The area around Fianarantsoa has two destinations worth a dedicated excursion. Ranomafana National Park, about 60 km to the northwest, is one of the best places in Madagascar to see lemurs in dense montane rainforest, along with hot springs and good hiking. The town of Ambalavao, 50 km to the south on Route Nationale 7, is known for its Antaimoro paper factory — more famous than the one in Fianarantsoa itself — and the nearby Anja Community Reserve, a small but rewarding lemur sanctuary.