©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Central Madagascar Why Go? Antsirabe ........................50 The classic tourist route from Antananarivo (Tana) takes Ambositra ....................... 55 you south along the RN7 through Central Madagascar, a Around Ambositra .......... 57 high plateau stretching all the way to Fianarantsoa. You’ll Parc National de twist and turn through these highlands, a region of scenic Ranomafana ................... 57 hills and rice paddies that resists generalisation. Here you’ll Fianarantsoa ..................60 fi nd a potpourri of traveller’s delights: bustling market towns clogged with colourful pousse-pousse (rickshaws), a Around Fianarantsoa .....64 famous railway line, small villages of distinctive two-storey Manakara ........................65 mudbrick homes with porches and thatched roofs, a moun- Ambalavao ..................... 67 tain stronghold of lemurs, the legacy of French colonialism, Parc National national parks with landscapes ranging from thick jungle to d’Andringitra & wide-open grandeur, and some of the best trekking Mada- the Tsaranoro Valley .......68 gascar has to off er. For many people this is their introduc- tion to the country, and it’s a good one, with a variety of at- tractions linkedd by a gentle road as well as friendly residents. Best Places to Eat » Surprise Betsileo (p 62 ) » Motel Violette (p 56 ) » Résidence du Betsileo When to Go (p 68 ) Antsirabe » Le Pousse-Pousse (p 53 ) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm 40/104 20/500 Best Places to 30/86 16/400 Stay 20/68 12/300 10/50 8/200 » Camp Catta (p 70 ) 4/100 » Trianon (p 51 ) 0/32 0 » -10/14 Lac Hôtel (p 65 ) J FDNOSAJJMAM » Tsara Guest House (p 61 ) » Résidence du Betsileo Jul–Sep Famadi- Apr–May Coun- Sep–Oct Best (p 68 ) hana ceremonies tryside is green- weather of the take place in the est following the year, animals ac- » Chez Billy (p 51 ) Antsirabe area; end of the rainy tive, lemurs have visitors may be season. babies. invited to attend. 49 0 50 km RN34 RN7 0 30 miles Central Betafo Talatakely Madagascar Lac Andraikiba Antsirabe Highlights Lac Tritiva 1 Kick back on a pousse-pousse tour of Antsirabe (p 51 ) Mt Ibinty (2254m) 2 Search out chameleons on a night walk in Fandriana Parc National de RN7 Ranomafana (p 57 ) CENTRAL MADAGASCAR CENTRAL MADAGASCAR Mania CENTRAL MADAGASCAR River 3 Stroll through the Ivato River Sandrandahy eerie main street of Soavina Ambalavao (p 67 ) 4 Commune with ring-tailed lemurs in Ambositra RN42 Réserve d’Anja (p 67 ) Atofinandrahana Scale Ivato 5 Madagascar’s Ambohimitombo second-highest mountain, Pic Boby, Ifasina in spectacular Alarobia- Antoetra Andalandronobe Falairivo Parc National d’Andringitra (p 68 ) Sakaivo Ambohimanga-Atsimo Sit by the M 6 anan jary village well in Vohiposa Riv the paradisiacal M er atsiatra Ialatsara Lemur Tsaranoro Valley River Forest Camp (p 68 ) Ambohimahasoa 7 Ride the colourful Fanjakana Parc National FCE railway (p 63 ) de Ranomafana from Fianarantsoa to RN7 Ranomafana Manakara Isorana Ifanadiana 8 Paddle a pirogue Iboaka- down the Canal des Mt Kianjasoa Alakamisy RN25 (1374m) Ampaidranovato Pangalanes (p 65 ) Fianarantsoa 7 Sahalavo Madporano Sahambavy Tea Estate Mananantanana Riv er Ambalavao RN7 Pic Ambondrombe Ikongo Réserve d'Anja (1936m) Ambohimahamasina Vohisaoka Sendrisoa 6 Antanifotsy Namoly Valley Tsaranoro Manakara Valley Parc National Pic Boby d'Andringitra es es (2658m) n la al d a g an C an Antambohobe Vohipeno P.