Antananarivo

Antananarivo, also known as Tana, is Madagascar’s capital city with a population of four million. Founded in 1625, it is 1400 metres above sea level on a mountain range.

In the morning we drove through congested streets to Ambohimanga, 20km north-east of Tana. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ancestral home of the Merina kings and queens who united Madagascar under one rule. It is a fortified sacred hill with 16 gates leading to king Andrianampoinimerina’ house (ruled 1787-1810) and a series of elegant royal summer homes.

We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at the Citizen restaurant, which overlooks Lake Anosy and the Queen's Palace.

After lunch, we visited the Queen’s Palace, which was badly damaged in a recent fire and now being restored.Read more