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Antananarivo Travel Guide, Madagascar

Antananarivo is the capital city of Madagascar. Since the city’s name is somewhat hard to verbalize, the term Tana as a shorter tag for the city has been popularized by some tourists. Here is a brief description of this truly astounding place.

Travel

International flights bound for Antananarivo arrives at the Ivato Airport. The major airlines which serve international flights are Air Austral, Air Mauritius and Interair South Africa. Aside from providing global air travels, the Air Madagascar also has domestic flights. Tourists should be aware that the airport is very strict about checking the necessary papers and luggage before you can finally be accepted in the city.

When having a tour around the city, the most preferred transportation of tourists is the taxi. Aside from the fact that it is comfortable, the rate is also reasonable. Another option is to take the bus. However, they are crowded especially during rush hour. If you have a lot of energy to spare, it is also a good idea to traverse the city on foot. Just be watchful and careful because there are a lot of beggars on the streets and some of the stairs are very steep.

Climate

Antananarivo has a warm weather all-year-round. The average temperature all throughout the year is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer days are experienced from December until March while winter season is during June through September. Rainfalls are heaviest during the months of January and December.

Cityscape

The city of Antananarivo is truly a very majestic place since it has a lot of hills and ridges. The structure of the city resembles a letter “V” and divided into two areas. One is the Upper Town which has two districts namely Analakely and Tsaralalana. Another is the Lower Town with Antaninarenina and Isoraka as its neighborhoods. Both areas are good places to stroll around and shop for souvenirs.

The highest peak of the Antananarivo city is where the Rova or Queen’s Palace is located. This is considered as one of the main attractions in the area. Another place of interest and one of the most visited tourist spots in Tana is the Prime Minister’s Palace.

Aside from the palaces, travelers should also pay a visit to Tsimbazaza which is a combination of a museum, a zoo and a botanical garden. You must not also forget to include in your itinerary a stopover at the Flower Market.

Antananarivo indeed stands for its stature as the capital city of Madagascar. The places you could find here may sound unique and could be a tongue twister but you will definitely have a peek of this wonderful city in the country. You could learn that these places have their own names which are easily pronounced. They maybe coined by the locals themselves.