Immersion in the village of Manandona

Departure from the hotel for the village of Manandona, located 22km south of the town of Antsirabe following National Route 7 (RN7). After an hour's drive, we will arrive in Mr Eugène's village. Monsieur Eugène is a person with a radiant smile who will warmly welcome you, with his wife and son, to their charming guest house. You can enjoy their large garden covered with flowers of all colors. Once settled, we will cross typical villages in the surrounding area and rice-growing landscapes which will lead us to a pretty waterfall. The inhabitants of the village have managed to preserve Malagasy customs and traditions. They will come to greet you politely and will be happy to chat with you. At the waterfall, it is possible to swim, don’t forget your swimsuits! Lunch picnic at the foot of the waterfall. In the afternoon, we will continue along a path on the rice field bunds to reach the village of Manandona. Along the way, we will stop at a wild silk breeding, spinning and weaving workshop. This is an opportunity to discover the techniques used by locals to make silk scarves. Dinner and overnight stay at the guest house, with Mr Eugène’s family.

During this day, you will have the opportunity to discover the typical dishes of the highlands of Madagascar. In the morning, we will go to the local village market to buy the ingredients needed for our preparation. On the menu, we will prepare “Romazava” and “Koba”. “Romazava” is a dish made from green leaves, zebu or chicken meat and rice. Koba is a cake made from rice flour, bananas and crushed peanuts, which will be our dessert. We will share this meal with Mr. Eugène's family and the cook. In the afternoon, we will leave with Mr Eugène to visit his fields and harvest sweet potatoes. We will bring the harvest home for our snack. In the early evening, village musicians will come and play traditional music. This is the opportunity to discover the musical rhythm of the Malagasy highlands. The young people of the village will take advantage of this festival to have fun and enjoy a moment of sharing! Dinner and night at the guest house.

Departure for Soavina, a small village 55km south of Antsirabe following the RN7, which has preserved its cultural originality. From the village of Manandona, after 1 hour by car, we will arrive at Ilaka center which marks the starting point of the hike. After 1h30 of walking, we will have a panoramic view of the surrounding hills in an uninhabited and untouched landscape. We will cross the Isandra river and reach its waterfalls. We will hear it from afar, singing in the forest of tapias and pines. We will have the opportunity to swim in its clear waters. Don't forget your swimsuits. Lunch picnic on site. Enjoy a moment of relaxation in this natural environment far from the noise of the city. In the afternoon, pass near a hydroelectric dam and cross the Isandra river before reaching the village of Soavina. Return to Antsirabe by car. Installation in your hotel.