Things to see and do Ambalavao

"Anjaha" of its real name ("in the forest where there are baobabs") is a superb reserve which absolutely deserves a visit. Even if there are no more baobabs, this forest protected by the village communities since 1999 (a damn good example for the rest of the country), at the foot of the Iandrambaky massif ("The Three Sisters") has many other assets. One can observe orchids, ficus, as well as dwarf pachypodium. The fauna is especially represented by an important colony of maki lemurs (about 400 today, whereas they were almost extinct 20 years ago), as well as many birds, chameleons, boas... Royal carp abound in the water. The view from a rocky promontory is superb. A great breath of fresh air. Beyond having the guarantee to meet lemurs in large numbers (they are not afraid of humans without being domesticated), the money spent by tourists is perfectly redistributed to the community! Really, we recommend it!

Guide's advice. The shortest circuit is done in 1h30/2h of walk accessible to all. The more sportive circuit requires 6 hours of walk and climbing. Between the two, several loops are proposed with different options (lemurs, medicinal plants, reptiles, viewpoints, cave, orchids). Bring good shoes, water, a cap or hat and mosquito repellent. Come in the morning if possible. We recommend the guide Emilien, particularly invested!

Antemoro paper is made from avoha, a tree bark that exists only on the east coast of Mada. It was used by the Arabs for centuries to write "sorabe". Today, the avoha fibers are boiled for about 12 hours, then crushed once cooked and mixed with water. We finish by draining the water so that the paste adheres to the fabric of the frame placed on the tray. Finally, flower petals are placed on the still wet paper.

At the entrance of the village, this workshop proposes to discover the different stages of silk transformation, from the tree to the silky and colored scarf. The visit begins in the courtyard where you can observe the difference between wild and farmed silk, both present in Mada. The women of the workshop then show you how to cook, spin and dye it before arriving at the very impressive stage of weaving. A very interesting visit! A store open 7 days a week allows you to buy some souvenirs.

Presided by Adrien, one of the ^first guides of the area, this association gathers guides specialized in Ambalavao and its surroundings. They propose circuits of all levels. From August, generally at the time of the ceremonies of the turning over of the dead, the association organizes many rodeos, a traditional sport for the Betsileo ethnic group. Outside this period, do not hesitate to contact Adrien or his colleagues: if possible, they will be happy to organize it for you.