The charming town of Ambalavao lies approximately 57 km south of Fianarantsoa heading toward Tuléar. A pleasant stopover on the southern route, Ambalavao will captivate you with its magnificent Betsileo houses featuring varangues and its numerous paper and wild silk workshops. Animal and nature lovers will be delighted to visit the Anja village reserves to discover the island's most endemic species, including the ring-tailed lemur.

History

Ambalavao carries a tragic history. The land of the Betsileo witnessed the significant clash between the Merina and the Bara, when the latter sought to expand their territory northward.

Ambalavao Today

Some fifty kilometers south of Fianarantsoa, Ambalavao reveals itself shyly nestled between granite mountains, dominated by the Andringitra massif and Pic Boby rising to nearly 2,658 meters in altitude. This region marks the boundary between the Highlands and the southern part of Madagascar, represented by three rocky massifs designated as the gateways to the South. The bustling town now stands as a pleasant stopover during a Madagascar journey. Upon arriving in Ambalavao, you'll quickly notice the pretty pastel-colored houses with their wooden varangues carved and worked with beautiful geometric motifs highly characteristic of southern culture. Rich in several artisanal productions including paper and silk, several workshops can be visited. The production of quality paper, Antemoro paper, silk worm farming with landy weaving and the embroidery workshop will give you an excellent overview of the different production techniques. With its countless vineyards stretching endlessly, Ambalavao is also recognized as a major wine producer in the country. Feel free to taste and judge this local wine. Perched on a small hill south of town, Ambalavao hosts the second-largest zebu market in Madagascar. Spanning nearly 2 hectares, the market takes place on Wednesdays and begins an impressive parade of livestock awaiting buyers. As the gateway to Andringitra park, many take advantage of their stay in Ambalavao to organize hikes in the region, encountering artisan villages, caves and traditional tombs nestled in the mountains. With a bit of luck, you may spot lemurs, particularly in Anja park.

Climate

Ambalavao has inherited a savanna climate with a dry winter. It benefits from significant rainfall, even during dry seasons. Average precipitation there is 1,525.7 mm per year. How to get there? Ambalavao is accessible via RN7. It is located 56 km from Fianarantsoa.

What to do and see in Ambalavao?

• Experience the excitement of the zebu market every Wednesday and watch the negotiations of the Bara.
• Tour the vineyards that are an integral part of the terroir and taste Malagasy wine.
• Visit the Antemoro Paper production workshops as well as silk worm farming and the embroidery workshop.
• Search for rare plants and lemurs in Anja forest or Andringitra national park.