The Highlands South of Tana
 
 
After the showers of the North-East, I headed South of Tana to Ambositra, on the Central Highlands of Madagascar, looking for a friendlier climate.
 
From Ambositra the Route Nationale 7 rolls down South to Fianarantsoa, over some climbs and past rice paddies and increasingly spectacular scenery.  Although it is the main road on the island, I met very little traffic and rather enjoyed the couple of days of smooth riding.
 
After a stop at Ialatsara Park, I took the unsealed shortcut to Ranomafana and soon found myself cycling along the boundaries of Ranomafana National Park, one of the biggest preserved rain-forests in Madagascar. Being surrounded by pristine rain-forest was one of the most overwhelming sensations of this trip.
 
It was quite a contrast to the deforested areas I passed later on, closer to Manakara, where I rode among bare hills, stripped of all vegetation and wildlife for almost one hundred km. Unfortunately many regions of Madagascar suffer the consequences of intense deforestation. Through the system of Natural Parks and Reserves, the State and many NGOs are trying to save what is left, but in a lot of places it is too late.
 
I arrived in Manakara the day before June 26, Independence Day. Having to wait for the train to Fianarantsoa, I spent the National Holiday relaxing in this pleasant coastal town
 
 
The market in Ambositra
 
Kids selling eggs
 
“Pousse-pousse” are quite popular in Ambosiitra, despite the frequent climbs
 
  
Street scenes in Ambositra, at sunset
 
  
Jovial smiles all around me!
 
 
 
 
 
The scenery along RN7, South of Ambositra
 
One of the many truck accidents on the road (the drivers are on the right, cooking lunch while waiting for help)
 
These three kids followed me for some impressive 2-3 km, over some quite tough climbs/descents
 
 
 
A proud mother I chatted with during a rain-pause (haven’t found the sun, yet!)
 
Getting used to wearing the rainproof outfit
 
Passing through some friendly villages
 
“Salut, vazaha!” is the universal greeting to foreigners
 
Lots of smiles, whenever I stop and take my camera out
 
 
 
Can’t get used to women’s ability to carry heavy weights on their head,
with the gracefulness of models walking down the catwalk
 
After the rain, it’s laundry time!
 
Sifakas at Ialatsara Park
 
The shortcut to Ranomafana
 
Rain-forest at Ranomafana
 
Women spreading the rice in the sun to dry-out
 
  
 
 
More cheerful encounters on one of the nicest stretches of road,
between Ranomafana and Irondro: 50 km mainly downhill, through lush vegetation!
 
And then the wearisome hills after Irondro, : the disheartening effects of deforestation
put me in a gloomy mood during the last 100 km to Manakara
 
... but at least I found the sunny weather!
 
...and friendly encounters continue to cheer me up every time I stop at a village
 
  
Children celebrating the Fete de l’Independance on Manakara’s beach
 
Due to strong currents and sharks, these waters are far from safe. The locals only venture a few meters into the ocean
 

 

 

For more pictures of Madagascar, click below: