Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
we had to stop and re-stuff the tyre. Only another 200km to Tana! We stayed with the
process for a few more times, then decided to cut our losses and try hitchhiking. For-
tunatelyaratherfullPeugeot406stopped,andwelefttheotherpassengersbytheside
of the road still stuffing the tyre.
BEFORONA(PK169)
ChristinaDodwellrecommendsavisittotheagro-ecologyproject
here: 'Their guided tour shows how they tackle erosion on the mountain slopes using vet-
iver grass, and their terraces of fish ponds and rice fields have an ingenious bamboo pipe
water supply, each pond flowing to another lower down the slope. The centre is run by
a local farmers' cooperative and a representative is happy to explain to you about their
conservation and development work. The tour takes an hour. It is free but donations are
greatly appreciated (all proceeds go to the cooperative). They have a cheerful little canteen
and dormitories for study groups and overnight visitors. Reserve in advance by contacting
Mparany (
e
HBP@chemonics.mg
and
nyrapa@yahoo.fr
).
'
AMBODIAVIAVY (PK 173)
Ony Rakotoarivelo reports: 'While driving down the road I
was attracted by the nice garden with flowers and green grass on the left-hand side, where
you can see a waterfall called Andriampotsimbato. So I stopped and talked to a young man
called Lezoma who has built a chalet with a garden for people passing by. He charges a
small fee to picnic here.'
RANOMAFANA (PK 214)
This is a name encountered often in Madagascar since it
simply means 'hot water'. Here the name refers to a natural hot spring that is considered
sacred by locals, who use it to ask for blessings from the ancestors. A local couple whom
Onyspoketohadbeenchildless forsevenyears; after askingforblessing inthisplace they
had a baby. The path is just beyond the village before the bridge; ask locals to direct you to
'
la source sacrée
'.
ANTSAMPANANA(PK227)
Some 1½ hours' drive beyond Andasibe is this small town
at the junction of RN2 with the road to Vatomandry (see
Click Here
)
. This is where to look
for a
taxi-brousse
going south.
The town is brimming with stalls offering a huge variety of fruit and vegetables: good
for reprovisioning and photography. If you want to dally longer,
Espérance
offers basic
accommodation and
Fantasia
is a recommended restaurant.
BRICKAVILLE (AMPASIMANOLOTRA) (PK 257)
Everyone knows this town as
Brickaville, but its official Malagasy name is often used on maps. After the relatively
smooth RN2 passing through wide open spaces, the pot-holes, noise and industry of
Brickaville can come as a bit of a shock. It is the centre of sugarcane and citrus production
