of Zafimaniry. Visit shops and craft workshops. You will see, their work is just impressive. Arrival at Ranomafana and transfer to hotel. Possibility to walk around the village. Free afternoon.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: -Breakfast
4
Discover Ranomafana National Park (3 to 6hours of visit)
After your breakfast, you will go for an excursion in the National Park of Ranomafana with a local guide. This Park is known for its hot spring. This tropical rainforest host many species of lemurs, birds, reptiles including lizards and chameleons living on luxury vegetation with rare endemic plants like ferns, bamboos and hundreds of orchids. Around 6hs walk- possible observations: primary forest landscape, some species of lemurs including Varecia Variegata, frog, waterfall, landscape…Back to your hotel and night.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
5
Ranomafana – Tsaranoro (+/- 4hours)
After the discovery of Ranomafana, continue towards the South of Madagascar by taking the RN7. Stop in Ambalavao to visit Anjà reserve, a place for an appointment with the Makis cattas, the emblematic lemur of Madagascar. There are also many chameleons… This reserve was the refuge of the Bara people and one can see the caves where they used to live as well as several traditional tombs. We leave National 7 to reach the valley of Tsaranoro. Installation at the hotel and overnight.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
6
Explore Tsaranoro Valley
After breakfast, do not forget to put on your walking shoes for a tour of the Tsaranoro Valley. We start with a walk through the forest, passing at the foot of the cliffs. The descent is very steep and caution is required. These gigantic granite domes are an extraordinary spectacle, especially at sunrise and sunset. You can also come across Makis catta. In front of you, the cliff of Tsaranoro: 800m of granite peak, the biggest of the world climbing tried it, to the great curiosity of the villagers. For trekking fans, it is possible to bypass the cliff by the South.
Back to the hotel, and free afternoon.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
7
Tsaranoro – Ranohira (+/- 4 hours)
Morning departure from Tsaranoro with your driver to reach the village of Ranohira. You will cross a sumptuous landscape of Savanna by observing the plateau of Ihorombe and the sacred mountains. Stop in Ambalavao for the visit of a workshop making the famous paper Antemoro. In the middle of the afternoon, you cross the “Portes du Sud”: the entrance to the south of the country is marked by two rocky points. Arriving in Ranohira, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
8
Visit of Isalo National Park (3 to 6hours)
Day dedicated to the visit of the Isalo National Park. It presents many contrasts: sometimes canyons with dizzying walls, sometimes rocks with amazing shapes: a lion, a boot, a head, or a queen with her crown. The park is home to several species of lemurs, birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians, many of which are endemic. As for the flora, it is probably as varied as the various spaces that make up the Isalo: a dry and thorny forest, kilometers of savanna, then a lush vegetation. Do not forget to bring your swimsuit, the park also houses extraordinary natural pools.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
9
Ranohira – Ifaty (295km +/- 5hours)
Breakfast at the hotel. Then drive to the fishing village in Ifaty. Along the way, visit the arboretum of Antsokay, a reserve located 12 km before entering Toliara (Tulear). Visit of about one hour, then, continuation of the road to visit the shellfish markets of Toliara. Lunch break and transfer to Ifaty. Installation and beginning of the lazy stay.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
10
Free stay in Ifaty
You have two days to enjoy a range of activities proposed by your hotel: kitesurf, scuba diving, quad, big-game fishing…this region is known by its beaches, food, and its happy people who are in majority fishers. They are called ” Vezo”. You can organize excursions with the hotel on the spot.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
11
Transfer to Antananarivo by domestic flight
From Ifaty, get back to Toliary to take your flight to Antananarivo. You leave Ifaty according to your flight schedule. Upon arrival in Antananarivo, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
Accommodation: Standard Hotel
Meals included: – Breakfast
12
End of stay and transfer to the airport
A city tour before the departure. Visit the artisanal markets to buy souvenirs. Stop at the hotel to refresh yourself while waiting for the flight. Madagascar always leaves exceptional memories to many travelers. And travelers come back often!
Meals included: – Breakfast
