Madagascar is a tempting vacation spot, surrounded by a beautiful coastline. This Indian Ocean island is enticing to many because of its white sand beaches, snorkel-friendly coral reefs, whispering palm trees, and delicious seafood. However, Madagascar provides a different kind of experience with plenty of sites to explore for both ecotourists and adventure travelers inland from its stunning coasts. Here are a few fantastic activities in Madagascar.

1. Traveling Through Antananarivo’s Past

A day spent seeing the historical and cultural sites in this vast, busy city is incredibly rewarding, even though it may initially seem daunting. Haute-Ville (Upper Town), where a succession of Malagasy kings ruled for more than three centuries until Queen Ranavalona III was driven out by the French in 1897, is the most alluring.

Before you go to the queen’s palace, the most significant landmark in the town, allow yourself to become lost in this quaint area with its winding cobblestone streets and exquisite pre- and early colonial structures. Enjoy a delectable dinner at one of the city’s many top-notch fine-dining establishments to round off the day.

2. Observing Indris at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

Being the largest lemur in the world and known for its eerie wailing noises that can travel up to 3km/2mi through impenetrable forest, the indri is highly sought after. You will undoubtedly come across some of the other 14 lemur species that make the park home as you follow these teddy bear-like critters, who primarily follow their calls. You might be fortunate enough to spot the lovely diademed sifaka and possibly the Goodman’s mouse lemur, which was first found in 2005.

The well-liked night walk in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is also advised, as it provides a chance to observe nocturnal lemurs, vibrant frogs, and a variety of fascinating chameleons. Finally, there are direct interactions with a group of habituated rescued brown lemurs on a small island in the forest. Having a lemur sit (and potentially urinate) on your head or shoulder will undoubtedly create a memorable experience, if not a photo opportunity, but it shouldn’t take away from the wonder of witnessing these creatures in the wild.

3. Exploring Isalo National Park on foot

Isalo National Park’s sandstone outcrops that rise from the dry plains provide a wonderful backdrop for walks. Because of the way the light bounces off the layers of canyons, pinnacles, and other rock formations, photographers will be able to find unlimited inspiration here. Isalo Window, an elevated arch providing a framed perspective over the surrounding landscape’s craggy peaks and balancing rocks, is one of the park’s most famous landmarks. For a unique sunset photo, come out here in the late afternoon.

4. Savoring Nosy Be’s Sand and Sea

Nosy Be is Madagascar’s most popular beach spot, so you can’t go wrong if you’re looking for pure island pleasure. The lush tropical island is well-known for its beautiful shoreline, laid-back atmosphere, and excellent diving and snorkeling spots.

There is enough to do here if the mood strikes, even though it may be hard to get yourself to leave your hammock or beach lounger. One of the nicest things to do in Madagascar is to take a boat journey to the small, adjacent island of Nosy Komba, a volcanic isle that is home to a troop of habituated black lemurs.

5. Exploring the National Park of Ranomafana

Wildlife abounds in the undulating hills of the beautiful rainforest of Ranomafana. With 12 lemurs, 115 bird species, 98 amphibians, and 58 reptiles, the park is a key location for biodiversity. The majority of these animals are native to the nation.

Look out for the giraffe-necked weevil, one of Madagascar’s most fascinating animals. When vying for females, the guys use their long necks to fight, just like real giraffes. You may explore the network of trails here for several days, and if you want an adrenaline thrill, you can kayak on the Namorona River to see the jungle from a different angle.

6. In Kirindy Forest, encountering the Fossa

In Madagascar’s parks and reserves, you can see a lot of lemurs, but it’s more difficult to spot the fossa, which is their primary predator. Although the fossa is widely distributed throughout the island, it is quite difficult to spot this nocturnal predator due to its reclusive nature. However, this isn’t true in Kirindy Forest.

Here, a number of accustomed people dance around the camp as though they are the owners. It’s a unique experience to see these streamlined animals, who are frequently characterized as half dog, half cat, climb trees. Come during the mating season, which runs from September to October, for an even more amazing show. As a number of guys vie for the attention of a female sitting high in a tree, they shout out from the base. Over the course of a week, she will mate with the majority of the men.

7. Strolling Along the Baobab Avenue

One of Madagascar’s most recognizable and picturesque tourist destinations is the Avenue of the Baobabs. Grandidier’s baobabs, sometimes referred to as upside-down trees because of their branches that mimic roots extending upward, line both sides of the well-known road.

With a height of roughly 30 meters (100 feet), these trees are as tall as an eight-story structure. Visit at sunset, when the shadows are most dramatic and the orange-red sunrays are reflected by the polished bark of the trees. The baobabs are among the tallest trees on the island and are said to be as old as 800 years.

8. Admiring the Ankarana Special Reserve’s Tsingy

Whether the tsingy of the Ankarana Massif is incredibly gorgeous or just unusually strange is up to you to decide. In any case, don’t pass up this exceptional geological occurrence, where a forest of limestone needles has formed from the erosion of a plateau that is 150 million years old.

