The Central Region

From Mgias

Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Landscapes and Geological Formations 1.2 Lemurs 1.3 Plant Life 1.4 Cultural History 2 Trip Planner 2.1 Isalo National Park 2.2 Mountain rainforested areas 2.3 High mountain forest area

Introduction

The Central Region comprises the middle area of the island, known as the “Haut plateau” or highlands which occurs from 800m to 2700m high. These consist of

1. Eroded hills,
2. Massive granite outcroppings,
3. Extinct volcanoes with crater lakes and hot springs,
4. Alluvial plains and marsh which have been converted into irrigated rice paddies
5. The grasslands that cover most of this region were originally virgin rainforests consisting of native vegetation that have now been cleared.

Landscapes and Geological Formations

This region has probably the greatest diversity scenery, variety of people, culture and architecture. It offers rainforested parks and reserves, plus breathtaking panoramas. It is therefore the best region for canoeing, rafting and hang-gliding. Furthermore, it is on route to the southern unspoiled beach.

It features the following in protected inaccessable areas and offers beautiful landscapes and hiking trails:

1. The remaining rainforest
2. The mountain rainforest which occurs between 800m to 1300m altitude with annual rainfall exceeding 1500mm. Species diversity is as high as in the Eastern Region but there are more epiphytes.
3. The high mountain forest which lies above 1300m to 2870m high, with temperatures which can drop below 0°celcius during the cold winter nights. The forest is composed with evergreen woodyplants with small and tough leaves and some succulent plants growing on the rocky eroded mountains.
4. The fascinating "ruiniform" sandstone karoo massif of Isalo composed of crystalline rock and has been sculptured by the blistering wind into weird shapes and cut through with impressive canyons.

The central region is also the country’s richest mining area for semi- precious and precious stones including sapphire, ruby, emerald, amethist, beryl, citrine, aquamarine.

Lemurs

This area is holding a high varieties of lemurs:transition forest of the central domain of Isalo park house three lemur species, and the lemurs of rainforest.

1. The ring-tailed lemur,
2. Verreaux’s sifaka and
3. The brown lemur.
4. Indri lemur.
5. Bamboo sp ( 4 varieties).
6. Diademed's sifaka.
7. Brown mouse lemur.
8. Eastern woolly lemur.
9. Sportive lemur.
10. aye-aye...
11. greater dwarf lemur.

Plant Life

It is also home to rare endemic plants that have adapted to harsh thirst-land conditions. These include

1. The succulents Pachipodium rosulatum rosulatum,
2. Aloe isaloensis,
3. Euphorbia duvani and
4. Kalanchoe sp. These cling to rocky hillsides.

Cultural History

The central region is not only a center for crafts, but it is also a route to some workshops of many talented craft people like woodcarvers, weavers, and painters. It has also a number of historical churches and sites like the Ambohimanga palace in the capital city, Antananarivo. This is an ancient royal palace dating back at least two centuries.

Famadihana or exhumation ceremony is the most important religious event for the Merina people and other Highlander ethnic groups, it is a heritage from the Indonesian tradition.

Malagasy people attach extraordinary importance to their death and rituals and funeral ceremonies, because they beleive in the power of the dead ancestor to continue to look after the family. The spirit of the dead is considered as the transition between the living people and god creator. So they worship their dead and rejoice in ritual ceremonies such as exhumation. It is a kind of honor ceremony that the living people devote to the deceased person. It occurs few years after the burial. It consists of taking the corps of deceased out of the family tomb and rewrapping it with a new shroud. During the ceremony there is a big feast, dancing and traditional music. The whole family, friends and neighbors are invited to attend.

Today, typical house structures have a strong European influence, particularly those of the Merina. The two storied brick houses have carved wooden balconies, pillars and tiled rooves. These are spread throughout the central highlands.

Trip Planner

Isalo National Park

Isalo National Park boasts fabulous trails for trekking and camping safaris for 2 to 5 days. The park also lies on the highway through the south.

Mountain rainforested areas

• Perinet special reserve (Eastern Region)
• Ranomafana national park.

High mountain forest area

Andringitra national park(near Ambalavao), one of the best trekking sites, hang-gliding and rock-climbing site.

ITINARY IN THE CENTRAL REGION Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ranomafana national park, Fianarantsoa, Isalo national Park, Ifaty or Anakao, fly back to Antananarivo : 10 days(Ifaty) and 11 days(Anakao).

Extension (hiking):

• Toliara, Fort-dauphin,Berenty + 3 days (Southern Region)
• Trekking in Isalo + 5 days
• Trekking in Andringitra + 2 to 4 days
• Trekking in Zafimaniry (Antoetra - Ifanadiana) + 5 to 6 days
• Trekking in Ambohimahamasina -Ifanirea + 4 to 5 days