100% customisable travel idea
First journey to Madagascar Adventures on Route Nationale 7
Madagascar - Antsirabe - Ranomafana - Isalo - Ifaty
100% customisable travel idea
Madagascar - Antsirabe - Ranomafana - Isalo - Ifaty
100% customisable for you
Welcome and assistance with formalities. Private transfer and a two-night stay just north of Lake Anosy. From the garden terrace, you have a magnificent view of the lake. The colonial villa is airy and full of charm. The white walls reflect the light. Inside, a restful shade awaits. Adorned with chocolate, sienna and beige tones. No detail has been overlooked. The few rooms are particularly pleasant and intimate. With high-quality bedding. Spotless bathrooms. The floors gleam. Antananarivo will not disappoint. The old rose colour of the dining room suits it perfectly. It extends as far as possible under the marquee. The chef is an artist whose plates are small, harmonious paintings with colours hinting at the flavours to come. And not forgetting the French wines to accompany them.
On your itinerary - Tana, behind the scenes. Accompanied by a private guide, we will take a taxi be - the urban counterpart to the bush taxi (or taxibrousse) - and head up to Ambohipotsy in the upper town. Here, we’ll take in the splendid view over Antananarivo in an area that is peaceful and utterly charming. The neo-Gothic temple, built in 1863, is a listed national heritage site. Next, the Andravoahangy market will amaze you with its variety of goods traded amid a vibrant display of sounds and colours. Enjoy lunch in a local eatery (hotely) before exploring the picturesque villages on the outskirts.
Meet your driver-guide. Drive to Antsirabe. Settle in for two nights in the western suburbs. It’s a large garden, for a start. A large botanical garden. Right away, you’ll sense a clear fondness for greenery in all its forms. Atmosphere guaranteed. The house is incredibly inviting. The colours - blue, green and orange - are not flashy, they are muted and soothing. The décor is based on these colours, as well as some beautiful woodwork. The kitchen sources most of its ingredients from the property itself. That way, you know what you’re getting. The result stands out for its distinct flavours and fresh feel. And once you’re under the masseur’s hands, you’ll soon realise that this green approach is an absolute success.
On your itinerary - The world of Sylvain, the ethnologist. Antsirabe is the capital of Vakinankaratra, now one of 22 regions, but once a bona fide kingdom. Sylvain, an ethnologist, is enamoured with Vakinankaratra, whose history, social structures and plethora of secrets he knows well. Depending on the time of year, he will reveal some of these secrets to you. Secrets kept by blacksmiths and traditional healers, for example. This is Madagascar as it really is. Your guide for the day will generously share what they know, making the tour engaging and piquing travellers’ curiosity. They are also respectful of both people and places. Something which is conducive to genuine dialogue.
On your itinerary - Crater lakes and mountain biking. The landscape of Antsirabe is marked by lakes that have formed in the craters of ancient volcanoes. The surrounding areas have been developed so you can cycle around them. And beyond, in a large, undulating area where rice fields and meadows alternate with slopes and counterslopes, small villages and hamlets pepper the landscape. With a private guide, you can explore the region by mountain bike, enjoying breathtaking views of the highland countryside as you go. The cycling level of the trip is adapted to the abilities of the participants. A normal level of fitness is sufficient to complete the route. The ride ends in the town of Antsirabe, among the artisans who reside there.
Drive to Ranomafana. On the way, we’ll stop off in the village of Ambositra, renowned for its wood craftsmen who have preserved some of the Zafimaniry traditions of sculpture and marquetry. This forest-dwelling people have developed remarkable skills in this field, recognised by UNESCO and listed as World Heritage.
An overnight stay in a recently renovated establishment. The layout is practical and comfortable. The rooms are simple, spacious and clean. You will enjoy real comfort here. The restaurant serves Malagasy cuisine at its best. At the spa, the two thermal pools (among other facilities) invite you to relax and unwind. And the garden is an incredibly pleasant place to spend the cooler hours of the day. The management’s spirit of teamwork adds a highly positive touch to all this.
On your itinerary - Ranomafana National Park with a private guide. This large park is part of the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the many birds, you may be lucky enough to spot the charming pitta-like ground roller or the Henst’s goshawk. As for lemurs, the star of the show is undoubtedly the golden bamboo lemur, whose entire population lives here. The greater bamboo lemur also receives attentive care from joint teams from both Madagascar and the Vincennes Zoo in Paris. The ruffed lemur, with its magnificent white side whiskers, is sadly seriously endangered.
Drive to Fianarantsoa. Spend one night on a hillside in a French colonial house whose hotel conversion has preserved its functional elegance. No architectural showiness, just a pleasant, balanced design. The rooms are well equipped, charming and comfortable. The garden is well maintained with its rounded shrubs and offers a panoramic view of the city. The restaurant is one of the leading dining spots in Fianarantsoa.
