14 must-see tourist attractions to visit in Madagascar
14 must-see tourist attractions to visit in Madagascar
Beaches of fine sand, coconut palms, tropical forest, coral reef, exceptional flora and fauna, Madagascar is a dream destination for lovers of nature and tropical landscapes. If you’re lucky enough to go on a trip, there are 14 must-see tourist attractions to visit urgently.
Located off the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is the fifth largest island in the world. It is almost the size of Texas.
- 1/ THE PALACE OF QUEEN ANTANANARIVO
The Palace of the Queen of Antananarivo was the home of the kings and queen of Madagascar in the 19th century. This is one of the monuments that is worth seeing. It is built of wood by the French Jean Laborde and surrounded by stone walls by the English missionary James Cameron. It is located in Nosy Be Antananarivo (also called Antananarivo or Tana), which is the capital of Madagascar with less than two million inhabitants..
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the palace of Antananarivo.
- Stroll through the palace.
- 2/ NOSY BE
Nosy Be island nicknamed “the island of perfume” is also a place not to be missed, with its captivating scents of ylang ylang. Coconut palms, tropical sandy beaches, ylang-ylang plantations, a wide range of hotels, in all price ranges, is one of the seaside sites that attract thousands of tourists to the world. People scramble to enjoy the turquoise water, calm waters and seafood restaurants.
What are the different activities to perform?
- Water sports: surfing and scuba diving.
- Fishing activities on the island.
- Bathing and sunbathing on the beaches. The most frequented beach is that of Ambatioloaka.
- Whale watching.
- 3/ SAINTE-MARIE ISLAND
Off the east coast of Madagascar is Sainte-Marie island. With sandy beaches bordered by coconut palms, clear waters, a tropical forest and coral reefs, Sainte-Marie is particularly popular for European tourists. It is one of the tourist attractions of Madagascar. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the island attracted many pirates. If you’re on the island, you can explore the pirate cemetery.
What are the different activities to do?
- Observation of brush whales, which migrate there around July.
- Visit the wrecks of pirate ships in the shallows and the bay of Forbans.
- Explore the pirate cemetery.
- 4 / THE AVENUE OF BAOBABS
In the west of Madagascar, between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina, there is the avenue of baobabs. It is a group of 12 Baobab trees of the type Adansonia grandidieri of 30 meters which are established on the dirt road. Baobab Avenue is one of the most popular and photographed sites on the island. On the other hand, this site is free, it does not have a visitor center or entry fee.
- 5/ THE VILLAGE AND THE ROYAL HILL OF AMBOHIMANGA
The village of Ambohimanga is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a symbol of the identity of the Malagasy people. There is the royal hill of Ambohimanga, which has been the most sacred place of the Malagasy people for 500 years. Indeed, this village has always housed the royal Merina family of Madagascar.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the village of Ambohimanga.
- 6/ MASOALA NATIONAL PARK
Masoala is the largest biodiversity in Madagascar. Located in the northeast of Madagascar, the Masoala national park includes 3 Tampolo, Ambodilaitry and Ifaho marine parks of 100 km², a tropical forest and terrestrial park of 2,300 km², birds and reptiles and 10 species of lemurs like the ‘Aye-aye. There are also many plant species including essences such as rosewood, ebony, rosewood. However, going to Masoala is quite expensive compared to other parts of the island. It is one of the largest protected areas in all of Madagascar.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the park and the rainforest.
- Discovery of the 3 Tampolo, Ambodilaitry and Ifaho marine parks.
- Diving and kayaking in the three marine parks.
- Explore 10 species of lemurs and 50 rare palm species such as the trihedral palm.
- Humpback whale watching in Antarctica.
- Camping and catering on site.
- 7/ ANDASIBE-MANTADIA NATIONAL PARK
Known as Perinet, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is located about 138 km east of the capital of Antananarivo in Madagascar via the RN2. This national park is divided into two zones, Mantadia National Park and the Analamazoatra Reserve. With its 11 species of lemurs, it is one of the easiest parks to visit. Ecotourism lovers will be very happy, because there is an exceptional flora and fauna.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit to Mantadia Park and the Analamazoatra nature reserve.
- Observation of the lemur “the indri”. It’s an animal that sings songs like those of a whale.
- Botanical trail: visit to the orchid park.
