🌋 Madagascar: a journey into the world of unique nature
Madagascar! When you mention this island, lemurs automatically start dancing in your head to the song “I like to move it” from the cartoon of the same name. Funny animals happily sing “I love to move my body.” Pilgrimos agrees with the message of the animals and proposes to move the body to a country that is twice the size of Great Britain to plunge into the world of exoticism, poverty, baobabs and vanilla. Forward!
For the average traveler, planning a trip to Madagascar will be extremely difficult. Still, the direction is considered too exotic. Meanwhile, one of the poorest countries in the world, despite its situation, welcomes adventure tourists from different parts of the planet. Adventure seekers are ready to endure a long flight for unique places. Moreover, a short-term tourist visa (stay up to 30 days) can be issued directly at the airport accepting international flights. The only important thing is that you must present a return ticket.
Traveling around the island on your own is still a quest, so a beginner would still be better off using the services of a guide to travel around the country. For an experienced and experienced adventurer, Madagascar without an accompanying person will also be a great experience! We have compiled a guide that will suit both categories.
So, let's imagine. You have decided to travel and have already landed at Ivato International Airport, which is located near the capital – Antananarivo. This juicy and fiery word sounds like a dance. It contains all the social life and movement.
European architecture – the French were the first to come to the island – combined with the appearance of the locals makes you a little brain-dead. Unlike many other countries, the capital of Madagascar does not attract attention: after all, people fly to the island not for culture and architecture, but for its unique nature. Nevertheless, a couple of places in Antananarivo are worth visiting.
Buy souvenirs on Zoom
There are few shops as such on the island. Basically everything is bought and sold in the markets. The first step is to go to the local Zuma bazaar, which means “Friday” in Arabic. To maintain order and cleanliness, local authorities allowed traders to work only on this day. In clear weather, up to 30 thousand sellers can gather here, making the market the largest in Africa! By the way, locals say that it has been working since the 17th century!
If you get to a large trading anthill, you should definitely buy minerals: beryl, agate, jasper, tourmaline, varieties of gems, precious and semi- precious stones. They are mined in Madagascar in large quantities. You should also purchase spices, such as vanilla. Madagascar is the leader in its production.
Look down on the capital
Since the difference in elevation in the city reaches 300 meters, you should definitely climb to the highest point – the hill where the Andafiavaratra Palace is located. Now the building serves as a museum, which houses about one and a half thousand exhibits. They reflect the history of the city and the country, giving an idea of the material culture of the Malagasy people and their religion. Nearby is the Ruva Palace, the former residence of the kings of Madagascar.
They say on the island that if a tourist has not crossed it from north to south and from west to east, then he has not been to Madagascar. The fact is that the climate here is very diverse. The western part is arid due to the warm winds of Arabia. The East, on the contrary, is greener. The southern areas are deserted, while the north is the best place to relax on the beach. Therefore, our guide includes top places from different parts of the country.
Get to the country of Lemuria
The most comfortable way to get around the island is by jeep. Imagine that you sat in it. Introduced? Then we go to see the unique nature. The fact is that about 80% of local animals and plants are found only here and nowhere else. For example, there are about 100 species of lemurs alone in Madagascar! These plush animals are worth the hassle of spending hours in the car. The world's largest lemur can be seen in the dense canopy of Andasibe-Mantadia Park. The reserve is located 150 km from the capital. The entrance ticket for an adult costs 45 thousand Malagasy ariary ≈ $10.
King Julian can be found in his natural environment in the picturesque Isalo Nature Reserve. Just imagine: on one side – rocks and gorges, a little further – canyons. Of course, you can’t go anywhere in the park without a guide. To see all this unique flora, you need to know the route. Paradise for the eyes! Entry and guide fees will not exceed $50.
If long walking routes are not your thing at all, and you really want to see a lemur, you need to go to private parks. For example , Lemurs Land.
Of course, the island is not only made up of lemurs. Geckos, frogs, butterflies, chameleons – there are so many things here! You can try to see this diversity of fauna in the natural environment, but it is not a fact that you will succeed. A guaranteed way would still be to visit a private park. There is one of these near the capital of Peyrieras Madagascar Exotic Parc.
Walk among the volcanoes
Just 50 km from the capital is the highland region of Ankaratra. Its area covers more than 5200 km, and its peak falls on the Tsiafadzavuna volcano with a height of 2644 m. This fascinating place attracts extreme sports enthusiasts. Despite the fact that volcanoes are no longer active, at times they send weak signals and remind us of themselves. A walk in this place is like tickling your nerves. Do you like this? Then go ahead!
Hug the baobab
Deciding to travel around Madagascar and not taking a walk along the avenue of baobabs will definitely be considered a crime. Giants grow in the west and south of the island, but the easiest and most accessible place to see them is near the town of Morondava. 30-meter giants, almost a thousand years old – impressive! This tree is a very interesting representative of the flora. Its powerful trunk serves as a water reservoir for the plant. About 120 thousand liters can fit inside! Thanks to this unique feature, the baobab easily copes with drought, which can last 10 months.
Stone forest
Oh my God – I want to say either with delight or with fear when I see this! After the alley of baobabs, it’s worth visiting another forest. True, instead of trees there are razor-sharp layers of limestone. Tsingy de Bemaraja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many caves, gorges, trails with suspension bridges – the difficult path to get to the viewpoint is worth it to see the geological miracle of nature. A traveler who decides to go to this place will definitely be rewarded with an unforgettable experience!
Rainforests of Atsinanana
Scientists suggest that this zone formed about 60 million years ago! Wild pristine nature and prehistoric plants! For thousands of years, evolution here took place independently, until man reached the place… Perhaps, due to deforestation, only photos and videos will remain of these forests, so you need to have time to capture the miracle of nature with your own eyes!
Snow-white sand and whales
After such an active holiday, letting yourself soak up a few days on the beach will be the right decision! Let's head north. Not far from the coast is the very popular resort of Nosy Be. Clean water, snow-white sands – this is the same picture from the advertisement! In addition to stunning views, already as you approach the island you can smell the aromas of coffee and ylang-ylang. The noble soil allows rare plants to be grown here.
By the way, Nosy Be is just perfect for whale watching! They are not uncommon here. Especially during the mating season – from July to October. To attract the attention of females, males jump out of the water and perform various tricks. Just like in life!
Please note that active travel requires a lot of energy and good nutrition! Anyone planning a flight to Madagascar should be prepared for a mono-diet. On the island, rice is everything. Here they cook porridge from it, fry pancakes, make pies and even brew iced tea! Fruits and vegetables, seafood – in abundance. The main meat product is beef. If you’re not ready to experiment with food, don’t worry: tourist places offer different cuisines from around the world.
Millions of words can be written about Madagascar and its uniqueness, but what is all this compared to a real trip to the island? So go ahead!