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Places to see in Madagascar
Ambohimanga
Ambohimanga ("Blue Hill"): the former royal capital, located 14 miles north of Antananarivo. An old, sacred village on a steep hill culminated by the rova which contains an historical museum.
Montagne d'Ambre National Park
National Park near Antsiranana, 45,500 acres. Rain forest, tree-ferns, orchids. Lemurs, birds, harmless reptiles. Crater lakes, water falls, sweeping views towards the sea. No entrance fee, but a permit must be obtained at the "Direction des Eaux et Forets" in Antananarivo.
Andasibe (Périnet)
A small jungle town located along the Antananarivo-Toamasina railroad. Fauna reserve; visiting permits delivered by "Direction des Eaux et Forêts" in Antananarivo; ask for a guide at the Hôtel de la Gare in Andasibe to see the Indri-indry (largest lemur) and other lemur species.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo ("The City of a Thousand Warriors"): the capital and the first stop for passengers arriving by plane. The city is built on a Y-shaped granite mountain surrounded by rice fields. The rova ("royal fort") sits atop the highest point and houses an historical museum of the ancient Malagasy queens and kings. A jumble of houses cover the steep slopes. A maze of narrow alleys and stairs crisscross the town. One such stairway, climbing 600 feet, is named Tsiafakantitra ("Old folks can't make it").
The city of Antananarivo is divided into neighborhoods or quarters with names more readily used by taxi drivers and local inhabitants than street names. For instance, the US Embassy is in Antsahavola, the topographic map service in Ambanidia, and the zoo in Tsimbazaza.
In the center of town, the Zoma is the largest open air market in the world. Exotic fruits, vegetable, meat, flowers, hardware, toys, furniture, handicrafts, potteries, carved stones, clothes are laid out over a central plaza and many adjoining streets. The wares are protected from the sun by enormous white umbrellas. Hawking and haggling are animated but conducted in a dignified manner, without yelling. Many localities derive their name from the day of the week the market is held. The Wednesday market is held in places called Alarobia, the Thursday market in Alakamisy. For Friday shopping, you go to Zomà, though Antananarivo's Zoma is now held daily.
Tsimbazaza ("They are not children") is a botanical and zoological garden with many specimens of the very peculiar Malagasy flora and fauna: lemurs, extraordinary chameleons and insects, birds. There is a skeleton of a giant extinct bird, the aepiornis, standing ten feet tall over its nine-quart egg (an ostrich egg measures a quart and a half).
Antsirabe
Antsirabe ("Plenty of salt"): a charming resort and hot-springs town, 100 miles south of Antananarivo. The legendary lake Tritriva fills an extinct crater nearby. Lake Andraikiba offers boating and swimming.
Isalo
[pronounced eeshall] National park in the south-west of the country. 203,900 acres. 150 miles from Toliary.
Canyons, cliffs, gorges and other striking geological features, due to wind and rain erosion. Exotic flora, native palm trees, giant cactus. Lemurs, harmless reptiles.
Camping and visiting permit delivered by the "Direction des Eaux et Forets" in Antananarivo, by the "Service Provincial des Eaux et Forets" in Fianarantsoa, or by the Forestry Ranger in Ranohira.
Nosy Be
Along the north-west coast lies a number of islands, the largest of which is Nosy-Be. Marvelous beaches and coral reef in a protected national zone, natural lemur reserve, wonderful fishing, numerous nearby desert islands, all awaits the lucky traveller.
Nosy Boraha (Sainte Marie)
A tropical paradise of beaches, sea shells, coconut trees; quiet island, with very few cars; mopeds can be rented to circulate around this 36-mile long island. Historical traces of occupation by pirates in past centuries.
Taolanaro (Fort Dauphin)
Beaches, lemur reserve at Berenty, Mahafaly tombs, Malagasy special flora such as baobabs. Clement weather. This spot is almost the antipode of San Francisco.
Toamasina (Tamatave)
A pleasant town and the most important port in Madagascar. Departure point for excursions by car, boat, train or plane. Forest station and flora laboratory at Ivoloina (7 miles north of town). Rain forest and virgin beaches north towards Mahavelona.
