10 Top Tourist Attractions in Madagascar
One of the last major areas on Earth to be
settled by humans, the natural beauty and ecological diversity of Madagascar
makes it feel like a country forgotten by time. Located off the eastern coast
of Africa in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar is home to thousands of plant and
animal species found nowhere else in the world. Madagascar’s extraordinary
natural diversity has earned the country the nickname “the eighth continent”. A
veneration of ancestry and tradition pervades the national culture, a reverence
that is reflected in the country’s architecture, art and social manners. Visit
the top tourist attractions in Madagascar to discover for
yourself the natural, cultural and historical diversity that is Madagascar.
10. Ranomafana National
Park
Located in the southeastern region of
Madagascar near the village of Ranomafana, the Ranomafana National Park is one
of the nation’s most popular parks. The eastern section of the park is the most
scenic, with numerous streams splashing through densely forested hills. The
park is home to the endangered golden bamboo lemur, an animal whose diet
includes bamboo shoots that contain doses of cyanide that would be lethal to
other animals, yet the charming golden lemur feeds on the bamboo with no ill
effects.
9. Masoala National ParK
Situated in the northeast Madagascar, the
Masoala National Park covers nearly 250 miles of rainforest and includes three
marine parks as well. The park features ten species of lemur, including the
Aye-aye, the world’s largest nocturnal primate. The park is also home to a
diverse array of birds and reptiles, including the Tomato frog, named for its
bright red color. The Tampolo, Ambodilaitry and Ifaho marine parks are ideal
for snorkeling and kayaking adventures.
8. Andasibe-Mantadia
Encompassing around 100 miles of land in
eastern Madagascar, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is home to eleven lemur
species, including the country’s largest lemur, the Indri. Located near
Madagascar’s capital city of Antananarivo, Andasibe-Mantadia is one of the
easiest parks to visit. The park is split into two areas, the Mantadia National
Park and the Analamazoatra Reserve. Local guides conduct 1- to 6-hour tours of
either area.
7. Royal Hill of
Ambohimanga
Considered one of the country’s most sacred
spots by the Malagasy people for 500 years, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a
historical village that was once home to Madagascar royalty. The wall that
surrounds the village was made in 1847 and was constructed with a mortar made
of lime and egg whites. The Mahandrihono compound includes the former home of
King Andrianampoinimerina, with walls made of solid rosewood, and artifacts of
the island’s great king, including drums, weapons and talismans.
6. Ifaty
Ifaty is the name given to two dusty fishing
villages on the coast of southwest Madagascar. Offshore, a 60-mile long coral reef
is a natural barrier to rough sea waves, creating coastal waters that are ideal
for diving, snorkeling and fishing. The desert inland area is known for its
spiny forest, where the strange-shaped baobab trees have thrived for centuries.
5. Avenue of the Baobabs
The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of trees
lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina in western
Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws tourists from around the world, making
it one of the most visited locations in the region. The Baobab trees, up to 800
years old, did not originally tower in isolation over the landscape but stood
in a dense tropical forest. Over the years, the forests were cleared for
agriculture, leaving only the famous baobab trees.
4. Nosy Be
The small island of Nosy Be is one of
Madagascar’s premier tourist spots attracting thousands of tourists from across
the globe year round. Although Nosy Be’s beaches don’t look as picture perfect
as some other tropical beaches, they do win points for tranquility, clear
turquoise water and excellent seafood restaurants serving seafood diner on the
sand.
3. Tsingy de Bemaraha
The Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve lies in the
southern region of Madagascar’s largest natural reserve, Tsingy de Bemaraha
Strict Nature Reserve. The word “tsingy” refers to the pinnacles that dot the
park’s limestone plateau. Located near the country’s west coast, the park
features a broad expanse of mangrove forest. The park is home to seven lemur
species, including the Deckens sifaka, a genus of lemur notable for its creamy
white fur and black face.
2. Isalo National Park
The Isalo National Park is notable for is
varied terrain. Located in the central southern region of Madagascar, the park
includes areas of grassland, steep canyons and sandstone formations, all dotted
by occasional pools lined by palm trees. As in many of the country’s national
parks, guides are required. Tours can be arranged to last as short as several
hours or as long as several days.
1. Ile Sainte Marie
The Ile Sainte Marie lies off the east coast
of Madagascar. The island’s array of protected bays and inlets drew pirates to
Ile Sainte Marie during the 17th and 18th centuries, and the wrecks of several
pirate ships can still be viewed from the shallow waters of the Baie des
Forbans. Today the island is one of the top tourist attractions in Madagascar.
