Walk The Avenue Of The Baobabs
Still to do
Giant upside-down trees, centuries old, glowing gold along a red dirt road as the sun sets over Madagascar.
The adventure
The Avenue of the Baobabs is only a few hundred metres of red dirt road, yet nothing else on Earth looks like it. Around two dozen Grandidier's baobabs, a species found only in Madagascar, line the track like enormous pillars, their smooth trunks rising up to 30 metres before ending in a small tuft of branches that looks like roots. Locals call them renala, mother of the forest.
Arrive in the late afternoon, as zebu carts creak past and children walk home from the rice paddies. As the sun drops, the trunks turn from grey to gold to deep orange, and their reflections wobble in the pools beside the road. Then the light goes, the photographers pack up, and the stars come out above silhouettes that have stood here for centuries.
Why it’s epic
- Grandidier's baobabs grow only in Madagascar and are listed as endangered.
- Some of the trees are thought to be several hundred years old.
- The Baobabs Amoureux nearby are two baobabs twisted around each other like lovers.
- Kirindy Forest, a couple of hours north, is one of the best places to see the fossa, Madagascar's largest predator.
What it is
The Avenue of the Baobabs is a dirt road lined with giant baobab trees up to 30 metres tall, some hundreds of years old.
How to do it
Fly from Antananarivo to Morondava and drive 20 minutes north. Most people visit at sunset.
Top tip
Stay for the stars after sunset; there's almost no light pollution.
Need to know
- Morondava is a domestic flight or a long day's drive from Antananarivo, and the roads can be rough.
- Visit in the dry season, April to November; heavy rain can make roads impassable.
- Take malaria precautions and check vaccination advice for Madagascar.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- April to November
- Fly into
- TNR airport
Long-haul flights plus domestic flights or a driver are the main costs; a guided tour simplifies the logistics.
Make it happen
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.
Why it’s on my list
Not done yet. If you’ve done it and have tips, tell me about it.
Comments