Lavasoa massif hiking
The Lavasoa massif is located in the Ambatotsirongorongo Special Reserve, about forty kilometers west of Fort-Dauphin, in the municipalities of Sarisambo, Ankaramena, Ranopiso and Analapatsy.
This Ambatotsirongorongo Special Reserve is located in a marked climatic transition zone between the humid east and the subarid southwest.
It has a floristic particularity: its composition is characterized by the predominance of a humid transitional mixture, probably due to the position of the mountains within the steep ecological gradient between the spiny forest to the west and the humid forest to the north and east.
The importance of this site is such that it is one of the few known places where species of dry and spiny forests, including the ring-tailed lemur and the Propithecus verreauxi, coexist harmoniously with species of lemurs of tropical rainforests, namely the Eulemur collaris, Hapalemur meridionalis, the avahi, and the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis).
This is why the Lavasoa massif remains an incredible place to discover for hiking enthusiasts, with its natural beauty and exceptional surrounding landscapes.
You can take this loop hiking trail starting from the village of Ambohivola Sarisambo, located at the foot of this mountain, and ending near the village of Ankaramena, located on the other side of the mountain. A good car is required for the journey, which crosses Soanierana, Manambaro, Agnena, Sarisambo, and ends in Afitoloha for the first leg before climbing this mountain to reach the campsite on the first day.
This journey is also very interesting, with breathtaking scenery, magnificent rice fields and villages, and the opportunity to meet the villagers.
In Ambohivola, your porter will transport your luggage to the Manitatra campsite, located at the summit of this fabulous mountain.
On the second day, you can climb to the summit of Vohisampa, at an altitude of approximately 617 m, then finish with Mount Lavasoa, at an altitude of 823 m.
On the third day, you will descend to complete this hike to the village of Ankaramena. The Lavasoa Massif offers a magnificent landscape, encompassing the town of Fort-Dauphin, Pic Saint-Louis, the town of Amboasary, and even surrounding villages such as Agnalapatsy, Belay, Ranopiso, and Italy.
You can also admire three magnificent lakes, including Lake Loharano, Lake Andragnasy, and Lake Andriabe near the village of Ambinanibe.
Finally, consider this hike during your visit to Fort-Dauphin, Madagascar
PETRIKY LITTORAL FOREST
The Petriky littoral forest, covering an area of 302 hectares, offers harmonious landscapes. The large Andragnasy Lake separates this pristine forest from the white sand dunes of the Indian Ocean.
No tourist infrastructure (reception, trails, and accommodation) is currently known. Furthermore, it is not yet open to visitors.
Conservation facilities include a 480-meter firebreak. A research station is also present. Ecological restoration includes a nursery. For ecological work, the site has 10 transects and ecological monitoring plots.
Petriky is located in an important climatic transition region, stretching from the humid east to the dry southwest. However, its climate is warm and relatively humid, with limited seasonality, favoring evergreen forest.
The white sand substrates significantly affect growing conditions, and the soils are considered poor. These characteristics give rise to a low littoral forest, sometimes called littoral thicket. For many years, it has been subjected to intensive logging, which has altered its structure.
The Petriky protected area is composed of two distinct parcels: the larger one, to the west, has a regular forest cover, while the one further east has more areas of bare soil or secondary herbaceous vegetation, particularly around Tsihary.
This protected area maintains various links with the history of local populations, including two sites, Ampilaotsotsa and Andavatsikiriokirioky, associated with ancestor cults; the freshwater spring of Andranomandevy, created thanks to the magic staff of Tsimeto, an ancient prophet; and a dune site where ancient kings gave speeches.
The protected area manager cited three main threats: illegal logging, the collection of Flagellaria indica (family Flagellariaceae) for various fishing gear and baskets, and problems related to invasive plants. The site manager examined two invasive plant species: Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae family) and Opuntia stricta (Cactaceae family).
Petriky is accessible by a secondary road that starts in the town of Manambaro, 22 km west of Fort-Dauphin, and runs along the RN 13. There are two separate entry points: from Manambaro to Tsihary (4 km) or from Manambaro to Sarisambo, via Agnena (10 km).
It is also possible to access this nature reserve by speedboat from the villages of Ambinanibe or Lafitsignana, passing through Lake Andriabe, then the Ambovo Canal, and finally Lake Andragnasy before arriving at the pier.
Tourists from Fort-Dauphin sometimes take adventure trips by kayak or pirogue on these three lakes, including Lake Andriabe, Lake Andragnasy and Lake Loharano, right next to the Petriky Forest, to the village of Loharano or sometimes to the village of Ambinanimaty, located near the white sand dune on the shores of the Indian Ocean, or to the end of this famous Lake Andragnasy, between the villages of Lohalovika and Mokala.
