Madagascar
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.
A fabulous national park that is not to be missed!
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 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.
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, 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 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 .
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.
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!
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.
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".
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…
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.
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.
This city of 33,000 inhabitants excels in marquetry and woodcarving. In fact, Ambositra is the capital of artisan craftsmanship. Its inhabitants’ talents come from the art of the Zafimany, the forest people.
Ifasina is a small village of the High Plateaus of the Fianarantsoa region and consists of rows of small wooden houses.
Here you are at the gates of the magical primary forest. Andasibe offers you the chance to discover Mantadia National Park and its untouched flora, a primary forest that has never been "affected" by man.
Located in the region of Bongolava, meaning "the long hills", Tsiroanomandidy lies at the border between the highlands and the south, homeland of the Bara where the zebu is king. It is home to an important zebu market.
Located on Madagascar’s eastern coast, Ankanin’ny Nofy will not disappoint. Nestled on lake Ampitabe, the simplest way to get there is to sail down the Canal des Pangalanes from Toamasina by scow. You can also rent a motorised canoe.
Situated in northwestern Madagascar, not far from the island of Nosy Be, Russian Bay opens onto the Mozambique Channel. Its quiet waters provide shelter to many species of fish, rays and turtles.
