City: Madagascar
Top Things to do in Madagascar
Countries
Things to do in Madagascar, Madagascar: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
– in Africa (light blue & dark grey)
– in the African Union (light blue)
Restaurants in Madagascar
1. Kakazo-Be
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
2. Sainte Luce Reserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5 reviews
Part of the last remaining absolute coastal forest in the south east of Madagascar, the reserve is managed as a non-profit social enterprise to protect flora & fauna in consultation with local people. Rich in wildlife, you can encounter lemurs, reptiles, and more. Our forest is primarily exotic and rare ebonies and other rare woods. Simple cabins like camping in a shelter, crisp white linen on a mattress on a traditional mat on the floor, inside a mosquito net. You can explore the 17km of beach and endless forest full of wildlife either with or without a guide.
Reviewed By 1997Domanello-27 - Richmond, United States
My experiences included: -Designing observational research methods for collared brown lemurs and teaching the Malagasy staff to gather data. -Creating educational resources and presenting information to villagers primarily focused on sea turtle conservation. -Planting and maintaining a fruit farm to increase the reserve’s sustainability. -Gathering propagules and planting mangroves to regenerate depleted riverbanks. -Relocating native seedlings from forest trails into the plant nursery and then back into the main forest. -Mapping land to plan for future reserve projects such as: a bamboo plantation to be used as supplies, thereby reducing the reserve’s reliance on lumber. -Building a new enclosure for a pair of rescued radiated tortoises. As a student, I was hesitant to make the investment, but this experience was well worth it. It has opened many doors for me and helped me to earn two funded field positions later this year. If you are a student considering volunteering here at the reserve, it really does help. For everyone else, if you are considering coming, then come! Camp lies between the windy reserve and the pristine stretch of littoral forest that is home to seemingly endless biodiversity. 4 lemur species, chameleons the size of your little finger, beautiful birds of all kinds, tenrecs, nile crocodiles, boas, and rare plant species. The experience is entirely immersive and this is part of what makes it so great. I stayed with the Malagasy staff at the reserve a vast majority of my staff. The guide speaks English, but everyone else speaks Malagasy and this makes learning the language come more quickly. I was able to use over 200 words by the end of my stay. I could write a book on my time at Sainte Luce, but the point is that there is no better way to see Madagascar than to live with the people, and work on this beautiful reserve. So go to St. Luce!
3. Saiadi Botanical Garden
4. Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
The amazing landscapes of limestone pinnacles, gorges and pristine forests protect many rare birds, lemurs and reptiles.
Reviewed By AndrejM973 - Bratislava, Slovakia
Amazing national park, totally worth the bad road that you have to take to get there, great views from Grand Tsingy, you are literally climbing to the top, passing caves, the hike itself is fun, using ferrata. Small Tsingy are also nice, it is possible to do both in one day.
5. Lokobe Nature Special Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,121 reviews
Reviewed By tjfc66 - Kenya, null
We went via canoe with Jean Robert’s team and had a fascinating time as we saw several rare and endemic creatures, such as two different Pygmy chameleons (I think) on the two hour forest walk, along with several snakes, several lemurs quite close up. The lunch at the end was also splendid and very well prepared. Highly recommended.
6. Nosy Mangabe Special Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By deedoodee2 - Raleigh, United States
We learned later that this is the only guaranteed way to spot the leaf-tailed gecko and smallest chameleon (the size of your fingertip), and it greatens the likelihood of spotting an aye-aye due to it being a smaller land area. Don't be fooled by the Masoala Forest Lodge who tell you it's all the same! It's so special and worth at least one night camping there. Our guide was Elysee, fluent in English, knowledgeable, passionate, and highly recommend!
7. Avenue of the Baobabs
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 752 reviews
Reviewed By Mikiduta - Bucharest, Romania
We have been to The Avenue twice, both at sunset and sunrise. Being low season not too many tourists were around at sunset (around 40-50) while at sunrise which was happening at 5 am we were just a few (around 10 probably). The baobabs are amazing trees that can survive without water for a long period of time. During December they had a lot of leaves because one week before it rained. The weather was great when we visited the avenue so both sunset and sunrise were spectacular. During sunset there were plenty of mosquitos around while during sunrise the flies took the places of mosquitos. Sunset was really great and we have stayed also after the sunset to take pictures during the blue hour. The sunrise was also spectacular but totally different mainly before the appearance of the sun when a mix of orange, red and dark blue was taking our pictures to another level. I am really happy that we have visited Madagascar during December because we had good weather and almost no tourists around us. Special thanks to Cactus Madagascar which organized very professionally our tour!
8. Anja Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 328 reviews
Reviewed By PaulAndGijs - Den Bosch, The Netherlands
Must visit community run reserve. 6 communities decided to change their ways of making a living dramatically with great results. From hunting ringtail maki’s and cutting trees to make a bit of money to full-fill basic subsistence needs, they decided to create the nature reserve. The number of ring tails increased from 20 to over 400 now in their best fit habitat. During the 2 hour hike you’ll meet maki’s, cameleons snd more. The landscape is gorgeous.
9. Ankarana Special Reserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 275 reviews
Reviewed By huys25 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The limestone Tsingy from Madagascar are without exception one of the most spectacular features of the country, all worth visiting. Here only a short walk and two bridges over the Tsingy are the basic route. Behind the bridge you can walk another circuit, we did not do. The large cave is interesting. The underground river that disappears is more interesting. Pity that you cannot go down and explore the tunnel for some distance. In the park, near the entrance we had a nice pick-nick lunch supplied by the hotel Chez Laurent, in the company of a few curious lemurs.
