Madagascar sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

A beautiful island, Madagascar attracts visitors with its unforgettable nature, dense forests, clean lakes and spectacular waterfalls, many species of rare birds and animals, and shockingly amazing butterflies. From the historic point of view, the city of Mahajanga is the most interesting destination in Madagascar. There are several important landmarks in the old part of the city, such as several buildings of the colonial period, mosques and trading squares. The Rova Fortress, which is located on a hill, is also worth attention of travellers. Long time ago the fortress-palace belonged to the royal family, but now it’s possible to see only several towers and a segment of a protective wall.

When and where to 'hang out' in Madagascar - festivals and celebrations

Both famous worldwide holidays and unique local holidays are celebrated in Madagascar. There are many Christians on the island. Easter, Christmas, New …
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Madagascar is famous for its magnificent waterfalls, the highest of which is the cascade of the Sakaleona River. The height of this waterfall is 200 metres. Several beautiful waterfalls can be seen in Montagne d'Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park. However, the Dead Lake remains the biggest attraction of the island. The lake is located among high rocks in the vicinity of Antsirabe. Quite an interesting fact – the lake is completely uninhabited despite the fact that its parameters and the temperature of water should perfectly fit the majority of local fish and seaweed. There are many legends connected with the lake. For example, locals say that no one can cross the lake by swimming even though the size of the lake is quite modest – 100 x 50 m.

Kirindy Forest remains one of the most visited places in Madagascar. Lemurs are the main inhabitants of this forest. The territory of the nature reserve is home to several rare types of baobabs, bushes and flowers. During a walk in the reserve, you will feel how hundreds of tiny eyes are watching you – there are really many birds and animals in Kirindy. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

For active traveler - national parks, landscapes and nature of Madagascar

Tourists, who prefer wild nature and adventures to glamorous parties and luxurious hotels, will be genuinely excited to visit Madagascar. Indeed, the …
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There are some cultural facilities on Madagascar. The Hiragasy national theatre may be the most famous one. Every day this portable theatre moves across the island, visiting the majority of town and villages. During their stops, musicians and dancers entertain locals and tourists. There are special performances for children and fascinating acrobatic shows. Despite the fact that the majority of locals follow their local tribal religions, there is a church of Jesus Christ on the island. Surrounded by palms and tropic bushes, the sanctuary looks quite unusual. Travellers are also welcome to visit numerous nature parks of Madagascar. The most famous ones are Ranomafana National Park, Perinet Natural Reserve, Tsingy de Bemaraha and Isalo National Park.

History and Entertainment

Madagascar started being settled in the early Middle Ages. The Malagasy tribes lived here. They maintained trade relations with Arabs and borrowed a lot of cultural and national traditions from them. At the beginning of the 16th century, the island was visited by Portuguese navigators but the colonial period did not begin then. When Frenchmen reached the island at the end of the 19th century, there had been the large Kingdom of Imerina formed by aborigines.

Unique sights of Madagascar from our series 'Extreme places on Earth'

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For a few years, the European colonizers conquered the natives. In 1897, Madagascar officially became a French colony. The important historical period for the island was the Second World War. At that time, it had been occupied by British troops for three years. When the war came to an end in 1958, Madagascar became partially autonomous. Then, in 1960, it gained the complete independence from France.

Over the recent years, Madagascar has become very popular with fans of exotics. They come here for new impressions and an incomparable sightseeing program. On the island, there are no luxurious hotels and world-class service but this is compensated by multiple unique attractions and the friendly natives.

National cuisine of Madagascar - specialties, recipes and restaurants

Traditions of Malagasy cuisine have deep roots in the Malay past of the island. However, close proximity to Africa also shaped the culinary …
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One of the most popular entertainments is learning about the natives’ culture and lifestyle. Tourists are offered to visit small villages where the way of living has not changed already for several hundred years. Here, you can taste national rice and seafood dishes and buy interesting items from local craftsmen. Some of the most popular souvenirs are picturesque fabrics painted manually by local masters.

On the island, the wine production is well-developed. Many wineries were opened here in the times of the French colonization. Nowadays, connoisseurs of exquisite wines and stronger alcohol can take special themed tours, during which they can visit the most famous wineries and taste the best drinks. Unique weather conditions also make Madagascar attractive for travelers. Despite its location, there is no rainy season on the island, so you can boldly vacation here at any time of the year.

This article about iconic landmarks and sights of Madagascar is protected by the copyright law. You can re-use the content, but only under the condition of placement of an active link to www.orangesmile.com.

Madagascar guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Madagascar

Reference information

Map of all parks

National and city parks of Madagascar
♥ National Park 'Ankarafantsika' . On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Baie de Baly' . On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Isalo' . On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Mananara-Nord' . On the map Show on the map

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♥ National Park 'Mantadia' . On the map Show on the map

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Famous and uniques places in Madagascar from our review series

Avenue of the Baobabs

From the series “Nooks and Villages That Are More Colorful Than Top Touristic Destinations”

The island of Madagascar also has amazing and unusual places that will allow to enjoy the unique atmosphere. An excellent example is the Avenue of the Baobabs. That’s a unique natural landmark. Every traveler should see it. Once, the island of Madagascar was completely covered by dense tropical forests. The arrival of people changed its appearance significantly.

A scenic walkway framed by 800-year-old baobabs is the only place that is reminiscent of the once dominant nature. The height of these majestic trees is about 30 meters. A few dozen of ancient baobabs remained on the island. For hundreds of years, locals carefully cut down trees to free the lands for agriculture.

Baobabs were the valuable building material, as well as a source of food. Some of the trees still survived. … Read all

Andohahela National Park

From the series “Top 11 Dangerous Spots for Adrenaline-Seekers”

The island of Madagascar houses Andohahela National Park that may be called one of the most beautiful places in the world. Rare endemic plants are growing there. The park territory is home to 12 species of lemurs, as well as more than 120 species of birds. For many years, the park has attracted researchers from different countries, as well as usual nature lovers, but the last years visiting it is considered to be extremely dangerous.

The reason for this is a high level of crime. Tour groups are the most desirable treat for the local bandits. There is no official ban on visiting the reserve, but in recent years, dozens of victims of robbery appeared. Despite this, tourists still can participate in fascinating walks, and some tourist centers even offer tourists to spend a night in the park … Read all

Nosy Be

From the series “The Most Beautiful Islands on the Planet”

Nosy Be is the largest island of the archipelago of the same name and is considered an expensive spa town of Madagascar. The exotic island is the location of a lot of luxury hotels, expensive restaurants, nightclubs and shops. For many years now the world famous celebrities Nosy Be have chosen for the rest. Despite the rapid development of travel and entertainment infrastructure, the exotic island has maintained the most important - the natural harmony and the quiet atmosphere.

Only a few kilometers from the busy tourist centers, the atmosphere of peace and the peace of soul prevails. The exotic island will definitely please the followers of the restoration, as well as the excursion fans. The interesting sights can be found in every tiny town. In the capital you can visit the colorful … Read all

All unique sightseeing Madagascar

Madagascar sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

History and Entertainment

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Madagascar

Famous and uniques places in Madagascar from our review series

Avenue of the Baobabs

Andohahela National Park

Nosy Be

Sightseeing in popular cities of Madagascar

Map of travel guides to Madagascar cities