OVERVIEW
SOBEHA TOUR invites you to explore the Deep South – east and west - passing by Ranomafana, Manakara, Vangaindrano, Sandravinany, Manantenina, Fort Dauphin. This adventure road offers a nice view in contact with welcoming people. The coastline from Fort-Dauphin to Tulear will delight lovers of great spaces and breathtaking landscapes. Fort Dauphin has exceptional scenery. You can opt to discover many historical and cultural sites. Berenty reserve is a must to see with the troupe of Verreaux’s sifakas or dancing sifaka, ring-tailed lemurs, redfronted brown lemurs and birds. Your adventure continues along the « Spiny road » to Betanty or Faux Cap, Lavanono, Itampolo, Ambola and Anakao. You will also visit the special reserve of Cap Sainte Marie, or Tanjona Vohimena, the top south of Madagascar Island. There, you can watch huge cliffs, the lighthouse, the curious spider tortoise or Pyxis arachnoides, and the extreme south landscapes. You will enjoy the view to the coastal dunes and unexplored heavenly beaches of the south. From Fort Dauphin to Tulear, you will meet different ethnic groups including Antanosy, Mahafaly, Antandroy, and Vezo. Priority to the zebu or to the radiated tortoise Geochelone radiate on the track. The visit of Tsimanampetsotse is a great opportunity to see pink flamingo in a Ramsar lake and old baobab. It is a paradise of ornithologists. Attention!! There is no road in the Deep South, just a sandy track that may change according to the season. Once in Toliara, you can decide to take internal flight (on your expense) or add two days to reach Antananarivo by car or four days at least to visit Isalo national park, ANJA reserve.
NB:
=> This is a Midrange Proposal. Let us know your Budget if you are looking for an Economy Madagascar Travel Offer
=> Visit our blog sobehatour.com
=> Contact us if you are looking for a customized Madagascar tailormade tour
DETAIL OF TOUR
Day 01 Antananarivo - Antsirabe
You start to drive towards Antsirabe, stopping on the way to take some photos of the beautiful scenery, rice paddies and red hills. People build red bricks for house construction from the rice paddies. You can stop in Ambatolampy to see how they make pans and cooking-pots with recycled aluminum. Far of 100km from Ambatolampy, the city of Antsirabe has neither dense forests nor particularly endemic animals, but it’s a magnet for people who are looking for a quiet and inspiring place. This is the favourite place for european people who live in Madagascar from the colonization time. After check-in at the hotel, we drive past the lake of Andraikiba to the Tritriva lake : A beautiful lake of volcanic origin with dark colour due to its considerable depth of more than 100 meters. You will enjoy to hike and to stumble across an emerald green lake surrounded by pine trees where two lovers ended their romance when their parents didn’t allow them to stay together. The lake’s shape evokes the map of Madagascar. Night at hotel Royal Palace
Day 02 Antsirabe - Ranomafana
Before driving to Ranomafana, we will visit some of the craft shops and their working places in Antsirabe to produce the handicraft made of horn of zebu, tiny bikes from recycled metals and embroidery of the daily life of Madagascar. At 100km from Antsirabe, you arrive to Ambositra. This is the biggest city next to the Zafimaniry villages who are very talented on woodcarving and all handicraft made of wood. You will stop to see how they work on it before visiting the market of 100 shops for more or less same articles. Before midday, we stop for lunch (on your expense) in Ambositra and there may be the opportunity to enjoy a traditional Malagasy meal then see a high-land folk dance from Imerina and Betsileo at the hotel Artisan. You continue driving to Ranomafana. Nightwalk next to the national park of Ranomafana. Night at hotel Centrest
Day 03 Ranomafana - Manakara
This day you visit Ranomafana national park : after breakfast, you drive to the entrance of the national park and you will start your daytime visit to this beautiful humid tropical forest. In this misty rainforest, covering elevations of 500–1,500 metres, numerous endangered lemur species can be found here, including the Milne-Edwards’ sifaka, different species of bamboo lemurs and black-and-white ruffed lemurs. A variety of other animals also exist in this cloud forest, such as satanic leaf-tailed geckos, elusive ground rollers and streaked tenrecs. Lunch at the restaurant (on your expense) in Ranomafana.
