Antsirabe, Water City

 
 
Calm reigns in this city. It is the many rickshaws that animate its streets lined with magnificent trees including jacarandas. Antsirabe can be literally translated as 'where there is a lot of salt'. It takes its name from the former rock salt operation in the area. In a volcanic landscape, beautiful brick houses typical of traditional highland architecture alternate with colonial features.
 
Antsirabe, the capital of the Vakinankaratra Region, is surrounded by three lakes: Andraikiba, Ranomafana and Tritriva, but it is also thanks to the thermal centre established in the city that it has been qualified as a 'water city'. Apart from relaxation, thermal waters have benefits for joint diseases. Located in the heart of the city the Centre National de Crénothérapie et de Thermo Climatisme welcomes tourists and patients for care, massage or fitness treatments.
 
Antsirabe is also known for its fruit, dairy and vegetable production. This area is a rice and viticulture centre. Its prosperity is derived from its food and textile industries. Finally, its mineralogical richness is a delight for jewellers: the Sahatany valley provides fine stones such as tourmaline, garnets, béryls, topazes while Mount Ibity contains semi-precious stones mainly quartz and crystals.
 
This article was featured in Prime Magazine September 2019

Useful Information

When to go

The best time to visit Antsirabe is between March and October. Even if the temperature can drop to 0°C during the southern winter, you can still warm up in the thermal waters.

How to get there

By rental car or bush taxi, you have to take the RN7 to Tulear to reach Antsirabe. It takes about 2h 30mn to travel 170km after passing through Behenjy and Ambatolampy.

Where to stay

You will have a multitude of choices in terms of hotels in the water city. Book your rooms at Hôtel des Thermes, Le Royal Palace, Imperial Hotel or Hôtel Diamant.

Where to eat

You can eat in the restaurant of your hotel or try culinary experiences in other restaurants such as: The Rickshaw, the Dream or Zandina.

What to see

The mountainous region of Antsirabe offers many hiking and trekking routes: Mount Ibity, to the south, rises to 2225m and its ascent takes an average of three hours. Horse or mountain bike rides are also on the programme around the city. A trip to the south-west will allow you to spend some memorable moments at Lake Tritriva and learn about the love story of Rabenimby and Ravolahanta.