South Of Madagascar, Antananarivo to Ifaty

Sit back, relax and enjoy Madagascar’s beautiful landscapes. See them transform as we drive south on route nr. 7, from Antananarivo (Tana) to the beautiful white beaches of Ifaty. Impressive highlands, rice fields, tropical forest, savanna and wide desert. We will visit 4 very different parks and on the way you will see a lot of nature and the cultures and crafts of Madagascar.

7 days (6 nights)

Ivato Airport – Antananarivo City (Tana) – Antsirabe – Ranomafana – Ambalavao – Anjaha Reserve – Ranohira – Isalo National Park – Zombitsy Vohibasia Park – Tulear – Ifaty Resort.

Day 01:

Airport – Antananarivo City – Hotel (10 km)

Tongasoa! (Welcome). We will pick you up at Ivato International Airport and transfer you to Antananarivo, the Capital of Madagascar and ‘City of a Thousand Warriors’. Check in at your hotel. Overnight at Chalet des Roses hotel (standard room).

Day 02:

Antananarivo – Antsirabe – Hotel (160 km / 3.5 hours)

After breakfast, we take Route National nr. 7 to Antsirabe, by private car. A good road through highlands and beautiful green rice fields. Along the way, we can stop to take photos, buy some fruit or crafts and then have lunch. In the evening, we will arrive in Antsirabe, where there is time to walk through the nice town center or take a “pousse pousse” ride around this small town. Overnight at hotel: Couleur café, comfort room.

Day 03:

Antsirabe – Ranomafana – Night Walk – Ranomafana – Hotel (200 km / 7 hours plus visit)

Before driving to Ranomafana, we will visit some of the craft shops which produce carvings of Malagasy life. The drive to Ranomafana takes up most of the day. Before midday, we stop for lunch in Ambositra and there may be the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Malagasy meal and see a folk dance at the hotel Artisan. After lunch we can visit some souvenirs shops from the handcraft wood at Chez Victor Shop after that we continue driving to Ranomafana. We arrive there before the evening .
Around 6 pm or before: we meet a local guide to show us the nocturnal wildlife such as the mouse lemur, Frogs, Chameleons, etc. (Night walk is 2 hours maximum). Overnight at hotel Manja, economy room.

Day 04:

Ranomafana – Ranomafana National Park – Fianaratsoa – Ambalavao – Hotel (100 km)

After breakfast, we will drive to the entrance of Park and will start our daytime visit to this beautiful humid tropical forest with the local guides then we admire lemurs such as Grey Bamboo lemur ,Milne-Edwards Sifaka, some birds and insects. The golden bamboo Lemur is the main attraction of this park. Around noon, we will leave this park and arrive at the hotel. We have lunch at the restaurant.
Returning to the main road, this afternoon, we continue south via the regional Capital of Fianarantsoa, the academic centre of Madagascar. Here we have an opportunity to admire Fianarantsoa city on the Upper town. Leaving the highland plateau and descending through superb mountain scenery to the plains. Arrival in Ambalavao and check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel: Tsieniparihy Lodge.

Day 05:

Ambalavao – Anja Reserve – Ranohira (250 km)

Around 9 am, arrival at Community Anjaha Reserve. Here we have chance to watch troupes of ring-tailed lemurs on the granite boulders. Continuing south the pine trees thin out and the fertile soil of the highlands gives way to drier savannah, cactus, termite mounds and the dust of the mid south. We finally reach our destination late in the afternoon. Ranohira is situated on the edge of the Isalo National Park.
Hotel check in. Overnight at hotel: Orchidee, standard room.

Day 06:

Ranohira – Isalo National Park – Ranohira – Isalo Window – Ranohira – Hotel

After breakfast, we drive to the Parking lot and we will enter the Isalo National Park. On walking; landscapes are literally incredible, you do not believe it , how can wind and water have done all this? After 3 kms walking, we arrive at the natural oasis pool, known as ‘Piscine Naturelle’, Here you can swim, relax and enjoy this beautiful oasis. From here, we have the opportunity to walk within the National Park to Namaza and you see on the side path the sparse dry deciduous forest, including species of dwarf-like Baobab. Arrival at the Namaza campsite, a place where we can have a picnic Lunch. After lunch we get ready to go to ‘Cascade des amoureux’ (Lovers waterfall),swim, relax en enjoy nature. Then back to the campsite and a walk back to the Parking lot, we drive back to our hotel in Ranohira. Overnight at hotel: Orchid Hotel.

Day 07:

Ranohira – Zombitse Vohibasia Park – Tulear – Ifaty

This morning, after breakfast, we continue our journey to the south. The temperature rises as we lose height and head for the coast, crossing the Savannah plain, Ilakaka sapphire village. On the way, we have a short visit in Zombitse Park to discover another species of Lemur and view some nice Baobabs trees as well. Then we continue our trip, we pass by a number of fascinating Mahafaly Tombs. At noon, we will reach the ‘white city’ also known as Tulear. We have lunch at the Restaurant. Transfer to Ifaty and arrival in Ifaty before the evening. Overnight at hotel Nautilus, Comfort room.

Here, the tours ends.