Today was something of a bonus day in and around Antsirabe. According to the original itinerary, we should have been on the road again, but the change in plans had left us with an extra day in the area – including a bonus hike. Not a bad deal!

Our morning took us to Betafo, where the weekly market was in full swing. Before diving into the market itself, we made a short stop at a local workshop producing charrettes – the traditional carts pulled by zebu cattle. We were told that building one takes around two weeks, provided all the necessary materials are available. A nice little insight into a very practical piece of local craftsmanship.

After passing through the market, we continued to the outskirts of the village and set off on a hike through the surrounding countryside. The route took us across rice paddies and through small villages, with plenty of opportunities to watch farmers going about their daily work – still relying on the traditional power of their zebus. The terraced fields, the rural villages and the views across the paddies made for a really enjoyable walk. After yesterday’s long hours in the vehicle, it was good to stretch our legs again.

Dinner was back in Antsirabe. One of the dishes on offer was dried zebu meat, which sounded somewhat less appealing than it turned out to be. Rather than being dry and tough, it came as a tasty, goulash-style no-knife-needed dish. Together with a beer fresh from the tap this made for a surprisingly good end of a great day.