The Avenue of the Baobabs (Allée des Baobabs) is one of Madagascar’s most iconic and breathtaking landscapes. Located in the remote Menabe region of western Madagascar, this world-famous site is not a constructed monument but a natural one: a 260-meter stretch of dirt road lined on both sides by a cluster of majestic Grandidier’s baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri). These ancient, towering trees, some over 800 years old, create a surreal and unforgettable silhouette against the sky. Once part of a dense tropical forest, these “Mothers of the Forest” (renala in Malagasy) are now solitary giants standing over a landscape of rice paddies and scrubland, serving as a powerful and poignant symbol of Madagascar’s unique and vanishing natural heritage.

Name and Address

• Name: Avenue of the Baobabs.
• Address: Located on the unpaved RN8 road, between Morondava and Belon’i Tsiribihina, Menabe Region, Madagascar.

How to Get There

The Avenue of the Baobabs is a highlight of any trip to western Madagascar, with the coastal town of Morondava serving as the primary gateway.

• By Car/Taxi (Essential): The Avenue is approximately a 45-minute drive from Morondava. The road is a bumpy dirt track, so a 4×4 vehicle is often used, though a regular taxi can manage in the dry season. Almost all visitors hire a car and driver in Morondava for a sunset and/or sunrise visit.
• Guided Tours: The most common way to visit is as part of a larger tour of western Madagascar, often combined with a trip to the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park.
• Visitor Tip: The Avenue is most spectacular at sunrise and sunset. The golden light transforms the landscape, casting long shadows and making the trees glow. Sunset is more popular and crowded, while sunrise offers a more serene and mystical experience. There is no official entrance fee, but there is a small parking fee that supports the local community.

Landscape and Ecosystem

The landscape is a simple yet profoundly dramatic scene, defined by the contrast between the colossal trees and the flat, open terrain.

• The Avenue: The famous section is a 260-meter (850-foot) stretch of road lined with about 20-25 Grandidier’s baobabs. These giants can reach heights of up to 30 meters (98 feet), with massive, cylindrical trunks. Additional baobabs are scattered across the adjacent rice paddies and meadows.
• A Forest Remnant: These trees are a living legacy of a dense dry forest that was cleared over the years for agriculture and settlement. The baobabs were spared by the locals, who hold them in high regard for their value as a source of food (the fruit is known as “monkey bread”) and for their spiritual significance.
• Nearby Attractions: Just a few kilometers away are the Baobab Amoureux (Lovers’ Baobabs), two Adansonia za baobabs that have twisted together as they grew, forming a single, intertwined trunk.

What Makes It Famous

The Avenue of the Baobabs is famous for being arguably the most beautiful and accessible place to witness the majesty of Madagascar’s iconic trees.

• An Iconic Image of Madagascar: The silhouette of the baobabs lining the dirt road at sunset is one of the most famous and enduring images of Madagascar, a symbol of the island’s unique natural world.
• The “Upside-Down Trees”: The baobabs’ unique shape, with branches that resemble a root system, has earned them the nickname “upside-down trees.” The Grandidier’s species is particularly grand and elegant, making this avenue especially picturesque.
• A Photographer’s Dream: The site is a world-renowned destination for photographers. The changing light at sunrise and sunset creates a magical, almost spiritual atmosphere that results in stunning and dramatic photographs.

Differences from Other Wonders

The Avenue of the Baobabs offers an experience centered on a single, powerful natural spectacle, which distinguishes it from Madagascar’s other famous national parks.

• A Landscape to Observe vs. a Landscape to Conquer: While the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park is a formidable “forest of knives” that visitors must actively conquer with harnesses and via ferrata, the Avenue of the Baobabs is a serene and accessible landscape to be observed and contemplated. It is a place of stillness and visual beauty rather than physical adventure.
• Dry Forest Giants vs. Lush Rainforest: The Avenue is located in the dry, western part of Madagascar. The experience of seeing these massive, solitary trees in an open landscape is a complete contrast to the dense, humid, and enclosed environments of the eastern rainforest parks like Andasibe-Mantadia or Ranomafana, which are famous for their lush vegetation and rich lemur populations.
• A Singular Spectacle vs. a Diverse Canyon: Unlike Isalo National Park, which is a vast and varied landscape of sandstone canyons, rock formations, and natural pools, the Avenue of the Baobabs is focused on one specific, iconic view. Its power comes from the concentration of these magnificent trees in a single, perfect frame.