Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Transport to points north, including Antsirabe (Ar7000, two hours) and Antananarivo
(Ar10,000, five hours), departs from the far northern end of town, about 600m north of the
fork and down a small staircase from Rue du Commerce.
DeparturesforFianarantsoa(Ar6000,fourhours)andotherpointssoutharefromthesouth-
ern taxi-brousse station.
Around Ambositra
IALATSARA LEMUR FOREST CAMP
Created in 2002, this small (10 sq km) private reserve ( 75 614 42; www.madagascar-
lemuriens.com ; admission Ar17,000) lies 83km south of Ambositra on the RN7, making
it a very convenient stop, and a logical one if you are not going to visit Ranomafana. It's
also a nice way to break up the long drive to the coast. There are a number of simple yet
charming bungalows (Ar27,500) with balconies and bucket showers in a camp setting, and
good family-style meals (Ar14,500).
Unlike in the national parks, you are free to walk around without a guide, although forest
tours are available for four to 12 people (Ar25,000). The reserve is home to six species of
lemurs and seven species of chameleon. Overall it's mildly pricey, but if this is your only
chance to wander the jungle in search of wildlife, you should take it, at least for one night.
The experience is quite similar to that at national parks without the time and expense of a
long trek. The owner speaks English.
Parc National de Ranomafana
Like Antsirabe, the village of Ranomafana ('hot water') first evolved as a thermal bath
centre popular with French colonials. In 1991 a large area of nearby forest was turned into
a national park, largely to protect two rare species of lemur - the golden bamboo lemur and
the greater bamboo lemur. Today the Parc National de Ranomafana is one of Madagascar's
more popular parks, with 400 sq km of oddly shaped rolling hills carpeted in jungle and fed
by rushing streams.
Meanwhile the town of 5000 has expanded with the influx of visitors, so that it and the
parkhaveclosedthedistance between them.While mostaccommodation willrequireataxi
to the park entrance, some are walking distance. Unfortunately, while there is a variety of
excellent hotels to choose from, there are no banks or ATMs.
Ranomafana appears after a fantastic entrance through a dry rocky valley spotted with
two-storeyhighlandshouses.Afteralongday'stravel,itfeelslikeyouhavereachedamys-
terious island. The air is fresh and cool, and the nearby presence of the forest, with all of its
strange sounds, alluring. Here you'll walk through jungle trails looking for elusive lemurs,
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