Manafiafy (beach) –– this is one of the smaller, lesser known beaches of Madagascar, situated on the South East coast of the island on a sheltered, forest-fringed bay. It’s ideal for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of your typical holiday resort. There is one small hotel, the Manafiafy Beach & Rainforest […]
Mahavelona (beach) — near the town of Mahavelona, on the mouth of the Onibe River, on the northeast coast of Madagascar is this beautiful beach. Thanks to the reef system about 150 meters off the coast, the beach is protected from rough seas, and the offshore water is perfectly calm as a result. Ideal for […]
Lisy Art Gallery (Route de Mausolée, Antananarivo) – despite its name, this is a shop that sells various local souvenirs, gifts, toys, embroidery and ceramics. Lisy Art Gallery is popular among foreign tourists and is especially recommended to anyone who do not like bargaining. A clothing store and a lunch restaurant belonging to the same […]
Lemurs Park (Highway RN 1 towards Imeritsiatosika, Katsaoka) – located just west of the capital, within a 5-hectare nature reserve, one can observe nine species of lemur, including the vulnerable lesser bamboo lemur and the endangered crowned sifaka. These charismatic primates are free-roaming, and can be seen at amazingly close quarters on a guided […]
Is’Art Galerie (Rue Vottori Françoise, Antananarivo 101) –this is the capital’s only contemporary gallery. Founded in 1999 as a workshop and exhibition space, the gallery instructs local children in various creative disciplines and helps artists to promote their work. Here, you can see the finest Malagasy painting, photography, sculpture and design showcased alongside foreign […]
Île Sainte-Marie (beach) — Nosy Boraha, or Île Sainte-Marie, is an island off Madagascar’s northeast coast. Near the main town of Ambodifotatra, the pirates’ cemetery includes graves marked with skull and crossbones. Off the south coast, Île aux Nattes and Ilôts aux Sables are tiny islands with coral reefs and sea turtles. Antanandava Waterfall […]
Île aux Nattes (beach) – a.k.a. Nosy Nato, this is a small 3-kilometer-wide island located at the southern end of Sante Marie – towards the northeast part of the island (a 55-minute flight from the capital). If you are looking for a typical tropical paradise, this is your best bet. The island had a wide […]
Institut Français Madagascar (14 Avenue de L’independence, Antananarivo) — formerly known as the Albert Camus Cultural Center, the French Institute is the place to go for a cultural night out in Antananarivo. Its auditorium hosts dance recitals, plays, concerts and other live performances; while the cinema shows an eclectic variety of films ranging from documentaries […]
Batou Beach (Pk 11 Ambohimanambola) – located 30 minutes from downtown Antananarivo, this is an amusement park with a large swimming pool, beach volleyball, and basketball, as well as dining areas where patrons can bring their own picnic food. This place is popular for capital residents, since it’s a 3 to 4-hour drive to the […]
Avenue of the Baobabs (RT 8, Morondava 619) – these unique trees, baobabs known locally as renala (Malagasy for “mother of the forest”), are up to 2,800 years old, and are lined up along a dirt road between the seaside town of Morondava and Belon’I Tsiribihina in the Menabe region of western Madagascar. This […]