THE SOUTH is considered as one of the most fascinating milieu . In fact , a hostile environment has given birth to an extraordinary strange flora, coming from an extraterrestrial landscape. It shelters a vegetation of succulent and thorny plants unique in the world: 38 species of aloès, among them the bright flower aloès and the aloés vaombe, which can reach more than 5 m high , varieties of thorny and unthorny Euphorbia , the baobabs, octopus trees, the pachypods, as well as the scattered palm groves …

ANTSIRABE
Charming industrial city situated 170 km southward the capital on the Great South road . It owes its name the « Vichy Malagasy » because of its spa with numerous sources which curative properties , thanks to its sodium, potassium and bicarbonate content , have been discovered by a Norwegian missionary in 1872. The ricksaw introduced in the beginning of the century by Chinese Coolies is the most popular means of transportation.

AMBOSITRA
« The city of the castrated zebus » situated 245 km of Antananarivo. At the Betsileo country , a stage in Ambositra is generally the purpose to visit the marquetry and the woodwork .The region lives on the crops , handicrafts but also on the production of the « Toaka Gasy », the local rum. It is in this region that you will meet the real Zafimaniry art , people of artisans that occupy a 70 km² territory in the forest, disseminated in small villages that will necessitate several days of walk . It is a real open-air museum and in houses engraved woods is King

RANOMAFANA
The name means " hot water " in malagasy, Ranomafana is both a spa and a Natural Reserve endowed with an extremely rich fauna and flora. In this humid virgin forest, there are 26 mammal species, and 96 species of birds . It is in RANOMAFANA that a new kind of lemur , the Hapalemur was discovered . The virgin forest of Ranomafana is endowed with rare orchid species, ferns.

ISALO
After the sub desert plateau of the Horombe , the RANOHIRA massif , strange rocky formation of sandstone cut of abrupt gorges spreading on more of 80000 ha , and reaching 200 m high , reminds the far-west American landscapes . The reigning silence and the play of lights on the relief dazzle and impress. When penetrating inside this desert mountain you can discover an oasis of  freshness: small humid forests built in valleys, many sources inviting to the swim, the magnificent vivid yellow flowers of the pachypodium rosalutum, ferns, spectacular palm trees, caves. As well as the flora , the flora is endemic : the iguana of Madagascar (oplurus sebae), the fosa (cryptoprocta ferox), a predator belonging to the race of the felidae, varieties of lemurs and birds such the falcon of Newton and the crested coua , the blackbird of rock of Benson.

 

TSIMANAMPETSOTSA
Saint Augustin bay southward Tulear was the pirates and navigator den in the XV and XVII centuries. Excursions in caves and underground lakes of Sarodrano, the visit of the fishermen village of Solara nested in the middle of dunes, situated to the South exit of Saint Augustin bay , caves of Mitoho in the reserve of Tsimanampetsotsa ( 100 km southward Tulear) where aepyornis eggs was discovered , are unforgettable moments of your stay in the south . In the evening , sea tortoises come to lay their eggs along the beach. Varieties of lemurs, many pink flamingos, ducks and other aquatic birds can also be seen there .

BERENTY RESERVE
Key destination . The private reserve protects 2 distinct types of forest: spiny forest and gallery forest
The reserve is situated 80 KM westward Tolagnaro , amid a vast sisal plantation.
A big population of ring-tailed lemurs and sifaka , brown lemurs.
Birdwatching is rewarding .Nearly 100 species have been counted .Several birds families unique to Madagascar including the hook-billed vanga , two handsome species of couas …Paradise Flycatcher