The South – Antananarivo to Toliary
Sit back and enjoy the beautiful landscape, see it transform as we drive south on Route nr. 7: highlands, rice fields, tropical forest and wide desert. We will visit 3 very different parks and on the way you will see a lot of the culture and crafts of Madagascar.
Scroll down for detailed day to day program.
The South of Madagascar – Antananarivo to Toliary (Ifaty)
8 days / 7 nights
Antananarivo – Antsirabe – Ranomafana National Park – Night walk in Ranomafana – Ambalavao – Anja Reserve – Ranohira – Isalo National Park – Zombitsy Vohibasia Park – Tulear – Ifaty.
Including:
A Private vehicle, fuel, a driver, an assistant guide: Antananarivo – Antsirabe / Antsirabe – Ambositra – Ranomafana / Ranomafana – Ranomafana National Park – Ranomafana / Ranomafana – Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao / Ambalavao – Anjaha Reserve – Ranohira / Ranohira – Isalo National Park – Ranohira – Isalo window – Ranohira / Ranohira – Zombitsy Vohibasia – Tulear – Ifaty.
Accommodation: Antananarivo (1 night), Antsirabe (1 night), Ranomafana (2 nights), Ambalavao (1 night), Ranohira (2 nights), Ifaty (1 night).
Continental breakfast: Antananarivo, Antsirabe , Ranomafana , Ambalavao , Ranohira , Ifaty.
Parks and Local guides: Night walk in Ranomafana / Ranomafana National Park / Anjaha Reserve / Isalo National Park with picnic lunch / Zombitsy Vohibasia Park.
Transfers by car:Ivato airport – Antananarivo City.
Price:
For one person: € 2977
For two persons: € 3155 (€ 1578 p.p.
)
More than 3 people: price on request
Best time: January to December
This tour will bring you to the best sights and attractions in this region. However, the tour may be adapted for you.
We are flexible and there is always room for personal preferences. Please let me know!
The South of Mada – Antananarivo to Toliary (Ifaty): day to day
Day 1: Ivato Airoport – Antananarivo – Hotel
Arrival at Ivato airport and transfer by car to Antananarivo .The city is cheerfully stacked on the sloping sides of the Highlands. This medieval Capital is affectionately known as ‘Tana’ and enjoys a pleasant climate (1350 m). Overnight at Novotel hotel, Luxury room with AC.
Day 2: Antananarivo – Antsirabe – Hotel
After breakfast, heading south, we will take Route National nr. 7 by car to Antsirabe. A good road through highlands and beautiful green rice fields. Along the way, we can stop to take photos, buy fruit or crafts and might have lunch. We reach the spa town of Antsirabe, the coolest place in Madagascar. Its climate made it a favorite spot with European missionaries and their influences can still be seen in the colonial architecture and churches. Antsirabe is also the agriculture and administrative center of Madagascar and is also regarded as the ‘pousse-pousse‘ capital. In the evening there is time to walk through the nice town centre or take a “pousse pousse” ride around town and visit a restaurant or bar. Overnight at Flower Palace hotel, comfort room with AC.
Day 3: Antsirabe – Ambositra – Ranomafana – Hotel
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 then see a folk dance at the hotel Artisan. Then we will buy some souvenirs from the handcraft wood at Chez Victor Shop after that we continue driving to Ranomafana. We arrive there before the evening.
Around 6 pm, we meet the local guide to show us the nocturnal wildlife such as the Mouse Lemur, Frogs, Chameleons, Etc. ( Night walk is 2 hours maximum). Overnight at Thermal hotel, comfort room with AC.
Day 4: Ranomafana – Ranomafana National Park – Ranomafana Night walk – Ranomafana – Hotel
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 we admire lemurs such as Grey Bamboo lemur, Milne-Edwards Sifaka, 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.
In the afternoon, we take a rest at the hotel. Overnight at Thermal hotel, comfort room with AC.
Day 5: Ranomafana – Fianarantsoa – Ambalavao – Hotel
Returning to the main road, this morning, 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 Ambalavao, then hotel check in and have lunch.
This afternoon, we visit a paper Antaimoro workshop and can do shopping. Then we drive to Soavita wine cellar for tasting Malagasy wine finally returning to the hotel. Overnight at Tsianiparihy hotel, lodge bungalow with FAN.
Day 6: Ambalavao – Anjaha Reserve – Ranohira – Hotel
Around 9am ,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. We check in at the Hotel. Overnight at Jardin de Roi hotel, semi-luxury room (From Oct to March with AC and from April until Sep with FAN).
Day 7: Ranohira – Isalo National Park – Ranohira – Isalo window – Hotel
After breakfast, we drive to Isalo National Park, park the car and enter the Park .On walking; Landscapes are literally incredible, you do not believe it, how can wind and water have created all this? After 3 kms walking, we arrive at natural oasis pool known as Piscine Naturelle, where you can swim. From here, we have the opportunity to take walking within the National Park to Namaza and you see on the side path the sparse dry deciduous forest, including species of dwarf-like baobab and succulent. Arrival at the Namaza campsite place. We have a picnic Lunch at the Namaza campsite place then we get ready to go to Cascade des Amoureux, where we can swim too. After we walk back to the exit and drive back to Ranohira. Overnight at Jardin de Roi hotel, luxury room (From Oct. to March with AC and from April until Sept. with FAN).
Day 8: Ranohira – Zombitsy Vohibasia Park – Tulear – Ifaty – Hotel
This morning, 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 Lemurs as well as some Baobabs trees.
Then we continue our trip, we pass by a number of fascinating Mahafaly Tombs. At noon, we will reach the white city, known as Tulear. We have Lunch at the Restaurant. Transfer to Ifaty and arrival there before the evening. Overnight at Nautilus hotel, comfort bungalow with AC.
Extensions
- “ROYAL HILL of AMBOHIMANGA” TOURS (Antananarivo)
- ‘LEMURS PARK’ TOURS (Antananarivo)
- EXCURSION TO “ANDRAIKIBA and TRITRIVA LACS” by BIKE (Antsirabe)
- ”ANTOETRA ZAFIMANIRY” TOURS (Ambositra):
– Ifasina Village (trek and hike for half day)
– Sakaivo circuit (trek and hike for 2 or 3 days with camping) - AMBALAVAO TOURS:
– ”AMBONDROBE SACREED MOUNTAIN” IN AMBALAVAO (Trek and hike for 2 or 3 days)
– ”PEAK CHAMELEON CIRCUIT” IN TSARANORO VALLEY
– ONE DAY HIKE TO “ANJAHA RESERVE” - RANOHIRA or ISALO:
– ”GRAND TOUR IN “ISALO NATIONAL PARK” for 7 days and 6 nights of Camping - ”AMBATOMILOHA and ANKASY BEACHES COSTAL TRAIL TOURS”:
Day 1: Tulear – Transfer by 4×4 car to Ambatomiloha
Day 2: Relax at Ambatomiloha (Sangrina-la lodge hotel)
Day 3: Relax at Ambatomiloha (Sangrina-la lodge hotel)
Day 4: Ambatomiloha – Ankasy (Ankasy lodge hotel)
Day 5: Ankasy – Ifaty – Turtu and Baobabs Reserve visits – Tulear
Day 6: Fly back to Antananarivo