Madagascar

1. Amber Mountain National Park

Amber Mountain National Park is nestled at the northernmost tip of Madagascar Island, approximately 20 miles south of the town of Diego Suarez. The park covers a large area of over 18,500 hectares, parts of which rise to an altitude of nearly 5,000 feet, encompassing montane forest, rainforest, waterfalls, crater lakes, and an abundance of unique wildlife.

You can explore the park at your leisure on either a guided tour or with the assistance of a local guide, who will lead you to see the highlights, which include three beautiful waterfalls. The park is renowned for having remarkable bio-diversity, and you can expect to see several species of lemur, chameleon, and geckos as well as a wide variety of birds and small mammals. Amber Mountain National Park Map

2. Ambohimanga

Ambohimanga Hill is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the province of Antananarivo in northern Madagascar. Ambohimanga Hill was a royal city and burial site, and later a summer palace for Malagasy royalty. The city was protected by an enormous stone wall and 14 outer gates, the largest of which featured a massive stone disc that was over 130 feet in diameter and required at least 20 strong men to move it into position.

You can explore the interesting site at your own pace or with the assistance of a guide, who will be able to explain many details you may miss if visiting on your own. Highlights include the two palaces, the sacrificial ox pit, four royal tombs, two sacred basins, and the massive main gate. Amber Mountain National Park Map

3. Adasibe-Mantadia National Park

Covering a large area of just under 60 square miles of tropical rainforest, Adasibe-Mantadia National Park beckons nature lovers to come and see a wide variety of indigenous Malagasy wildlife, including the rare indri lemur.

The park is comprised of the Analamazoatra (Perinet) reserve, which is where you will find the indri lemur, and Mantadia National Park, which is a sanctuary for over 14 species of lemur together with an excellent representation of reptiles and over 100 species of orchids and other indigenous flora. The entire area is bisected by a network of hiking trails for all fitness levels and guided night walks are offered, where you can observe the activities of all the nocturnal inhabitants. Map

4. Ankarafantsika National Park

Located in the northwestern corner of the island, Ankarafantsika National Park is one of the last remaining remnants of dry deciduous forest in Madagascar and provides sanctuary to many species of critically endangered mammals, reptiles, and birds. You can explore the park on foot along a selection of 11 marked trails, which will give you the opportunity to see up to eight species of lemur, 129 species of birds, and many reptiles, including the Madagascar big-headed turtle and the rhinoceros. One of the highlights of your visit to the park is without doubt the night walk, when many of the nocturnal creatures are active. You can stay overnight in a selection of on-site accommodation ranging from roofed campsites to comfortable bungalows. Map

5. Avenue of the Baobabs

Near the fisherman’s town of Morondava on the west coast of Madagascar you can find a fascinating avenue of ancient baobab tree – all that now remains of what must once have been a majestic forest of these primeval giants. Baobab trees are a marvel of nature and can be tapped for water during drought, provide edible young salad-like leaves, and fruits that contain a nutritious sour pulp used in various drinks and foods throughout Africa.

Some of the mighty trees that make up the famous Avenue of the Baobabs are believed to be up to 800 years old, and several have a diameter of up to 20 feet. Try to plan your visit for sunset, when the otherworldly landscape is at its best. Avenue of the Baobabs Map

6. Berenty Reserve

The Berenty Reserve is located in southern Madagascar, where it covers over 1,000 hectares of natural forest. The reserve is dedicated to scientific research and to protecting and showcasing Madagascar’s diminishing lemur population while preserving their habitats. Visitors are welcome to come and spend a day or two exploring the reserve with the assistance of an expert driver and guide, who will ensure that you get to see all the highlights of the reserve.

You can expect to see several species of lemur during you visit, including the reserve’s resident troop of ring-tailed lemurs, and there are several trails you can follow on foot to learn about the various habitats in the reserve. Basic overnight accommodation is available on site. Berenty Reserve Map

7. Tzimbazaza Botanical and Zoological Gardens

If you are paying a fleeting visit to Madagascar and do not have the time to travel deep into the forests to see the country’s many national parks and reserves, you can still get a taste of the island’s magnificent flora and fauna by visiting Tzimbazaza Botanical and Zoological Gardens in the capital, Antananarivo.

The route through the gardens includes examples of the different types of traditional housing used by the various ethnic groups who reside on the island and you will be able to see caged and free-roaming lemurs along the way as well as several exhibits of other animals and plants that are indigenous to the island. Tzimbazaza Botanical and Zoological Gardens Map