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Travelogues
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Previous: Tana
Flying here from Tana took only two hours but it took three days to get back. The first leg was the longest, I left the Toliara bus station at 7:00 am and arrived in Fianarantsoa at 6:00 pm (11 hours for less than 500 kms).
Sakaraha, also known as Sapphire town, has been the gem trading center of the country for many years but its predominance is now being challenged by Ilakaka further north since the discovery of precious stones in that area.
Peasant's hut. One can wonder how these people survive in this arid part of the country.
The land is poor but the scenery is beautiful with these great baobab trees.
Ilakaka the new sapphire city is only a shanty town for the time being. It is the lawless equivalent of America's Wild West of two centuries ago.
The small town of Ranohira has a few places like this Hôtel Les Joyeux Lémuriens catering to tourists attracted by the unique flora and fauna of the nearby Isalo National Park.
Everything but aluminum silicates and ferric oxides has been leached out of this red laterite earth which is as sterile here as everywhere else where it is encountered. This is the worst stretch of the road between Toliara and Tana.
Ihosy, the next town on the way to Fianarantsoa is a three way crossroads leading to Toliara (Tuléar) to the west, to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) to the south and to Fianarantsoa to the north.
Spectacular 1050 metre Ifandana peak about 30 km north of Ihosy on the way to Fianarantsoa.
The land gets progressively greener at higher altitudes on the plateau.
Finally, cultivated fields appear between these dramatic rocks as we approach Fianarantsoa.
Fianarantsoa's name meaning "the place where good is learned" comes from the presence of a high concentration of Catholic missionaries in colonial times. It is still considered the principal academic and intellectual center of the country. This is the main building of the Fianarantsoa University.
Fianarantsoa, in the center of a rich agricultural region, is also an important commercial center for the southern provinces. Its colourful market is definitely worth a visit.
Fresh zebu is found in the butcher's street of course.
Pots and pans also have their own corner, just like onions, string, forged tools and woven mats as you can see below.
