The 17 things to do in Madagascar

Visit Madagascar: what are the best things to do and see in this country that is surnamed the “Rouge Island” or the “great island”?

Located in the Indian Ocean, the immense island of Madagascar , this island on red earth, this place with a thousand fantasies, is a place of discovery and travel. Between its climate, its fauna, its flora, its incredible landscapes and its adorable population, how not to fall in love with this island that is once and a half greater than France?

Whether you love sport, cultural activities, parks or fishing or you can enjoy a beautiful beach, Madagascar Island offers its thousands and beauty both African and Asian.

An island with a well-established personality but also a language, a gastronomy and a history that come into the head of any traveler and tourist as a stubborn music. Madagascar enchants her, an island with a thousand faces that visits the rhythm of the minibuses and this extraordinary atmosphere. If you are a sportsman, if you like hiking, trekking, a trip to Madagascar will offer you about 5500 km of coastline: huge beaches, rocky coasts with a loss of sight, heavenly landscapes, this is the perfect place to walk hours and discover a land and its soul.

For the aficionados of nature, for those who love to lose themselves away from the civilized world, why not try the island of Sainte-Marie or Mahambo? It will be an opportunity to see for the first time a real humpback whale in its element. The island of Madagascar also offers numerous parks and sites that are listed on UNESCO’s world heritage: the Park of Ankara, the Park of Marojejy are very important natural reserves protecting very rare species and more than 250 species of birds as an example.

We give you our 17 essential ideas to know what to do and what to visit in Madagascar:

1. Antananarivo

Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive in French, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The Malagasy capital is one of the most dynamic cities in all of Africa, and here you will enjoy rich historical, architectural and cultural sites throughout this city built on several hills, with palaces and churches along its paved streets.

The city is divided into 3 levels: the Lower Town, the Middle City and the Upper City. Go for a tour along the Independence Street: it’s certainly where you’ll find lots of beggars, but you’ll really be in the heart of the city, close to the premises. Visit the Queen’s Castle (about 10,000 Ar/pers) through its gardens, and don’t hesitate to take a guide (25,000 Ar more) that will teach you a little more about the country’s history. You can also go for a walk around Anosy Lake which sits in the middle of the city centre.

2. The island of Nosy Be

Nosy Be is the largest and certainly the most beautiful seaside resort in Madagascar, located off the northwest coast. Its tropical climate and superb location make it a perfect holiday destination. The beaches of Nosy Be are ideal for swimming because they gradually spread, remaining shallow to kilometers in the water. They are peaceful and we forget all the stress, with pirogues abandoned in the sand and quiet off.

3. The Allée des Baobabs

The aisle of the baobabs or avenue des baobabs is a group of baobabs that line the road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina in the region of Menabe in the west of Madagascar. Borrowing this road is a magical and impressive moment. It is a row of about 20 to 25 large baobabs along a 260-metre dirt road in the midst of pastures between Morondava and Belo Tsiribihina. The striking landscape of this very "photogenic" place attracts travellers from all over the world, making it one of the most visited places in the region. Since 2007, the Ministry of Environment, Ecology and Forests has given this place the status of temporary protected area, which is the first step towards the classification of "national monument" in Madagascar.

To get there, you have to go to Morondava, which you can reach by the road, by plane or by the sea. By car, you have to leave the famous RN 7 in Antsirabe and take RN 44 towards Morondava (600 km or 9 hours drive).

4. Isalo National Park

The Isalo National Park is currently the most visited park in Madagascar. Often called Jurassic Park, it houses some of the most beautiful landscapes of the island. The Isalo landscape consists of eroded ruiniform sandstone formations dating from the Jurassic period, deep canyons with riparian forests, palm-lined oasis, fire-resistant tapia forests and clear grasslands. It is probably the best place to see the catta lemurs (annel-tailed lemurs) and sifakas of white glass dance and jump. It is also a sacred place for the Bara tribe, including funeral sites are noticed by tiny stone mounds placed in crevasses on the rock.

For those who love trekking and hiking, the park is a baunt. Once you’ve taken a bit of height, you’ll have the chance to admire a sensational view of what is surnamed the Colorado Malagasy.

5. Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana is one of the most famous and important parks in Madagascar. Created in 1991 following the discovery in 1986 of the golden bamboo lemur, Ranomafana Park served as a model for subsequent parks and reserves in the country and even abroad. Note that once you venture into the remote areas where most tourists don’t go, that’s when you live the real experience with wildlife.

6. A walk on the river Tsiribihina

One of the unique ways to explore the country is by turn in canoe or canoe on the Tsiribihina River. There are several famous companies that organize excursions and some even offer to camp on the shore and cook under the stars while the fauna surrounds you and soothes you before you fall asleep.

