The central Highlands, at an altitude of 1 000m, cover three-quarters of Madagascar’s total surface area. It is the region of the Merina, an ethnic group which unified the country in the 19C. The Highlands are also home to the colours of the Madagasc..

The Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is divided between the Mantadia reserve, a vast primary forest covering 15 500ha, and the Analamazaotra reserve, the unquestionable domain of the Indri , the largest lemur in Madagascar, and an animal with a lou..

The Isalo range stands in the Grand Sud, in the heart of an arid region. This tormented formation of Jurassic sandstone is home to deep canyons with luxurious vegetation, natural swimming pools and the royal tombs of the Bara ethnic group. A cross be..

The funerary art of this region is famous across the world, but the Mahafaly region itself remains largely unknown. This region of zebus, tombs and totems, with its many clans and sapphire-rich geology is lacking water, yet has a flora which is uniqu..

Manafiafy is the Madagascan name of both the village and the splendid Sainte-Luce Bay where Jacques Pronis established the first French trading post in 1642. Lokaro Bay , 10km further on, boasts a delightful beach in a magnificent setting, with fi..

Visitors to the Menabe region in the southwest of the island will get a true sense of the influence of mainland Africa, as well as coming face to face with the royal culture of the Sakalava. Discover also the traditional dance known as the kilalaky ..

For locals, the baobab tree, the roots of which reach towards the sky, is the king of the forest. Although the tree can be seen everywhere in the west of the island, its density in the BMenabe is extraordinary. The Allée des Baobabs, an alleyway whi..

The Manambolo has its source in the Highlands region and flows into the Canal du Mozambique. A descent of the river by canoe or dugout is a must for any adventure holiday on the island and is the best way of exploring the Tsingy de Bemaraha Natio..

The unique karstic landscapes of the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park are characterised by a maze of rocky spurs. Numerous vertiginous routes criss-cross this limestone plateau whose jagged profile has been formed by the effects of rainwater, and who..

Lying eight miles to the northwest of Madagascar, the “Perfumed Island” is the jewel in the crown of Madagasy tourism. A mountainous, volcanic island lined with idyllic tropical beaches, Nosy Be enchants at first sight. The tourist brochures don’t li..

The enchanting Nosy Be is surrounded by a delightful string of islands which are best explored by sailing boat, launch or outrigger canoe. Near Nosy Be lies the attractive Nosy Komba and the Tany Kely marine reserve , while the beautiful Nosy I..

The Ankarana Nature Reserve is renowned for its karst mountains. This huge collection of tsingy (limestone pinnacles known as karren or lapies ), the second largest in the country, is home to an amazing network of caves, the Sakalava royal tomb..

Named Sainte-Marie by the Portuguese, Nosy Boraha resembles an exclamation mark in the sea, extending for 50km off the coast of Madagascar as far as the Île aux Nattes . It is a truly idyllic spot, with its scent of cloves, turquoise water, fine san..

With its enchanting setting, delightful lagoon protected by a coral reef, and long beaches of fine sand shaded by a line of palm trees, the Île aux Nattes is a truly idyllic island and a popular diving spot accessible by dugout canoe from Sainte-Mar..

Dugout canoes and barges laden with goods glide silently along this waterway which stretches for 700km between Tamatave and Farafangana along the east coast of Madagascar. The Pangalanes Canal, navigable as far as Mananjary , is surrounded by luxu..

The much-visited Ranomafana National Park covers an area of 43 000ha and consists largely of tropical rainforest. The park is home to the source of the Namorona river and boasts a remarkable yet endangered biodiversity. This is the habitat of the fam..

Travelling along 163km of track from a bygone age in three slightly dilapidated carriages, this 12hr train ride is a truly colourful experience. The train linking Fianarantsoa to Manakara (operated by the FCE railway company), runs at a ponderous..

Built on top of the highest hill in Antananarivo , the royal city was home to the tombs, temples and palaces of the Merina dynasty from the 17C onwards. Since 1995, when an arson attack ravaged this seat of power, the Rova has been undergoing restor..

To symbolise the unification of the Imerina, King Andrianampoinimerina (1787-1810) sanctified the twelve hills surrounding Antananarivo . The most interesting, that of Ambohimanga , comprises a city, a funerary site and a group of sacred areas list..

An extraordinary 360° view across the rice fields of the Highlands is the reward for an ascent of this sacred hill, occupied by an archaeological site. At the top of this rocky peak, at an altitude of 1 500m, two small local museums are housed in r..