Set up and departure for the southern route, to Ambatolampy, a town located about 2 hours drive from the capital. Visits to artisans and local villages along the way. In addition to the smiles of the children, you will meet various handicraft vendors posted along the road offering colorful items: toy cars and miniature planes made from recycled materials or wood, baobabs and animals in painted raffia, baskets and wickerwork bags, …

The course will make you discover the green landscape of the Highlands, with its hills and its hectares of rice fields, various plantations, dotted here and there with small hamlets with traditional houses with red brick walls and thatched roofs.

You will take a fork at Ambatolampy to join the road leading to Tsinjoarivo (mixture of paved road and track, about 2h40 by car). You will pass through a dozen small villages before arriving at the cottage: landscape and rural daily rhythm at the rendezvous, rice fields, traditional houses, field activities, zebu carts, ... an atmosphere that takes you away from any movement of the big cities. Welcome home!

Tsinjoarivo is a site rich in history and beliefs.

Three possibilities of activities are available to you, which you will have discussed the day before with the local guide, according to your abilities and aptitudes:

1 – departure to participate in field activities and handicraft work (embroidery, basketry) with members of the Association and visits to the surroundings

2 – hike through mountains and valleys, fields and rice fields passing through various small villages dotted here and there to the waterfalls of Andriamamovoka and Ambavaloza, with all the history and beliefs of the places that your guide will not fail to share you (return by car) (medium difficulty, but at your own pace because there will be climbs through small dirt roads)

3 – hike (1 day) to the sacred primary forest of Mahatsinjo where you can discover endemic varieties of diurnal and nocturnal lemurs.

Late afternoon, discussions and sharing with members.

It is possible to participate in their development projects (reforestation, increase and diversification of the yield of their culture and their craft work, improvement of the cottage, etc.) by offering them means for the purchase of equipment (spade, harrow, weeder, pitchforks, wheelbarrow, shovel, watering can, etc.).

Salt, sugar and oil do not exist either on the spot, the site being located far from the agglomerations, they have to walk about 3 to 4 hours to find a small local market or a small grocery store.

(Discuss with members of the Association)

Departure in the morning to reach Antsirabe. Back to civilization. Direction to the city nicknamed the “Malagasy Vichy”, located at an altitude of 1500m in a basin surrounded by volcanoes.

Visit of the places and its colorful market. Installation.

After breakfast, continue on the southern route. After about 3 hours of driving, you will take the fork that leads to Fandriana, the northeastern part of the Amoron'i Mania region. It will take you about 1 hour by car to get to the guesthouse. Sandrandahy is also a place rich in history, beliefs and legends.

Along the road we find an intense rural life typical of the Betsileo country. The landscapes of rice fields give a beautiful color to nature.

Welcome to another Village Welcoming Association!

Welcome and short walk around the cottage. Exchange with the villagers.

Walk on the beaten track and discover possible activities for visitors, possibility of participation in field work. Historical visit of the village and discovery of the silk trades, main activities of the women members of the association.

The Sahalandy Association works in the work of wild and domestic silks. A percentage of the profits from their sales is paid into a common fund which contributes to helping parents and children in difficulty for schooling.

Departure after lunch to reach a big city again.

Departure after breakfast to take the road of National 7 towards the South.

The environment changes gradually. Impressive granite domes appear at the same time as the relief becomes more rugged. We are seduced by the beauty and the magic of the place. The road crosses the foothills of the Andringitra massif where impressive granite monoliths break the monotony of the relief. Then, large arid steppes replace the mountain. Passage to the village of Ihosy, capital of the Bara country, gateway to the Horombe plateau: a plateau covered with an immense dry meadow which stretches as far as the eye can see and contrasts with the landscapes that one encounters usually in Madagascar. The region is inhabited by the Bara tribes, people of herders, who lead their herds in the vast grassy expanses.

Arrival on Ranohira. Installation and well-deserved rest.

OPTION : visit Parc Isalo in the morning.

Departure for Saint Augustin, a small Vezo village about 4h30 from Ranohira, We are in the territory of the Mahafaly. We cross the first galleries of dry forests commonly called the Bush. Visit of a local artisanal rum distillery on the side of the road.

Bifurcation about thirty km before arriving in Tuléar to take the track that leads to Saint Augustin, a town located at the foot of large white limestone cliffs, at the mouth of the Onilahy River, located in the Protected Areas of Tsinjoriake. The site is made up of silty and sandy alluvium. Part of the sand is reworked into dunes. The population is mainly formed by Vezo fishermen. Installation.

Departure for the actual village of Saint Augustin, about 10 to 15 minutes from the accommodation hotel. Welcome by a village association.

Several possibilities of walks are available to you, according to your desires, your physical abilities, your expectations:

- Trekking to the top of "Barn Hill" a fault escarpment evolved into a cliff that limits the Eocene plateau (leave early enough in the morning to avoid the stifling heat of the day - quite a sporty circuit, but in the end, offers breathtaking views over the entire area at the top of the cliff)

- Visit of the village and its history (market, royal palace, former slave prison that became a school, cave, etc.) + natural swimming pool of Andoharano

- Canoe trip to reach the village of Lavenombato, passing the mouth of the Onilahy river and the mangroves or canoe to Sarodrano, located near the Tropic of Capricorn, a place that is home to many endemic plant species of the region and offers a beautiful and unforgettable view, hence the name “Tsinjoriake” or literally “sea view”.

- …….

Return to the hotel

Departure after breakfast to join National 7.

Stops for the last village reception visits: that of the village of Ankilibe and Ankoronga: artisanal manufacture of smoked fish, meeting with a young and talented painter (of canoes or various decorations), builder of "miniature canoes" , basketwork and shell jewelry, hair braider, making “fatana mitsitsy”: economical and improved stove….

Transfer to Tulear. Installation at the hotel.

Possibility of continuing the program for stays by the sea around Tulear OR returning to the capital.

TOUR MALIN MADAGASCAR – MADAVOYAGES is a member of the ANTSO RE Association (National Association for Solidarity and RESPONSIBLE Tourism) https://www.antsore.com/qui-sommes-nous and works with these Accueils Villageois in the preservation of Environment and local development.