Discovery of breathtaking Natural Landscapes South the RN 7

From the capital Antananarivo to Tulear with a detour by train to Manakara, discover these splendid landscapes of rice fields, herds of zebus, the capital of Malagasy handicrafts, these villages where life is reborn with each train passage, this marvelous canal of the Pangalanes and the parks of Ranomafana and Isalo with finally a rest on the very beautiful beaches of Ifaty or Anakao… You will also have the possibility to hike in the park of Andringitra.

Day 1 Antananarivo / Antsirabe

You will leave the capital early in the morning to make a stop in Ambatolampy one hour later and visit of a foundry. Ambatolampy is a small town where pots and pans are made. Arrival in Antsirabe at the end of the morning, you will settle down to have lunch. You will have the opportunity to visit the town of Antsirabe in the afternoon: Andraikiba and Tritriva lakes, rickshaw tour, workshops for cutting semi-precious stones, hand-made tablecloths: embroidery.

Day 2 Antsirabe / Ambositra / Fianarantsoa

Early departure from Antsirabe after breakfast. Arrival in Ambositra after 2 hours’ drive: city of Malagasy handicrafts. Possibility to visit workshops for the production of Malagasy arts including marquetry and to buy souvenirs. Visit of a Zafimaniry village: it is a typical Malagasy

village. This visit allows you 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. Return to Ambositra and lunch. Continue on the road after lunch. Arrival in Fianarantsoa after 4 hours’ drive. Possibility to visit the upper town on foot if the weather permits.

Day 3 Fianarantsoa / Manakara by train

Breakfast very early as the train leaves at 07:00 am. The car drops you off at the station and drives to Manakara. The scenery is fabulous and at every stop the villagers sell their specialties, but take a snack anyway. Arrival in Manakara 7 to 8 hours later.

Day 4 Manakara

Breakfast and departure for a pirogue excursion on the Pangalanes canal to the fishermen’s village. The Pangalanes canal is a rich nature, authentic landscapes, villages breathing the sweetness of life… Developed since the beginning of the 20th century, the Pangalanes Canal is a series of a multitude of natural lakes and lagoons stretching for nearly 665 km from Tamatave in the North to Farafangana in the South covering an area of 18,000 Ha, separated from the Indian Ocean by a thin strip of land on the east coast of Madagascar. It is the island’s second largest body of water after Lake Alaotra. The developments have made it possible to link these rivers together and above all to make this waterway navigable, thus ensuring safe navigation. The piroguier will prepare your food on the spot.

Return to Manakara in the afternoon

Day 5 Manakara / Ranomafana

Departure for Ranomafana after breakfast. Arrival after 3 hours’ drive. Visit of the village on foot: the thermal baths, the hot water swimming pool of the thermal baths possibility to bathe there but check the state of the water before entering. Possibility to visit the park at night.

Day 6 Ranomafana / Ranohira

Depart Ranomafana after breakfast and early morning visit to the park if you didn’t have time to do so the day before. Arrival in Ambalavao, the city of wine, 1h30 later. Visit of the antaimoro paper factory (the specialty of the city). Possibility of also visiting the Anja lemur park. We then continue the road by crossing the beautiful mountains and the beautiful landscapes of the south. Arrival in Ranohira (Isalo) 4 to 5 hours later.

Day 7 Ranohira

Early departure for the visit of the national park.

There are several possible visits to be made such as: the monkey canyons, canyon of the makis, the natural swimming pool. The Isalo massif culminates at an altitude of one thousand meters. These heaps of continental sandstone have undergone significant erosion and these elements are in the form of large, very deep canyons, tangled and pierced with caves of varying sizes but always surprising. The park encompasses a number of spectacular large canyons with surprising names: The Canyon of the Monkeys or the Canyon of the Rats etc… At the heart of these canyons flow large rivers, most of them permanent.

Day 8 Ranohira / Tulear – Ifaty

Departure from Ranohira, on the way to Tulear. Possibility to visit the arboretum: it is a botanical park located 12km south-east of Tuléar, created around 1980 on the initiative of a Swiss amateur botanist, Hermann PETIGNAT. The plant collection of the Antsokay Arboretum is mainly composed of succulent species dominated by the Euphorbiaceous and Didieraceae families. More than 900 species are conserved there, 90% of which are endemic to the south- western region of Madagascar and 80% of which have medicinal virtues. Visit of Tuléar then ends on Mangily Ifaty.

 

Day 9 Ifaty Mangily

Relaxation by the sea. Possibility of diving, surfing towards the coral reef (be careful, it’s quite violent), pirogue rides, visits to the baobab forest, horse riding … We advise if you have time to stay several days on Ifaty or Mangily to rest after the journey on the RN7.

Day 10 Ifaty Mangily / Tulear – Antananarivo

Departure from Ifaty, on the way to Tuléar. Depending on the weather, possibility to visit the city of Tuléar before taking the plane back to the capital.