Ambohimanga ("Blue Hill"): the former royal capital, located 14 miles north of Antananarivo. An old, sacred village on a steep hill culminated by the rova which contains an historical museum.
Montagne d'Ambre National Park
National Park near Antsiranana, 45,500 acres. Rain forest, tree-ferns, orchids. Lemurs, birds, harmless reptiles. Crater lakes, water falls, sweeping views towards the sea. No entrance fee, but a permit must be obtained at the "Direction des Eaux et Forets" in Antananarivo.
Andasibe (Périnet)
A small jungle town located along the Antananarivo-Toamasina railroad. Fauna reserve; visiting permits delivered by "Direction des Eaux et Forêts" in Antananarivo; ask for a guide at the Hôtel de la Gare in Andasibe to see the Indri-indry (largest lemur) and other lemur species.
Antananarivo
Antananarivo ("The City of a Thousand Warriors"): the capital and the first stop for passengers arriving by plane. The city is built on a Y-shaped granite mountain surrounded by rice fields. The rova ("royal fort") sits atop the highest point and houses an historical museum of the ancient Malagasy queens and kings. A jumble of houses cover the steep slopes. A maze of narrow alleys and stairs crisscross the town. One such stairway, climbing 600 feet, is named Tsiafakantitra ("Old folks can't make it").
The city of Antananarivo is divided into neighborhoods or quarters with names more readily used by taxi drivers and local inhabitants than street names. For instance, the US Embassy is in Antsahavola, the topographic map service in Ambanidia, and the zoo in Tsimbazaza.
In the center of town, the Zoma is the largest open air market in the world. Exotic fruits, vegetable, meat, flowers, hardware, toys, furniture, handicrafts, potteries, carved stones, clothes are laid out over a central plaza and many adjoining streets. The wares are protected from the sun by enormous white umbrellas. Hawking and haggling are animated but conducted in a dignified manner, without yelling. Many localities derive their name from the day of the week the market is held. The Wednesday market is held in places called Alarobia, the Thursday market in Alakamisy. For Friday shopping, you go to Zomà, though Antananarivo's Zoma is now held daily.
Tsimbazaza ("They are not children") is a botanical and zoological garden with many specimens of the very peculiar Malagasy flora and fauna: lemurs, extraordinary chameleons and insects, birds. There is a skeleton of a giant extinct bird, the aepiornis, standing ten feet tall over its nine-quart egg (an ostrich egg measures a quart and a half).
Antsirabe
Antsirabe ("Plenty of salt"): a charming resort and hot-springs town, 100 miles south of Antananarivo. The legendary lake Tritriva fills an extinct crater nearby. Lake Andraikiba offers boating and swimming.
Isalo
[pronounced eeshall] National park in the south-west of the country. 203,900 acres. 150 miles from Toliary.
Canyons, cliffs, gorges and other striking geological features, due to wind and rain erosion. Exotic flora, native palm trees, giant cactus. Lemurs, harmless reptiles.
Camping and visiting permit delivered by the "Direction des Eaux et Forets" in Antananarivo, by the "Service Provincial des Eaux et Forets" in Fianarantsoa, or by the Forestry Ranger in Ranohira.
Nosy Be
Along the north-west coast lies a number of islands, the largest of which is Nosy-Be. Marvelous beaches and coral reef in a protected national zone, natural lemur reserve, wonderful fishing, numerous nearby desert islands, all awaits the lucky traveller.
Nosy Boraha (Sainte Marie)
A tropical paradise of beaches, sea shells, coconut trees; quiet island, with very few cars; mopeds can be rented to circulate around this 36-mile long island. Historical traces of occupation by pirates in past centuries.
Taolanaro (Fort Dauphin)
Beaches, lemur reserve at Berenty, Mahafaly tombs, Malagasy special flora such as baobabs. Clement weather. This spot is almost the antipode of San Francisco.
Toamasina (Tamatave)
A pleasant town and the most important port in Madagascar. Departure point for excursions by car, boat, train or plane. Forest station and flora laboratory at Ivoloina (7 miles north of town). Rain forest and virgin beaches north towards Mahavelona.
