Madagascar is often referred to as the “continent in miniature” due to the unique nature and wide variety of endemic animals that inhabit the island. Excursions to the national parks of the state will interest tourists inclined to research and contemplation, as well as active travelers who are fond of trekking.
Madagascar can be considered as a place for a beach holiday, but you need to know that the base of hotels on the island is rather scarce, and the beach infrastructure is very poorly developed. Few tourists prefer to stay on the island of Nosy Be, where there is more entertainment and better service.
Often people come to the island as part of a combined tour, after visiting mainland Africa. Travelers are taken to Antsirabe, Morundava, to the island of St. Mary (Nozi-Boraha) and some other places.
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What to see in Madagascar?
The most interesting and beautiful places, photos and a short description.
Antananarivo city
The capital of the state is translated from the local language as “the city of a thousand”. Among the inhabitants there is an affectionate diminutive name of the city "Tana". The city is strongly influenced by the French, who left here only in the 1960s. There are many shops with French names in the center, there is also a French hotel and many bakeries offering fresh croissants.
Tsingzhi du Bemarach nature reserve
An area with unusual karst landscapes (rocks) that resemble a stone forest. The road to the reserve is a separate adventure, since you will have to overcome kilometers of off-road and difficult hiking routes, so physically prepared tourists will master such a trip. There are several species of lemurs on the territory. These animals are considered the symbol of Madagascar.
Royal Hill Ambohimanga
Historic monument, valuable testimony of Malagasy culture. There used to be a large city around the hill, where the royal residence of the island's rulers was located. The settlement is believed to have flourished by the 16th century. The hill had a ritual significance - rituals and sacred events were held here for many centuries. The area is of particular importance to the identity of the Malagasy people, as it keeps the secrets of their traditional culture.
Andafiavaratra Palace
Located in the capital, it used to be the residence of the country's Prime Minister Reinilayarivuni, who headed the government at the end of the 19th century. Now there is a museum in the building, where 1466 exhibits are exhibited. These artifacts are of great historical importance for the culture and history of the country. Many items were recovered and ended up here after the big fire in 1995 at the Ruva Palace.
Ruva Palace
Located in Antananarivo on Mount Analamanga (almost 1.5 km above sea level). The palace was originally made of wood, later faced with stone. The building was built in the 19th century for the first queen of the island of Ranavaluna. After the fire in 1995, it has not yet been restored. From Mount Analamanga, a panoramic view of the surroundings opens, the whole city is clearly visible from here.
Izalo National Park
The reserve was established in 1962. Its landscapes are reminiscent of an African shroud. There are almost no animals here, a rather poor flora due to inappropriate weather conditions. Izalo was created with the aim of preserving the natural landscapes of the area, as they are recognized as unusual and valuable. The reserve has several very picturesque tourist routes along natural river beds.
Acinanana rainforest
Relic (prehistoric) forests located on the east coast of the island of Madagascar. More than 12,000 plant species are recognized as unique and endemic. It is believed that the isolated ecosystem of the region was formed 60 million years ago. Rare species of animals are found here, some of them are threatened with extinction. In 2010, forests were included in the list of objects that may soon disappear from our planet.
Montagne D'Ambre National Park
Natural landmark of the northern part of Madagascar. Unlike the adjacent arid valleys, this park has a humid climate and rains every day. A large amount of water is collected here to supply the nearest town. Also around 70,000 hectares of rice fields are cultivated. On the territory of Montagne D'Ambre, a miniature chameleon bruquesia lives only about 2 cm in length.
Ankaratra volcano
It is part of the Ankaratra mountain range, which was formed as a result of the split of the continents millions of years ago during the formation of the modern appearance of the planet. The volcano went out for a long time, now it reminds of itself only with rare earthquakes and steam emissions. The crater that has become a harmless natural attraction attracts tourists who want to "conquer" the once raging Ankaratra.
Lake Tritriva
A volcanic reservoir with many hot springs in the central part of Madagascar. Located in a former volcanic crater. The maximum depth is about 150 meters. Has unknown sources of replenishment of water reserves (possibly underground), as the water level rises during the dry season. If you throw an object into the lake, then it can be found in the valley below the level of the banks.
Baobab Avenue
The road between the settlements of Morondava and Beloni, attracting tourists from all over the world. Along the edges of this "avenue" grow giant baobabs, many of which are hundreds of years old. The height of these unusual trees reaches 30 meters, the trunk girth can also be a couple of tens of meters. The alley is a protected area. Locals believe that all Madagascar forests originated from the baobab.
Nosy Be Island
A secluded place with beautiful beaches, popular with foreign tourists. The country's largest ylang-ylang and coffee plantations are cultivated here. Rare species of lemurs can be found in the local reserve Lucube. Tired of lying on the beach and traditional vacation activities, travelers are invited to visit the village of the natives, the ruins of the Portuguese fort and the silver waterfall.
Island of saint mary
Located seven kilometers from the east coast of Madagascar. In honor of the Virgin Mary, the island was named by the French, the local Malagasy name sounds like "Nosy Boraja". Today this place is a beach resort, popular primarily among Madagascarians themselves, but foreigners also meet here. There is a legend that pirates buried many millions of pounds sterling treasures on the island of St. Mary.
Lemurs - the symbol of Madagascar
These funny animals live only in Madagascar and the Comoros. They are considered the ancestors of monkeys. There are several species of lemurs on the island. The rarest of them is a small ah-ah, which, according to mythology, was considered a harbinger of death. The animal is distinguished by large "surprised" eyes, flexible body and long tail. It is thanks to the funny "facial expression" that the lemur became the hero of many popular Internet memes.
