Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar
Fast Facts
- Location:Near Morondava
- Best Time to Visit: All through the year
- Preferred timings: Daytime
- How to reach: By air to Morondava and then by road to Avenue of Baobabs
- Nearest International Airport:Morondava airport
- Time required for sightseeing:1 day
Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar is a legacy of the dense tropical forests that thrived in these regions of this Indian Ocean Island. Located near Morondava, the Baobabs Avenue is renowned for trees with straight trunks of height 30 meters. These trees which are now in isolation were part of a rain forest which gradually has been cleared for agricultural reasons. Baobabs are held in reverence in Madagascar for their commercial value and hence were not felled.
Baobab trees locally called renala or 'mother of the forest' can live up to eight hundred years. Out of eight species of Baobabs, six are endemic to Madagascar, one to Australia, and the remaining to Africa. In Madagascar, Avenue des Baobabs near Morondava in western part of this island, is the best place for viewing these tall giants of plant kingdom. Of the many trees, two intertwined trees would attract your attention. Commonly termed 'Les Baobabs Amoureux' is particularly outstanding during sunrise and sunset.
Apart from the giant baobabs, a number of beautiful tombs would grab your attention. These tombs of great significance are kept secret to prevent them against vandalism. This part of Madagascar in historical times was the center of the Sakalava kings and a main political and economic hub. Presently, this place is used for rice cultivation and ostrich farming. Being on the coast with a laidback ambiance, Morondava has evolved into a famous sea side resort in Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa.
When in Morondova in Madagascar, visit Zebu Marchet, the first village outside Morondova. Spend some time in the deciduous forest north of Morondova, which is unique for its typical flora and fauna. The pale fork-marked lemur and the white sifaka are among the eight indigenous lemur varieties found in this forest. Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the smallest of all primates weighing about 30 gm is also to be found here. The other animals found here include snakes, lizards, and tortoises. Kirindy is another destination which you must not miss since here you get an opportunity to see the narrow striped mongoose, the giant jumping rat and the fosa, which is the largest carnivore of Madagascar.
Related Links :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoH4qJ-7wVg: Click on this link to find out the wonderful natural wonder in Madagascar. Views of these mighty trees that are 600-700 years old are extremely beautiful, as are the colorful and hospitable people of this long isolated island.
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