Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Small farmers grow rice only for their own consumption but are forced to sell part
of their crop for instant cash. Richer families in the community store this grain and
sell it back at a profit later. To solve this small-scale exploitation, village cooperatives
have been set up to buy rice and sell it back to the farmer at an agreed price, or at a
profit to outsiders if any is left over.
LALATSARA LEMUR FOREST CAMP (PK 344)
(
e
reservation@madagascar-
lemuriens.com
;
www.madagascar-lemuriens.com
;
entry 15,000Ar pp; half-day guided
walks 20,000Ar per group, max 4; night walks 5,000Ar pp; sgl/dbl chalets 27,000/
50,000Ar; meals 22,000Ar
) Created in 2002, this private reserve is on RN7, just north of
Ambohimahasoa. It is 65km from Fianar and 84km south of Ambositra. It has 2,500ha of
forest to the south of the road, comprising 1,000ha natural forest and 1,500ha of managed
pine and eucalyptus, and a separate 600ha on the north side. Several species of lemur can
beseenhere,includingMilne-Edwards'sifaka.Chameleons,snakes,tenrecs,frogs,geckos
and birds may also be found.
Seven wood-frame canvas chalets have been built on stilts in the forest. They are very
basic for the high price, with shared facilities, but the beds are soft and comfy.
FIANARANTSOA (PK 408)
The name means 'place of good learning'. Fianarantsoa ('Fianar' for short) was founded
in 1830 as the administrative capital of Betsileo. The lower and upper towns are separated
by a fairly steep climb, and still further up the hill is the attractive old town, reachable only
on foot and definitely worth a visit. The majority of the hotels, however, are in the drearier
lower town.
Fianar is an ideal base from which to do a variety of excursions: Andringitra, Rano-
mafana and Andrambovato are within easy(ish) reach.
GETTING THERE AND AWAY
The journey by
taxi-brousse
takes between six and ten
hours from Tana (23,000Ar). The onward trip to Toliara takes nine to 14 hours (30,000Ar)
or, going east, seven hours to Manakara (13,000Ar).
Mazabus
(see
Click Here
)
operates
comfy buses to Toliara (depart Friday, return Saturday; 75,000Ar) and Manakara (depart
Sunday/Wednesday, return Monday/Thursday; 55,000Ar).
Fianar is also connected to Manakara by the FCE railway (see
Click Here
)
.
WHERE TO STAY
