Solidarity trip and immersion on the NR7

Set-up and departure for the southern route, to Ambatolampy, a town located about 2 hours’ drive from the capital. Visits to local artisans and villages along the way. In addition to the smiles of children, you will meet various craft sellers stationed along the road offering colorful items: small miniature cars and planes made from recycled materials or wood, baobabs and animals in painted raffia, baskets and bags in wickerwork, etc. The route will make you discover the green landscape of the Highlands, with its hills and hectares of rice fields, various plantations, dotted here and there with small hamlets with houses traditional with red brick walls and thatched roofs. You will take a junction at Ambatolampy to join the road leading to Tsinjoarivo (mixture of asphalt road and track, approximately 2 hours 40 minutes by car). You will pass through a dozen small villages before arriving at the cottage: landscape and daily rural rhythm, rice fields, traditional houses, field activities, zebu carts, ... an atmosphere that takes you far from all the movement of big cities. Welcome welcome!

Tsinjoarivo is a site rich in history and beliefs. Three possibilities for activities are available to you, which you will have discussed the day before with the local guide, depending on your abilities and skills: 1 – departure to participate in field activities and craft work (embroidery, basketry) with the members of the Association and visits to the surrounding area 2 – hiking through mountains and valleys, fields and rice fields passing through various small villages dotted here and there up to the Andriamamovoka waterfalls and of Ambavaloza, with all the history and beliefs of the places that your guide will not fail to share with 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. End of the 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 on the site either, the site being located far from towns, they have to walk around 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 towards the town nicknamed the “Malagasy Vichy”, located at an altitude of 1500m in a basin surrounded by volcanoes. Visit the place and its colorful market. Facility.

After breakfast, continue on the southern road. After about 3 hours of driving, you will take the junction which leads to Fandriana, the north-eastern part of the Amoron'i Mania region. It will take you about 1 hour by car to get to the reception lodge. Sandrandahy is also a place rich in history, belief and legends. Along the road we find an intense rural life typical of the Betsileo country. The rice field landscapes give beautiful color to nature. Welcome to another Village Welcome Association! Welcome and short stroll around the cottage. Exchange with the villagers.

Walk along the beaten paths and discover possible activities for visitors, possibility of participating in field work. Historical visit to the village and discovery of the silk trades, the 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 with schooling. Departure after lunch to reach a big city again.

Departure after breakfast to take the Nationale 7 road towards the South. The environment is gradually changing. Impressive granite domes appear at the same time as the relief becomes more rugged. We are seduced by the beauty and 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 mountains. 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 extends as far as the eye can see and contrasts with the landscapes that we usually encounter in Madagascar. The region is inhabited by the Bara tribes, a people of breeders, who lead their herds in the vast grassy areas. Arrival at Ranohira. Installation and well-deserved rest.

OPTION : visit Isalo Park in the morning. Departure for Saint Augustin, a small Vezo village about 4h30 from Ranohira. We are in the Mahafaly territory. We cross the first galleries of dry forests commonly called the Bush. Visit to a local artisanal roadside rum factory. Branch about thirty km before arriving in Tuléar to take the track which 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 Tsinjoriake Protected Areas. The site is made up of silty and sandy alluvium. Part of the sand is reworked into dunes. The population is mainly made up of Vezo fishermen. Facility.

Departure for the village itself of Saint Augustin, approximately 10 to 15 minutes from the accommodation hotel. Welcome by a village association. Several walking possibilities are available to you, depending on your desires, your physical abilities, your expectations: - Trekking to the top of "Barn Hill" a fault escarpment evolved into a cliff which limits the Eocene plateau (leave early enough in the morning to avoid the stifling heat of the day - quite sporty circuit, but in the end, offers a breathtaking view of the entire area at the top of the cliff) - Visit village and its history (market, royal palace, former slave prison turned school, cave, etc.) + Andoharano natural swimming pool - Canoe exit to reach the village of Lavenombato, taking in the mouth of the Onilahy river and the mangroves or canoe to Sarodrano, located near the Tropic of Capricorn, a place which is home to many endemic plant species of the region and offers a beautiful, unforgettable view, hence the name “Tsinjoriake” or literally “sea view”. - ……. Return to the hotel

Departure after breakfast to join the Nationale 7. Stops for the last visits to village receptions: that of the village of Ankilibe and Ankoronga: artisanal production of smoked fish, meeting with a young and talented painter (of canoes or various decorations), builder of “miniature canoes”, basketry and shell jewelry, hair braider, manufacture of “fatana mitsitsy”: economical and improved stove…. Transfer to Tuléar. 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.