Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Laborde's tomb is in the cemetery outside the village, along with 12 French soldiers.
Thereisanimposingmausoleumwithastrikinglyphallicmonument.TheveryactiveAmis
de Jean Laborde (
42 402 97;
e
topoi@dts.mg
) are developing the area for tourism. The
first project was to restore Laborde's house. It is now a very interesting museum set in a
lovely garden. All the labels are in French but a guide may be available to translate. It is
worth making the effort to follow Laborde's remarkable story and achievements (see box
on
Click Here
)
.
Boat trips on Lake Mantasoa offer further relaxation in this tranquil area.
ANJOZOROBE
This FANAMBY-run reserve on the northeast of Tana is reached via
RN3. It comprises 2,500ha of the Anjozorobe-Angavo Forest Corridor, one of the last
vestiges of dense forest in the central plateau of Madagascar. Established as a protected
area in 2005, the corridor covers an area of 52,200ha, and stretches for over 80km. Nine
species of lemur are found here including indri and diademed sifaka. It is also rich in bird-
life (82 recorded species) and has 550 species of plant. The reserve itself has a variety of
hiking trails and a mountain-bike track.
Nearby
Mananara Lodge
(
22 530 70;
e
mananaralodge@boogiepilgrim-madagas-
car.com
;
www.mananaralodge-madagascar.com
;
€€€€€ is 10km from RN3, a beautiful
drive through typical highland villages. Five luxurious en-suite igloo tents with large beds,
mounted on a wooden platform, stand under a thatched roof. The food is good - served in
a tented dining and lounge area. It is managed by Boogie Pilgrim - see
Click Here
.
AMPEFY AND THE LAKE ITASY AREA
Approximately 2½-3 hours' drive west of
the capital, this region offers much of interest as well as a chance to relax in one of the
comfortable hotel complexes. Great strides have been made to make Lake Itasy tourist-
friendly. There are now comfortable resort-style hotels and the roads have been improved.
The drive there along RN1 is interesting, as Derek Schuurman reports: 'One of the first
thingsInoticedonthewesternoutskirtsofTanaaresomemarvellousMerinatombs.About
40km further on, we stopped at the Thursday farmers' market at
Mangatary,
where the
local farmers sell produce from colourful zebu-drawn wagons. Another notable feature of
this part of the highlands is the groves of tapia trees.'
In addition to the hotels listed below, the Dodwell Trust (see
Click Here
) has clean,
budget accommodation with part-time volunteer activities (advance booking essential).
Where to stay and eat
Kavitaha
(21 rooms) Ampefy; 48 840 04;
m
033 09 325 99;
e
bicrakoto-
mavo@moov.mg
;
www.hotelkavitaha.com
.
The hotel offers a range of activities: pedalos,
kayaks, pirogues, ping-pong, fishing etc. Ideal for families. €€€