7. Tsingy National Park of Bemaraha

Tsingy de Bemaraha is one of the most recent parks in Madagascar (opened in 1998). The 72,340 hectares of Bemaraha are especially famous for their Tsingy, sharp limestone pinacles up to 45 meters high. These unique formations in the world awaken the curiosity of botanists, geologists, environmentalists and biologists. Through the Tsingy are canyons and gorges rich in fauna and flora. They are home to a number of animal species, including 11 types of lemurians (e.g., the Sifaka de Decken, the red-headed lemurs and the Pygargue of Madagascar, a species of raptors among the fewest in the world). The gorges of the Manambolo River that form the southern boundary of the park are simply breathtaking and beautiful, and it is possible to make a canoe descent.

8. Belo on the sea

For lovers of beautiful beaches, that of Belo sur Mer is the ideal place to meet. You can relax at leisure while admiring the pirogues that come back and go fishing. Here it is interesting to go to see the salines as well as to watch work the marine carpenters that produce gulls following a model of the nineteenth century.

9. Ankazobe

This town is about 40 kilometers from the capital, Antananarivo. Unlike large cities, the streets are not tarnished and you will find the red earth that contrasts with the elements and the immaculate sky. In order to trade bibelots, to discover the true Malagasy community, to admire charming places, typical, it is the perfect place to make the full of memories. However, if you don’t have much time on your trip, it’s not a must-see place on the island, but Ankazobe remains a nice place of passage.

10. Island to the Nattes

Located south of the island of Sainte Marie , the island of Les Nattes is a true little paradise in Madagascar. It is a site known for hiking trails but also for its beaches. This place is made for all those who want to reconnect with Lady Nature, be in harmony with the environment and enjoy, if possible, the unique spectacle of humpback whales.

11. Diego-Suarez Bay

Diego-Suarez Bay is located at the northern tip of Madagascar and owes its name to two Portuguese navigators from the 15th and 16th century. This bay consists of 4 bays, one of which is considered a sacred place. Discover this little corner out of nowhere, hum the atmosphere of the port city of Antsiranana, and finally visit the National Park of the Amber Mountain.

12. Marojejy National Park

Marojejy National Park is located in the northwest of the island. With an area of 55,500 hectares, an incredibly dense forest that can reach the 2000 metres above sea level, this place is today decreed as a nature reserve and is part of UNESCO’s world heritage. In the lower part of the park you will find a real jungle that is both hot and dense and the higher you climb up, the more small forests you encounter: all this biodiversity offers the opportunity to shelter more than 110 species of birds, 140 species of snakes and dozens of lemurians. Today, this park is open to the public and it is also a privileged place for hikers.

13. Nahampoana Reserve

Near Tôlanaro (or Fort-Dauphin) is the reserve of Nahampoana where you will be able to discover many animals including the famous lemurians but also a diversity in the flora that is just incredible: between eucalyptus, bamboo, hibiscus, camphriers, you will not have enough of your eyes to immerse yourself in this greenery so present and so fragrant. Note that it is possible to make a small dip in a cascade.

14. The Makis Canyon

At the departure of Ranohira, one of the nice walks to do is that of the Makis canyon. With meadows with a loss of sight, you will forget all your landmarks and suddenly, while you walk quietly, it is at this precise moment that will arise before your astonishing eyes of lemurians. Do not forget to take a guide with you because the terrain is not always secure and the slopes are sometimes slippery because of wet stones.

15. Baie des Dunes

About 20 kilometers from Diego-Suarez, the "Three Bays" follow each other (Sakalava Bay, Pigeon Bay and Dunes Bay). The latter, with its white sand, attracts more and more people: with its turquoise water, its breathtaking seabed, its wild coast, you have the impression that this little piece of paradise is within your reach and that no one can pull you out. To relax, to tan serenely, to have fun in the waves, to picnic in one of the caves while looking at the horizon and the blue sky, the Bay of Dunes is surely one of the favorite places of lovers of the island. And we understand why...

16. Anja’s reserve

Located 15 minutes by car from the city of Ambalavao in the center of the country, the park of Anja lets you discover both day and night: you will be able to discover an extraordinary fauna between chameleons, lemurians and multicolor insects that play illusion with the floral elements. The visit is very pleasant and it is possible to take many photo breaks.

17. Saint Mary Island (Santa Maria)

In the east of Madagascar, this island makes it possible to enjoy the beach as well as coral reefs for those who like to scuba diving. However, most tourists come there because it is an excellent spot to observe whales.

How to get to Madagascar?

The vast majority of international flights arrive at Ivato-Antananarivo International Airport, but you can land to other Malagasy tourist destinations (Nosy Be, island Sainte-Marie, Mahajanga). From France, the country is served by Air Madagascar, Air France and Corsair. To find a cheap flight to Madagascar, visit our partner's website Ulysses .

Where to sleep in Madagascar?

According to your budget, we find everything for staying in Madagascar : from the simple box in falafy (palm) to the chic hotel in an old colonial building. Intermediate addresses are generally clean, even if the facilities (plombery...) are often old. The hotels are a little more expensive in Antananarivo and on tourist sites such as Nosy Be or Sainte-Marie. During the local summer, "high season" supplements are applied. To find a cheap hotel in Madagascar, search this Compare hotels .