Return to the past, discover the ancient city of Ihosy

 
Ihosy is a district of Madagascar, located in the southeastern part of the province of Fianarantsoa, in the region of Ihorombe. It is composed of seventeen rural and urban communes. Ihosy is a key step in travelling to the South of Madagascar. Located at the crossroads leading to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) and Tulear, Ihosy is best known for its surroundings, including the famous Isalo National Park.
 
Ihosy of yesteryear is a cultural site. As the name suggests, it was an old town built by the kings of the BARA ethnic group (Malagasy ethnic group of the south). Before transferring the village, the King Bara erected the city of Ihosy on the hill called "Ihosy of Antan". This population is nomadic, composed of pastoralists and herders.. Nomadic people, they are always looking for a large piece of land for their herds of zebus, which is why they had to leave the " Ihosy d’antan" hill.
 
 
Apart from the remnants of cultural relics, this place is the sign of the evangelisation of Norwegian missionaries in Ihosy. Norwegian missionaries built a temple on this hill. It remains one of the most visited sites and admired by holidaymakers who come to visit the region. This ancient city is also one of the rare heritage that marks the arrival of religion in Madagascar by missionaries.
 
This article was featured in Prime Magazine February 2018

Useful Information

When to go

Ihosy has a desert climate (BWh) according to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. The average temperature in Ihosy is 23.1 ° C. The best months to go to Ihosy are between February and October.

How to get there

To get to Ihosy you could take the regular flight of the airline Air Madagascar which ensures regular flights between Antananarivo and Toliara. From Toliara, take the road to Ihosy, at a distance of 200kms, a long road certainly, but the trip is worth the detour. From Fianarantsoa, ​​drive on the RN7 heading for the Ihosy destination.

Where to stay

To stay, the best is to go to Ranohira city. You have the choice between Hotel H1, Hotel Isalo Rock Lodge, Hotel Relais de la Reine, Hotel Jardin du Roy.

Where to eat

The hotels mentioned above will prepare delicious meals. Specialities of all kinds: European cuisine, Malagasy cuisine ...

What to see

In Ranohira, do not forget to visit Isalo Park, famous for its impressive canyons carved by erosion and up to 1240m high. However, some places of the site are sacred, it is better to respect the taboos that the guides will list during the visit.