The still, clear waters of the island’s bays make ideal spots for snorkeling.
Migrating humpback whales visit the island waters during summer and early fall
The Culture,
Traditions, and Heritage of Madagascar
Madagascar,
previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country situated in the
Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. The nation is made up
of the Island of Madagascar—the fourth-largest island in the world—as well as a
number of smaller peripheral islands. Madagascar is considered a hotspot
of biodiversity, as over 90 percent of its flora and fauna is found nowhere
else on earth. The island’s diversity in terms of its ecosystems and
unique wildlife is currently being threatened by the ever-growing human
population. Madagascar has a current estimated population of 22 million, ninety
percent of whom live on less than two dollars per day
Madagascar
was first settled by humans between 350 BCE and 550 AD by Austronesian peoples,
who arrived from Borneo on crude outrigger canoes. Five-hundred years
later, they were joined by Bantu migrants crossing the Mozambique
Channel. Other groups continued to settle in Madagascar over the course
of time, each making a significant contribution to the island’s culture.
The largest ethnic group on the island is the Malagasy, an ethnic group that is
often divided into 18 or more sub-groups, the largest of which are the Merina
of the central highlands. Below we will take a closer look at some of the
significant cultural aspects of Madagascar, including language, religion, daily
customs and cuisine.
Culture of Madagascar: Language
For
much of its modern history, Madagascar was a colony of France, a country that
has left a lasting mark on the culture and traditions of the island.
Madagascar ultimately achieved full independence from France in the summer of
1960, but French continues to be one of the nation’s official languages, the
other being Malagasy, the most commonly spoken language in the country.
The
Malagasy language is spoken throughout Madagascar and is the first language for
an overwhelming majority of the population. The language is the only one
in the African region that belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian language
family. Language specialists believe that Malagasy shares a common origin
with, and is most closely related to Maanyan, a language spoken predominantly
in the southeastern portion of Borneo. Both the Malagasy and Maanyan
languages closely resemble the languages of the western Indonesian archipelago,
languages that include Malay, Javanese, Balinese, and the Minangkabau language
of Sumatra.
The
origin of the Malagasy language in Southeast Asia is clearly evident in some of
the common words and definitions it shares with a number of the Indonesian
languages. For instance, the Malagasy term antalaotra, which
means “people of the sea,” closely resembles the Malay term for “sea,” which
is laut.
While
the Malagasy language has different regional dialects, most of these are
mutually intelligible. Moreover, the language is viewed in the country as
an important foundation of cultural unity. Malagasy words are derived
from roots with basic meanings; roots which are then combined with various
prefixes and suffixes to create derivatives. Many words in the Malagasy
language tend to be quite long (such as Andrianampoinimerina, the
word for the Merina King), but certain syllables in these longer words,
particularly the last syllable, are only slightly accented or not accented
whatsoever.
The
Malagasy lexicon contains scores of foreign words, including the days of the
week and the months of the year, all taken from Arabic. Many of the words
for animals derive from a Swahili dialect of East Africa, and a number of
English and French words entered the vocabulary during the 19 and 20
centuries.Malagasy peoplePrior to the 19 century, only the Malagasy people
known as the Antaimoro—the keepers of the sorabe—possessed
a written language. This changed in the years following 1825, when a
written form of Malagasy, one using Roman Characters, was developed by members
of the London Missionary Society working under the patronage of the Merina King
Radama I. The result of this effort was a consistent phonetic language,
one that continues to be used today throughout Madagascar. Within this
language, the consonants are pronounced as they would be in English and the
vowels as they would be in French, a compromise, according to linguists,
apparently endorsed by King Radama I. The completion of the Malagasy
alphabet was significant in that it allowed the foreign missionaries to publish
and distribute Malagasy Bibles and school textbooks. The new alphabet
would also prove decisive to the development of the Merina-dominated portion of
Madagascar.
After
France officially annexed Madagascar in 1896, French emerged as the dominant
language of the island, while Malagasy was relegated to an inferior position,
especially in official and academic circles. Following independence in
1960, Malagasy and French were both deemed official languages, but the French
language continued to dominate until the inauguration of Didier Ratsiraka, who
served as Madagascar’s president both from 1975 to1993 and from 1997 to
2002. Upon his ascension to the Madagascar presidency in 1975, Ratsiraka
began to promote an official policy of Malagachization—a return, of
sorts, to the country’s Malagasy roots. Originally conceived by
nationalists as the promotion of education in the national language, Malagachization would
ultimately include a radical denunciation of the French language and culture,
as well as the French influence over the national economy and political
system.
