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| Antananarivo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar - view from our hillside house. That tallest building is Hilton Madagascar. Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar - view from our hillside house. That tallest building is Hilton Madagascar. On Antananarivo, thankfully shortened to Tana by tourists and locals alike, is the bustling capital of Madagascar. Built on hillsides and ridges and ringed with rice paddies, Tana is an interesting place to spend a few days either at the beginning or end of your holiday. As it is also the location of the country's major international airport, most visitors will find themselves at least passing through the city. |
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| Founded in 1610 after a Malagasy king conquered several villages in the
area, it was named Antananarivo (town of 1000) because a garrison of 1000
men were left behind to defend the newly gained territory. A palace (Rova) was built on the highest hill and in such a prominent position that it could be seen for tens of kilometres in just about any direction. Despite the modern version burning down in suspicious circumstances during the 1990s, the shell of the Rova remains the most dominant and recognised feature of the city today and it is a must see for any newcomers to the Malagasy capital. Antananarivo is a great city to explore by foot, but be warned that its streets and many stairways are steep and demanding and the continual advances of beggars or street vendors can grow tiresome. __________Sights Edit This Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar - view from our hillside house. That tallest building is Hilton Madagascar. Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar - view from our hillside house. That tallest building is Hilton Madagascar. On A good introduction to the city is to take a taxi to the Rova where the magnificent views overlooking the city, coupled with the majestic ruins of the palace, will provide you with plenty of photo opportunities. Several young men will offer to guide you around the outside of the Rova and describe various points of interest. These men are not official guides, but some of them do have a lot of knowledge to share, and payment for their services is expected. For those more energetic, a stroll back down the steep, narrow streets to the Avenue of Independence is recommended. As well as allowing you to marvel at the tireless way the Malagasy walk up and down these hills every day, the views and street scenes will give you an idea of how the Malagasy people live, and give you a greater appreciation of what is sometimes a much maligned city. Most people travel to Madagascar for the wildlife, hoping to spot lemurs and chameleons, and for those who don't wish to go trekking through national parks, the zoo at Tsimbazaza is the ideal place to spend an afternoon. Set in gardens dominated by giant travellers palms, Tsimbazaza allows you to get up close and personal with several species of lemur. They may not be in the wild, but if you are lucky enough you will still hear their strange voices and cries. The reptile house has a good selection of chameleons and snakes and a small natural history museum attached to the zoo has some interesting displays of taxidermy, fossils, butterflies and culture. Admission to the museum is included in the price of your zoo entry. If shopping is your thing then the markets of Tana could be for you. They sell almost anything and cater for both tourists and locals alike. The cost of each item will vary depending on whether you are a local or a tourist, but bargaining is acceptable and can be an interesting experience in itself. From clothes to tacky souvenirs to all the fruit you can eat, you are sure to find something memorable to purchase in the markets. The once famous Zoma market no longer operates as it once did, but bustling markets can be found at the top of the Avenue of Independence and also past the railway station at the bottom of the Avenue of Independence. The markets are fun, places to visit, but they can be crowded and care must be taken with any valuables that you may be carrying or wearing. Lac (lake) Anosy, although sometimes looking a bit worse for wear, is worth a look, especially when the Jacaranda trees that surround it are blooming. A World War 1 monument stands on an island in the middle of the lake. Erected by the French, the monument is accessible by a causeway. Tana is a great city to explore by foot, but be warned that its streets and many stairways are steep and demanding and continual advances of beggars or street vendors can grow tiresome. Ambohimanga (Blue Hills) is just out of Tana and makes a great day trip. Follow the link for more information about this popular destination. __________Getting There Edit This Most people visiting Madagascar will arrive and depart from Ivato Airport, just outside the nation's capital, Antananarivo. If you don't mind having your passport checked several thousand times as you pass through the customs area and retrieve your baggage, then the process of entering the country is relatively smooth. Of course, arranging for a visa to be stamped into your passport before you leave home will make things a lot easier. There are money changing facilities at the airport and travellers cheques in major currencies (French Francs, US Dollars, the Euro, etc) will be changed readily into Fmg (Malagasy Francs). Beware that the highest Malagasy demonimation is the 25,000 Fmg note and its approx value is only $10 Australian or $5 US. So cashing even $100 worth of travellers cheques will see a large wad of Malagasy money being passed to you across the desk. This can make some people nervous. Expect to be badgered by a large number of porters who offer to carry your bags, and also numerous taxi drivers who will want to whisk you to your destination. The official porters are easily identified by their uniform and are mostly honest. For many of these men, this is their only source of income so payment is expected. Be aware that if you have several bags then it is more than likely that several porters will attempt to carry one bag each. This means payment must be made to each porter individually. Payment for each porter shouldn't exceed 5,000Fmg, and even that is excessive. Porters tend to be more of a nuisance than a problem, especially when arriving by car at the airport ready for your departure. Do not be surprised if your taxi is swamped by a dozen or more porters all competing for your business. Their enthusiam cannot be tempered and they will be pulling your bags out of the back of your car before you have had time to open the door. Do not worry, but watch your belongings closely and be firm. If you wish to employ any of the porters, quickly choose one or two of them and hand them your bags. Taxis into the city should cost somewhere between 40,000 - 75,000Fmg. The best I have managed by myself is 50,000Fmg, and with my wife (a Malagasy person) 40,000Fmg. Buses do run from near the airport into the city and at a fraction of the cost of a taxi, but they are crowded, slow and confusing to someone uninitiated in the ways of the Malagasy bus service. The taxis are not expensive and usually get you to your destination, so for the convience and relative comfort, taxis are the general means of transport for visitors. Taxis from the Hilton Hotel in Tana will charge more to take patrons back to the airport. ___________Daytrips Edit This Ambohimanga (Blue Hills) is just out of Tana and makes a great day trip. Follow the link for more information about this popular destination. For more information about Ivato Airport, follow the link. |
