Things to Do in Madagascar

From the Avenue of the Baobabs to spotting wild lemurs in the rainforest - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Madagascar split from mainland Africa roughly 88 million years ago, and its isolation produced a level of endemic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth - over 100 species of lemur alone, plus baobab trees that have become one of the most recognizable images to come out of the island. Roads are notoriously slow, so most itineraries cover fewer regions than the map distances might suggest. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🌳

Avenue of the Baobabs

A dirt road lined with centuries-old baobab trees near Morondava, most dramatic at sunset when the trees silhouette against the sky - one of Madagascar's most photographed sights.

📍 Morondava

🚉 The avenue is 20km north of Morondava on a dirt road with no bus service - taxis-brousse reach Morondava from Antananarivo in about 20 hours, and local taxis run out for sunset.

🐒

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

The most accessible place to see the indri, the largest living lemur species, known for a distinctive, far-carrying call - a common first stop given its proximity to the capital, Antananarivo.

📍 Andasibe

🚉 Andasibe is three hours east of Antananarivo on the Toamasina road, served by taxi-brousse; the reserve entrance is a short walk from the village, and indri walks start at dawn.

⛰️

Tsingy de Bemaraha

A UNESCO World Heritage 'stone forest' of sharp limestone pinnacles, navigated via suspended walkways and ladders - one of the most otherworldly landscapes in Madagascar, though genuinely difficult to reach.

📍 Melaky Region, western Madagascar

🚉 The limestone forest is reached from Morondava by 4x4 in eight to twelve hours, including two river ferry crossings, and the road is impassable in the wet season from December to April.

🏖️

Nosy Be

Madagascar's main beach resort island, off the northwest coast, with ylang-ylang plantations (used in perfume production) and whale shark season roughly October-December.

📍 Nosy Be, northwest Madagascar

🚉 Flights from Antananarivo take 90 minutes; ferries from Ankify on the mainland take 45 minutes, and taxis and scooters then cover the island's roads.

🦎

Isalo National Park

A park of sandstone canyons and natural swimming pools in the south, home to ring-tailed lemurs and a landscape often compared to the American Southwest rather than typical rainforest.

📍 Ihorombe Region, southern Madagascar

🚉 Ranohira village sits at the park gate on the RN7, about 10 hours from Antananarivo by taxi-brousse, and guides for the canyon walks are hired at the park office in the village.

Mark Madagascar, get the stamp

🇲🇬MADAGASCARVISITED

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🇲🇬MADAGASCARWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

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Planning questions

How many days do you need in Madagascar?

10-14 days lets you combine Andasibe, the Avenue of the Baobabs and one other region - given how slow road travel can be, fewer stops covered properly beats a rushed circuit.

What's the best time to visit Madagascar?

April-November (dry season) is the most popular and accessible time to visit, avoiding both cyclone risk and the worst of the muddy roads. Lemur activity and baobab photography are both good throughout this window.

Is Madagascar good for a first-time visit?

It rewards planning around road conditions - internal flights or a private driver are commonly used to cover longer distances, since paved roads are limited and travel times can be considerably longer than distances suggest.

Do I need a visa to visit Madagascar?

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at the airport for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisamada.gov.mg.

What are some things to do in Madagascar on a tight budget?

Local Malagasy food is very inexpensive, national park entry fees are modest relative to comparable wildlife destinations, and shared taxi-brousse minibuses are a cheap (if slow) way to travel between regions.

Can I rent a car in Madagascar, and what licence do I need?

Renting a 4x4 with a driver is the standard arrangement, and it is what almost every visitor does - roads are long, rough and poorly signposted, and a driver who knows the route and the ferry crossings is worth far more than the saving. Self-drive is possible: a foreign licence is accepted for up to three months alongside an International Driving Permit, with a minimum age of 23. The RN7 south is paved and manageable; the roads to Tsingy and the west coast are not, and several become impassable in the wet season. Official visitor information is published by the Madagascar National Tourism Board at madagascar-tourisme.com.