Madagascar Walks: Haute-Ville and Forest Trails

October 20, 2026

Travel advisory: The US State Department lists Madagascar at Level 2, exercise increased caution, with six Level 3 areas where it advises reconsidering travel, including the RN34 from Miandrivazo to Malaimbandy and the Menabe region south of Morondava. The UK FCDO does not advise against travel, but it advises against taxi-brousse and warns of armed road robbery at night, attacks on isolated beaches and demonstrations that can turn violent. Armed boardings have been reported on the Tsiribihina River. In and around Antananarivo, kidnappings have been reported, some in daylight on busy streets. A transitional government has held power since October 2025. Follow gov.uk and travel.state.gov for updates, and check entry rules if you connect via Nairobi.

Organised walking tours, in the sense of a city stroll with a guide, are rare in Madagascar. Walking mostly takes place on guided circuits inside national parks and community reserves, with one short urban loop in the capital. This page covers both and says what to expect.

The Haute-Ville loop in Antananarivo

The hill-top old town, the Haute-Ville, is the only walkable heritage area in the capital. It brings together the Rova palace complex, the Andafiavaratra palace museum and a group of stone Protestant temples. The slopes are steep and the paving is uneven.

Go in daylight only, with an accredited guide or a driver who stays close.
Carry little, and leave jewellery and extra cash at the hotel.
Take a taxi back before dusk.
The Rova is open Wednesday to Monday and closed Tuesdays, with a foreign fee reported at 40,000 Ar.
Andafiavaratra’s museum fills only the ground floor, with objects saved from the 1995 Rova fire. Check the opening hours on the day.

The regional tourism office in Antaninarenina sells park tickets from the MNP kiosk, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 12:00.

Park circuits

Place	Walk	Time	Notes
Analamazaotra (Andasibe)	Indri 1 and Anivokely	About 2 hours	Easy
Analamazaotra	Indri 2	About 2 hours	Medium
Analamazaotra	Aventure	About 4 hours	Hard and steep
Isalo	Piscine Naturelle and canyons	Varies	Guide required
Anja	Short trail, longer trail	1 to 2 hours, up to about 6 hours	Community guides

Andasibe is 140 km from Tana on the paved RN2, so plan 3.5 to 5 hours each way and an overnight stay. Foreign adult entry is 45,000 Ar at Andasibe, 65,000 Ar at Isalo and 55,000 Ar at Ranomafana, and a guide costs extra. At Ranomafana a guide is always required, and foreign visitors pay a 5,000 Ar commune tax. Fees are reported to double from 1 November 2026, so confirm rates before you pay.

Lemur etiquette on foot

Stay on the path, stay back from the animals and use no flash at night. Feeding is prohibited at Anja, and nobody should offer bananas or try to touch a lemur on any walk.

The Tsingy

Walking at the Tsingy de Bemaraha involves climbs with ropes and bridges. MNP’s Andadoany circuit is 2 km, takes about 4 hours and acts as a test for anyone nervous about heights. Fly to Morondava and avoid the road that crosses Level 3 areas.

Practical notes

Carry cash ariary and bottled water. Malaria precautions apply everywhere except Antananarivo. If you want a guide arranged in advance, check Madagascar guided walks .