Madagascar
Island off the
southeast coast of Africa is much more than that. Madagascar is the fourth
largest island in the world, so there are many fascinating things to see and
do: hiking, diving, surfing, visiting mangroves, seeing baobabs, playing with
lemurs.
Lemurs, baobabs,
rainforest, desert, hiking, and diving: Madagascar is a dream destination for
outdoor enthusiasts – half the fun is getting to all these incredible
attractions.
The unique flora and fauna of this country are so peculiar that they have led some scientists to call it the "eighth continent" of the world. But, despite its exoticism, Madagascar is also one of those cozy places where you feel at home from the moment you arrive.
Culture
& History
Madagascar was colonized by Asians who came from the
island of Borneo even before mainland Africans set foot on its shores. Over the
next hundred years or so, Africans, other Asians, and Europeans began to settle
in Madagascar, each bringing with them their own cultures and traditions, many
of which are still observed today.
Madagascar has been populated by successive waves of migrants from
various corners of the Indian Ocean. It is unlike anywhere else in Africa or
Asia. There are fantastic sights to discover this unique history, but also
numerous opportunities to meet local people and immerse yourself in their
world: in the village stays, long-distance trails, festivals, taxi-brousse
(bush taxis) and Friday night discos.
Flavors
The cuisine of Madagascar reflects the gastronomic
interests of people belonging to a variety of cultures and ethnicities,
including Indonesians, Africans, French, and Arabs. Ancient traditions in
Madagascar have also played an important role in the evolution of Malagasy
cuisine. In Madagascar, a traditional meal is typically held on the ground.
Food is generally served on a single plate and eaten with a spoon. Meals are
served when they are hot.
The Malagasy population eats practically rice and zebu meat, cooked in multiple ways, but without a doubt, the most typical dish of Madagascar is “akoho sy voanio”, a spice of chicken with coconut and some rice. as well as the "foza sy henakisoa", a dish of fried pork with rice, smoked meat and fried pork. White fish with vegetable sauces will also be common, as well as beans in tomato sauce and similar dishes.
Urban Experience
In Madagascar you can
find the city of Antsirabé that has an important legacy of colonial
architecture. Originally, Antsirabé was known for selling salt. In fact, its
name comes from the word 'Any sira be', which means 'place with a lot of salt'.
In 1872, a Norwegian
settler founded the city as a hot spring retreat center, which made Antsirabé
fashionable during colonial times. The French were retiring to Antsirabé to
enjoy the hot springs and get away from bustling Antananarivo.
As a curiosity, it is
located at an altitude of 1500 meters, so it is usually colder than in other
locations. And something that shocks when you first arrive is the large amount
of pousse-pousse (taxis pulled by one person) that there are. There are them
everywhere and it is a means of transport widely used by locals.
You can also see The
Avenue of the Baobabs The baobab is a very large and characteristic type of
tree on the island of Madagascar. Of the 9 species of baobabs that exist, 7 are
found in Madagascar and 6 are endemic to the island. Baobabs live about 800
years on average, but on this avenue there are those that are more than a
century old.
The Avenida de los Baobabs is a promenade with baobabs on both sides, one of the most emblematic places on the island. In fact, the sunset there is one of the things to do in Madagascar, yes or yes, an essential plan.
Outdoor Adventures
Madagascar is unique: 5% of all known animal and plant species can be found here, and here alone. The island's signature animal is the lemur of course, but there are many more weird and wonderful creatures and plants: baobabs, insects, sharks, frogs, orchids, palms, birds, turtles, mongoose. The list goes on. Much of this biodiversity is under threat, from climate change and population pressure, giving each trip a sense of urgency but also purpose: tourism can truly be a force for good.
The remarkable fauna and flora is matched by epic landscapes of an incredible diversity: you can go from rainforest to desert in just 300km. Few places on Earth offer such an intense kaleidoscope of nature. There are sandstone canyons, limestone karsts, mountains, fertile hills cascading with terraced rice paddies, forests of every kind – rain, dry, spiny – and a laterite-rich soil that gave the country its nickname of 'Red Island'. With 5000km of coastline, the sea is never very far, turquoise and idyllic in places, dangerous in others.
Making the best of Madagascar can be challenging (and
expensive): it is the world’s fourth-largest island and its roads are dismal.
For those who relish an adventure, however, this is a one-of-a-kind
destination: the off-road driving is phenomenal, there are national parks that
only see a few hundred visitors a year, regions that live in autarky during the
rainy season and resort so remote you’ll need a private plane or boat to get
there. There are also more activities than you'll have time for hiking, diving,
mountain biking, kitesurfing, rock-climbing, you name it. Oh, and there are
plenty of natural pools, beaches, and hammocks on which to recover, too