Our three-month trip around Madagascar coming to an end, we left Foulpointe for the capital three days before our flight. To avoid the bustle of central Antananarivo, we chose to stay in the town of Ambohidratrimo.
Ambohidratrimo is situated 15 km northwest of the city center, just south of the airport, and by the scenic lakes of Andranotapahana and Mamamba. It is an important center of Malagasy culture as it hosts one of the twelve sacred hills of Imerina, the homonymous Hill of Ambohidratrimo.
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We settled in a lodge called SNI-Village, on the foot of the hill, by the westernmost shore of Lake Andranotapahana. It was within an elegant, vintage estate with a pleasant lake view. As for the rest, the accommodation was basic, the service greedy, and the location too distant from the town center. It was still the cheapest and fine for its cost, but if you’re not on a budget, I suggest you better look for a more decent place on the main road. There are plenty of them. You can explore options on the map below.
A few steps away from our lodge, there was a street food stall run by a genial man called Fidel and his family (location). Except for the €8 meals at our lodge, Fidel’s was the only place to eat within a great radius. He was genuinely happy to receive us for lunch every afternoon. Definitely pay him a visit if you pass through the area and you aren’t too fussy about your food.
The town center was 4 km away; a bit long, but a likable walk we took every afternoon. Locals clustered along the lakeshore, fishing and washing clothes, cars, or themselves. The second part of the route went along a charming road excavated through a hill topped with slender pines.
The main road was abuzz with a mixture of well-to-do folks and barefoot paupers. Downtown was rather upscale. It comprised several posh hotels and modern cafes and restaurants. International cuisine was popular; there was a concentration of pizzerias that would rival Napoli’s. A place called Lakozy was the one whose Malagasy food with a gourmet touch I enjoyed the most.
After our long daily walks to get to town, we’d then take a taxi every night to return to our lodge. Eric was a friendly and trustworthy driver we found to prearrange our trips. He speaks a bit of English in addition to French. You can call him up if you’re looking for a taxi in the area: 0345036867.
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Photos from Ambohidratrimo
View (and if you want use) all my photographs from Ambohidratrimo.
Accommodation and Activities in Madagascar
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