The island off the east coast of Africa is one of the largest on the planet. As in other archipelagos, in Madagascar for hundreds of thousands of years, there was a separate development of the animal and plant world, and today the absolute majority of the local flora and fauna are endemic. You will find on the island absolutely different animals and birds, you will meet unique types of flowers and trees. And your children will best answer the question of what to see in Madagascar. A popular cartoon about a distant island gives an idea of what awaits tourists who find themselves on the shores of Madagascar.
TOP 15 attractions of Madagascar
Baobab avenue
An alley of giant baobabs in the west of the island has long become a visiting card of Madagascar. Along the road, on both sides, there are two dozen trees, each of which soared into the sky 30 meters. The giants are at least 800 years old and it is not surprising that the locals call them "renela", which means "mother of the forest" in Malagasy.
A unique attraction in Madagascar is available during the dry season. From December to February, the roads in the region can be severely washed out, and you will not be able to get to Baobab Avenue.
Nearest town: Morondava.
Ranomafana
The evergreen dense forests of the Ranomafana National Park in the southeast of the island give life to the lower tier plants - mosses, orchids and ferns, most of which are endemic and listed in the Red Book. But the main inhabitants of the park are a dozen species of Madagascar lemurs. It is this ubiquitous animal that is considered the symbol of the island.
More than a hundred bird species are protected in the reserve, half of which are endangered.
For tourists in the park, there are many hiking trails that allow you to see all the inhabitants and enjoy the most beautiful landscapes.
Nearest town: Fianarantsoa 65 km.
Izalo
Almost 800 sq. km of the Izalo protected area are home to thousands of diverse inhabitants. The main characters in this park are birds. More than 80 species of birds live in the forests on the hillsides and in the valleys, including the rare shepherd partridges. On the paths of Izalo, you will find indri lemurs weighing up to 10 kg, Madagascar civetres, related to mongooses, and tenrecs, similar to hedgehogs.
Izalo Park is located in the province of Tuliara in the center of the southern part of the island.
Nearest town: Tuliara.
To get there: by plane from Antananarivo.
Kirindi forest
Among the many national parks in Madagascar, this one stands out. On its territory, you can look at the rarest representatives of the endemic fauna, which you will not find in any other corner of the planet:
- The mouse lemur is the smallest of the primate family. The weight of an adult does not exceed 30 grams, and the size is about 20 cm with the tail.
- The fossa predator resembles a large cat, but biologically it belongs to a completely different species. The graceful animal is threatened with extinction, but in Kirindi Park you can observe fossa in its natural habitat.
Nearest town: Morandava.
To get there: by minibus from Morandawa or by taxi.
Montagne d'Amber
In 1958, the Montagne d'Ambre National Park was formed, which has become one of the most visited by tourists. It stretches in the north of the island on the slopes of an extinct volcano and these places have long been considered sacred for the Malagasy people.
There are several hiking trails in the park for tourists. You can choose excursions from 4 hours to 3 days.
Among the inhabitants of the park are the world's smallest brown mouse lemur, a three-centimeter dwarf chameleon and a crested Madagascar ibis. The flora of the park numbers at least 1000 plants, most of which are rare and protected. The most valuable species is rosewood mahogany, included in the Red Book.
Nearest town: Diego Suarez 14 km.
Marozhezhi
A mountain range stretches across the territory of the Marozhezhi National Park in the northeast of the island, which is why the range of altitudes above sea level in the reserve varies greatly - from 70 to 2100 meters above sea level. The special microclimate of Marozhezh allows different types of animals and plants to live comfortably. In the park, there are 118 species of birds, about 150 species of reptiles, and more than a dozen species of lemurs, including the silky sifaka. These animals are included in the list of 25 endangered primate species. Biologists also include some lemurs of the Indriaceae family as endangered.
In the park you can stay overnight in bungalows.
Lemur park
Parque de la Mariascar was founded so that tourists can get acquainted with the variety of lemur species that live in Madagascar. The enclosures contain over 70 species of endemic species, and most of their inhabitants have been confiscated from smuggling and poaching residents of the island.
The goal of the park organizers is also to breed lemurs and prepare young individuals for life in natural conditions. The offspring of the inhabitants of the park are released into nature as soon as they reach the required maturity.
The special delight of the visitors to the Lemur Park is caused by the process of feeding the animals, in which everyone can take part.
Nearest town: Antananarivo 22 km.
