Destinations

Avenue of the Baobabs

A row of centuries-old giant baobabs that has become Madagascar's visual signature around the world.

Photo: Gavinevans — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

By Mirado Rakotoarison · updated on 14 July 2026

About 20 km from Morondava, on Madagascar's west coast, the Avenue of the Baobabs gathers around twenty specimens of Adansonia grandidieri, the island's most imposing endemic baobab species. Some trees are believed to be over 800 years old and reach 30 metres in height. Lining a simple dirt track, they form one of the most photographed landscapes in Africa.

At a glance

Location: Menabe region, about 20 km from Morondava, west coast.
Best time to visit: April to November; sunset is stunning here year-round.
Getting there: Fly to Morondava (MOQ) from Antananarivo, then 30 minutes by road.
Suggested stay: Half a day is enough, ideally timed for sunset.

What to see at the Avenue of the Baobabs

The site is best visited in the late afternoon, when low light brings out the trees' massive silhouettes against an orange sky. Nearby stand the Baobabs Amoureux ("Baobabs in Love"), two trunks intertwined by local legend, along with several traditional Sakalava villages where you can glimpse rural life in the Menabe region.

Travellers often pair the visit with a trip to the Kirindy reserve, a dry forest home to the fossa, various lemurs and a rich diversity of nocturnal reptiles.

Practical tips

The road between Antananarivo and Morondava is long and can be difficult in the rainy season — flying is worth it if your time is limited. Arrive before sunset for the best light, and avoid climbing on the trees' roots, which are fragile and protected.