Travel Guide Ambositra

Ambositra literally means: "Where there are many oxen". Rice terraces, sculpted fields, eucalyptus forests... The RN 7, superb and rather well maintained, crosses for one hundred kilometers the region south of Antsirabe, a beautiful region with the colors of the Highlands. The reds dominate under the always blue sky, then the city appears beyond the hills. The forest has made the fortune of Ambositra (about 35,000 inhabitants), formerly "the city of roses", a pleasant locality and one of the main centers of Malagasy marquetry production. The houses in the center bear witness to this, with their finely carved balconies. Everywhere, wooden objects will be proposed to you: assegais, warriors, heads, boxes, tables, game tables, elephants (there are none in Madagascar, don't be mistaken!). The sculptors are mainly Zafimaniry villagers who live near the forests surrounding the city, in the heart of a beautiful "country". Today, tourists have invaded the center of the city of Ambositra, and some people regret the "merchandising" of the stores which sometimes have only the name of workshops, unless you move away from the center. Nevertheless, the number of visitors remains limited and Ambositra is not only about its crafts: the surrounding landscapes are among the most sumptuous in Madagascar. Note that Saturday is the big market day. We recommend a walk in the city, and also to move away from the center to meet real craftsmen at work...