Things To Do In Madagascar: Exploring The Great Red Island

A picture of a landscape with village houses in Madagascar
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Madagascar, a nature’s masterpiece located in Southeast Africa, has diverse landscapes and the most unique flora and fauna in the world. This island will fascinate you and take you into its world of different species, plants, and tapestry of cultures. As you venture into the island you will come across arid lands to subtropical and tropical forests. It is no wonder that you will find a rich playground to explore. It is home to unique trees like baobabs, species like lemurs, chameleons and diverse birds and reptiles, including its scenery of gorges, canyons, and grand waterfalls.

Ten Things To Do In Madagascar

Here are the ten best things to do in Madagascar for an adventurous holiday experience.

1. Explore The Native Baobab Trees

A visit to see the giant Baobab trees is one of the things to do in Madagascar

Photo: JTeessen / Wikimedia Commons

Baobab trees are native to Madagascar and can grow up to 96 feet tall and 36 feet wide. They can live up to 1000 years and store 1000 gallons of water in a single tree which is why it is so wide. Isn’t that amazing? These baobab trees are impressive and can be found all over the country but if you want to get a postcard-like photo, drive an hour outside Morondava. Here the baobab trees are lined up giving you an iconic picture. The best time for your iconic picture is during sunrise and sunset.

Entrance Fee: None but parking fees are applicable
Area Size: 20 Kilometers

2. Visit Tsingy

A hike to the Tsingy is one of the things to do in Madagascar

Photo: Cactus0625 / Wikimedia Commons

This place is on the western coast and was declared a UNESCO heritage in 1990, because of its beautiful limestones that took 200 million years to form that look like sharp knives fill this park, it is an incredible sight to see. You use ladders, rope bridges, and fixed cables to navigate the limestone area. There are many caves here and you can take a slow boat ride to Tsiribihina River.

Entry Fee: ₹ 1000 Approx
Open: April – November
Hike Duration: 3 hours 40 minutes
Location: Begara

3. Hike It Isalo National Park

Nature trails at this captivating landscape is one of the things to do in Madagascar

Photo: Smiley.toerist / Wikimedia Commons

The breathtaking landscape of this park will leave you captivated by its gorges, ravines, canyons, cliffs, and over 100 varieties of birds found in this park. This place is an ideal hiking park. There are also three waterfalls inside the park to cool your weary legs from climbing these multiple rugged cliffs. There are a variety of lemurs who are friendly to the visitors and you can get up close and personal with them but watch out for the food as they tend to snatch it from you.

Timings: 6:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Entrance Fee: ₹1900 Approx
Best Time To Visit: April – October
Location: Sakamalio

4. Party At Nosy Be

Partying at the Nosy Be is one of the things to do in Madagascar

Photo: Anai171 / Wikimedia Commons

Its beaches are beautiful with white sands and the island formed by a volcanic eruption is 310 kilometres long and has an upscale western atmosphere if you like to party quintessentially. There are resorts and exquisite restaurants to enjoy with your loved ones. The party happens every Sunday on this island. You can also enjoy snorkelling, diving, and fishing. This island is home to humpback and dwarf fin whales so whale watching is a favorite among many other activities.

Activities: Trekking, lemurs, plantations, volcanic lakes, coral and reefs
Best Time To Visit: April – November

5. Experience Local Vibes At Île Sainte Marie

A visit to the once pirate capital is one of the things to do in Madagascar

Photo: Anai171 / Wikimedia Commons

Head to the eastern coast for a relaxed vibe in this former pirate capital. This laid-back Caribbean island is full of little coves, delicious food, and a pirate graveyard that stretches up to 220 square kilometres. You will be mesmerised by the local culture and history. The island is great for diving, fishing, and whale watching. The local traditions will give you an authentic experience and visiting the one and only pirate cemetery in this world will keep you enthralled.

Activities: Visit the Island’s only town Nosy Boraha, hiking, explore granite hills
Best Time To Visit: April – December

6. Ranomafana National Park

A river flowing through the Ranomafana National Park creates a mesmerizing view

Photo: Smiley.toerist / Wikimedia Commons

This 415 square kilometre park is the most crowded in the country. It has twelve species of lemurs as its main attractions, besides the famous giraffe beetles, chameleons, avian fauna, and wildlife. The park has many trails and offers morning, afternoon, and night hikes making it a wonderful experience. The park is so popular that it has set several limits for people to visit. This park is majorly a tropical rainforest area and its elevation is at a height of 800 meters to 1200 metres.

