|
Lake Itasy, located approx. 80 miles west of Tana, is a nice weekend getaway. To get there, take the RN1 to Analavory, then turn left on the RN 43 to Ampefy. The road is excellent . The nearby village of ampefy is full of colonial like archictecture.
Where to stay
There is a charming and clean, if basic, hotel called the Kavitaha (tel. 48.840.04) which is situated on the lake. Bungalow rooms with shower are around 20-25 Ar/night. The hotel restaurant, on a very pleasant shaded terrace overlooking the lake, serves good 3-course meals. Lake Itasy is famous for its fish and we really enjoyed the black bass (if it’s not on the menu, you may be able to request it if you give some advance notice). rowboats and a pedal-o for rent at the hotel. The swimming pool is outrageoulsy expensive..
There is another excellent restaurant, L’Auberge de Jacki, some 2 km up the road. Excellent dinners!! Kids meal too. range 10.000 Ar to 20.000Ar. Drawback, the bungalow are in poor condition ( not hot water, etc). Range 25.000 Ar /Night. tel 0324076413.
We recommend a new place in town , La terrasse.
Tel 48 840 28 - cell : 032 07 167 80 .
The place is very well kept by a Frenchman and his Malagasy wife. Every thing is clean and the housing is the less expensive of all. (25.000 Ariary). Food is great too.
Excursions
The first goes to the Chutes de la Lily, an impressive waterfall, located down a 5 km dirt track starting at the midpoint (clearly signposted) between Analavory and Ampefy. A walking track leads downstream to a second waterfall.
Another excursion involves taking a very poor track for about 8 km starting from a marked turnoff from the RN1 located approximately 4 km west of Analavory. It is signposted GEYSER, I believe. There is another turn-off to the left from this track which is possibly not marked but I think maybe it was the last time I was there. I think it is the only left turn from that dirt road. When you get there, you will park above the small river. The road ends here. There is a bridge to cross the river to where the geysers are. There are no picnic facilities like tables with umbrellas, but it is a nice place to have a picnic if it is not crowded. Once I was the only one there. But the second time, with the signs, there were lots of Malagasy. The tallest geyser spurts up only about 4 feet, so don’t expect “Old Faithful.”
Do not forget to go to Ilot de la vierge. The view is fantastic over the lake and the surroundings.
|