Sights of Madagascar

by microedu · Published May 9, 2022 · Updated May 9, 2022

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Antananarivo

“The city of a thousand warriors”, or as it is often called here – Tana, the largest and most colorful city of the island. The city is located at an altitude of 1240 to 1470 m in a valley between two hills, and low houses rise in steps along their slopes, forming a real labyrinth of lanes, arches, terraces, balconies and stairs. The main attraction of the capital is the magnificent monumental ensemble of Ruva Ambuhimanga palaces: the “double palace” of Mandzakamiadan (XVII century), Mahitsilafandzak, Tranavaluna, Manampisoa (1866) and the tombs of Madagascar monarchs. Also of interest are the Presidential Palace and the complex of ministerial buildings, the Prime Minister’s Palace, the buildings of the National Library, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in the Anusi quarter, the “canal district” of Antuhumadinik (there are also a mosque and a Catholic church). See Countryvv for labor market in Madagascar.

Toamasina

The largest port of Madagascar and the second largest city in the country. An ever-busy port where ships from all over the world meet, a city of colonial-style mansions and numerous bazaars, Toamasina attracts thousands of visitors. The sights of the city are the huge central market (“bazaar-be”) and the large Koli market, the Town Hall on Independence Avenue, the Column Square, the “miraculous tomb” of Belaseti, the Children’s Palace, the University Museum and the old colonial quarters. But the surroundings of the city are of the greatest interest – 11 km. from Tuamasina there is the Ivuluin zoo with a beautiful botanical garden, royal fortresses are located in Mahaveluna and Vukhimasina, the sacred grotto of Andavakandrehi with the necropolis of betsimisaraka is located in Ambalatranu, and the ruins of the largest fort in the region are located in Farafati. In the vicinity of the city there are many excellent recreational areas – the balneological resort of Fulpuent (Mahaveluna), the seaside resorts of Manda Beach and Mahambu. And in the ocean not far from the coast lie the islands of Nosy Ilaintsambu (Nosy Akuhu), Ile aux Prune, Nosy Buraha (Saint Marie or “Isle of Women”), Madame, Ile aux Natts and others, which are excellent beach resorts. The natural complex in the area of Cape Sainte-Marie is also unique, where, under the influence of strong winds, woody vegetation formed a dense ground carpet of millions of horizontally arranged intertwined trunks.

Taulanaru

Fort Dauphine lies at the foot of the Saint-Louis peak in the extreme southeast of the country. Due to the peculiarities of the relief in Taulanaru, there are three fairly pronounced microclimatic zones, which allows several natural complexes to coexist on this small piece of land. It is worth visiting the beautiful Taulanaru Botanical Garden, the old fort (1504) on the island of the Portuguese, numerous grave monuments, the beautiful Anuni Lake, the Berenti and Manduna reserves, as well as the picturesque Ranupisu Gorge. The area has excellent conditions for water recreation – beautiful beaches in Lukaru, Libanuna, Sainte-Luce (Manafiafi), in Tali Bay and the Evatraha lagoon attract thousands of tourists here, in the Winani Be lagoon there is a water sports center, and in Lafitsinana and Ambinaniba – fishing and hunting centers.

toliara

A large port city on the shores of the Mozambique Channel, 950 km. southwest of the capital. This is one of the sunniest and greenest cities in the country, built up with low-rise houses with original decor. Of interest are the Museum of Culture of the Mahafali and Sakalava Peoples, the Oceanographic Station with the Museum, the majestic tombs of the Mahafali monarchs in the area of Betioki, Ampanihi, Andruki and Ankirikiriki, the sacred ficus in Miari, the sacred grotto of Sarudranu, the famous bay of Anatsunu (Saint-Augustin) – the “heroine” of many novels D. Defoe, balneological resorts in Ifaty and Mangili, as well as the beautiful beaches of Batri and Anakau. It is also worth visiting the reserves of Bezakha-Mahafali, Berenti and Ambuasari.

Washed by the Mozambique Channel, the western coast of the country, stretching from the Radama Islands in the north to Cape Tanazuna-Vuhimena in the south, is the least accessible region of Madagascar – an endless string of sandy beaches, interspersed with river deltas, swamps turning into green mangroves, and rock masses. Vast savannas with lone majestic baobabs and a semi-desert bush go into the depths of the island. The climate here, as in the south, is quite dry.

Mahajanga

Located 560 km. northwest of the capital, on the shores of the Mozambique Channel – one of the oldest cities in the country and the former capital of the kingdom of Buyna. Today it is the second largest port in Madagascar and one of the largest shopping centers with interesting architecture, as well as one of the best resorts in the country. The city has attractive buildings of the colonial era, a mosque and Arab shopping arcades in the Old City, two mosques on Mahabibu Street (there are about 20 of them in total), the sacred hill of Duani (the reliquary of the four kings of Buyn is located on it), the Andruva hospital, the old post office, the former Residence governor (today the Municipality), the remains of the royal fortress of Ruva, a huge baobab, about 500 years old, opposite the observation deck, the “cemetery of ships” in the old port, the local history museum of Akiba, the House of Crafts.

In the vicinity of Mahajanga, the natural circus (3 km from the city), the reserves of Marutandranu, Ambuhidzanahari, Bemarivu, Ankarafantsika and Namuruk, as well as the Ampidzurua experimental forest station and the sacred lakes of Ravelube and Mangatsa are of interest. 80 km. from Mahajanga are the grottoes of Anzuhibe and the waterfalls of Mahafanina. The island of Radama, the beaches of Gran Gavua d’Amburuvi (8 km north of the city), Kacepi and Bueni Bay are also good for relaxation,

The Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve (an area of 152 thousand hectares is the largest protected area in Madagascar) extends from the Bemaraha plateau to the Manambulu River. The reserve covers a complex of gray-blue karst rocks and a chain of peaks, intricately processed by wind and water, rising to a height of up to 30 m. the forest extends to the central part of the Tsingy limestone plateau, the southern part of which ends in deep gorges dug by the Manambulu River, with canyons and grottoes. On the territory of the reserve there is also a savanna, characteristic of western Madagascar.