The huge trunks
Smooth columns by the road.
Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Heinonlein — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cactus0625 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Frank Vassen — CC BY 2.0
The Avenue of the Baobabs is a striking group of Grandidier's baobabs lining the unpaved Road No. 8 between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in western Madagascar. It is among the most visited places in the region and the best-known image of the country worldwide. Their huge smooth trunks stand like columns, with small branches on top that look like roots turned to the sky. Along a 260 m stretch of road stand 20 to 25 trees, with about 25 more in nearby fields. These trees are a legacy of the dense tropical forest that once covered the area. The forest was cleared for farming as the population grew, leaving only the baobabs. The area gained temporary protection in July 2007, a step towards making it a natural monument. You walk a red dirt road among the trees, as locals pass with ox carts, with small villages and rice fields nearby. The finest moment is sunset, when the trunks turn orange and the trees stand in black outline against the sky. The biggest crowds come then, while dawn is far quieter and has lovely light too. Do not climb the trees. It is about 11 km in a straight line from Morondava and easy to reach by car or small vehicle. The road gets muddy in the rainy season, so the best time is May to November. Bring a torch if you stay after sunset.
Smooth columns by the road.
Black trees against the sky.
Daily life among the trees.
Road No. 8, between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina, Madagascar
Sunset is the best known and busiest, while dawn is quieter with lovely light.
The surrounding forest was cleared for farming, and the baobabs were left standing.