Central highlands

Right in the middle of Antananarivo, in an inconspicious side street, there is an own small world: „Le village“ which means as much as „the village“. It is a row of workshops where they construct high-class true to scale ship models. For sure, you can find wood carving workers everywhere all over Madagascar – but ships of this outstanding quality …

Madagascar’s handcrafts are as diverse as the island itself. A speciality is the manufacturing of small cars, bicycles and planes from old cans and other recycling materials. One has made a real art out of this: Mamy from Antsirabe in the southern highlands. Since 1990, he produces miniatures of bicycles, Taxibrousse, Pousse-Pousse, Renault R4s and other motorized vehicles. His work …

Anjozorobe-Angavo: The name Annjozorobe probably comes from the Madagascan “zozoro”, a certain kind of reed of the area. Legend has it that they were used as hiding places by the “menalamba”, who fought under the French colonial power for the liberation of Madagascar. Location: The protected area of Anjozorobe-Angavo is located 90 km northeast of the capital Antananarivo in the …

Madagascar is home to the last running Michelines worldwide. Indeed there exist other Michelines for example in France, but those are safely kept in museums. In contrast, two of these rail buses still chauffeur travelers around Madagascar – although it is restricted to a few times a year nowadays. André Michelin, who gave the name to his invention, developed the …

Eine besonders gute Adresse für Schleckermäuler findet man in Antsirabe, im südlichen Hochland Madagaskars, rund 170 km von der Hauptstadt Tana entfernt. In einem kleinen Haus im Westen der Stadt liegt die Bonbonwerkstatt „Chez Marcel“.  Ein Schaufenster gibt es nicht, nur ein Schild weist den Weg. Marcel, der Inhaber des kleinen Geschäfts, ist einer der wenigen Konditoren auf Madagaskar, die …

In the middle of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, there is a small green oasis in the north of the town. It is known under its name Tsarasaotra (translated „a good place to live“) or simply „Ile aux oiseaux“ which means birds’ island. The area of 0,25 km² size includes lake Alarobia and a second smaller lake and some shore sides. The …

Zahamena: Zahamena means „red trees“, which hints at a tree species scientifically called Diatum unifoliatum. It occurs only in Zahamena and has a typically reddish-orange colored bark. Location: Zahamena national park is located in the northeastern highlands of Madagascar, in the region Alaotra-Mangoro. This area is famous for Madagascar’s largest lake, Alaotra, which is about 25 km away from the …

In 19th century yet, Jesuitical missionaries and with them, their knowledge about viticulture reached the island of Madagascar. In 1802, the botanist André Michaux cultivated vines of the sort “Isabelle” (Vitis labrusca) in the area around Ivondro for the first time – rather more due to curiosity than because of economical reasons. In 1845, the French man Jean Laborde produced …

Antsirabe, one of the largest cities in the southern highlands of Madagascar and only 170 km from the capital Antananarivo, is not only known for its thermal springs. Antsirabe has been a meeting place for gemstone dealers and jewellers for years due to the numerous sapphire mining areas a little further south. If you are looking for a special gemstone …

Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, is not only full of life, but also full of markets. One of those is the handcrafts‘ market Andravoahangy on Route Digue, located few kilometres from Ivato airport. Hundred of artisans merged together here to the biggest handcrafts’ market of the country, which offers really everything the heart could wish for. Boothes side by side make a …