CENTRAL 93 their drivers hus- their drivers , © Lonely Planet Publications Planet Lonely © Parc National de Ranomafana Ambositra (rickshaws) Anja Reserve Parc National d'Andringitra PRINCIPAL TRIBES: Betsileo, Merina TRIBES: Betsileo, Merina PRINCIPAL „ pousses-pousses train train ( p102 ) ( p102 ) ( p110 ) villages Anja Reserve Anja Reserve Parc National de National de Parc ( p103 ) ( p108 ) through the countryside from Fianarantsoa p108 ( Parc National d’Andringitra Parc ( p110 ), where lemurs are plentiful lemurs are ), where p110 ( ride ing the community-run Zafimaniry artisans in the around Ambositra mountain, Pic Imarivolanitra, in spectacu- mountain, Pic lar tracking lemurs in Ranomafana

Supporting home-grown tourism by visit- Riding Madagascar’s only rails on a Checking woodcarvings out intricate by Summiting Madagascar’s second-highest Walking and through cloud forests HIGHEST POINT: 2643m 2643m HIGHEST POINT:

„ „ „ „ HIGHLIGHTS HIGHLIGHTS „

Some parts of Central Madagascar feel as far removed from the conventional vision of from the conventional as far removed Some parts Madagascar feel Central of To really experience Central Madagascar’s chameleonlike ability to change, you’ll have to Madagascar’s chameleonlike ability to change, you’ll have experience Central To really

„ slam back into chaotic Africa. Brightly painted Brightly painted Africa. slam back into chaotic with medieval villages and tidy rows of grapes look European. Hit a city, however, and you Hit a city, however, and tidy rows of grapes look European. with medieval villages to Southeast Asia. Meanwhile the expanses of green rolling hills and golden fields dotted dotted rolling hills and golden fields the expanses of green Meanwhile to Southeast Asia. thick-walled red huts constructed from crimson soil, make you think you’ve been transported from crimson soil, make huts constructed you think you’ve red thick-walled Africa as possible. Glassy, terraced rice paddies juxtaposed and against cool, misty mountains Glassy, terraced as possible. Africa useful for herding hundreds of zebu to market in . of zebu useful for herding hundreds as far as Toliara with nothing but a stick and the clothes on their back, it’s just a footpath but a stick and the clothes on their back, as far as Toliara with nothing highway (not to mention tourist trail), but to the barefoot Bara herdsmen, walking tourist trail), but to the barefoot highway (not to mention from in Madagascar. travel it’s one of the cheapest, and easiest, places to scenery is as stimulating and surreal as the culture. The RN7 might be Madagascar’s busiest RN7 might be Madagascar’s The culture. as the and surreal scenery is as stimulating Best of all, Madagascar is also famous for its beautiful handicrafts. Central Betsileo villages. Nationale 7 (RN7; Route du Sud) takes you straight through Central Madagascar, where the Madagascar, where du Sud) takes Central you straight through Nationale 7 (RN7; Route days trekking through else on earth. experience, spend three cultural nowhere For a more Driving the thousand odd kilometres between Antananarivo and Toliara on the famous Route kilometres the thousand odd Driving Route Toliara on the famous Antananarivo and between and animals (lots of lemurs) found stunning national parks, home to vegetation the region’s get out of your car. There is fantastic trekking through cloud forests and volcanic craters in and volcanic craters trekking is fantastic through cloud forests There get out of your car. Central Madagascar CentralMadagascar from price-guns touts hawk everything where to strawberries. streets tling hard for fares, compete with zebu carts and overpacked buses for space along rutted carts buses for space along rutted with zebu and overpacked compete tling hard for fares, CENTRAL MADAGASCAR RN42 94 (200km) To

CENTRAL MADAGASCAR Toliara (410km) (115km); To (25km); Mananantanana Pic Ifandana

ETA AAACR CENTRAL MADAGASCAR (1811m) Mania RN34

Matsiatra River Zomandao

ὈὈ ὈὈ RN7

River River Sahanambo

To Miandrivazo River Tsaranoro Valley (195km) Massif Lac Tritiva Mt Kianjasoa Lac Andraikiba Vohisaoka (1374m) Atofinandrahana Andalandronobe Betafo Soavina Fianarantsoa Alarobia- Fanjakana Mt Ibinty Pic Imarivolanitra(2643m) Namoly (2254m) Valley Antanifotsy Talatakely d'Andringitra Parc National

Ambalavao

Sendrisoa RN7 RN7 du Picd'Ivohibe Réserve Spéciale Ivato River Ivato RN7 Alakamisy Iboaka- RN7 Pic Ambondrombe (1936m) Tea Estate Ivato To Antananarivo Ambositra Ampaidranovato (145km) Ὀ Ὀ Sahalavo

Ifasina Mananjary River Mananjary Sakaivo Madporano Falairivo Ranomafana Ikongo de Ranomafana Parc National To Farafangana (60km) Ambohimanga-Atsimo Ifanadiana Vohipeno 0 0 RN25 Manakara Marolambo lonelyplanet.com

O CEAN I NDA Canal des Pangalanes Mananjary 30 miles 50 km