Avenue of the Baobabs (Alley of the Baobabs)

The Avenue of the Baobabs: Madagascar’s natural catwalk of giants! 🌳 These 1000-year-old “upside-down trees” line a dusty road like ancient guardians of the sunset. It’s one of the world’s most photographed tree-lined avenues—and yes, sunset is the best time to visit!

A magical stop for dreamers, photographers, and anyone Googling “Where are those weird trees in Madagascar?” Now you know.

The legendary Allée de Baobab is located on the road (or let’s better say the dusty slope) between Morondava and Tsingy de Bemaraha. Everywhere along the road between those two cities, the impressive Baobabs, only a small part of 250 meters length is known as “Allée de Baobab” due to its photogenic silhouette. Those up to 30 meters high trees belong to the species of Adansonia grandidieri and are considered to be Madagascar’s landmark. Some of these giant trees are allegedly on the island for more than 1000 years.

The Alley of the baobabs is a magical attraction for photographers from all over the world. Baobabs are usually solitary trees, standing tall and proud in the midst of empty spaces. Yet in Allée de Baobab, they cluster together forming an avenue of columns that border the dirty road.

With their massive trunks, crooked branches and furry fruit, baobabs have learned how to adapt to a dry and hostile environment. The secret of the baobab’s success in surviving in harsh environments and the reason for its massive trunk is that it has little wood fibre but a large water storage capacity. Each tree can hold up to 300 liters of water, enabling it to live through long periods without rain.

A ride through the Avenue is a memorable experience. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to visit these gentle giants when colors of the trunks acquire new shades and the shadows of the trees are the most pronounced, creating a more exotic atmosphere, and when their stark silhouettes form a spectacular contrast to the soft, calming colors of sunrise and sunset. The flowering period is between February and March.

A few kilometers from the Baobab Avenue are the Baobab amoreux, two baobab trees twisted around one another in an eternal embrace. There is a legend that the trees are the incarnation of two lovers who could not marry and have a child together.