Exploring Around Antananarivo, Madagascar (Like A Local)

Intro

After a lovely and relaxing sleep at the Radisson Blu Waterfront, the next morning it was time to go explore the beautiful city of Antananarivo.

Most of the time, when someone thinks about touring a city, they tend to think of going to see the classic touristy places. While I did see some of the famous sights, my guide took me to his local house and showed me around where he lived. Now that is what makes exploring a city beautiful, not staring at sights that you see online, but going where you get a true, authentic experience. 

Sightseeing 

Bright and early at 8 am, my guide was waiting for me downstairs to take me around town in his 4x4 car. This city is so interesting, as there is such a large French influence, whether it be the architecture, the taxis and even somewhat of the food. 

A man with his French made taxi

Navigating traffic is one of the trickiest parts in Antananarivo, with little police and crazy drivers, this isn’t a place that I recommend you rent a car 😅, unless you want to end up in an accident, and even then, nobody really has insurance. However, it wasn’t long before we made it up to the viewpoint where a swarm of smiling people greeted me like no tomorrow. 

Gaining entry to the viewpoint

Overlooking the beautiful city of Antananarivo

Most people claim Madagascar to be dangerous, but this place is beautiful and filled with some of the kindest people you will meet. I’ve always lived by the saying that if you show respect, respect will be shown back, and this theory shows here. 

Easily one of my top 5 countries

But mainly because of the people honestly

A Local Home

So when we arrived at his local house, everyone was so grateful that I was visiting their “slum”. Talking to my guide, he mentioned how very few tourists come here but the people are overly welcoming when they do come. I could feel it in the air, the way they treated me. I met his mum who was working at at a shop outside their house, his brother who was doing some work, and his children which were playing on a broken down tractor. 

A bedroom inside of a local house

The living room: actually very nice!

My guide and I getting on the booze

You can even by a turtle here for about 20 USD!

The thing about places like this is that on paper you think these people live everyday in poverty, making about 60 USD per month. While this might be considered poverty, I can tell you that their hearts are filled with the opposite of poverty, they are rich inside. 

I’ll put this way, my guide, who only makes about 15$ per month, invited me into his home and used his own money to go buy us a couple of beers which are about 1$ each. The same happened in Senegal, and that is why I consider Africa to have the kindest hearts in the world. 

My guide's children playing on a broken-down tractor

My guides brother getting some work done

My guide and his wife

Doesn't matter what you have, it matters who you are

Electricity is scarce here and expensive, yet my guide headed over to the back of his house to turn it on so we could watch some TV while enjoying a beer. His family welcomed me with open arms, offering me anything that I needed, and people even wanted to take pictures with me. Man, even looking back at this experience brings goosebumps as this is life, this is real, no phones in sight, and no judgement. Just real-life stuff. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 1-bedroom house with 6 people living in it; they make it work, and that is a mindset that I admire about a lot of African countries. 

Something to ponder… 

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this is the kind of day that reminds me why I love to travel. Not for the views or the landmarks or ticking things off some list — but for moments like this. Sitting in a tiny house with a warm beer, watching TV with a family I just met, in a part of the city most people avoid or don’t even know exists.

It’s wild how you can be in a place where people barely have electricity, yet they’ll go out of their way to make you feel comfortable. That kind of hospitality hits different.

It’s easy to label places like this as “poor” — but trust me, there’s a richness here that you’ll never find in a five-star resort. I’ll take this kind of experience over any tourist attraction, any day.

Just real people. Real life. That’s the stuff that sticks with you. If you’re ever in Madagascar, don’t just follow the guidebook. Let someone show you their version of the city. Trust me — that’s where the magic is.

Next up: visiting a slum in Antananarivo