Lemurs, baobabs, rainforest, desert, hiking and diving: Madagascar is a dream destination for outdoors enthusiasts – half the fun is getting to all these incredible attractions.
Our long full-day journey from Toliara to Fianarantsoa — a 520-kilometre drive taking around 11.5 hours — began with a memorable stop at Arboretum d’Antsokay, a remarkable 40-hectare botanical garden located just 12 kilometres outside Toliara, near the Tropic of Capricorn. Before...
We spent the entire afternoon exploring the neighbouring fishing villages of Mangily and Ifaty, located around 30km north of Toliara on Madagascar’s southwest coast. Fringed by white sand beaches, coral reefs and the extraordinary spiny forest landscape, the area has become one of the...
Located near the coastal villages of Ifaty and Mangily, Reniala Reserve — also known as the Domergue Reserve — is a 60-hectare protected area preserving one of the last remaining sections of Madagascar’s ancient spiny forest. This extraordinary ecosystem exists nowhere else on Earth and...
The Toliara (Tuléar) region of southwestern Madagascar has long been shaped by salt. Thanks to its arid climate and endless sunshine — nearly 3,600 hours each year — the area has become one of the country’s most important centres of traditional salt production. It is no coincidence that...
Stretching for more than 450km along Madagascar’s southwest coast, the Great Reef is the fifth-largest coral reef system in the world and one of the country’s premier destinations for snorkelling, diving and whale watching. Its turquoise lagoons, vibrant coral gardens and rich...
We escaped the crowds and headed to Anakao, a tranquil and remote Vezo fishing village on Madagascar’s southwest coast. Known for its white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons, and exceptional diving and snorkelling—especially around the nearby Nosy Ve islet—it’s also a low-key spot for...
We heard about a wild gold-mining site around 29 kilometres outside Ilakaka, so we decided to check it out. The journey took us along a rough dirt road, crossing rivers and stretches of deep sand, with several checkpoints along the way (Municipal fee: 2,000 MGA). On the way, we picked up...
Our journey also took us through Ilakaka, a town whose name has become synonymous with sapphires. Once a quiet rural hamlet, Ilakaka was transformed almost overnight after major sapphire discoveries in 1998, rapidly evolving into what is now widely known as the “sapphire capital of the...
Isalo began early for us at the national park office in Ranohira (🎟️ 65,000 MGA, tax 5,000 MGA), where we were assigned a mandatory guide for our 3-hour hike. This expense felt steep (160,000 MGA), especially since even a short visit requires paying for a full day. Established in 1962...
The drive from Ambalavao to Ranohira on the RN7 was a roughly 4.5-hour (~224 km) journey, transitioning from the lush, rocky highlands to arid, savanna-like landscapes. The road is generally paved and in decent condition, featuring scenic, winding, and straight stretches that pass through...