Today started with a visit to a traditional papermaking workshop in Ambalavao. The local Antaimoro people have a long tradition of papermaking, associated with the arrival of Muslim migrants and their writing traditions. We got to see how the paper is still made by hand from the bark of local plants known as avoha, sometimes decorated with delicate flowers. Of course, there was also an opportunity to browse the finished products and perhaps pick up a souvenir or two.

The next leg was another 230 km, this time towards Ranohira, the gateway to Isalo National Park. The route took us through changing landscapes, with the impressive Andringitra mountain massif providing a backdrop along the way.

On arrival in Ranohira, we had about an hour at the hotel, a welcome opportunity to recharge our electronics and (for some) to get a pool fix. There was little time to settle in though: soon it was back onto the bus for the final stretch of 6 km, taking us right into the national park.

From the parking area, we still had another kilometer to walk to reach the campsite, which was to be our home for the next two nights. We had arrived at the starting point of our next adventure: two days of trekking through the landscapes of Isalo National Park.