Departure to Manakara in afternoon. Arrival scheduled late in afternoon. Night at hotel Parthnay
Day 04 Manakara - Farafangana - Vangaindrano (117km,4h)
After breakfast, you leave Manakara and try to reach Vangaindrano. You begin the discovery of the south-eastern part of Madagascar while passing by the village of Vohipeno. The tiny road is also the market of the village. No wonder, you are in the capital of the native Malagasy Muslim people or Arab descendants in Madagascar. The history of the famous paper Antemoro started in this region. Still unrecognized, Farafangana offers a total change of scenery. They have a very colourful market where local inhabitants will try to sell you all the region’s flagship products of the season amongst coffee, cloves, pepper, rice, fruits. Three main ethnic groups live there : the Antefasy, the Zafizoro and the Rabakara. At 75 km away from Farafangana, Vangaindrano is the end of the RN12. Night at hotel Tropical
Day 05 Vangaindrano - Sandravinany (100km, 7h)
Early departure from Vangaindrano and road to Sandravinany. Picnic lunch along the way. You will start to enjoy the offroad atmosphere. You will cross the river of Masianaka and Manambondro by ferry. Arrival to Sandravinany in the afternoon. Your hotel is located in a nice place that offer nice landscape with the Ravinala and fress water. Night at hotel Relais Chez Victor
Day 06 Sandravinany - Manantenina (50km, 5h)
Continuation of the trip to Manantenina. Drive along typical landscapes of the East Coast: small houses, rice fields, lush vegetation ... There are three river to cross by ferry : Befasy, Maroroy, and Manampanihy. You can have a break according to your interest when you feel tired or to enjoy the region and get in touch with local people. Manantenina is located on the banks of the Manampanihy River. Madagascar mining reports that there is the major bauxite deposit. Night at hotel La Pinetta Chez Mme Pety
Day 07 Manantenina - Fort Dauphin (107km, 8h)
Last step before Fort Dauphin. The East coast referes to the road between Manakara and Fort Dauphin. Early departure from Manantenina heading to Fort Dauphin, through a flat landscape characterized by the South East humid climate and its beautiful forest … This day, you will cross the river of Esama, Manambato, Iabokoho,, Vatomirindy and Ebakika by ferry and some of it has no outboards. As usual, you will loose time while waiting for the ferryy. It is totally normal and no-one will complain in a mora-mora country where Malagasy people use the sun position for time and « time for cooking rice » to talk about duration. Arrival to Fort Dauphin in the afternoon. Stay at the hotel for the night. Night at hotel Lavasoa
Day 08 Fort Dauphin
Fort Dauphin is also called “Tolagnaro.” It was occupied by Europeans in the 17th century and served as a trading post. It has been baptized in honor of King Louis XIV. It could be one of Madagascar's premier resort towns if it weren't so far from everywhere else. After few days offroad, the sealed roads and street lights will is a nice thing. One day for sightseeing in Fort Dauphin (activity on your expense). : At the immediate doors of Fort-Dauphin, several private reserves are waiting for your visit ! Think about Mandena, reserve of Nahampoana, or garden of Saïadi … The peak of Saint Louis (529m) is a sporty circuit to enjoy a 360° panorama. The hike around Lake of Vinanibe and up to the islet of the Portuguese is particularly recommended for the beauty of their landscapes. Night at hotel Lavasoa
Day 09 Fort Dauphin - Berenty
Your adventure in Deep South or « Spiny Road » starts this day. Departure to Berenty private reserve which is located in the middle of a sisal plantation. The vegetation change after the hill of Ranopiso included to the big hill of Anosy. Afternoon relax at the Terrasse of the lodge. Night at hotel Berenty Lodge
Day 10 Berenty
One full day dedicated to Berenty reserve : This small private reserve is one of the most famous reserves of Madagascar. This is also the last gallery of forests to be found along the banks of the Mandrare River. You will discover baobabs and sisal plantations, a plant whose leaves are used to make ropes or carpets. The natural heritage is constitued by the forest of Ifotaka. You will enjoy the moves with habituated ring-tailed lemurs, ‘dancing’ Verreaux’s sifakas and brown lemurs. You will also have the opportunity to discover imposing stone tombs with aloalo totem and horns of zebus which give a sacred side to this forest. In the continuity of your circuit, you can take advantage to visit Antandroy villages. It is obviously the best place for photography. Berenty is also excellent place for night walks. Don’t forget your torch with good battery to pick out the eyes of curious lemurs especially the mouse lemurs and the sportive lemurs. Stepping out of the forest at the end of a night walk, the sweep of stars across the sky is magnificent. Night at hotel Berenty Lodge
Day 11 Berenty - Tsiombe - Betanty (Faux Cap)
Satisfied of your stay in Berent reserve, you continue to travel along the « spiny roads » of the deep south area. You will feel a very pleasant contrast between the oceanic climate and the Great South’s heavy sun. You start to see more and more mahafaly and antandroy tombs. The Antandroy, one of the Malagasy ethnic groups, have erected tombs that shape an exceptional scenery of rare beauty, almost supernatural when you look at it from a distance. People are digging wells in the bed of a dry river to fetch water. The village of Betanty is home to fishermen who live simply within this natural and healthy environment. You will enjoy the beach of Faux Cap. Night at hotel Libertalia
Day 12 Betanty - Lavanono
