If you’ve read my previous posts on 16 Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Madagascar, you already know this is a destination that requires a lot of planning.
Because my friends and I were only able to take a week off from week, I had to design an itinerary that packed as much variety as possible into just 8 days. This was quite difficult considering the country is vast, diverse, and unlike anywhere else on earth—over 90% of its flora and fauna are found nowhere else.
That’s incredible, but it also means you’ll want to be intentional about your itinerary so you can make the most of it. We chose to skip many of the famous national parks in the central and southern part of the country, given in my opinion, they look quite similar to many in the Western US. Ideally, you’d spend at least two weeks in Madagascar, but despite our short stay, we managed to experience three different regions with completely different landscapes, climates, and activities.
This post kicks off a series recapping my trip as some inspiration you can adapt to your own travels to the Red Island. My itinerary jumped back and forth between different parts of the country, so I’m breaking it down by region and locations rather than day-by-day, so you can easily add or cut regions depending on your schedule. First up: Central Madagascar.
Ivato
If you’re flying into Madagascar, you’ll most likely land at Ivato International Airport, about 40 minutes north of the capital. We stayed in Ivato on our first night rather than heading into Antananarivo, since we had an early morning flight to Northern Madagascar the next day.
Two of my friends and I arrived midday, before the rest of the group, so we explored the town. Ivato doesn’t have much in the way of tourist attractions, but wandering into local stores was interesting. We picked up a bottle of Malagasy wine from Ambalavao—a city known for its wineries—for about $1.80. Later that evening, we tried it back at our Airbnb. Let’s just say… it wasn’t our favorite (probably because we bought the cheapest option).
Dinner was at Hotel Au Bois Vert, which we stumbled upon during our walk. With limited dining options in Ivato, this place was a gem—lovely atmosphere and pretty good food too!
Antananarivo
My first glimpse of the capital came on Day 4, after two days in Northern Madagascar (stay tuned for that blog post). Unfortunately, delays on our return flight from the north and heavy traffic from our later road trip meant I didn’t get much time in the city before flying out to Mauritius.
Still, I caught the skyline and notable buildings from the car, with our driver pointing out landmarks like the presidential residence.
Some of my friends who stayed an extra day managed to explore more. If you do get time in Tana, the must-sees they recommend are:
- The Queen’s Palace – once the home of Malagasy royalty before the 19th century
- The Photography Museum – for a visual history of the country
- Lake Anosy – a scenic city-center lake with panoramic views
Antsirabe and The Highlands
Antsirabe is the third-largest city in Madagascar and the standout city in the central region. We first arrived in Antsirabe midway through our trip after a five-hour drive from the domestic airport in Ivato and returned to the city at the end of our trip before going back to the capital. The journey takes you through the highlands, where rolling green hills and bright red earth create some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. The temperature drops noticeably here, so bring a jacket.
The city has charming French colonial architecture, with landmarks such as the old train station worth a stop. We started our mornings there with mofo gasy (Malagasy bread) from a local vendor before visiting three workshops: a recycling workshop, a silk-weaving workshop, and a zebu horn workshop.
If you’ve read my earlier posts, you know I loved the zebu horn workshop the most—they had a lot of useful household items made from zebu horns and we got to watch to the process. I stocked up on souvenirs there. That said, the handwoven scarves, stoles, and cases from the silk workshop were also gorgeous, with incredible embroidery.
The Lakes
My favorite part of Central Madagascar was the lakes. Lake Tritriva is a breathtaking crater lake surrounded by steep cliffs and lush greenery. It’s not only visually stunning but also rich in history and cultural significance. Best of all, you can swim in it!
Nearby, Lake Andraikiba is nearby and also has emerald waters, but isn’t surrounded by the steep cliffs that make Tritriva such a beauty. It’s still has breathtaking scenery and offers a boat ride which you can’t get at Tritriva. If you prefer to be on the water rather than in it, this one’s a must.
What I would change
If I had more time, I would have loved to visit smaller towns in the highlands. I’ve heard that places like Talata Volonondry, just an hour from Tana, have sweeping panoramic views and beautiful countryside. If you find yourself with a full day in the capital, consider spending half of it on a quick escape to the surrounding highlands.
…
You’re bound to pass through Central Madagascar as it’s home to the capital city and largest airport. However, beyond that, the region offers a variety of experiences—scenic highlands, historic cities, artisan workshops, and crater lakes.
This is just the first region I visited on the 8-day journey. Keep an eye out for upcoming posts in this series, where I’ll share what we did in Northern Madagascar and Western Madagascar, along with tips to make the most of those parts of the country.
