Fun things to do in Faritanin' Antananarivo

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Since this is the main reason, for many, to visit Ambohimanga, how couldn't I talk about one of the two World Heritage sites that are located in Madagascar ?

Only listed as my fourth tip since I found it helpful to remind you about the previous ones. ;-)

"The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga consists of a royal city and burial site, and an ensemble of sacred places. It is associated with strong feelings of national identity, and has maintained its spiritual and sacred character both in ritual practice and the popular imagination for the past 500 years. It remains a place of worship to which pilgrims come from Madagascar and elsewhere."
This a description taken from UNESCO website. Rovan' Ambohimanga is classified in UNESCO World Heritage.

Was standing next to Nampoina's sacred pool when I snapped this one. At your left, the dark wood of Mahandrihono, "Nampoina's Hut" then clockwise, the building that eventually served as summer residence to the Queens (latest to reign) and a Tranomasina/ Tranomanara: a building that used to be, above all, noblemen tombs. In front, a fenced patch where used to be buried some Kings and Queens before Galliéni (French gouvernor) transferred all royal corpses to Manjakamiadana Rova and built a canteen, a kitchen on the plot of land where Andrianampoinimerina and Andriambelomasina were buried (!).

The complex comprehends pools, so useful for the customary Fandroana (royal baths - see local custom tips), a zebu park, corners where pilgrims still worship (royal) ancestors. It is still noticeable how much Malagasy people feel the need to ask for blessings, help to achieve their goals in life (wealth, progeniture, success).. Here and there, you'd find, while visiting the royal compounds, pilgrims bringing sweets, honey, flowers, toaka gasy (our traditional rotgut) and depositing those wares on corners. Also, in Nampoina's Hut, some would head to North-East corner to talk to the King (his "spirit"), ask for blessings...etc.. for this corner being sacred in our cosmogony.

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Madagascar's fauna extends beyond the reputation of its poster boy, the lemur. Antananarivo province compensates its weakness in rainforest area with the variety of specialized zoos.

First, Lemurs park (22 km from the center, on the way to Arivonimamo, RN1): 4ha housing 7 species of lemurs. Whether the national zoo of Tsimabazaza has more than those, I don't know. Entry fee published in Midi madagasikara (Feb. 2006 17 edition) is 10000 Ar (5000 Ar for local adults, 2500 Ar for local kids). Phone number: + (261) 20 22 234 36. 020 22 234 36 if you call from Madagascar (local call).

Second, Croc Farm (15 km from the center, on the way to Ivato): 3ha housing crocs, snakes, donkeys, makis (a lemur species) and more. It costs 3000 ariary for nationals. As usual, the tourists will pay, at least, the same amount. Phone number: + (261) 20 22 030 71. 020 22 030 71 if you call from Madagascar (local call). e-mail: reptel@wanadoo.mg

Third, reported as unique in the world, a butterfly farm. La ferme aux papillons or Ferme Peyreras from its founder's name) is located 72 km from Tana. Beside the butterflies, one could find insects, chamilions and reptiles.
Contact: mail address BP 6218 Antananarivo. OK, I'll try to find a phone number for this one. I love butterflies

Last but not least, our very own Tsimbazaza zoo (PBZT, Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza). Not specialized in any local animal but displaying most of it (including the peacock, which, I believe, does not exist in Madagascar): aquatic birds, snakes, giant turtles, lemurs... and more. Plus, it has documentation, archives on ostriches in Madagascar (an extincted species & now reintroduced, as far as I know, for its meat), endemic flora species & architecture in Madagascar. Anyway, from my last visit in 1995, an afternoon at the zoo is a real turning off: relaxing & serene, knowing the zoo is in central Tana. It has just been refurbished & well, maybe the peacocks are amongst the newest inhabitants there. Phone: + 261 20 22 311 49

For the many pics of a Tana-Antsirabe trip, please click to browse this travelogue.

To sum up, I am telling you why to have this roadtrip:
- also, it takes only some hours to reach Antsirabe. Esp. when you don't intend to stop over the in-between places, it is a nice hideway for pressured businessmen of Tana. The sooner you arrive there, the sooner you would enjoy the city with its large avenues that are safe to walk in, with nice ad well-kept gradens...
- to relax in Antsirabe and visit this quiet and elegant city by pousse-pousse, walking or horse riding. I admit, I have a thing for this quiet city.
- to visit thermal springs in Antsirabe area
- for a culinary trip in Antsirabe since the region produces vegetables, fruits, poultry.. and other more sophisticated meal such as foie gras, trout, duck products (magret de canard, confit de canard...), crayfish ? la Malagasy. Arotel's Les Agapes restaurant is the very place for a culinary trip. James, the chef is very innovative. My Xmas evening diner & the Dec. 25 lunch were a treat.
- to admire those gem stones that are sold in several houses in Antsirabe.
- to play golf since Antsirabe, Tana, Nosy Be and Toamasina (if I am not wrong) are the only cities where are greens.

Even notwithstanding the above reasons, the trip itself is something
- to escape from crowded capital city Tana and drive through isolated areas with noone around.
- to enjoy Highlands landscape made of ricefields, plains; to marvel at impressive rocky mountains (esp. in Ankaratra massif that culminates at some 2700m) with huge stone blocks in hillsides and tiny villages at hillbottoms... .

See below Travelogues and my Antsirabe page as well