Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar: What to Know Before You Go
The Avenue of the Baobabs is one of Madagascar’s most recognisable sights, which is quite impressive for what is essentially a short stretch of dirt road lined with enormous trees.
But these aren’t ordinary trees. Some tower more than 20 metres above the road and are thought to be over a thousand years old. And as impressive as they look in photographs, seeing them up close is something else entirely.
We stopped at the Avenue several times while travelling through western Madagascar, including at sunrise, sunset and during the day. Surprisingly, our favourite visit wasn’t at sunset, but when we happened to have the place almost entirely to ourselves.
In this guide, I’ll share what we learnt from our visits, including how to get there, the best time to go and what to expect.
Is the Avenue of the Baobabs Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. Seeing Madagascar’s enormous baobab trees was one of the main reasons we wanted to visit the country in the first place. Zuz was particularly excited about them, and after finally seeing the Avenue for ourselves, neither of us was disappointed.
There’s something quite strange about standing beside trees this enormous, especially when you’ve spent so long looking forward to seeing them. We knew what the Avenue looked like from photographs, of course, but being able to wander between the baobabs and appreciate their size up close was a big part of the experience.
When we started planning our trip, we discovered that Tsingy de Bemaraha was also in western Madagascar and, by Madagascar’s standards, relatively ‘nearby’. Combining the two was a common route, so we built a longer trip around the region.
Tsingy turned out to be another highlight, with its remarkable limestone formations and challenging walking routes. We also visited Kirindy Forest, where we saw our first lemur, and the nearby Lovers’ Baobabs.
If the baobabs are what draws you to Madagascar, I can certainly understand making the journey to see them. And with places like Tsingy and Kirindy to explore, it’s worth considering a longer trip through western Madagascar.
How to Visit the Avenue of the Baobabs
The Avenue of the Baobabs is around 20 kilometres north of Morondava, on Madagascar’s west coast. The drive takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes, making it an easy half-day trip from town.
You can hire a taxi or private driver, or join an organised tour from Morondava. The Avenue is a public dirt road, so there’s no entrance fee to walk among the trees.
Our guesthouse in Morondava arranged a driver for our trip to Tsingy de Bemaraha, which meant we could stop at the Avenue on the way there and back. We also arranged a few extra stops to see the trees at different times of day.
Around an hour is enough for most people to wander between the trees and take photographs, although I’d allow a little longer for sunrise or sunset. Including the drive from Morondava, a relaxed return visit should take roughly three hours.
Best Time to Visit the Avenue of the Baobabs
The best time to visit the Avenue of the Baobabs is generally during Madagascar’s dry season, from around May to October. Roads are usually easier to travel on, particularly if you’re planning to continue north towards Kirindy Forest or Tsingy de Bemaraha.
We visited in late April, when the baobabs had very few leaves. Their enormous trunks and bare branches made for some brilliant photographs, although the trees look quite different when they’re covered in foliage.
The Avenue can be visited outside the dry season, but heavy rain can make the dirt roads difficult to navigate. If you’re travelling during the wetter months, check local road conditions before setting off.
Sunrise or Sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs?
Most people seem to aim for sunset, when the baobabs become dark silhouettes against the warm colours of the evening sky.
We arrived around an hour before sunset, which gave us plenty of time to explore and find a good spot for photographs. There were other visitors and a few drones overhead, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded. We stayed until shortly after sunset, when it became dark quite quickly.
Sunrise was a different experience. We arrived while it was still properly dark, with noticeably cooler air and a little mist around the trees. Once the sun started rising, the light changed surprisingly quickly, although the colours weren’t quite as warm as we’d seen the previous evening.
If you’re visiting for sunrise, bring a torch and something to eat. We were glad we’d packed snacks, as most places in Morondava weren’t open for breakfast that early.
Our Favourite Time to Visit
Despite enjoying both sunrise and sunset, our favourite visit was actually an unplanned stop during the day.
We happened to arrive when the Avenue was almost completely empty. After seeing other visitors and drones around at sunset, it was nice to have the trees almost to ourselves. We could wander about, take as many photographs as we liked and not worry about getting other people in every shot.
Of course, we were lucky with the timing. Other travellers might arrive during the day on their way to Tsingy de Bemaraha, so there’s no guarantee you’ll find it as quiet as we did.
I wouldn’t skip sunset just to try your luck during the day. The evening colours were beautiful, and even with other visitors around, it never felt particularly crowded. But if you’re passing the Avenue outside sunrise or sunset, it’s still worth stopping rather than assuming you’ve missed the best time.
What to Expect at the Avenue of the Baobabs
Although the Avenue attracts visitors from around the world, everyday life carries on around the trees. You’ll see locals walking along the road, motorbikes passing through and the occasional zebu cart, so watch out for traffic when taking photographs.
When we visited, facilities were fairly basic. There were a few souvenir stalls, and we bought some little baobab replicas to take home. More recent visitor information mentions toilets, refreshments and a shop, although these may not be open if you’re visiting particularly early.
Bring some cash if you want to buy souvenirs or refreshments, and carry water, especially during the hotter parts of the day.
You can wander between the trees and take photographs without a guide. Just be considerate of local people using the road, particularly if you’re photographing them going about their day.
Getting to Morondava from Antananarivo
Most travellers visiting the Avenue of the Baobabs will first need to reach Morondava, a coastal town in western Madagascar. From Antananarivo, the two main options are flying or travelling overland.
Flying is the quickest option. Direct flights to Morondava take around an hour, and when we checked, return fares were around US$200, with morning departures available. Schedules and prices can change, so check availability for your travel dates.
The cheaper alternative is a taxi-brousse, Madagascar’s shared minibus transport. We took one from Antananarivo to Morondava, and the journey lasted around 13 hours. It saved us quite a bit of money, although it was certainly a long day on the road.
I’d probably fly if I made the journey again and had the budget. But I’m glad we experienced travelling by taxi-brousse in Madagascar. It’s something I’d want to try at least once, even if I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for every long journey.
Planting a Baobab at the Avenue
During one of our visits, we wandered away from the main road and came across a small nursery filled with baby baobab trees.
We stopped to take a few photographs, and our driver explained that visitors could pay a small fee to plant one, with the money going towards conservation efforts. We thought it was a lovely idea, especially after coming all this way to see the enormous baobabs, so we decided to plant one ourselves.
Someone from the nursery helped us choose a spot, and we all got involved with digging the hole and planting our little tree.
If you’re interested in planting a baobab yourself, ask your driver whether the nursery is still welcoming visitors and how the planting scheme works.
We have no idea how our little tree is getting on these days, but I’d like to think it’s still growing somewhere near the Avenue.