This day you move from Betanty to Lavanono. None othe two villages is the top south of Madagascar. While Betanty is the Faux Cap, Lavanono is already on the west side of the top south. Drive from Betanty to Lavanono along sandy road. The name of Lavanono comes from the two hills surrounding the village like « two long brests ». Check-in and relax on the long beach of Lavanono. Night at hotel Chez Gigi
Day 13 Lavanono
Full day to visit the reserve of Cap Sainte Marie. Drive from Lavanono to Cap Saint Marie or Tanjona Vohimena is the most southern point of Madagascar beyond which there is only water until the ice of the South Pole. You can visit the old lighthouse for better panorama. It produce a visible light up to 37 miles away. The vegetation is mostly low and just consist of bushes, which in turn offer protection from the wind and sun to other smaller species. The real attraction of the national park of Cap Saint Marie is the population of torises : there are radiated tortoise or Geochelone radiata and the curious spider tortoise or Pyxis arachnoides which is endemic to this region. From June to October, you can contemplate the passage of humpback whales! Back to Lavanono by 4x4 after the visit. Night at hotel Chez Gigi
Day 14 Lavanono - Itampolo
This a long step to drive. This road is made of sandy tiny track bordered by spiny plants and aloe. The track from Lavanono to Itampolo along the coast is in poor condition. This track is passable only during the winter when the river of Menarandra and Linta are dry. In this remote area, farmers and ranchers are always welcoming even if they live in miserable huts of wood and mud. Money has almost no value. They will ask for bottles of mineral water and a few T-shirts, goods that they can not find anywhere there. The plants of Opuntia can be used to feed and water the zebu in case of heavy famine or drought. Cladodes contain a mucilage which is the water supply of the plant itself and zebu are able to refresh themselves by extracting the precious water. !!! Attention !!! When the Menarandra rivers is too high, you have to join the National Road and drive past Ampanihy. Night at hotel Chez Pierot
Day 15 Itampolo - Ambola
You will drive passable sandy road along splendid coastline view of the Mozambique Channel. This step is set to have enough time to relax on the beach.
The tiny village of Ambola is found on a remote corner of the reef. It is home to a charming boutique hotel and is wonderfully removed from all the world's noise. There are a couple of attractions. You can go for diving (on your expense) or just relax at the hotel and soak up the sounds of waves lapping gently upon the shore. This place really is such a hidden gem, truly fantastic. The area is incredible, wild and preserved, the beach is like heaven, with nobody around except fishermen. Night at hotel Domaine d'Ambola
Day 16 Ambola - Tsimanampetsotse - Anakao
The National Park of Tsimanampetsotsa hosts several baobab among the oldest in the world, a huge strangler ficus, a salty lake with flamingos and a cave where you can find a blind fish without pigmentation, which lives only here. But the real queen is a baobab of about 3000 years, possibly one of the world oldest tree. The great millenary baobab: details on the bark of the trunk and on a fruit . In the park of Tsimanampetsotsa there are also many Pachypodium lamerei that can be observed in both juvenile and adult form . The park also includes a salty lake with very colorful waters where it is possible to observe two species of flamingos. After the visit, you drive to Anakao. Night at hotel Peter Pan
Day 17 Anakao
The driver leave Anakao early in the morning and drive to Toliara while you will have one day relax on the one of best beaches around Toliara. Anakao is a traditional Vezo fishing village. You have two nights/one day there. Following activities are recommended (on your expense) if you want to do more than beach relax at the hotel:
- Visit of the village of Anakao : you can walk around to visit the village of Anakao and meet local people
- excursion to Nosy ve : it is a sacred small island right in front of the village of Anakao. There is no hotel on this island. You can get there with sailing-pirogue arranged with the fisherman of Anakao. The island is a sacred place for vezo people. It is surrounded by white sand and shallow clear stunning white beaches excellent for snorkelling.
- excursion to Nosy satrana : It is a small island about dozen kilometer south of Anakao. It is nice place for snorkelling with his white sand bottoms that refer sunlight and give a turquoise colors. Night at hotel Peter Pan
Day 18 Anakao - Toliara - Antananarivo (flight)
Transfer by boat back to Toliara according to the timing and the schedule of the boat agency. You can have a breakfast in Toliara as you are likely to have no time for breakfast at Anakao. After breakfast, you can visit Toliara before the transfer to the airport. (Flight to Antananarivo and hotel are not included) - END OF OUR SERVICE.
Important Notice :
- This is a midrange proposal or ADVANCED. Let us know your Budget and we will design a customized tour especially for you
- Price is per person sharing room as double occupancy. Departure is guarantee for 02 persons. Contact us for Single Price
- Are included into the price: 4X4, fuel, Driver Speaking Basic French and English, ferry and toll, all listed activities (entrance and guide of park, night walk), your hotel and breakfast, bot transfer from Anakao to Toliara
- Are NOT included: Tour Guide Speaking Good English, all food, lunch, diner, picnic, beverage and alcohol, additional activities, tips
- Please to specify if you need an AC car while booking otherwise you may have no-AC car
- Payment modality: bank transfer or VISA/Master Card or CASH on arrival. We accept USD and Euro with exchange rate online.
- Contact us for further detail. You can ask for tailor made tour according to your length of stay, your wish-to-see-list, your category of hotel, and your budget
