From the Land of Volcanoes to the Pangalanes Canal

Flight to Antananarivo, dinner on board, arrival in the evening at Ivato Antananarivo airport.
Program developed with the airline Air France.

We take the scenic road westward, passing through the traditional villages of the Central Highlands. As we continue our journey, magnificent volcanic cones gradually come into view. Upon reaching the shores of Lake Itasy, we settle into the charming little town of Ampefy.

Due south, a beautiful mountain road takes us to Faratsiho, via Soavinandriana. We cross a succession of rich agricultural valleys nestled west of the Ankaratra massif.

The landscapes are superb, every shade of green is displayed in a palette on the hillsides and rice paddies at the bottom of the valley where cassava, sweet potatoes and potatoes are grown.
Faratsiho is a large town set against the foothills of the Ankaratra mountains. The town overlooks a magnificent rice plain.

We reach AAntsirabe and, once there, we take time for a city tour. Here, the rickshaw is king, it is the favorite mode of transportation for Antsirabe residents.

We continue our journey to Manandona where we settle into a rural guesthouse, managed by a local community where residents welcome us warmly.

Basic comfort, outdoor facilities and bucket shower.

Starting from the lodge; we set off on foot to discover the typical environment of the Highlands. Nestled at the foot of the powerful Ibity massif, the Manandona Valley is rich and prosperous. The land here is also very generous and rice is the main crop.

After gaining elevation by following good trails crossing the foothills, we return to the valley to meet the inhabitants. All are rice farmers and own zebu cattle, some raise silkworms, others are blacksmiths, basket weavers or carpenters. Traditional craftsmanship is omnipresent.

Our guides are part of a local association for the development of the region. They will be able to tell you about their activities, customs and traditions, and development.

Second night with a local family.

Duration: +/-5h00 of walking / Distance: 13 km

After breakfast, we leave the Manandona Valley to continue south. We cross the highlands and visit the city of Ambositra, the famous capital of wood craftsmanship. Meeting with marquetry artisans: in their workshops, these craftsmen compete with imagination and ingenuity in the creation of marquetry items and wood sculptures.

After lunch, we continue our journey towards Ranomafana and its national park home to a multitude of lemur species, which we will visit the next day. We arrive at the village in the late afternoon.

We then cross the Vatovavy region, a mountain range that is full of different stones such as emerald, ruby, and amethyst.

We reach the quiet small town of Mananjary, a producer of vanilla, coffee and cloves, on the edge of the Pangalanes Canal.

We part ways with our driver-guide here, who will turn our vehicle around to meet us upon our arrival in Manahoro, at the end of our cruise on the Pangalanes. We will be taken care of by the English-speaking guide and the barge crew during the navigation.

After breakfast, departure for a river cruise on the Pangalanes Canal.

The Canal stretches along the East coast of Madagascar between Farafangana in the south and Foulpointe in the north. This waterway, 665 km long, is much safer than the very turbulent Indian Ocean.

On this aquatic boulevard, we cross barges, "bush boats" (river bush taxis), pirogues and rafts transporting local products shipped to the nearest towns, including bananas and other seasonal fruits, cassava, fish, dried ravinala leaves for thatching cases… Spontaneous greetings and joyful cries of children on the riverbanks accompany us throughout our navigation. We are witnesses to unusual and unforgettable scenes of life.

After breakfast, embark on board the boat and then progress towards Ampanalana by a small canal.
Fishermen's pirogues cross us in this green network of lakes and lagoons that form the Canal.
The passage of the mouth of the Mangoro river, several kilometers wide, constitutes one of the highlights of our day's stage.
After wonderful encounters and magnificent discoveries, we will arrive at the end of our navigation, in mid-afternoon.

We meet up with our driver-guide. Transfer to the hotel and check-in to our bungalows.

After breakfast, we board the boat and head towards Ampanalana through a small canal.
Fishing pirogues cross our path in this verdant network of lakes and lagoons that form the Canal.
The passage of the mouth of the Mangoro River, several kilometers wide, is one of the highlights of our day's journey.
After wonderful encounters and magnificent discoveries, we will arrive at the end of our navigation in mid-afternoon.

We meet up with our driver-guide. Transfer to the hotel and check-in to our bungalows.

Departure to Andasibe after breakfast. Between dense forest and the Canal des Pangalanes, the road winds between narrow valleys. Stop at the tropical fruit displays of Antsampanana. We have lunch there before continuing to Andasibe, towards the east-central part of the country in the heart of humid tropical forest.

After breakfast, we travel to Antananarivo, which we will reach late in the morning. We encounter the typical landscapes of the Highlands, the earth becomes redder and the traditional houses of Imerina in red brick and rammed earth gradually replace the wooden houses of the Betsimitsaraka.

Arrival in the late morning at Paris CDG.