Lake Andraikiba, located between Betafo and Antsirabe, is a magnificent body of water formed in the crater of an ancient volcano. Encircled by a timeless perimeter and a verdant peninsula, this still basin holds a legacy of legends, whispered long before our time.
The Story of Rakotoarivelo and Rangorivao
A man named Rakotoarivelo was married to a woman named Rangorivao. After many years of infertility, Rangorivao finally gave birth to a son, whom she named Indrianirina, meaning “the Desired One.”
However, during this time, Rakotoarivelo fell in love with a young woman named Razanaboromanga. He informed Rangorivao of his desire to take Razanaboromanga as his second wife.
A Cruel Challenge on the Lake
When Rangorivao categorically refused, Rakotoarivelo imposed a cruel wager. The woman who could swim across the lake and return the fastest, whether Rangorivao or Razanaboromanga, would become his favorite.
Weakened by age, Rangorivao lost the challenge and, exhausted, sank into the lake.
The Origin of the Name Andraikiba
Just before drowning, she called out to her husband with a heartbreaking cry: “Veloma, efa kiba,” meaning “Goodbye, I am dying.”
From that day on, the lake was said to have been named Andrenikina, meaning “the place where a mother died.” Over time, the name gradually changed to Andraikiba, sometimes interpreted as “the place where a father silenced himself.”