Fabruce RASOLONOMENDRAIBE

Fabruce RASOLONOMENDRAIBE

The Lanonana in the Betsileo Regions

In the central southern highlands of Madagascar, particularly in Fianarantsoa, Ambositra, and Antsirabe, lanonana mark the major highlights of the social and cultural life of the Betsileo people – and occasionally, of some Merina as well. These traditional ceremonies, usually held between July and October, take place in villages often far from the big cities. Weddings, famadihana (reburial or turning of the bones), baptisms, funerals, or rites of passage : each event is a time to bring entire families together, sometimes traveling great distances, to celebrate life, honor ancestors, and strengthen community bonds.

Zahamena National Park

Zahamena National Park, located in eastern Madagascar, is a vast protected area listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It lies about 50 kilometers northwest of Toamasina, near Lake Alaotra, at the border of the Alaotra-Mangoro, Analanjirofo, and Atsinanana regions. In its eastern section, the Zahamena forest covers approximately 24,398 hectares. It is a dense, humid, evergreen rainforest, structured in multiple vegetative layers, with some emergent species rising over 30 meters in height. More than 700 plant species have been recorded here, 90% of which are endemic.

Zazamalala Reserve, near Morondava

Located on the west coast of Madagascar, not far from the town of Morondava, Zazamalala Reserve is an exemplary conservation project. It is actively involved in protecting the dry deciduous forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, while also playing an important role in environmental education and local development.

A Sport to Play in Madagascar ? Petanque

A legacy of colonization, petanque holds an important place today in Malagasy culture. Introduced by French colonists at the beginning of the 20th century, it was quickly adopted by the local population to the point of becoming a true national sport. Today, it is played in all regions of the island, both in cities and in the countryside. This sport brings together players of all ages and social backgrounds. In the neighborhoods of Antananarivo, on improvised fields or in public spaces, young people and adults can be seen gathering every day to play matches in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, especially on Sundays and during festivities. If there’s one sport in which Malagasy people truly excel, it’s this one.

A souvenir to bring back from Madagascar ?

Malagasy craftsmanship is incredibly rich. Among its many wonders, marquetry holds a special appeal for travelers. To uncover all its secrets, head to Ambositra, a small town in the Highlands. In traditional workshops, skilled artisans create portraits or landscapes by meticulously assembling thin strips of wood. Each shade is obtained naturally, by soaking the wood in mud or rice paddy water. The result is simply stunning.

Ihosy, Gateway to the Malagasy South

Ihosy is a quiet town in southern Madagascar, located about 200 km south of Fianarantsoa along the famous National Road 7. As the capital of the Bara people, known for their large zebu herds and pastoral traditions, the town serves as an essential supply stop for travelers heading toward the spectacular landscapes of the south, especially Isalo National Park. Outside the flamboyant flowering season, when the town glows red, Ihosy offers limited tourist attractions on its own.