Classic RN7

Tana-Antsirabe: 175 kms distance

• Drive from Tana to Antsirabe, see handicraft market on the way, beautiful landscape of the Merina tribe area, the everyday life of the Merina people,
• Visit of Antsirabe: the hot spring city with its rickshaws, semiprecious stones, lakes.

On the way from Antsirabe to Ranomafana you pass the typical highland scenery of rice paddies. You stop in Ambositra, the centre of Madagascar’s woodcarving industry, to visit the handicraft factory. After lunch you continue to Ranomafana National Park, on the way you stop to see the biggest waterfall in Madagascar, Rian-Draono Be. Ranomafana means ‘hot water’. During the colonial era this friendly village was thermal bath center. Today people go to the Ranomafana to visit the national park, the place where the rare big bamboo lemur lives. You can do a nocturnal walk in the park with a local guide to see mouse lemurs, frogs and chameleons.

They found the rare lemurs close to Ranomafana village 20 years ago. And after that the national park was established to protect this rare lemur. After breakfast you drive to the entrance of the park to meet your local guide and to buy your entrance fees. You can choose between several walks ranging from a few hours to half a day. In the rainforest you can see the Edward’s sifaka, the golden bamboo lemur and reptiles. There are also about 115 birds species, some endemic. In the afternoon you can visit the village or go to the thermal bath swim in the hot swimming pool from the hot natural spring.

Today you drive to Isalo. we visit two traditional factories, the Wild Silk factory and the Antaimoro Paper factory in Ambalavao. On Wednesday the biggest zebu market of Madagascar on this village. You will also visit the community-run Anja Reserve, where you can see the traditional Bara family tombs, caves and ring tailed lemurs. After this visit we have lunch and drive slowly to Isalo the afternoon

After breakfast you go to Isalo National Park. You visit the park with a local guide. Local is sacred to the Bara tribe. The Bara use the caves as cemeteries. Isalo is dominated by narrow ravines and by wind and water sculptured rocks. First you hike to the natural swimming pool and after a swim you hike to the Namaza circuit. You can also choose to do only one if these hikes. After the hike you drive to the Window of Isalo.

On the way to Tulear you pass the region of cotton. You see the traditional tombs of the Mahafaly and painted tombs of the Bara and the Antandroy tribes. The afternoon we visit the coquillage market and the arboratium Antsokay

We leave late from Tulear, because Ifaty is arround 20Km means 30mn drives, in same day, we can Arrange the visit to the Baobabs forest or staying on the beach.

We have 1 day free in Ifaty to relaxing.

Today, we drive back to tulear in aeroport for the flight or take the boat to Anakao.