Central Highlands of Madagascar

The highland belt centered on the capital Antananarivo, with terraced rice paddies, red-earth hills and Merina kingdom relics, and the northern starting point of Route Nationale 7.

This region is defined by administrative region and includes Analamanga, home to Antananarivo; Itasy and Bongolava to the west; and, along Route Nationale 7, Vakinankaratra (Antsirabe) and Amoron'i Mania (Ambositra).

Highlights: Antananarivo's Queen's Palace (the Rova), Lake Anosy and weekend markets; the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga (a UNESCO World Heritage Site); Lake Itasy with its volcanoes and geysers; Antsirabe, the "City of Thermal Springs," with its pousse-pousse rickshaws, colonial architecture and nearby crater lakes; Ambositra's Zafimaniry woodcarving (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) and the surrounding mountain villages; and the layered rice terraces and red-brick houses along the way.

Classic itineraries: 1–2 days in Antananarivo (including Ambohimanga), then head south along Route Nationale 7, spending one night each in Antsirabe and Ambositra, before continuing to Ranomafana and Isalo.

Getting there: Ivato International Airport is the main gateway; within the highlands, most people hire a car with a driver, and road speeds are slow. Note: security in the capital at night is mediocre, so avoid walking; the highlands sit at 1,200–1,500 m, with large day-night temperature swings.

Destinations

• Antananarivo
• Antsirabe

Itineraries

• RN7: Highland Rainforest to Southwest Coast – Travel south along Route Nationale 7, connecting highland towns, rainforest lemurs, sandstone canyons, and the Ifaty co…
• Grand Madagascar: River, Tsingy & RN7 Loop – Descend the Tsiribihina River to the Tsingy, cross the highlands along the RN7, and end in the eastern rainforests to h…
• Eastern Rainforest, Canal & Île Sainte-Marie – Enter the east coast from Andasibe, cruise the Pangalanes Canal, and cross the sea to Île Sainte-Marie.
• Andasibe Rainforest Lemur Short Tour – Spend two nights heading east from the capital to hear the Indri at dawn, spot chameleons at night, and trek deep into…
• Lemur Rainforest & Mauritius Island Getaway – See lemurs in Tana and Andasibe in the first half, then fly to Mauritius for a beach holiday, splitting the trip betwee…