Malagachization additionally included the creation of a
common Malagasy language, one that synthesized all the regional dialects of the
island, rather than being primarily a Merina dialect, as remains the case with
the official Malagasy language of today.
After
1982, Malagachization began to sputter in favor of a trend
toward re-embracing the concept of Madagascar’s inclusion in the international
francophone (French-speaking) community. Today, the French language
remains significant in Madagascar, primarily due to its international status
and economic importance.
Culture of Madagascar: Religion
Madagascar
is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth, a place whose
geography and ecosystems are diverse, colorful and fascinating. In recent
years the country has become increasingly modern, particularly in and around
the capital city of Antananarivo. Despite this push for modernity,
however, many of the island’s people are still practicing a form of religious
ancestor-worship known as Fomban-razana, a traditional belief
system that holds them in perpetual fear and spiritual darkness.
As
it is in the case of most ancient tribal religions, where the “spirits” (known
as fanahy) of deceased ancestors (calledrazana) are
worshipped or venerated, the traditional religion of Madagascar, known as Fomban-razana (meaning
ancestor-worship), acknowledges the existence of the Supreme God. This
Supreme God, known as Andriamanitra or Zanaharyin depending
on the region, is believed to have created everything that exists.
Madagascar people who practice Fomban-razana also believe that
this Supreme God has ultimate and unlimited power in the universe and thus
possesses the ability to manipulate nature, punish people who offend him and
bless and protect those who please him.
Very
little is known about the Supreme God Andriamanitra, and the
practitioners of Fomban-razana certainly do not claim to
be living in any kind of a personal relationship with him. Andriamanitra is
therefore never approached directly, but always via the “spirits” of the
ancestors. To accomplish this, many of the ritual prayers are often concluded
with the phrase “Hahasoa ahatsara Andriamanitra andriananahar,” which
translates literally to mean “Bring us good blessings, oh God the Creator.”
Traditional
tribal beliefs are not practiced by all of the people of Madagascar. They
are augmented by a number of imported organized religions—religions that are
either practiced alone or in concert with traditional beliefs. Although
precise figures on the religious distribution in Madagascar do not exist,
experts estimate that approximately 55 percent of the population adheres to traditional
beliefs, and roughly 40 percent practices Christianity, evenly divided between
Roman Catholics and Protestants. The remaining 5 percent practice Islam.
In
recent years, Protestant and Roman Catholic churches have engaged in a
competition of sorts to attract new adherents. The towns and villages of
Madagascar, particularly those in the central highlands, tend to have two
churches, one Protestant and one Roman Catholic, a fact that further
underscores the competition. The Roman Catholic Church enjoys its largest
support among the Betsileo people, located in the southern
portion of the central highlands. It is also the choice among former
slaves and the côtiers—a French term meaning people of coastal
areas. Protestantism enjoys its largest backing among the Merina people
of the central highlands, and because the Merina people are associated with
status, Protestantism has historically been perceived as the form of
Christianity deemed most significant among the upper classes. Despite
Christianity’s minority status in the country, the Council of
Christian Churches in Madagascar played a major role in arbitrating a
resolution to the conflict resulting from the violence and general strikes in
May and August of 1991 during the Second Republic (1975-1992).
During
the 19 century, a confrontation between Christianity and Madagascar’s
traditional religious beliefs saw then Queen Ranavalona I expel scores of
foreign missionaries. Thousands of Christians were persecuted, and some
were even put to death. This trend ended, however, upon her death, and
with the ascension of Ranavalona II, who declared Christianity, namely
Protestantism, the official religion of the royal family. Despite
confrontations such as these, Madagascar has traditionally witnessed a type of
mutual assimilation between Christianity and traditional beliefs.
Christian missionaries were able to build on the Malagasy concept of a Supreme
God by using the term, Andriamanitra, to refer to the biblical God,
and by choosing one of the traditional terms for soul—fanahy—to define
its Christian counterpart. Even today, many Christians living in
Madagascar have their dead blessed at a church before burying them according to
the old traditional ceremonies. The Christian belief in an all-powerful,
yet distant God has blended with older beliefs in the closeness and intimacy of
ancestors who have passed on, and many Malagasy Christians will go as far as to
say that the dead have themselves become Christians and continue to be the
arbiters of right and wrong in the universe.
