We spent a day and a night at Cape Maclear after a 6-hour-long, tiring drive from Senga Bay along the severely damaged M10 road, followed by the final stretch on the S128 road, which was just as rough but even narrower and steeper. Cape Maclear is a stunning, laid-back fishing village...
Perched high on the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking Lake Malawi, Livingstonia is a picturesque historic town renowned for its well-preserved colonial architecture, rich educational heritage, and sweeping panoramic views. Founded in 1894 by Scottish missionaries, it remains one of...
We decided to take a day’s rest on the shores of Lake Nyasa before crossing the border into Malawi. Matema is a stunning and secluded lakeside town in southwestern Tanzania, nestled within the East African Rift Valley on the northern shores of Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). It is renowned for...
Lake Ngozi is an awe-inspiring emerald-green crater lake nestled within the Uporoto Ridge Forest Reserve, about 22 kilometres south of Mbeya at an altitude of 2.620 meters. Surrounded by steep, forested crater walls, it is Africa’s second-largest crater lake and one of the...
Mbeya is Tanzania’s vibrant “Green City,” nestled in the country’s southwestern highlands at an altitude of 1,700 metres. Known for its lush mountain scenery and cool climate, it serves as a major agricultural powerhouse and an important transit hub linking Tanzania with Zambia and Malawi...
After visiting the king, we drove back to Fianarantsoa (2 hours) and then continued in the morning to Ambalavao (2 hours). Drive involved navigating the narrow, winding RN25 (often paved but damaged) from the rainforest to the highlands, followed by the paved, scenic RN7. The 118+ km...
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...
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...
Nosy Be is Madagascar’s premier island destination, renowned for its white-sand beaches, fragrant ylang-ylang plantations, and vibrant marine life. Highlights include snorkelling in the Nosy Tanikely Marine Reserve, hiking up Mont Passot for breathtaking 360-degree sunset views (🎟️15,000...