Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rooms are comfortable and clean, but only the more expensive ones have hot water and
private bathrooms. There's a decent restaurant (mains Ar10,000), which is popular with
tour groups at lunch.
Tropik Hotel
HOTEL €
( 033 14 183 83; d/tr Ar27,000/36,000) This basic concrete hotel has clean rooms en-
livened by blinding pastels.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Ambalavao lies 56km south of Fianarantsoa. The town has direct taxi-brousse connections
with Fianarantsoa (Ar3000, 1½ hours), Ihosy (Ar5000, two hours) and Ilakaka (Ar6000,
five hours). For destinations further north, you'll have to go to Fianarantsoa first.
Parc National d'Andringitra & the Tsaranoro Valley
Andringitra
(An-dring-i-tra)
isthegreatestnationalparksouthofTana,andperhapsinMad-
agascar. It encompasses a majestic central mountain range with two gorgeous valleys on
either side, the Namoly and the Tsaranoro (sometimes called the Sahanambo, for the river
that runs through it) forming a paradise for walkers and climbers. One can easily spend a
week hiking in this area. There are spectacular views in all directions, 100km of well-de-
veloped hiking trails, excellent accommodation, interesting villages, plus three extraordin-
ary peaks: Pic Boby (Imarivolanitra), at 2658m the second-highest peak in the country; the
Tsaranoro Massif, which reaches 1910m, including an 800m vertical column considered
to be one of the most challenging climbs in the world; and the great stump of Pic Dondy
(2195m). The latter two form the Gates to Southern Madagascar, separating the Betsileo
and Bara regions.
Nowhere'sthemostamazingpartofall:thereishardlyanyonehere!Forvariousreasons
relating to its distance from the RN7, the state of the roads, and the relatively young age
of the park, which has emerged during a difficult period of political instability, Andringitra
currently sees only 1200 visitors a year. Imagine having Yosemite to yourself, and you're
not far off the mark. This rare combination of natural wonder and unspoiled seclusion
makesAndringitraaworld-classoff-the-beaten-trackdestination.Butperhapsweshouldn't
have said that.
Technically most of the Tsaranoro Valley lies outside the park boundaries, but when
people speak of Andringitra they tend to imply this entire region. There are two ways into
the region, the western entrance in the Tsaranoro Valley, and the eastern entrance in the
Namoly Valley. The main MNP office is in the Namoly Valley, making this the most com-
mon starting point for treks.
