Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
around Fianarantsoa. More and more excursions off this main route are opening up, ideal
for cyclists or backpackers.
FROM TANA TO ANTSIRABE
It takes about three hours to drive to Antsirabe non stop, but there are numerous suggested
pausesanddiversionssomostpeopletakethebestpartofadaytodothe169km.Thephoto
opportunities are terrific: all along this stretch of road you will see Merina tombs, and can
watch the labour-intensive cultivation of rice paddies.
About 15km from Tana look for the huge, white replica of the
rova
(as it was before
it burned) across the paddy fields on the right. This was ex-president Didier Ratsiraka's
palace, funded by North Korea.
AMBATOFOTSY (PK 21)
An interesting diversion for those with their own vehicle is
this lakeside resort just over 20km south of Tana. There's a small nature park here with
around 160 plant species, a few lemurs and one or two snakes and other reptiles. There is
also a museum and a couple of places to stay.
Some 20km further on is the village of
Behenjy
(PK 43), which has been a centre for
production of
foie gras
since independence.
AMBATOLAMPY (PK 68)
Some two hours from Tana, Ambatolampy and its surround-
ing villages are famous for their metalwork - mainly cooking pots and kitchen utensils.
Cast aluminium souvenirs are often for sale along the main road. The town has a colourful
Thursday market and on Sundays there is horseracing at the nearby hippodrome. This is
also the starting point for excursions to Tsinjoarivo, with its summer
rova
, and the forestry
station of Manjakatompo.
DISTANCES IN KILOMETRES
Antananarivo-Ambatolampy 68km
Antananarivo-Antsirabe 169km
Antananarivo-Ambositra 259km
Antananarivo-Fianarantsoa 412km
Antsirabe-Ambositra
90km
Antsirabe-Fianarantsoa
243km
Antsirabe-Miandrivazo
246km
