In the morning, we went on a short three-hour hike in Ranomafana National Park (🎟️ 55,000 MGA, guide: 90,000 MGA, tax: 5,000 MGA), a 41,600-hectare protected tropical rainforest in southeastern Madagascar. The park’s geography is defined by steep, mountainous terrain ranging from 600 to...
After we visited the Sahambavy Tea Plantation, we followed a bumpy dirt road back to the main road, where our scenic journey to Ranomafana began. Although the distance was only around 60 kilometres, the drive took nearly three hours, a reminder that in Madagascar, travel is often measured...
Sahambavy, Madagascar’s only tea plantation specialising in high-quality, hand-picked tea, is located about 20 kilometres from Fianarantsoa. Spread across rolling hills, the plantation produces both black and green teas on 335 hectares, with much of its production exported internationally...
The famous Michelin railcar in Fianarantsoa is part of the historic FCE (Fianarantsoa–Côte Est) railway. While it operated sporadically until 2019, it has since remained idle at the station—without an engine and with a damaged control panel. Although staff say they hope to restore it, its...
We spent one day in Fianarantsoa, a major highland city in east-central Madagascar, situated at approximately 1,200 meters above sea level on the eastern escarpment. Known as the intellectual capital and as the “place where one learns the good,” it is distinguished by its unique three...
In the foggy morning, we left Ambositra and drove to Fianarantsoa along the RN7, which is a scenic, roughly 4-hour, 160km journey through Madagascar’s central highlands. The road is generally in decent condition compared to other parts of the country, passing through vibrant rice...
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...