We also had the chance to experience one of the most remarkable traditions of Betsileo heritage: Savika, the region’s traditional bullfighting ritual. The event took place in a remote area several kilometres outside Ambositra, deep in the countryside. Reaching it by car was impossible, so...
We got a tip from our local guide about two places where traditional “combat de coq” takes place every Sunday. Cockfighting in Ambositra, and throughout Madagascar, is a deeply rooted and widely practised cultural tradition, influenced by Asian migration. It remains a legal, high-stakes...
Serene, terraced rice fields, red-earth homes, and the intricate woodcarving traditions of the Zafimaniry people define rural life around Ambositra. We hired a local guide (80,000 MGA) and set off on a hike to Rova d’Ambositra (🎟️10,000 MGA), the former residence of the last Betsileo...
We spent a day in Madagascar’s central highlands, in the historic heartland of the Betsileo people and a town often called the “Capital of Woodworking” for its renowned Zafimaniry art. Ambositra is a high-altitude city (1,342–1,422 m elevation) serving as the capital of...
The two-day drive from Antananarivo to Ambositra via Antsirabe follows Madagascar’s iconic RN7, a route that gradually unfolds the island’s highland landscapes. Leaving the capital behind, the scenery quickly shifts to rolling hills, terraced rice paddies, and clusters of red-earth...
Antsirabe is one of the best places in Madagascar to discover traditional handicrafts, known for its intricate embroidery and inventive workshops that transform recycled materials into art. We visited a well-known atelier where artisans create remarkably detailed miniature rickshaws...
We spent a day in Antsirabe, a city founded in 1872 by Norwegian missionary T.G. Rosaas as a highland retreat. Known as the “City of Water” or the “Malagasy Vichy,” it owes its nickname to its thermal springs and refreshingly cool climate. What began as a small missionary settlement...
We couldn’t miss one of the most popular stops along the route between Antananarivo and Antsirabe: Ambatolampy, often referred to as Madagascar’s “aluminium town.” It is renowned for its traditional, family-run aluminium foundries that line the RN7. Dating back to around 1942, these...
Located about 2.5 km from Hell-Ville, the Arbre Sacré de Mahatsinjo (Sacred Tree) is a huge, more than 200-year-old Ficus benghalensis (banyan tree) near the village of Mahatsinjo, spreading across roughly 2,000 square meters. The site also features a small local cultural museum and a...
Andoany (better known as Hell-Ville) is the vibrant, bustling administrative capital of Nosy Be. It offers a compelling mix of faded French colonial architecture, colourful markets, and authentic Malagasy culture. Rather than a beach destination, it’s best experienced as a cultural...