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Sunreef Travel Madagascar
The Great Southern Loop
Itinerary: Antananarivo-Toliara-Beheloka-Itampolo- Lavanono- Cap Sainte Marie- Fort Dauphin- La Baie de Lokaro- Vagaindrano- Manakara- Canal de Pangalanes- Ranomafana- Ambositra- Antsirabe- Antananarivo
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The Great South where we meet other facets of the Great Island through the bumpy, stony and sandy tracks. First, the Tsimanampesotsa National Park welcomes you with its flamingos. Then you will be amazed by the endemic radiated turtles of the Cap Sainte Marie Special Reserve. This loop tour also takes you through the beautiful landscapes of the South East, crossing the 10 ferries from Fort Dauphin to Manakara. Then, an escape into nature with successions of dry forests in desert and tropical rainforests.
Climat :
December - April : Rainy
June – August : winters, dry and cool.
September - November : Hot
Travel period :
Throughout the year, but the ideal timing would be from May to October
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The natural sites:
During our journey, we visited the Tsimanampetsotsa and Ranomafana National Parks in the deep south, where we saw the legendary Madagascar creature, the lemur, the Cap Sainte Marie Special Reserve, and the fishing villages that crossed the southwest and southeast coasts.
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Having a real meeting with the Malagasy people:
The immersion in the villages crossed, the kindness of the reception of the population, the discovery of the know-how and ingenuity of the Malagasy craftsmen…
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day 1
ANTANANARIVO
International flight to Antananarivo. Welcome on arrival, transfer to your hotel in town.
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Day 2
ANTANANARIVO – TULEAR
The day after your destination in Antananarivo, you take the flight to Tulear according to the flight schedule. Then, upon arrival, you may spend the night there, or you will be transferred by boat to Anakao. The latter covers a small fishing village, located 25km south of Tulear. The next day, you can enjoy a free day of rest.
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Day 3
TULEAR (or ANAKAO) – BEHELOKA – ITAMPOLO
After stopping in Anakao, we start towards the South and Beheloka. From there we visit the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park. It is a lake saturated with lime sulphate. It also has foreign vegetation and animals. For example, the Typhleotris madagascariensis (a blind fish living in underground caves near the lake).
Afterwards, we continue the circuit to Itampolo. Clearly, this is surrounded by a village on one of the most beautiful beaches of the Southwest coast. The latter is miles of fine white sand. Finally, depending on the weather, bivouac on the beach or night in a bush hotel by the sea.
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Day 4
ITAMPOLO – LAVANONO
The most difficult stage, but also the most beautiful. After Itampolo, we cross the Mahafaly plateau on a sandy track. Sometimes it can be muddy, but mostly it is cut into the limestone. The plateau is also home to a huge turtle reserve. They live freely and are considered taboo by the local population. We will also see strange plants adapted to the harsh dry climate of the south. We then continue along the road to Lavanono.
The journey concludes at Lavanono, situated at the foot of a 60-kilometre-long cliff formation. The day's activities conclude with a bivouac on the beach or an overnight stay at a bush hotel by the sea.
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Day 5
LAVANONO – CAP SAINTE MARIE
Then we begin a short stage of the day. Precisely, we leave Lavanono to join the Cap Sainte Marie Special Reserve. It considers itself the southernmost region of Madagascar. At the same time, it is dedicated to the protection of certain species of fauna and flora. In addition, the vegetation of the Cape will amaze us with its tendency to dwarfism, a necessary adaptation to the arid climate. Moreover, the dwarf flora attracts attention in the reserve. It is also home to the largest colony of tortoises in Madagascar.
Night in bivouac.
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Day 6
CAP SAINTE MARIE – FORT DAUPHIN
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day 7
FORT DAUPHIN – LOKARO BAY
To continue, we spend a relaxing day at Lokaro Bay. Then we start the adventure by car and then by boat through the narrow channels. These link several small coastal lakes along Fort Dauphin Bay. In addition, we arrive in the beautiful bay. On this, we will spend a few hours relaxing: beach lined with filaos, swimming. The bravest will take a panoramic path along the coast. After, we start an adventure two hours walk that will offer you great views. Bivouac on the beach or night in a bush hotel by the sea.
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Day 8 to Day 10
LOKARO – MANANTENINA – MAHASIANAKA – VAGAINDRANO – MANAKARA
For three days, we will go north, towards Manakara, along the southeast coast. In this regard, the route is dotted with a dozen ferry crossings of rivers, at the very place where the villages are located. Then we will sleep in bivouac where the night will surprise us, near the villages. Similarly, we come into authentic contact with the population. After the last ferry, we arrive in the small town of Vangaindrano. A city where we find the asphalt and the National 12 which brings us to Manakara.
Sleeping at the hotel
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Day 11
DAY ON THE PANGALANE CANAL
Day of river cruise on the Pangalanes canal. The navigation will be interspersed with visits to villages. A vanilla plantation and an artisanal distillery of essential oils from medicinal plants (niaouli, cloves, etc.). At the end of the trip, we dock on a beach in the Indian Ocean for our lunch picnic. At the same time, we will have a moment of relaxation. After, drive back in the afternoon. We visited the city of Manakara on foot.
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Day 12
MANAKARA – RANOMAFANA
Continuing north, we head towards Ranomafana, crossing coastal villages producing cloves and coffee. Arriving late in the morning, we continue the tour in the afternoon. Accompanied by a local guide, we will discover this conservation site of the golden Hapalemur lemur. We will also see other faunistic and floristic varieties of the park. The Golden Hapalemur feeds on the shoots of an endemic species of bamboo rich in cyanide. The lemur is the only known living being able to resist this deadly poison. So Ranomafana is also an anti-rheumatic spa. At the end of the visit of the park, possibility to relax at the hot water pool of the resort.
Sleeping at the hotel.
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Day 13
RANOMAFANA – AMBOSITRA
We go up to the highlands and join the National 7 to head towards Ambositra. The road winds through steep climbs and narrow valleys, between hills covered with eucalyptus and pine forests. Then, arriving in Ambositra in the late morning, we settle in the hotel. After, in the afternoon, there will be a walking tour of the city to meet the Zafimaniry craftsmen. In their workshops, the latter compete with imagination and ingenuity in the manufacture of marquetry articles and wood carvings. Zafimaniry crafts are classified as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO since 2008.
Sleeping at the hotel
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Day 14
AMBOSITRA – ANTSIRABE – ANTANANARIVO
The next day we travel to Antsirabe. Here we take a tour of the town and visit local artisans. The landscape is characterised by the typical rice fields and villages of the highlands. At Ambatolampy, we stop to visit the manufacturers of aluminium casseroles and other kitchen utensils. In the afternoon, we continue our tour towards Antananarivo.
Sleeping at the hotel
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Day 15
ANTANANARIVO – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT
In the morning, we will visit Ambohimanga, the Blue Hill, where is the summer palace of the Kings and Queens of Madagascar, cradle of the Malagasy nation. Historically, this hill marks the unification of the island of Madagascar into a single nation. Previously, in the 18th century, Madagascar was still divided into several rival kingdoms. Therefore, the first king of Ambohimanga had the idea of making it a single kingdom. Obviously, there will be an opportunity to visit traditional places of worship of the kingdom. To appreciate its beauty a little more, we have lunch on site. After, return to the hotel in the afternoon.
To conclude your tour in style, a dinner will be offered at the hotel. Then, we transfer you in the evening to the airport. We will also provide boarding assistance on your return flight.