Overview

Shortened simply to 'Tana', Antananarivo is the bustling capital of Madagascar, set amongst the vast wilderness that sees an increasing number of travellers visiting this inspiring land. Meaning 'Town of 1000', Tana was named after the revered 17th century King Andrianjaka who conquered several villages in the area, leaving a garrison of 1000 men to defend his new territory.

Built on hillsides and ridges Tana is the main entry point for visitors travelling to Madagascar, although not many tourists spend more than a couple of days here, either at the beginning or end of their holiday as Antananarivo is not an easy place for first time visitors with little in the way of tourist infrastructure. Sights worth seeing include the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, the Prime Minister's Palace, the daily Zoma Market and Rova: the old shell of the Queen's Palace which was severely damaged by arson in the 1990s.

With a distinctive French flavour, mish-mash of red-brick houses scattered all over the hillsides, and nineteenth-century churches dotted around the maze of small, winding streets, Tana has its own inimitable charm - an attraction in itself.