- Accommodation and tourist guides are available.
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- 8/ ISALO NATIONAL PARK
Located in the south-central region of Madagascar, there is the Isalo National Park, which has an area of 81,000 ha. You will be able to discover animals, areas of meadows, rivers, natural pools, caves and steep canyons. It is an ideal park for hiking and visiting the surrounding flora and fauna. What are the different activities to do?
- Hiking.
- Visit the park.
- Passage to natural pools.
- Observation of lemurs.
- Discovery of the Portuguese caves and Sahanafa.
- 9/ TSINGY DE BEMARAHA NATIONAL PARK
Located towards the west coast of the country, Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is a remarkable park where there are 7 species of lemurs, including the Sifaka Deckens. It has a vast expanse of mangrove forest, rivers and a nature reserve. The rock formations of the Tsingy de Bemaraha have been classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1990.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the park and the nature reserve.
- Discovery of lemurs.
- Visit the rock formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha.
- 10/ RANOMAFANA NATIONAL PARK
Located in the south-eastern region of Madagascar near the village of Ranomafana, Ranomafana National Park is one of the most famous parks in the country due to the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur in 1986. Since June 2007, it has been classified to Unesco World Heritage. The park has hot springs, over 41,000 hectares of rainforest, streams, 114 species of birds from Madagascar and 12 species of lemurs.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the park and the humid forest.
- Discovery of lemurs, including the bamboo lemur.
- 11/ AMBER MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.
Nature lovers, you will be literally seduced by Amber Mountain National Park, which rises to 1,475 m north of Madagascar. With its rich flora and fauna, the Amber mountain is home to a beautiful tropical rain forest, volcanic relief, numerous waterfalls and waterfalls, crater lakes, various animal species and medicinal plants.
QWhat are the different activities to do?
- Visit the park.
- Discovery of fauna and flora.
- Hiking and circuit in the Amber Mountain.
- 12/ THE ANDRINGITRA MASSIF
South of Fianarantsoa, Andringitra is one of the most accessible mountain parks in Madagascar. It is characterized by its high mountains ranging from 650 to 2,658m, its deep valleys, its extremely rich fauna and its ridges.
What are the different activities to do?
- Hiking and climbing in the park. Possibility to rent a 4X4.
- Walk in peace.
- 13/ THE ANSIARANA MASSIF
Located in the northern region of the country, the Ankarana massif is known for its limestone rock formations called “tsingy”. This massif is made up of vast networks of caves and canyons, a sacred lake, 60 species of reptiles and amphibians and several species of lemurs. You can reach the park by the paved road from Diego Suarez.
What are the different activities to do?
- Walk in peace.
- Visit of the “tsingy” limestone rock and caves.
- Discovery of the caves of Milaintety and the caves of the Bats.
Visit the green lake. - Possibility of camping.
- However, there are no hotels in the park.
- 14/ ANTSIRANANA RED TSINGY
Located 50 km from Diego Suarez, south of Antsiranana, the Red Tsingy are a true miracle and masterpiece of nature. The word “tsingy” means “tiptoeing.” “They were formed by erosion from heavy rain and wind. This phenomenon offers fantastic landscapes. To access it, you have to cross 18 kilometers of red sand and dirt track.
What are the different activities to do?
- Visit the red Tsingy.
- The rate in force since October 25, 2010 is 10,000 Ar for foreign visitors and 5,000 Ar for the Madagascans.
- Walk to Baobabs alley not far away.
Other information :
- To enter Madagascar, you must have a visa, with a passport valid for 6 months.
- No vaccine is therefore compulsory for travelers from Europe. You just need to be up to date on your vaccines.
- Duration of direct flight from Paris: 10h45 for Antananarivo.
- The Malagasy gastronomy, there are 7 dishes accompanied by rice: Pork eel, Duck with ginger, Tilapia, Chicken with coconut, Shredded zebu, Pork with dried cassava leaves and Roma ava with bred mafana.
- The craftsmanship is great because there is a real popular genius. We find marquetry and sculpture, art of iron, wild silk, antemoro paper, lace and embroidery, stones, pottery, horn works, bottled sand, basketwork, paintings, bamboo, objects in salvaged material, etc…
- Another advantage, Madagascar will meet your expectations and adapt to all budgets. You can find luxury hotels and budget hotels.
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