Not to be missed - A trip to the Labo Photo Pierrot Men gallery. Pierrot Men is a renowned Malagasy photographer and a prominent figure in Madagascar who has been chronicling the country in both black & white and in colour for many years. We might run into him at the gallery - he lives in Fianarantsoa - but we will certainly see a fine selection of his works.
Optional - Old Fianarantsoa.
Drive to the Tsaranoro Valley. Settle in for two nights at the foot of the famous cliff. Opposite stands the Andringitra Massif. It dominates the environment with its rugged frame. The estate offers several types of accommodation. For you, it’s a private chalet built of stone and wood. Simple but comfortable. On site, a small restaurant gets the job done. And in these mountains, that’s all you really need: energy after being outdoors for a while. To relax, you can take a dip in the large natural swimming pool. It blends in perfectly with the spirit of the place. What else? Nothing at all. It’s perfect just as it is. Oh, hang on, we forgot to mention there may be lemurs passing by. They’re our neighbours.
On your itinerary - Hiking in the Tsaranoro Valley. Accompanied by a private guide, you’ll explore the valley, its villages, rice fields and herds of zebu. The villages are often still made up of adobe huts. Life here follows the rhythm of the old farming traditions: working the fields, caring for animals, going to market. Along the way, you will come across carts mounted on car wheels and pulled by two long-horned cattle. The mountain is a little daunting: a 700-metre-high (2,300 feet) grey granite cliff, almost perfectly vertical. It’s easy to see why it presents a challenge for climbers the world over. Even if you’re not a climbing enthusiast, the sight alone is enough for you to feel the thrill.
On your itinerary - The Anja Community Reserve. The reserve was established on the initiative of the villagers. A dry woodland - mainly Persian lilacs - covers the undulating ground. The aptly named ring-tailed lemur, with its signature striped tail, lives here in large numbers. They are an emblem of Madagascar. The sacred rocks are burial sites where the ancestors of local families are laid to rest.
Drive to the Isalo Massif. Settle in for two nights at the park entrance. The granite buildings are impressive, surrounded by immaculate lawns and solid sandstone formations - minerals without the coldness. The décor, crafted by cabinetmakers and carpenters alike, is incredibly cosy throughout, both in the rooms and the common areas. At the spa, the staff are professional and friendly. The same goes for the restaurant, which showcases organic ingredients from the property’s vegetable garden, orchards and beehives. With a swimming pool, riding club and hiking trails, there’s no chance of getting bored.
On your itinerary - Hiking in Isalo. The ruin-shaped landscape of the massif holds wonderful surprises for travellers. Peaks, sandy valleys, canyons, mesas and columns make it an astonishing showcase of geological wonders. The prevailing aridity does not prevent the presence of waterfalls and natural pools. In the sky, many birds of prey - such as kites, harriers and falcons - circle overhead; in the trees, you may encounter red-fronted lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs and even Verreaux’s sifakas, whose graceful, sideways “dance” as they move across the ground is a real sight to behold. Hiking with a park guide. The difficulty level of the excursions is determined according to each person’s abilities.
Optional - Via Ferrata in Isalo.
On your itinerary - The baobab forest. On the way to Ifaty, we’ll stop off in Mangily, in the Reniala nature reserve, which you can explore by zebu cart. Thorny bushes and cacti are now characteristic of the coastline, above which rise the thick trunks of spongewood trees and the twisted branches of baobabs. The issue of water affects and shapes all this plant life, which makes use of a surprising variety of ways to adapt.
In Ifaty, your driver-guide will take their leave. Settle in for two nights facing the lagoon in a hotel that combines sustainability and tropical comfort with skill and commitment. The architecture is traditional; the rooms are simple and full of rustic elegance. And it must be said that the infinity pool truly lives up to its name. At mealtimes, enjoy a taste of Malagasy, French or Italian dishes, often accompanied by generous servings of South African wine or rhum arrangé (rum infused with fruits, spices and sugar). It’s the good life by the water, under the sun and on the sand.
Ifaty was originally a Vezo village - the nomadic coastal people of western Madagascar. It lies peacefully on the shores of the Ranobe Lagoon, which is bordered by a coral reef (NGOs are working, with increasing success, to restore this beautiful formation to its natural state). The turquoise waters stretch out before you. What is there to do? Enjoy it all at a gentle pace, taking things as they come. Go for a swim, walk along the beach and watch the square-sailed pirogues glide by, dive among the corals to feast your eyes on bright colours and elliptical shapes, go out to sea, ride a horse, relax on your fabulous towel or on a massage table.
Optional - Whale watching (July to September).
Transfer to Toliara Airport. Flight to Antananarivo. A car with driver for the duration of the transit; courtesy room available until departure. Return flight. Overnight flight arriving the following day.
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