South of Madagascar: Road-trip on the mythical RN7 (10 Days)
Highlights
From Antananarivo to Ifaty, discover the South Madagascar during a road trip along the legendary RN7. Between rice terraces, national parks, canyons, lemurs, and heavenly beaches, enjoy an authentic journey made of discovery and wonder.
Accommodation options
From midrange to luxurious
Visited parks and sites
Ranomafana national park, Anja park and Isalo national park
Price
From 1250€ per person (Based on 4 people)
Day 1: Arrival in Madagascar
You have landed in Antananarivo Airport, Welcome to Madagascar! Before heading to your hotel on your transfer car, you can convert the amount of money you need into our local money. Overnight in a charming hotel.
Day 2 : Antananarivo-Antsirabe
Today, you start your trip by taking the famous RN7 (National Road n°7) toward Antsirabe! You will crisscross the mountains and ricefields that characterizes the Madagascar highlands and take the time to admire the colorful stalls of fruit and vegetable sellers, but also sellers of typically Malagasy musical instruments made entirely by hand. You arrive in Antsirabe after about 4 hours of driving. Nicknamed “the city of water”, Antsirabe is home to a renowned thermal source, but also to a stone market.
From there, you will drive a few minutes to arrive in a village where you will enjoy a rural walk through ricefields to discover rural people way of life. You can end this little walk with a relaxing thermal bath. Night in a hotel
Meal included: Breakfast and picnic lunch
Day 3 : Antsirabe-Ranomafana
After Antsirabe, you will continue your way on the RN7 to reach the village of Ranomafana. You will pass through the city of Ambositra, the capital of Malagasy crafts, known for its woodworking pioneered by the Zafimaniry. These people have made woodworking a unique art that can be found both in their huts and in their works of art carved out of wood, thus deserving its place in the UNESCO World Heritage List. After half a day of driving, you are now in Ranomafana. Located in the Haute Matsiatra region, this village lost in the middle of green mountains is home to one of the natural jewels of this region: the Ranomafana National Park. Night in a hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 4: Ranomafana National Park
Today, you will visit the Ranomafana National Park. Spread over more than 41,600ha, this park created in 1991 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to more than 100 species of birds, unique flora and atypical fauna. Indeed, you will find there at least five species of endemic lemurs including the Woolly Avahi, the Microcebus, the black Vari, but also the golden bamboo lemur. The bamboo lemur, endemic to this region, feeds only on deadly poisonous bamboo, which, curiously, has no effect on its organism. After a visit rich in discovery, take the time to admire the extent of this haven of peace from the belvedere of the park. Night in a hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 5 : Ranomafana-Fianarantsoa
After a day in the Ranomafana National Park, you will continue your southern adventure toward Ranohira. You will pass by the city of Fianarantsoa, literally meaning, “where you learn good manners”. This is the Malagasy city where you will find the largest number of churches in Madagascar. Indeed, there are more than fifty churches in this town. Also, you can take time visiting the old town of Fianarantsoa. This area located on the top of the highest mountain of the city and a UNESCO heritage site is a peaceful place where you will see some remains of the royal era and some traditional houses that kept their authenticity. Afterward, you will drive through the village of Ambalavao where you can meet some ring-tailed lemurs in the community-based Anja Park. You can meet those Makis, the emblem of Madagascar, on condition that you woke up a bit early, as lemurs are the most active in the morning. After a half-day of driving, you will finally reach your destination, the Ranohira village, where you will stay in a charming hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 6 : Isalo National Park
Today, you will visit the famous Isalo National Park, a natural rock formation made of Jurassic sandstone. This 80.000ha national park is the home to more than 77 bird species, 33 reptile species/amphibians and some lemur species such as the Maki (Lemur Catta), the Verreaux’ s Sifaka and many more. While walking inside the park, you may even encounter some Makis walking smoothly on your path or some brown lemurs jumping from a tree to another. Apart from its fabulous fauna, the Isalo National Park is also the dream place for hikers eager for discovery and thrills. Climb on some of the highest peaks of the park in order to visit some Bara tombs. Indeed, the Bara ethnic group still uses to put their tombs high inside the facades of the highest rock formations. Also, you can walk through sandstone rocks, rice fields, rainforests and natural swimming pools during your hike inside the Isalo National Park, the Canyon of Madagascar. Night in a hotel
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 7 : Ranohira-Ifaty
Today, you will leave the Ranohira village in order to reach your beach destination: Ifaty. During a half-day drive, you will drive through some arid landscapes and will pass by the city of Tulear. Also known as the “Sun city”, this city is home to many places worth the visit such as the Antsokay Arboretum. In this Arboretum, you will find some rare and endemic plant species. Also, meet some turtles and huge Baobab trees in a private reserve on the way from Tulear to Ifaty. Once in this place, you will settle in your charming hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 8 and Day 9 : Ifaty
During two days, you will relax on some of the most beautiful beaches of the southern part of Madagascar. You can also book some nautical and seaside activities at your charge at your hotel. From July to September, you can also meet some Whales in Ifaty during some whale-watching excursions. Overnight in a hotel.
Meal included: Breakfast
Day 10 : Ifaty-Tulear-Antananarivo
Today, you will leave the Ifaty village in order to reach the Tulear city. There, you will a flight which will bring you to Antananarivo into two hours. There, you will have a day-use in a hotel before taking the international flight which will take you back home. Veloma! See you soon.
Meal included: Breakfast
What's included in the Trip
-All airport transfers
-All accommodations
-All breakfasts
-Lunch on Day 2
-Private 4-wheel-drive transportation with an English-speaking driver-guide (fuel included) from Day 2 to Day7
-Entrance ticket fees in Ranomafana national Park, Anja park and Isalo National Park
-Domestic flight from Tulear to Antananarivo
EXCLUDED:
-International flights
-Visa fees
-Personal travel insurance
-Tips
-Drinks
-Personal expenses
-Lunches not mentioned in the included
-Dinners
-Guiding fees in the parks (Guiding fees depend on walk type and duration)
-All activities and transportation during the free days in Ifaty (Day 8 and 9)
-Any activity not mentioned in the inclusions
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