Feeding: every two hours from 10 am to 4 pm.
To get there: by tourist transfer from the capital at 9 and 14 daily.
Ticket price: 7 euros. Visiting time is limited to 1, 5 hours.
Stone forest
The amazing karst landscape on the west coast of the island is called Tsinzhi du Bemaraha, or Stone Forest. Over millions of years, the cliffs of the limestone plateau have been exposed to wind and rainfall and turned into ridges of stone battlements that form intricate labyrinths.
The height of the stone needles is 30-40 meters, and a person in this area can easily get lost. But lemurs of several species feel quite at ease in the Tsingzhi du Bemaraha National Park. Moreover, they are guarded here.
The Stone Forest Reserve of Madagascar is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Perine
A protected evergreen rain forest in eastern Madagascar has been home to a huge population of indri lemurs for thousands of years. The extermination of the furry inhabitants of the Madagascar forests has significantly reduced their number, and the indri lemurs were on the list of rare and especially protected. The creation of the Perine National Park contributed to an increase in the population, and today visitors to the protected area can observe not only Indri lemurs, but also look at other species of endemic fauna of Madagascar. Tiny mouse lemurs and bamboo grays are most common on hiking trails for tourists.
Nearest town: Morondava (150 km).
Anduhahela
Anduhahela National Park in the extreme southeast of Madagascar is located in the transition zone of a humid swampy ecosystem into an arid thorny forest. Locals call this area “two worlds”. The Anduhakhela Nature Reserve is listed by UNESCO as part of the Acinanana rainforest.
The main inhabitants of the park are lemurs, ubiquitous in Madagascar. Here you can also look at representatives of rare species of geckos, turtles and other reptiles. 130 species of birds living in the reserve amaze with their plumage colors and variety of forms.
Professional guides work in the park, and you can choose the routes of excursions for 1 or 2 days at your own discretion.
Nearest town: Tolanaro 40 km.
Ticket price: 10 euros (entrance and guide), for a car - 107 euros.
Ruva Palace
The former royal residence in the capital of Madagascar is one of the most beautiful architectural landmarks of Antananarivo. Ruva Palace was built on Mount Analamanga on the site of ancient fortifications erected by the leaders of local tribes in the first half of the 17th century.
The ruva was built of wood in the 20s of the 19th century and then faced with stone. Exactly one hundred years later, on the eve of entering the palace into the UNESCO World Heritage List, he completely died in a fire. The reason was a Molotov cocktail thrown into the building during a political demonstration.
The Malagasy rebuilt Ruva from the ashes and today the palace adorns the capital of the island as before.
Lake Andraikiba
This lake was once a popular picnic spot for French colonists. They even built a yacht club on its shore. Today the sailing center is closed, but Lake Andraikiba attracts tourists no less than in the middle of the last century.
There is a walking path around the reservoir, and you can walk around it along the perimeter, admiring the beautiful views in just an hour. Local residents also offer horseback riding. There is a hotel on the shore of the lake.
Lovers of legends should spend the night near Andraikiba. They say that at dawn from the water comes the whisper of a dead princess, drowned because of a not too clever lover.
Nearest town: Ambatolampi (7 km).
Ile Sainte Marie
From July to September, the coastal waters of Ile Sainte-Marie, 7 km from Madagascar, are literally teeming with humpback whales. At this time, they migrate to the island from Antarctica and hundreds of tourists come to watch them on Ile-Sainte-Marie.
The rest of the time, the small island is famous simply as a beach resort, where Europeans who have escaped from the bustle and gray slush rest. At St. Mary's, you will find good diving, snorkeling and fishing.
Mahajanga
The Madagascar port of Mahajanga in the north-west of the island is famous for its beautiful white beaches on the shores of the Indian Ocean, palm alleys leading to the sea, warm weather, the absence of a pronounced rainy season and a developed tourist infrastructure. All together, it allows Mahajanga to be included in the list of quite comfortable beach resorts. You can always fill your vacation with impressions by visiting the local bullfights or going to the most famous sights of Madagascar.
Ambatolampi
A large city south of the capital, Ambatolampi is famous for its blacksmiths and foundry workers. Here you can buy beautiful Madagascar souvenirs: forged lamps, figurines, dishes and candlesticks. When buying gems that are mined on the island, pay attention to the certificates and do not be fooled by low prices from street vendors. Most often, their sapphires are synthetic fakes.
