- INTRODUCTION
- MALAGASY CULTURE
- MALAGASY TRADITIONAL SPORT
- MALAGASY CUISINE
- BEACHES AND RIVERS
- MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS
- PURCHASE TIPS
- SITES AND ACTIVITIES
- MONUMENTS
- MALASY HANDICRAFTS
- TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS
- MADAGASCAR CONNECTING FLIGHTS
- MADAGASCAR NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES
- FAUNA AND FLORA OF MADAGASCAR
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MADAGASCAR
- THE SOUTH WEST AND WESTERN REGIONS
- THE SOUTH EAST REGION
- THE NORTH WEST REGION
- THE NORTH EAST AND EAST REGIONS
- THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
MALAGASY TRADITIONAL SPORT
An exceptional sport, the Savika
Madagascar offers a wide range of entertainments and leisure activities, from the beauty contest or fampitaha to wrestling like the Moraingy or Diamanga, passing by the fanorona, a game close to chess. But the most spectacular, the one that tourists are beginning to rush in for, is the savika, a typically malagasy bullfighting, for which the town of Ambositra has constructed arenas of over 4000 seats. The challenge for the torero is to hold as long as possible on the enraged animal, holding on its neck or its hump, running the risk of being gored or trampled on. Scars on the thighs, arms, belly or even on top of the head are exhibited proudly and often in a burst of laughter. For them, the zebu will never be an enemy, just a big playmate which may be dangerous in case of bad handling. The Savika ussually takes place at easter and Whit period at Ambositra.
The Malagasy culture is so diverse as it has 18 tribes.
