La Rizière

The 10 Comfort Rooms are situated across the two conjoined buildings that La Riziére comprises. With rustic teak furnishings and thematic use of greens throughout the decor which is reminiscent of the agricultural history of the building in rice cultivation, the rooms are comfortable and casually elegant. The rooms offer views over either the stunning manicured gardens or the lush green valley that Finarantsoa is ensconced in.

Each room is available with either twin or double beds, an extra bed can be provided in some rooms, and an en suite with a shower and vanity sink unit.

The Family Suite is nestled under the eaves of the Betsileo building, creating a bright and interestingly angular space in the lounge area with a large porthole window. The Suite comprises a double room, twin room, separate lounge area and en suite and is perfect for families or larger groups travelling together.

Furnished with teak pieces and in keeping with the decor reminiscent of the building’s historic use for rice cultivation, the suite offers views over the rice paddies below.

Named for a variety of rice grown in the Fianalian High Plateau, Vary Mena offers guests a refined dining experience that is enhanced by elements of traditional Malagasy cuisine. The restaurant offers three-course a la carte menus for lunch and at dinner guests can choose from the educational menu which is prepared by students of the hotel school.

Situated in a belvedere amongst the lush greenery of the eucalyptus and flowering ravinala, the Pavilion Bar offers delightful cocktails with a variety of classic favourites and those with a distinct Malagasy twist for the more adventurous drinker.

In the evenings, the Pavilion Bar is host to live music and guests can enjoy tapas prepared by the chef in the beautiful gardens whilst watching the sunset.

Established in 1991, Ranomafana became a UNESCO World Heritage site a few years later. Today this rugged, mountainous park covers an area of over 40,000 hectares of rainforest and is one of the most important mammal sites in Madagascar, protecting 12 species of lemur.

These include: the red-bellied lemur, red-fronted brown lemur, Milne-Edwards’ sifaka, small-toothed sportive lemur, eastern woolly lemur and lesser bamboo lemur – plus the rare, and recently rediscovered, greater bamboo lemur and golden bamboo lemur, both species that the park was created to protect.

Standing on the edge of the high plateau, elevations vary between 600 and 1,400ms resulting in vegetation ranging from lowland rainforest to cloud forest to high plateau forest. The scenery is superb, with white-water rivers cascading down steep rainforest-clad slopes. Ranomafana village lies on the banks of the Namorona River, which descends to the east coast.

Located just 2km east of Ranomafana, the arboretum is home to over 250 species of plant, including 36 tree species, many of which are extremely rare. The arboretum is also home to several species of chameleon,  including the rare giant Parsons chameleon which is endemic to only a few spots in Madagascar.

Ride through the man-made waterways of Canal des Pangalanes, linking a series of lagoons in an inland waterway. Experience the stunning variety of flora and fauna from the water, offering close encounters with animals and birds as they search for food and interact with each other whilst cruising along the waterway. Many of the endemic plants that can be seen have traditional medicinal use, which experienced guides can point out. Breaks can be taken at the villages along the way, where local cuisine can be sampled, or stop at one of the many pristine beaches along the shores.

Take a trail through pristine nature at Parc National de l’Andringitra, a World Heritage Site and part of the rainforests of the Atsinanana. Established in 1999, the park ranks among the country’s most biodiverse places, with 13 species of lemur among 54 mammal and 50 amphibian species. Imarivo Lanitra peak stands at 2,658 m (8,720 ft) in a granite outcrop, a symbol of the park’s rough terrain, high mountains, and deep valleys and ridges. Ranging from wet tropical forests to montane sclerophyllous forests with bamboo and lichen at high altitudes, the park also features over 100 bird species.

Since 2012, La Rizière hospitality school has allowed young people who find themselves in a vulnerable socio-economic situation to learn new vocational skills adapted to the needs of the hospitality sector. Three specialities, defined by professionals from the country, are offered: commis chef, waiter/bartender or valet/housekeeping. La Rizière’s high-quality hotel restaurant next to the hospitality school allows students to practice in real-life conditions and, thus, increase their prospects of finding a job after graduation.

The school also favours the personal development of each student, in particular with the creation in 2016 of language, dance, singing, theatre and even gardening clubs, themes that were chosen by the young people themselves. Finally, a monitoring, guidance and employment office now takes charge of supporting each young person individually during and after training.

Income from the operation of the hotel-restaurant finances training and reduces the tuition fees of students from underprivileged backgrounds.