Gardens & village
Botanical Garden & Orchids
An eco-garden by the lake
The full botanical richness of Madagascar
The garden at Lac Hôtel is a true invitation to discover the rich botanical heritage of Madagascar. It showcases a diverse collection of tropical flowers, traveler's trees, orchids, cacti, bonsai, and native plants.
Designed with total respect for the environment, this peaceful sanctuary brings nature and biodiversity together, offering every visitor an unforgettable sensory experience.
Orchids in the spotlight
Among all these species, our orchids hold a particularly special place. Delicate and fascinating, they feature numerous varieties with unique shapes and colors, offering a refined natural spectacle throughout the year.
With each season comes a different bloom, a new surprise on every stay.
What you will find
Orchids
Around fifty Malagasy species under shaded greenhouses: Cymbidium, Angraecum, Eulophiella.
Traveller's trees
Madagascar's emblem (Ravenala madagascariensis), aligned facing the lake.
Bonsai
A hand-sculpted collection. Some specimens are over 30 years old.
Cacti & succulents
Endemic specimens from the South: Pachypodium, Aloe, Euphorbia.
Organic garden (2 ha)
Fruit, vegetables and aromatic herbs grown chemical-free for the kitchen.
Hives & pollinators
Our bees pollinate the garden and produce our homemade honey.
Colours of the garden
A garden for everyone
Beds are labelled in Latin and Malagasy to help you identify each species. The visit is free for our guests; a botanical guide from the team can join you on request.
The village of Sahambavy
A few steps from the hotel, the village of Sahambavy moves to the peaceful rhythm of the Betsileo highlands. Terraced rice paddies, red-earth houses, welcoming smiles: an authentic stop, far from the beaten track.
“The field of women”
In Malagasy, Sahambavy means “the field of women”: tradition has it that these fertile lands were farmed by the women of the village, who gave them their name.
Betsileo life can still be discovered here in the simplest of ways: everyday gestures, rice granaries, zebus wandering home at dusk.
Terraced paddies and living craftsmanship
Around the lake, the rice paddies weave a patchwork of greens that changes with the seasons. In the village, artisans keep alive skills handed down from generation to generation.
Our team will gladly arrange an accompanied walk to meet the villagers, simply and with full respect for their traditions.
