The South is a wide region reaching from the Horombe tableland in the north, to the cities of Toliary, in the south-west, on the coasts of the Mozambique Channel. The Horombe tableland, inhabitated by the Bara ethnic group, is covered by the unlimited savannah, crossed by herds of zebu and broken only by the beautiful monumental Isalo Mountain. The Isalo is a massif of crumbly limestone from the Jurassic Period, sculpted by erosion into bizarre, spectacular shapes, which stands in a region of endless savannahs. Amidst canyons, peaks, and pinnacles there are plant rarities such as the Pachypodium (5 species, including the rosulatum: elephant’s foot plant or dwarf baobab), in a habitat with an endemism level of 70%. Among the primates are 7 species of lemurs such as the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and the red-fronted lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus). There are also over 70 species of birds. Further south the main landscape is the semi-arid bush where there are big baobab trees and the typical funeral buildings belonging to Mahafaly and Antandroy tribes. The south has a luxuriant vegetation: the tropical forest of Zombitse near Sakaraha, in the west. The west coast is protected by the reef and the Vezo fishermen’s outrigger canoes can ply in calm waters. Ifaty is one of the best place to start the discovery of the beautiful Madagascar reef universe, the world’s second longest coral-reef.
Toliary (Google Map)
The South is a wide region reaching from the Horombe tableland in the north, to the cities of Toliary, in the south-west, on the coasts of the Mozambique Channel. The Horombe tableland, inhabitated by the Bara ethnic group, is covered by the unlimited savannah, crossed by herds of zebu and broken only by the beautiful monumental Isalo Mountain.
Departure of the road itinerary; according to the time, stop at Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park to visit the gallery forest, where many birds and lemurs Catta and Sifaka can be observed; have picnic lunch during the excursion; arrival to the Isalo at the end day and setup in hotel; in evening, dinner and overnight in the hotel Isalo Rock Lodge (standard room) or similar.
After breakfast, whole day devoted to the excursions in the suggestive park, made of calcareous rocks; an impressive Jurassic massif, canyons of red sandstone, where you can find botanical rarity as the Pachypodium Rosolatum (the bottle tree) and the typical palm Satrana (Bismarkia Nobilis), used for the construction of the houses’ roofs of and traditional huts; have lunch in restaurant during the excursion; in the evening dinner and overnight in hotel Isalo Rock Lodge (standard room) or similar.
Breakfast in hotel; on the way back to Toliary, you cross the region of the seekers of sapphires, the bush where the characteristic Mahafaly funeral constructions can be admired; lunch in restaurant; continuation of the journey toward Ifaty; during the trip, stop to visit Reniala Forest to admire the Baobabs and many other endemic kinds of plants; further north the track follow the coral reef until Ifaty that you reach at the end of the day; setup in hotel; in the evening dinner and overnight in hotel Le Paradisier (standard room) or similar.
Breakfast in hotel; according to the time at your disposal, departure for the visit of the mangroves near the site « Honko Mangrove Conservation », next to the village of Ambondrolava, an unbelievable swarming natural living habitat, where you can see particular fish living between sea and earth; at the end, transfer to the Toliary airport; lunch in restaurant according to the schedule of the flight.