Activities: Birdwatching, hiking. Nature photography, kayaking, gardens
Entry Fee: ₹1000 approx
Timings: Open 24/7
Location: Southeastern Madagascar

7. Andasibe-Mantadia National Park A.K.A Lemur Island

The thriving wildlife of the National Park fascinates its visitors

Photo: Smiley.toerist / Wikimedia Commons

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park was established in 1989 and spans over 60 square kilometers. You can also pet the lemurs as they are domesticated. The park is famous for the Indri Lemur which sounds like a howling devil bat that echoes in the jungle, making the visit even more captivating. They are released back into the wild but if they cannot adapt to the wild, they are allowed to stay in the park for as long as they like. They have the largest and smallest lemurs and have many amazing trails you can take around the park. This park promises a surreal experience.

Activities: Analamazoatra Special Reserve, Vakona Private Reserve, endemic vacuna plants
Timings: 6 AM – 4 PM daily
Entry Fee: ₹2000 approx
Location: Eastern Madagascar

8. Toliara

Locals having a good time at a ground with huts in Toliara

Photo: Torbenbrinker / Wikimedia Commons

Toilara was founded by a French architect in 1895 and has the world’s largest reef system. This consists of barrier reefs, fringing reefs, shallow lagoons, and abysmal slopes with more than 6000 marine species like cetaceans, sharks, and turtles. The place is semi-arid so you can expect a hot climate. Toliara is known for its reefs and rich marine life, you will find the 400 million-year-old fish called coelacanth here. This place promises a unique experience in Madagascar.

Attractions: Antsokay Arboretum, botanic garden, Honko Mangrove reserve, Sacred Tree of Miary, Grotte de Sarodrano
Best Time To Visit: June – August

9. Antananarivo

Explore the lake at Antananarivo, a peaceful thing to do in Madagascar

Photo: Z thomas / Wikimedia Commons

If you are looking for a chaotic crowded place to experience, head to Antananaviro. It was a cultural hub before its colonization in 1897. It is the largest city and the capital of Madagascar. Experience a deeper understanding of the Malagasy people and their culture, by visiting its old palace and the lemur park. Visiting this place promises a unique experience.

Attractions: Andafiavaratra palace, Tomb of Rainiharo, Tsimbazaza Zoo, Lake Anosy, Museum of Art and Archaeology, 19th-century martyr churches
Best Time To Visit: April – November

10. Enjoy Long Drive At N5

The sight of the terraced fields on the drive across the Madagascar outskirts

Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons

You will enjoy the long drive in this stretch offering Madagascar’s most pristine locations in all its rawness. This is your best chance to meet the famous aye-aye lemur. Although the roads are filled with potholes, you will be captivated by the breathtaking landscapes through its dense forest, magnificent rivers, and tiny towns along the way. It is one of the best things to do in Madagascar which promises fun and excitement.

Attractions: Wildlife, breathtaking flora and fauna, local people and culture
Best Time To Visit: April – October

Madagascar has many of the most exotic flora and flora, wildlife, and avian populations. It is still the home to many native plants and animals, and vibrant Indigenous cultures that will leave you enchanted. On this third-largest Island in the world, you will meet with the most exotic animals, plants, and marine life and the most diverse landscapes of pristine beaches, gorges, canyons, and valleys taking you on the amazing nature trails of a lifetime. So, book a trip with TripXL and make the most enthralling memories.

Cover Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

Madagascar is still working on its tourism infrastructure so moving around may be difficult, particularly in areas outside the main cities. Roads can be bumpy and internal flights can be few and far between. Whenever safe and possible, do take the services of tour operators or guides, especially in national parks and other remote places.
The country boasts an interesting cultural heritage which includes the Famadihana (turning of the bones), traditional music such as the Valiha, and handicrafts. The villagers behind the highlands and coastlines present aspects of the rope Malagasy lasting customs, dances, and markets.
There are different kinds of accommodation in Madagascar including affordable dormitories, eco-friendly lodges, various hotels, and high-end resorts, particularly in places such as Nosy Be and Antananarivo. Eco-lodges can also be found in many national parks.
The cuisine consists of African, French, and Asian ingredients. Some common meals are romazava (steamed meat with vegetables), pork with cassava leaves, and Koba (peanut rice flour and sugar wrap-up snack).
Generally, a visitor is required to obtain a tourist visa to enter the territory of Madagascar. Visas are often issued after arrival at Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo, or obtained from superconducting Malagasy embassies. Visitors’ passes generally come in 30 or 60 days. Note that the validity of the passport should be at least six months after the country’s departure.

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