Use boardwalks and bridges to hike through this surreal setting, pausing at several viewpoints to gain an aerial perspective. A vast network of underground rivers spanning more than 100 km/60 mi is thought to be the greatest in Africa; what you see on the surface is only half the tale. A peek of what goes on below may be found in a number of caverns, some of which are home to enormous bat colonies.

9. Exploring Ifotaka Forest’s Local Culture

In keeping with the standard all-inclusive African safari camp found throughout East and southern Africa, Mandrare River Camp provides opulent tent accommodations that are nearly exclusive to Madagascar. Great meals, first-rate service, and an amazing wilderness experience await you if you stay here.

The variety of activities offered at the lodge is what truly sets it apart. In addition to taking a boat journey to a holy burial site, searching for nocturnal critters in a taboo-protected spiny forest, and enjoying a traditional dance performance amongst baobab trees at nightfall, your hosts are the local Antandroy people.

10. Searching Amber Mountain National Park for Chameleons

The breathtaking natural splendor of Amber Mountain National Park is well known. The rainforest, which is 40 meters (130 feet) high, is dotted with crater lakes and ancient volcanic peaks. It is also crisscrossed by bubbling mountain streams and their waterfalls. The diversity of flowers is especially noteworthy.

There are over 1,000 known plant species, including some stunning orchids and the bird’s nest fern, of which you can view some remarkable specimens with fronds that are 3 meters (10 feet) long. The park is known for its chameleons, which are less noticeable. Some of the 14 documented species can be seen by your knowledgeable guide, however they are easy to miss. The tiniest reptile in the world, the Mount d’Ambre leaf chameleon, is the most noteworthy.

11. Dancing in Berenty Private Reserve with Sifakas

You have to witness the Verreaux’s sifaka’s dance skills to realize that all lemurs are adorable. These adorable animals aren’t really dancing, of course. As they move between trees that are too far apart to jump between, they force themselves forward on their powerful hind legs with their arms outstretched for balance.

The ideal location to observe this unusual behavior is Berenty Private Reserve. The Sifakas here actually dance every day between the riverine forest where they congregate to sleep and their feeding regions. Additional activities in Berenty include visiting one of the biggest fruit bat colonies in the nation and taking a nighttime stroll through the octopus tree forest to observe nocturnal lemurs.

12. Ile Sainte-Marie Whale Watching

Visit the tranquil sanctuary of Ile Sainte-Marie for a quiet, off-the-beaten-path substitute for the beaches of Nosy Be. Like its western twin, the sliver-like island is less crowded and more reasonably priced, but it still has excellent diving, snorkeling, and swimming.

The island is very unique since it is the ideal spot to observe humpback whales that migrate through the region from June to September in order to breed and calve. If you’re fortunate, you might be able to spot pods, which are hundreds of these amazing creatures migrating into the warm waters of the channel that separates the island from the mainland. Go out by boat for a close-up look or observe them breaching from the shore.

 

13. Ring-tailed Lemur Observation at Anja Community Reserve

Perhaps one of the most prevalent and adorable lemur species in Madagascar are ring-tailed lemurs. They resemble exaggerated cartoon characters with their large orange eyes and characteristic tails with alternating bands of black and white.

Even their fighting appears cute; males use scent glands to wipe their tails and wave them in each other’s faces during “stink fights.” One of the greatest locations on the island to observe this and other behavioral delights is Anja Community Reserve. My favorite part of observing them is when they extend their arms wide and close their eyes to let the first rays of the sun shine on their bellies.

 

14. Dealing with a Fearful In the Pangalenes, aye-aye

The majority of lemurs are incredibly adorable and cuddly, but the aye-aye is not at all like that. The largest nocturnal primate in the world, this animal actually has a somewhat frightful appearance. It can bore holes in trees with its constantly expanding rodent-like teeth, and it can recover wood-boring grubs with its thin, long middle finger.

The aye-aye is thought to be malevolent in the area, and some people believe that their presence in a hamlet foretells someone’s demise. Unfortunately, a lot of innocuous creatures have been murdered on sight as a result of this myth. A nighttime boat trip to Île au Coq in the Pangalenes is your greatest chance of seeing one of these endangered oddballs.

 

15. Exploring the Pays Zafimaniry and Gathering Handicrafts

The general handicraft abilities of the Malagasy people are well known. Both locals and visitors enjoy traditional silk production and weaving, zebu-horn jewelry design, and colorful paper making. The Zafimaniry people, an ethnic minority whose traditional woodworking skills are listed on Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, are especially notable.

They follow a long-standing custom of constructing homes completely of wood, nail-free, and adorning the outside and every piece of furniture with geometric designs that pay homage to their Indonesian ancestry. They also create lovely mementos, such picture frames, masks, and carved boxes with elaborate inlays.

Trekking between isolated villages and spending the night in basic homestays in traditional wooden huts are the best ways to experience the Pays Zafimaniry. If you’re not like it, check out these unique crafts in Antananarivo or the highland village of Ambositra.