National Road 7, which crosses the center of Madagascar from Antananarivo to Tulear, offers many colors and landscapes to admire. There are tender greens of the rice fields and the deeper ones of the primary forests, the ochres associated with the “fire” colors of the Isalo massif and the turquoise blues of the lagoons. Thermal baths, wood sculptures, vineyards and national parks are just some of the riches you will find in your journey through this mythical route.
Take time to walk into the town of Fianarantsoa, which extends over several hills. Its jewel is constituted by its high-town, old historical district, unique architectural set with a perfectly preserved uniform character. The discovery of its artisans as well as of the villages in the neighborhood is a real pleasure.If you are a wine lover, the region has quality vineyards where you can taste wines and liqueurs from the Maromby monastery for example. About twenty kilometers from Fianarantsoa, take the time to make this detour to discover a beautiful tea plantation that has the interest of breaking all the secrets of the culture and transformation of the famous tea of Sahambavy.
Ambositra is famous in Madagascar for its woodcarvings. An “orangers” tour passes through a village where 150 families are engaged in making wooden objects from “hand” towers, and take you in the middle of terraced rice fields (170 Of orange plantations). Ambositra is a gateway to the mountainous Zafimaniry country punctuated with villages of whose every houses are constructed of wood without tenons and mortises coming from the technique of Zafimaniry wood. These buildings and their sculptures have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You can consider starting treks from two days to a week to immerse yourself in this particularly preserved region, being host by the locals.
During your tour, it is recommended to stay in Antsirabe, in this pleasant spa town and in particular to meet its skillful and numerous craftsmen: weavers, jewelers and lapidaries, sculptors of horns of zebu objects, embroiderers … The region of Antsirabe is of volcanic origin. Among the most beautiful attractions, the remains of extinct volcanoes have created lakes in the heart of rural landscapes that can be discovered by hiking or moutainbiking. Some, like Lake Tritriva, are really impressive and you can admire landscapes that seem unreal. Finally, finish your journey by the Mount Ibity massif. Its fauna and flora but also the grandiose views that it offers on a patchwork of rice fields and varied market gardens, deserve to dedicate a day to discover it.
It is a spa resort located close to one of the densest forests of Madagascar. “Ranomafana” means “hot water” in Malagasy. This immense evergreen forest (always green), typical of the eastern coast, covers a granitic relief which culminates at 1400m. The circuits last from 2 hours to several days with bivouacs to discover an abundant fauna and flora. You will inevitably admire a lemur or an orchid, a bird or a palm tree … Biodiversity is so important that scientists have a base in the heart of the park where they continually discover new species in a forest of exceptional beauty.
The Isalo National Park is simply spectacular! It will take you a few days to discover the 5 main circuits of the park. Trails creep through narrow canyons to wind up the torrents up to their falls. Trails bypass blocks of multicolored stratified rocks, through beautiful tapia forests, to a natural pool, eden with translucent waters surrounded by palm trees and succulent plants. Other recent rivers include rocky vegetation, which is populated by lemurs, or gorges and caves that shelter the Bara tombs. You will also discover the famous “window of the Isalo” where it is traditional to watch the sunset when the whole massif burns.
