Ranomafana to Ansirabe

It wasn't surprising after the rain the night before that the frogs were out in the gardens of the hotel. Ramonafana is known for its frogs and, as we didn't see any, but heard lots, during our walk in the park, it was nice to find these before we left. For the purists the first is Boofis aff miniatis ramonafanakaly and the second the Madagascan green bright eyed tree frog.

We passed this impressive waterfall on the main road through the park.

Then entered the agricultural land of the high plateau.

It was peanut season so we bought a few tin fulls...

...while entertaining a small crowd of onlookers.

We stopped to visit a Betsilao house. Again a crowd formed.

Inside was pretty desperate. Animals downstairs plus a removable ladder for security...

..parents on the second floor...

...and top floor for cooking and the four children.

There was a lot of planted eucalyptus forest and charcoal production. A bag like these costs about $3

It was rice planting time and there was lots of activity in the paddies..

..and we had lunch in Ambrosita on a terrace overlooking more rice fields.

We arrived in Andrisabe late afternoon, thus closing our SW loop. The sun on the rice fields was quite beautiful.

We did the touristy handicraft circuit, but found it fairly interesting, particularly the ingenuity shown. This guy made miniatures from old cans and wire

This guy was making wooden inlay pictures

Some fine needlework here

Finally, artifacts from zebu horn, the guy here showing the old jeans they cut polishing clothes from.

Then it was back to one of our favourite hotels of the trip, the Trianon, and over the road for wood fired pizza for dinner.