In Part 1 of this series, we covered the basics, so this time I’ll be diving into the specifics. In Part 2, I also include specific tips tied to locations/activities across the country to give practical insights that I hope will help you plan smarter and travel better in Madagascar.
9) Be Flexible with Madagascar Airlines
To visit Northern, Central, and Western Madagascar in just 8 days, my friends and I had to take a couple of domestic flights. That meant flying with Tsaradia Airlines and Madagascar Airlines—two companies that may or may not be the same (I still don’t know). We booked our tickets a few months in advance via the Madagascar Airlines website (warning: flights are expensive).
One flight was labeled Madagascar Airlines, the other Tsaradia. The flights themselves were comfortable and included snacks, despite being under 2 hours. But the reputation for delays is well-earned. Before we even arrived in Madagascar, one of our flights was rescheduled by two hours. Our outbound flight from Antananarivo to Diego Suarez left on time, but our return was delayed an extra two hours. Luckily, I had padded the itinerary with a buffer day to drive from Tana to Antsirabe, so it worked out.
Bottom line: Always take the earliest flight possible and build in wiggle room on flight days. Delays are common and can wreck a packed itinerary.
10) Sunrise is Better Than Sunset To Visit the Baobabs
The Avenue of the Baobabs is Madagascar’s most iconic site, and most people will tell you not to miss sunset there. My friends and I went twice—once at sunrise and again at sunset—and sunrise was hands-down the better experience.
Yes, the sunset colors are beautiful, and at that time, you’ll find locals offering cow cart rides across the pond, which isn’t an option at sunrise. But sunrise had fewer people, better lighting for photos, and a clear view of the sun rising directly over the baobabs. At sunset, the view was partially blocked by a row of non-baobab trees to the west, which really dulled the visual impact. We were grateful we saw the site in the morning; had we only experienced the sunset, we would’ve left a bit underwhelmed. If you can do it both times though, I’d highly recommend for both experiences — plus your parking ticket can be reused if you visit within the same day!
11) Vanilla at the Souvenir Shops Can Be The Real Deal
If you’re staying in Morondava while visiting the baobabs, you might assume that the souvenir shops are overpriced tourist traps. While some are, our experience buying vanilla proved otherwise. Some of my friends wanted to buy vanilla in bulk, and our driver warned us that Western Madagascar isn’t known for high-quality vanilla, but he offered to help vet the goods.
He was surprised to find good-quality vanilla at reasonable prices in a few Morondava shops. My friends bought enough to get bulk discounts, which helped me negotiate lower prices on other souvenirs. The takeaway? Not all tourist shops are scams, and you don’t have to trek to a vanilla farm to find decent vanilla—just bring a local who knows what to look for.
Madagascar Airlines
Baobabs at Sunset
Ankarana National Park
12) Drink Kola Tea To Stay Awake
With all the long road trips in Madagascar, you’ll need help staying alert. Kola tea is caffeinated, super tasty, and can often been found on the roadside in many cities in the country. The best part is watching the vendor pour it into your cup from a hose!
Our drivers also chewed certain local plants to stay awake—though those were region-specific and harder to find. If you’re not a coffee person, kola tea is a great local alternative to keep your energy up on the road.
13) Sleep Farther Away From Ankarana For Better Value Accommodation
The Tsingy rock formations are one of Madagascar’s most otherworldly sights. To see the Tsingy, we visited Ankarana National Park because it’s more accessible than Bemaraha. While researching places to stay, most of the accommodations near the park had terrible reviews—think no running water, mosquito swarms, and power outages—all for a steep price.
So I extended my search and found a gem in Ambilobe, just an hour away. It was a great hotel with lots of amenities, and super affordable (though the restaurant was painfully slow). If you’re visiting remote attractions like national parks, check towns (even if they’re farther out) for better value and comfort. Having to wake up an hour early to visit the park will be worth the better accommodation.
14) You Can Swim in Lake Tritriva
Lake Tritriva near Antsirabe often gets overshadowed by more famous sites, but it turned out to be a highlight of our trip. The lake is stunning and—yes—you can swim in it! Only one of us brought a swimsuit, but once we found out swimming was allowed, some of my friends still jumped in because the water looked so good.
Do note that the lake is considered sacred, so swimming isn’t permitted during local religious ceremonies. That said, those don’t happen too often so pack a swimsuit—you might regret it if you don’t.
15) Embrace The Zebu Culture — Especially The Antsirabe Workshop.
You can’t go a day in Madagascar without seeing a zebu—a local humped cow that’s ingrained in Malagasy life. You’ll see them pulling carts, or on your plate and even in souvenir form. You can ride a zebu, eat zebu meat in most restaurants and also try zebu milk. One of our favorite stops was a zebu workshop in Antsirabe, where artisans use recycled washing machines to craft beautiful household items from zebu horns.
The prices at the workshop store were pretty reasonable, and the designs were pretty cool. I picked up a zebu horn cutlery set, while my friends bought little zebu figurines. We spent over an hour at the store admiring and purchasing items. It’s a unique, practical souvenir that you won’t find anywhere else so make sure not to miss it when passing by Antsirabe.
Lemurs
Lake Tritriva
Morondava
16) There Are Animals Everywhere — If You Can Spot Them
Madagascar is world-famous for its wildlife, but here’s the catch: you might miss a lot if you don’t have sharp eyes. I have fairly bad vision, so I missed half the animals others pointed out—lemurs, chameleons, and even snakes. One of our friends wanted to catch a snake, and thanks to our guide’s eagle eyes, we all got to hold one.
Even in reserves where guides are optional, I strongly recommend hiring one. Otherwise, you’ll miss a lot more than you realize. I usually advocate for independent travel, but this is one place where DIY exploring isn’t always the best idea.
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I truly love Madagascar, but many of the unforgettable moments depend on timing, local insight, and a little flexibility. I hope these tips help you in planning a better itinerary to make the most of a visit.
And this isn’t the end. I’ll be continuing this Madagascar thread with more posts that break down my itinerary by region, so stay tuned for more advice about the Red Island.
