5 hours of walk with 703m of ascent & 257m of descent

To get to this region full of history, we leave Ambalavao in the direction of the rural municipality of Ambohimahamasina on a 45 km long dirt track. From the centre of the town, we will start a 1h30 hike north towards Vohimarina Andepo. In this village one can find a large number of lambagasy weavers who have practiced this craft over many generations. In the past, the material used to make this fabric was wild silk, but this practice has been lost over time and the silk has been replaced by cotton. However, a number of people would like to revive the old tradition: a silk farming workshop was born in Ambalavao and some NGO still support this initiative in its activities. After passing this village, a difficult first part of the hike through eucalyptus forests and grassy savannahs, will lead us to the Ambondrombe primary forest. A traditional guide will accompany us: he is the guardian of the mountain, the indispensable person who realizes the Saotra, (a ritual to ask for permission to the ancestors) necessary for the smooth progress of the ascent. During three hours of walking, we will move through a rainforest whose sacred character has been left untouched by the nuisance of human activity. This hike will interrupted by short breaks to admire the rich flora of this mountain. Most of plant species found here are endemic to Madagascar: epiphyte orchids, tree ferns, impatiens plants etc. Our guide will take the time to explain the use of these plants for daily life or traditional medicine. After having grasped the magic of some of them, we will continue to the camp of Andragnombazaha, where we will set up the campsite for the night. We will sleep in the middle of the forest, in absolute calm and silence.