South Madagascar Holidays
Due to Southern Madagascar’s hot, humid temperatures and colourful landscapes it makes it a photographers dream. The region is known to be crammed with some of the world’s most exotic flora and surreal landscapes, which look like no other place on earth. It is a strange region of such a magnificent country where dreamlike forests of long-limbed spiny trees compete with baobabs sporting trunks bright coloured tattoo swirls.
Southern Madagascar is also home to some remarkable national parks and private game reserves which are brilliant for traveller’s interested in trekking into the relatively unknown such as Isalo National Park. However for the real adventure, found nowhere else in the country the south east of the region is best. Travel in this area is harsh, and patience is definately required, the roads are mainly dirt tracks, but it is due to this that the areas undiscovered wilderness makes the region so fascinating.
For travellers looking for history and culture, the southern region also has a lot to offer, steeped with legends of shipwrecked sailors, rogue spice traders and colonies of pirates. Fort Dauphin is a great place for water-sports due to the colliding of the two oceans.
Antsirabe is the agricultural and industrial centre of Madagascar. This is also the pousse-pousse (a Madagascan type of rickshaw) capital of Madagascar; there are hundreds of them so hop on and take a ride. It is an elegant city, with top class hotels and interesting excursions.
Ambositra is the centre of Madagascar’s wood carving industry. Even the houses have ornately carved wooden balconies and shutters. There is an abundant choice of carved figures and marquetry. The best place to purchase woodcarvings is from Societe Jean et Frere and Chez Victor. Unfortunately Ambositra has a reputation for harbouring the most persistent beggars than anywhere else in Madagascar.
Fianarantsoa is one of the more attractive Malagasy towns. Built on a hill there is quite a contrast between the dreary Lower Town and the charming Upper Town. The Upper Town with its narrow winding streets and plethora of churches should be visited for the wonderful views, especially in the early morning when the mist is curling up from the valley.