Madagascar Tourism

Madagascar’s primary religions are Islam and Christianity but some traditional beliefs are deeply rooted here. People still go the soothsayer for foretelling their future. It is a country rich in tribal heritage and respect for ancestors and traditions are very important.

In all ceremonies and festivals you will notice African and Indonesian music and dance. It is better to study about their customs first before coming here so that you do not offend any sentiments here.

Visiting this place is a must on any Madagascar travel packages as it truly is the loveliest of islands in the entire archipelago. It used to be a haven for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries and you can see some interesting ship wrecks still here.

Madagascar offers a wide range of international cuisine as well as local food served in various restaurants that you can choose from depending upon the strength of your wallet.

A lot of the food served in restaurants is influenced by French, African, Arab and Indian cuisines.

Apart from restaurants there are a number of street side eateries which offer you a whole different experience all together.

The food here is an interesting blend of the various traditions of the Indian Ocean islands. The taste of Malagasy food can be aptly described as a unique blend of Southeast Asian, African, Chinese, European and Indian cuisine.

Enjoy a Sunday afternoon with theHiraGasy shows and for cultural connoisseurs, there are some wonderful dance and theater groups that perform at various places in Antananarivo. Weekends are a time for some of the best live music and dance performances in various cities.

Your throat will never be parched in the capital city of Madagascar where there are plenty of bars and pubs to take care of your needs.

There are upscale lounges to medium and more affordable bars too.

The Analakely market in Tana is large and sprawling and is a tourist’s paradise. It is an excellent place to pick up all sorts of craft items, wood carvings, embroidery, handmade paper flowers etc. You must buy fragrant vanilla here as you will get it an amazingly affordable price.

These markets mainly sell food and groceries; however, you can take a walk through the herbal medicine market near the train station. It is quite a unique and fascinating experience.

You can also try the street market on Nosy Be Island for browsing through a wide variety of handicrafts and locally produced clothing. It is an excellent place to pick up gift items.

These springs are believed to have excellent healing effects and a bath in these thermal waters will prove to be a heavenly experience for you.

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to the adventurous activities on this amazing archipelago. There are plenty of places to go on some great jungle trekking, mountain hiking and climbing, snorkel ling, diving and much more. Explore volcanic terrains and experience close encounters with all types of wild life on guided safaris.

You will not find many resort style relaxations here but you can definitely spend some peaceful and tranquil times at the many pristine beaches available here. The beaches are not at all crowded and is a great way to spend time alone or with a loved one. Notable among the places is Nosy Be Island. You can also visit the village of Ampangorinana on the Nosy Irana Island for a perfect getaway.

This 17th century palace stands tall in the Royal complex. Ravaged by fire in 1995, it is still quite an exquisite sight and one can see the royal artifactson display here. Bloody Mary was the name given to the queen of this place for her execution orders of missionaries and ordinary people.

It is located in the bustling capital city of Antananarivo and will prove to be a great sightseeing experience for children. It is home to many native wild life and flora including the lemurs and the aye-ayes! Children will also love watching the native egrets here. There is also plenty more for bird lovers.

This place has been a sacred place for the past 500 years. It is an important place of worship and has pilgrims coming in from within Madagascar as well as other places. This hill is home to a royal city which has a burial site and was for a long time referred to as the blue city or the holy city. Important rituals are still performed here which started more than thousands of years ago. There is a strong sense of national identity attached to this place. The rainforests surrounds the city and the hill is now a UNESCO world heritage site.

This museum is situated just a few meters downhill from the Rova. It displays some of the most exquisite and precious items of the royal families. It has a huge gilt throne, crown jewels and other interesting artifacts including small military uniforms of past kings on display.

This is a peaceful lake in the midst of the chaos of Tana that provides a wonderful retreat. The island attached to its shore is the site of the monument dedicated to all who died in WWI.