The Avenue of the Baobabs is the number one tourist destination in Madagascar. The 260 m stretch of road, which is known as L’allée des Baobabs, the Avenue des Baobabs, is about 20 km to the east of Morondava and is lined with mostly Grandidier’s Baobabs (Adansonia Grandidieri).
Whether you are a backpacker, traveller, tourist or suitcaser, you definitely need to visit this one as it’s probably the top sight in Madagascar!
Discover how you can get there without going over budget.
The Baobab trees are up to 2,800 years old and did not stand alone as we see today. They were part of the dense jungle that covered Madagascar.
Deforestation is and has been widespread in Madagascar for a long time.
Forests have been cleared for agriculture and trees are used to produce charcoal, the country’s primary source of cooking fuel.
The Baobab trees remain largely due to their value as a source of food.
The Avenue des Baobabs was granted temporary protected status in 2007 as Madagascar’s first Natural Monument, and in 2015, the area was given full protected status. Yet despite this, the area is under constant threat from further deforestation, pollution and the slash-and-burn techniques used here.
How to get to the Avenue of the Baobabs:
The gateway to the Avenue des Baobabs is Morondava.
Most people fly. This is, of course, the expensive option.
For budget backpackers, there is the option of travelling by land.
Morondava is 700 km +/- from Antananarivo, a gruelling 15+ hour ride on pretty bad roads.
The kind receptionist at the Havana Hotel organised a driver to take me to the Avenue of the Baobabs.
I shared the trip with a Polish guy. For me alone, it was 100,000 Ar (about 24 USD), and for both of us, 150,000 Ar. A nice saving, and of course, having a travel buddy means you have someone to take your photo instead of relying on selfies for that perfect, Instagramable shot.
From Morondava, you go 14 km due east to Marofototra, where you turn off and go 6 km north on the unpaved RN8.
Yes, you could get there using public transport. Take a Taxi-Brousse to Marofototra and then a tuk-tuk, pickup, or even walk.
Do you need a 4WD to visit the Avenue of the Baobabs?
No, you do not need a 4WD to visit the Avenue des Baobabs, at least not in the dry season. The last part of the road is unsealed. In French, the word is ‘piste’. Yes, it’s a bit bumpy, but in no way is the short 6 km stretch from the highway that bad.
Here is a video to prove it:
I travelled there in an ancient Renault 4.
The best time to visit the Avenue des Baobabs is at sunrise or sunset. In July, this corresponds to approximately 5 am and 5 pm.
So if you are going for sunset, the problem, when relying on public transport, is finding transportation back to town; likewise, if you are going for sunrise.
Tourism is not very developed here in Madagascar. In Morondava you won’t find Tour Agencies lining the town’s main street, offering sunrise and sunset tours, so if you are an enterprising businessman/woman, there is an opening and you could make a killing.
Get yourself a 20-seater minibus, employ a local driver and set up a little kiosk, and you’ll be laughing all the way to the BNI Bank.
How much does it cost to visit the Avenue des Baobabs?
There is a small visitors’ centre and shop with a small kiosk for buying overpriced drinks, but there is no park entrance fee.
It is free to visit the Avenue des Baobabs!
And as my time here draws to a close, these are my top highlights in Madagascar:
