Antananarivo, fondly called Tana, is the capital of Madagascar. It’s located in the central highland region of Madagascar. Antananarivo is surrounded by paddy fields and is built on hillsides and ridges. One of the hills has the ruins of Rova Castle that was the home of the royal families of Madagascar.

The Northern tourist route starts with a flight from Antananarivo to Antsiranana/ Diego Suarez. The Montagne des Francais Reserve has some stunning views, amazing baobab trees and small wildlife.

A short drive from Joffreville is the Montagne D’Ambre National Park. It is set in a mountain forest and gets its name from the amber sap that the trees produce. The Amber Mountain rock thrush and the Sanford and crowned lemurs are the main attraction at the park.

The hook-billed vanga, speckled greenbul, beautiful ground rollers and White-throated oxylabes are some of the birds that can be sighted. Leaf and day geckos make a home here. To the south is the rugged Ankarana National Park. It has the famous tsingy, limestone pinnacles, underground rivers with crocodiles and an extensive cave system. It is host to a very big population of a variety of lemurs.

Unspoilt Madagascar offers a very different and exciting family holiday that can be affordable as well making it cheap holidays as well.