Flights to Madagascar

Antananarivo serves as the ideal start point for exploring Madagascar, with your flight landing in the colourful and lively capital city.

Also known as Tana, Antananarivo is sprawled across the country’s Central Highlands. Its marketplaces throng with activity as energetic vendors strive to sell everything from fresh produce to intricate textiles. Dive into the exciting melee that is Analakely Market, the city’s largest, where the rich scent of Malagasy cuisine fills the air and skilled artisans tout their unique crafts.

While a bustling commercial hub, Antananarivo is punctuated by magnificent colonial architecture and is home to several fascinating historical sites. Admire the Rova of Antananarivo, a fortified palace that stands imposingly on the city’s highest hill, and discover an array of significant artefacts housed in the equally impressive Andafiavaratra Palace.

Antananarivo’s hillside location makes for spellbinding views, offering a preview of Madagascar’s staggering natural beauty. In summer, you can see purple jacaranda trees bloom and shroud the city’s streets in brilliant colour. Lemurs' Park is a short journey away and offers the chance to see a variety of lemur species roaming free, along with a vast selection of Madagascar’s endemic plants.

The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is another popular attraction just outside the city. This UNESCO World Heritage site provides an intriguing insight into Malagasy culture due its spiritual and historical significance. Be transported to the precolonial Merina Kingdom as you tour this former royal capital, which features burial grounds, places of ritual and a sacred forest.

After exploring Antananarivo, Madagascar’s glorious national parks and nature reserves await. Head north to the Montagne d’Ambre National Park, where volcanic mountains peer through the clouds and the fossa - Madagascar’s only predator – prowls. You can also head west to the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, another UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring colossal limestone structures and the iconic baobab trees.

Before leaving Antananarivo, be sure to sample mouth-watering Malagasy cuisine. Rice forms the backbone of most traditional dishes and typically comes along with a main dish of meat or fish. The national dish romazava is a hearty stew made with zebu (beef) that bursts with flavour, often complemented by the spicy kick of a red pepper sauce.