A number of routes have been laid out by the departments and organizations in charge of heritage preservation. It is easy of access and the least courageous may reach it comfortably by car, or on foot following winding alleys, or even by taking a short cut along the numerous stairways the toughest of which is the one that starts from Mahamasina stadium and which numbers as many as 480 steps!
THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE
The 12 sacred hills are favourable places for hiking and each of them may be toured in combination with other neighbouring hills in a typical scenery of rice fields, slopes, remnants of ancient red earth walls. Their summits have often become places for “Fanasinana” ( Ancestors’ cult) painted in the red and white royal colours. In the countryside to the north of Antananarivo, which is called Avaradrano, in villages such as Lazaina, Ambatofotsy or Manandriana , you will admire the ancient Merina aristocratic dwellings, all built in height. To the southwest, Antsahadinta goes back even further in time with its wooden and vegetal fiber houses, its commemorative stones in memory of some victory, and its ancient tombs.
The ANKARATRA
Access to this mythical and most interesting chain is by Manjakatompo, 20 km to the west of Ambatolampy along the RN7. From this station at over 2000m altitude, climbing the Mount Tsiafajavona will be done following a trail lined with lakes, falls and evidence of animist cult.
TRAILS AND EARTH ROADS
The province of Antananarivo has an incredible network of rural roads that operators in VTT or Quad are beginning to be interested in. It is absolutely possible to reach Ampefy, Mantasoa or even Antsirabe without following any section of the National Road at all!