Finally,
the small Muslim population (5 percent) in Madagascar is divided between
followers of the Sunni and Shia sects of Islam. Most Muslims are Comorans
or Indo-Pakistanis, the majority of whom live in Madagascar’s Mahajanga
Province. A very small minority of the nation’s Indian community adheres
to the traditional beliefs of Hinduism.
Culture of Madagascar: Daily Life and Social Customs
Malagasy
embroideryMost of the Malagasy (people of Madagascar) live in rural areas,
where their lifestyle and the politic arena remain highly traditional, and
where most decisions are still made by a council of male elders. Bucking
these traditions are a growing number of young people in Madagascar.
Seeing little economic future in their rural home villages, these youth have
become the primary source of the rural-to-urban migration into the country’s
larger cities.
For
people who remain in the countryside, traditional ceremonies and traveling
orators and musicians are a major source of entertainment. In urban
areas, on the other hand, the opportunities for entertainment and enjoyment
vary. Some Malagasy people take part in video clubs, where movies are
rented and projected. Action films are extremely popular in Madagascar,
particularly since the films are rarely dubbed or subtitled in Malagasy.
Poorer urban inhabitants, however, have reduced access to this type of
entertainment.
The
typical form of dress in Madagascar varies depending on location and
socioeconomic status. Rural and poorer urban residents tend to wear
traditional attire: for men, this consists of a large shirt and shorts or long
pants, while women may wear dresses with gathered skirts. In the
country’s coastal regions, women can often be seen in a wrapped skirt with a
top; a rectangular shawl, known as a lamba, is also worn,
particularly during ceremonial occasions. People of the middle class
frequently wear Western clothes, with blue jeans being the favorite among the
youth.
Most
citizens of Madagascar, regardless of status, continue to observe most of the
traditional customs, especially those related to the family tomb and those
ceremonies that demonstrate respect for family ancestors. The most common
of these traditions is the Famadihana, in which the bones of the
ancestors are removed from the family tomb, wrapped in a
specially-designed lamba, and placed again in the tomb after the
delivery of a kabary, a traditional speech for special
occasions. The kabary is also delivered at other special occasions,
including weddings and business grand openings. Those who deliver these
speeches are very well paid, particularly those who employ the use of
traditional proverbs.
The
current government of Madagascar promotes the amalgamation of old and new
cultural aspects and expressions. Evidence of this can be seen at the
many seasonal festivals in the country, including the Festival of Rice and the
Festival of the Trees. Cities, churches, schools and other groups put on
concerts and dances; and in the cities there are a number of cultural
associations based on members’ home districts. Some of the holidays
observed and celebrated in Madagascar include Easter and Christmas (celebrated
by the Christian community), as well as Independence Day, celebrated on June
26; and the Anniversary of the Republic, observed on December 30 of each year.
Culture of Madagascar: Cuisine
A
19th century piece from the Sakalava people in Madagascar, SourceThe
cuisine of Madagascar reflects the gastronomic interests of people belonging to
a variety of cultures and ethnicities, including the Indonesians, Africans,
French and Arabs. Long-standing traditions in Madagascar have also played
a major role in the evolution of Malagasy cuisine.
In
Madagascar, a traditional meal is typically eaten on the floor. Food items
are generally served on a single plate and eaten with a spoon. Meals are served
when they are steaming hot. No drinks accompany the meal, nor do any type
of starters or appetizers. The traditional meal is made up of three of
four dishes, followed by a dessert of some kind, usually made from local fruits
and vanilla.
Madagascar’s
cuisine consists of many popular specialties, with Ro and Ravitoto ranking high
on the list. Ro, which is considered the staple of the Malagasy diet, is
a dish made by mixing rice with herbs and fragrant leaves. Ravitoto is a
type of meat dish, usually beef or pork, which is deep fried in oil and spices
and mixed with herbs. Popular beverages, which as we mentioned are not
served with meals, include toaka, gasy, betsa, litchel and Rononapango,
a beverage made from burning rice.
To
prepare meals, the people of Madagascar use a variety of locally-grown
ingredients. Fruits and vegetables are very popular, as are many of the
local plants which are used as spices and herbs. Fish and poultry are
also prominently featured as ingredients in Madagascar cuisine, and are often
used in the creation of soups and curries. The food is quite simple and
prepared using very basic techniques that have sustained the people of Madagascar
for centuries.