Antananarivo

Antananarivo, the Malagasy capital, is a city built on tiered street around a long narrow rocky ridge, surrounded by twelve sacred hills.

The rova, the royal palace is set on the summit near the centre of the ridge and it is the centre of the Merina kingdom. The city was made capital of Madagascar by the conquests of the King Radama I. It kept this position whilst under the French.

The newly restored rova can be visited, along with the royal tombs and former prime minister’s palace.

You can also take to the cobbled lanes of the city to marvel at the churches and houses and admire the glorious views over the Madagascan plain.

Trendy Isoraka in the upper town is well worth a visit, with a multitude of craft shops, a museum and two small hotels, Pavillon de l’Emyrne and Résidence Lapasoa.

If you head to the Presidential Palace, the ministries and banks in the area coexist with top end jewellery shops. This is also the location of the Tana’s landmark hotel, the Hotel Colbert.

The lake which you will see became heart shaped under the direction of the Scots missionary and architect, James Cameron. Encircled by jacarandas, you can see a fabulous violent display in October and November.