Places to discover

Best places to visit in Madagascar

Going to Madagascar is an experience in itself. The "great island" is a vast territory and to choose an itinerary is sometimes very difficult. Where to go? Which stopover places to choose?

Don't worry, we're here to help. An entire team of travellers, passionate about Madagascar and members of the Evaneos Travel community, have come together to share their advice and reviews with you on the places to visit during your trip to Madagascar. In short, you'll have all the information you need to organise the perfect trip.

Antananarivo, the capital and its twelve hills, boasts multiple attractions. Spend a few days there and discover its surroundings and the numerous trekking possibilities, on foot or by bike. Île Sainte Marie is a favourite spot: coconut trees, white sand, and the pleasures of nautical delights, not to mention whales when it's the right season. Diego Suarez, on the northern tip, and all its surroundings are beautiful. The "Tsingy Rouge" (red stone formations), Amber Mountain and the natural parks are must-sees. The villages of fishermen, Ramena and its vast beaches will enchant you. Nosy Be shouldn't be overlooked either, with its richly diverse and colourful sea-beds.

Towards the south, an unmissable route is to follow the RN7 highway to Tuléar. At Fianarantsoa, take the train to Manakara. An unforgettable and colourful journey awaits you, during which you'll cross incredibly stunning landscapes, so keep your cameras ready. In the extreme south-east, Fort Dauphin will give you the feeling that you're on another planet. Madagascar is a land of contrasts, between the red of its earth and the green of its crops and forests. There's a neverending list of activities on offer, from water sports to hikes in numerous natural parks like Isalo, or Ranomafana... Above all, don't hesitate to invest in a local guide, who'll share his knowledge of the area with you.

Antsirabe

Antsirabe gets its name from "Any sira be", which means "the place with much salt". It rises to an altitude of nearly 5000 feet, and its hills are surrounded by thermal springs rich in mineral salts, perfect for a relaxing time during your trip.

The Tsingys de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar

Bemaraha (Tsingy)

A fabulous national park that is not to be missed!

Morondova

This town of 70,000 inhabitants is the capital of Menabe region, whose name means red earth. Menabe is the home of the baobab, the island's emblem and something you absolutely must see during your trip to Madagascar.

Ranohira

Ranohira is the homeland of the Bara people, in the Ihorombe region, in the heart of the savannah and the great plains. This little city with 6,000 inhabitants has little value other than being the gateway to the immense Isalo Natural Reserve.

Isalo

More than 800 square kilometres of breathtaking scenery! Isalo National Park is a mountainous mass of Jurassic sandstone that spreads over a hundred kilometres at an altitude of between 800 and 1,200 metres above sea level.

Ranomafana

Ranomafana, a small town with a population of around 12,000, is part of the heritage of the Tanala: the people of the forest. It stands at a point where the landscape abruptly and dramatically changes as the Central Highlands give way to the coastal areas of the eastern part of the country.

Diego Suarez

Diego Suarez was renamed Antsiranana at independence. It is the third harbour of the island and the biggest city in northern Madagascar . Antomboko, meaning with holes, pierced, is its original name. A name that is suggestive of Diego Bay which, with its length of 97 miles, is one of the largest in the world .

Montagne D'Ambre National Park

Amber Mountain is a place of animal superlatives. This natural reserve, which extends over an area of 90 square miles, has an incredible wealth of plants and wildlife to offer, as is so often the case with island habitats.

Ramena

Situated at the extreme north of the island, you will be captivated by the quietness of this village of 4000 fishermen souls. Water sports fans, Ramena is for you : windsurfing, kitesurfing, on Diego Bay for beginners and for the more seasoned, Sakalava Bay awaits you!

Massif d’ Ankify

Ankify is a peninsula in the north-west of Madgascar, in Diana region. It's still less touristy than its neighbouring islands: Nosy Be and Nosy Komba, even though it has some places that are just as beautiful.

Nosy Ambariovato

Peacefulness and simplicity are the strong points of Nosy Komba . Indeed, this volcanic island that is 5 miles in diameter has neither electricity nor roads. It tempts you to live the local and traditional way, giving you a pleasant rest during your stay on the Red Island . It is also called Nosy Ambariovato which means "island surrounded by rocks".

Manakara

Terminus: Manakara It’s the final station on the FCE line: Fianarantsoa- Côte Est, the only railway line in the whole of Madagascar. Over here, it is best not to be in any hurry... it will take you at least 12 hours to end up in Mankara! But the trip is well worth it: mountains passing by, traveller's palm forests, bamboo, litchis, and even passing through Ranomafana forest will all be part of the adventure…

Plateau de Tampoketsa

Between Antananarivo, the capital, and the city of Mahajanga in north-west, there are huge rolling plateaus as far as the eye can see: the Tampoketsa. This Malagasy term designates a landscape of bare, grassy hills shaped by erosion.

Manandona

The Manandona plain has the particularity of being very wide and straight, whereas most of the Malagasy plains are steep and winding. With an average altitude of 1500 metres, the landscape of Manandona consists of a rim of mountains, high plateaus and deep gorges.