The South - Madagascar - page 344

Nirina (3 rooms) m 032 07 521 95. Opposite Total fuel station, not far from taxi-
brousse station. Shared facilities but hot water. €€
Ravaka (18 rooms) m 033 12 444 06. Basic dbl & family rooms, a few en suite (cold
water). €€
Evah (5 rooms) A reasonable budget hotel, 450m from centre towards Toliara. Shared
bathrooms. €
FROM IHOSY TO TAOLAGNARO (FORT DAUPHIN)
This difficult route sees few tourists (most go via Andranovory). Pablo and Itziar, who re-
cently made the journey, report that it takes 7 hours to get as far as Betroka - an unappeal-
ing town but with a reasonable hotel (Trois Fleurs), lots of supplies, and the last bank be-
fore Taolagnaro. The next section of road is in much better condition: 2½ hours to Isoanala
andafurther2½hourstoBereketa-bothvillagesworthastop.Theroaddeterioratesagain
beyondthat.Ittakes4½hourstoAntanimora,withonlybasicaccommodation,then3hours
to Ambovombe. The final 4½ hours to Taolagnaro are on a tarred but potholed road.
FROM IHOSY TOWARDS TOLIARA (TULEAR)
AfterleavingIhosy,RN7crossestheHorombePlateau.Thesemonotonousgrasslandslook
rather dull from a distance, but up close you can find all kinds of wonderful plants and
fungi.
As you approach Ranohira, Medemia palms enliven the scenery. Henk Beentje of Kew
Gardens explains: 'The palms are properly called Bismarckia , but the French didn't like
themostcommon palm inoneoftheir colonies beingcalled after aGerman sochanged the
name, quite illegally according to the Code of Botanical Nomenclature!'
RANOHIRA (PK 702)
ThesmalltownofRanohiralies91kmsouthofIhosyandisthebaseforvisitingthepopular
Isalo National Park.