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'''Tsaranoro circumscribes the Tsaranoro Massif and Tsaranoro Valley, located at on the outskirts of [[Andringitra National Park ]] in southern Madagascar. The spectacular rock walls of the massif and the mindblowing beautiful valley offer countless numerous climbing routes and hiking trails. The more adventurous can participate in paragliding or even base jumping.'''

The rough granite walls of the Tsaranoro Massif are reach up to 800 metres high. Climbers from all over the world come to Tsaranoro to practise free climbing. Although the vertical cliffs were discovered by Di Taylor and Tony Howard already in 1981, it took was not until 1995 that the first route (, ''Rain Boto'') , was climbed by Kurt Albert and Berndt Arnold. The massif is divided into ''Karambony'' (500m) and ''Tsaranoro Be'' (800m).

The Tsaranoro Valley is a walkers paradise, far away from any industrial facilites, an ideal location for individual day treks or guided multi-day expeditions with overnight camping. The treks lead through open savanna and tropical humid or dry forest. Tsaranoro is the primary habitat for [[Ring-tailde tailed lemur|Ring-tailed lemurs]]. Various species of falcon, snakes, lizards, chameleons and plenty of orchids can also be observedfound. The best period for climbing and visiting the valley is from March to December.

The Tsaranoro Massif and Andringidra Massif form the natural border between the territories of the [[Bara]] and [[Betsileo]] people. It is believed that the name Tsaranoro originates at around 1820, a time when the Betsileo people where were fighting the [[Merina]] people who wanted tried to overthrow the their neighbouring kingdoms. Therefore, the Betsileo King Sahanambo was hiding together with his closest followers in a cave in the nearby highlands. The cave entrance was barricaded for several months, until food ran short and new provision provisions had to be obtained in the valley. The king ordered his two sisters, Ratsara and Ranoro, to walk down in the valley to organise fetch food. After the sisters left, the cave entrance was carefully closed again. As Ratsara and Ranoro faced no problems in organising new provisions they returned earlier as than expected and found the cave still closed. Even by making loud noises through , shouting and knocking , nobody opened. The Although, the sisters had enough to eat but no they were missing fresh water and therefore became weaker and weaker as the days went by until they finally died of thirst.

When King Sahanombo ordered the cave to be opened, he found his two sisters deadat the entrance. In their honour of them he named the highest rock ''Tsaranoro''. The three rocks on the left were named ''Vatovoarindrina'', - meaning "closed stone gates". Since those days it is ''[[fady]]'' (not allowedprohibited) to speak about talk of the Merina people or even speak with a Merina accent in within the sacred forest at the foot of the mountain. It is saidbelieved, if one breaks the person breaking the fady, the person will walk and walk in circles and gets get lost.