Miandrivazo - Warm and Welcoming

 
Miandrivazo was the place where King Radama I awaited his sweetheart with impatience and anxiety. Today it is an important tourist city. According to the legend, "miandry vazo aho" (literally "I am waiting for my wife") is the statement made by Radama I when he awaited the woman he wished to marry and whom he had been looking for in the nearby city of Malaimbandy. This story left
its imprint on Miandrivazo forever, since it took its name from this sovereign phrase.
 
The city of Miandrivazo is located between the Bemaraha plateau (in the west of the island) and the Bongolava range. It is a typical Malagasy city, with cattle breeding as the main activity of the inhabitants. Tobacco and cotton crops, on either side of the alleys, set a folk-style background, enhanced by the traditional Malagasy houses that pervade this city, considered the hottest of Madagascar. And while warmth attracts tourists, warmth and human friendliness make them want to stay.
 
Travelling to Miandrivazo is an incredible adventure. The place is known as the starting point for the descent of the river Tsiribihina by dugout canoe, the beginning of an unforgettable and magnificent experience.
 
 
This article was featured in Prime Magazine December 2018

Useful Information

When to go

Miandrivazo's geographical location is such that the wind hardly blows at all. With an average temperature of 28°C, sunshine is guaranteed all year long, a rare climate in Madagascar, which makes the site accessible throughout the year.

How to get there

From Antananarivo to Miandrivazo, the road is easily passable and does not cause any major problems. From Antananarivo, take the RN7 to Antsirabe. From Antsirabe, follow the RN34 towards Morondava. If you venture into bush taxis, it is the same itinerary but in two stages since you need to switch from one to another at the Antsirabe bus station.

Where to stay

The Princess Tsiribihina Hotel, in the city centre is modern and comfortable. At sunset, the pool offers a breathtaking view over the Menabe plains. Le Coin d'Or, located in the centre of the village, is affordable and very pleasant.

Where to eat

Restaurants are part of the hotel services offered. But if you want to have a change, the restaurant "Hôtely" offers very fine Malagasy and European cuisine.

What to see

While staying in town, you can visit the tobacco and cotton plantations. As you reach higher, enjoy a breathtaking view over the valley, where the Vakeny, Mahajo and Manio rivers join the Tsiribihina. Afterwards, try the experience of descending the Tsiribihina by canoe (with a local guide). Take the opportunity to swim in a natural waterfall and observe bats, lemurs, chameleons, etc. Don't miss the Mahajilo Falls, approximately 4 km away from Miandrivazo.