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Antananarivo
About Antananarivo
Antanànarìvo or the city of one-thousand warriors as it is sometimes called, is the capital of Madagascar and is located in the centre of the island, surrounded by the twelve sacred hills of the plateau of Imerina. It is a large and noisy metropolis with a magnificent view on the blue-gray mountains with its extinct volcano’s. From here you can start you experience to the unique plants and animals that evolved after Madagascar's long isolation from the neighbouring continents.
Local highlights
- Araben ny Fahaleovantena market-an excellent place to buy handicraft
- Parc Botanique et Zoölogique de Tsimbazazza with most of fauna and flora species of Madagascar like various species of lemurs, rare species of egrets, herons, crocodiles and tortoises
- Lac Anosy
- Palais de la Reine
- Cathedrale Catholique d'Andohalo
- Musee d'Academie Malgache
Highlights in the vicinity
Explore the environment of Antanànarìvo, such as
- Ambohimanga Rova -summer palace for royals of Madagascar
- Kirindy forest
- Ranomafana National Park 250 km south of Antanànarìvo with its 109 unique bird species
- Hiking at Lake Tritriva
- Lac Itasy
- Lac Mantasoa
Good to know
- No. of inhabitants: 800 Thousand
- Timezone: UTC +3
- Weather: Antanànarìvo has a hot and subtropical climate. Rainy season is from November to March with monsoons in the east and north of the island. Dry season from April to October.
- Madagascar does not to use a decimal currency!
- Antanànarìvo or Tana as it is often called, is a culture shock for most western travellers (many beggars both kids and grown-ups)
Local transport
- Taxis-taxi-brousse or jungle taxi takes you everywhere but cab be rough
- Buses
- Car rental-a 4WD is preferred: roads can be in bad shape
- Train: Service to Toamasina the island's main port
Inbound transport
- Flights: International airport at Ivato is 17 km from Antanànarìvo
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