Antsirabe, Madagascar
The Artisan Capital of Madagascar
Currency: Ariary (But Euros work too)
Language: Malagasy & French
Why Visit Antsirabe?
Antsirabe is located in the central highland of Madagascar, not far from the capital Antananarivo. Its first impression on its visitors, whether getting there by car or public transportation, is quite remarkable. When driving towards the city, the mountain landscape is peculiar. Antsirabe is the center of Madagascar’s agricultural scene even though the area has rough mountains and high altitudes. But the Malagasy farmers are resourceful and have built their farms on plateaus on the mountainsides. The landscape presents beautifully decorated stairs from top to bottom down the mountainsides.
Getting to the city center can be a hassle, but nevertheless an experience. The roads are crowded with people and Zebus. The Zebu is a local cow used for farming, transportation, food, and, well, basically everything. It’s the Malagasys’ most important tool, but it takes up a lot of space on the road, so as a traveler a good portion of patience is recommended.
When you do get to the city, you’ll be amazed by the contrasts. The large colonial buildings are standing tall and grande next to the Malagasy’s humble structures made from wood, clay, and straw. With a few concrete buildings in between.
The Madagascan people are among the poorest in the world but do not underestimate their skills. Decades of hardship have given them the ability to create much out of nothing. To this, Antsirabe is the best possible example. It is the capital of Madagascar’s artisan crafts.
Things To Do and See in Antsirabe
Craftsmanship Museums
Have you ever imagined spoons, forks, jewelry, and needles made from Zebu horn? Or toys made from used cans? Or silk collected in the wild and colored with beetroot? Paper made of trees? I bet you know these things exist, but in Antsirabe you get to see how it’s done. Antsirabe is the home of many interesting factories that let you see the manual processes of creating just about anything out of just about nothing. It’s impressive. A personal favorite is the Zebu Horn Museum. Not only is the crafting itself impressive but the thought of not wasting a single piece of an animal is something we could learn a lot from in the Western world.
A personal favorite is the Zebu Horn Museum. Not only is the crafting itself impressive but the thought of not wasting a single piece of an animal is something we could learn a lot from in the Western world.
Rickshaw Ride
A thousand-year-old tradition is the rickshaw ride. Before bikes, cars, and public transportation this was the preferred form of transport for those not wealthy enough to own a zebu. What's a rickshaw? Well, picture a carriage pulled by a human instead of a horse. Now, to us, it might seem terrible, but in Madagascar, it is still a widely used form of transportation - and a great way of making a living for many Malagasies.
You can find a rickshaw everywhere on the streets – it’s basically like getting a cab. There’s no standard price for a rickshaw ride, and the culture invites bargaining. A good rule of thumb is to bargain to land around half of the initial price you get.
Explore the Mountain Landscape by Car
As stated before, the landscape on the outskirts of the city is remarkable. Not only does it offer a beautiful view, but it’s also a great way of learning about the ways of farming in Madagascar.
Madagascar is highly underdeveloped in every way imaginable. That means that farming is manual. Machines are rarely found, so all of the work is done by hand – or for the Malagasys doing well – by Zebu.
When driving through the landscape, you’ll get to see the manual labor firsthand. And rest assured, it is impressive. Rice fields are planted and harvested by hand. As well as the drying process. It’s a lot of work!
Visit a Local Market
When exploring an artisan and farming capital, visiting the local market is a must. Markets are plentiful every day but Sunday hosts the largest ones.
You’ll find agricultural products such as fruits, nuts, grains, and meat in every shape on the food markets. Madagascar is rich in many of the exotic products that cost a fortune in Europe and the USA, so now is the time to stack up for the rest of your trip.
In other parts of the markets, you find crafts of wood, gems, silk, zebu horn – and much more. Spices are furthermore one of the main export products in Madagascar. Cinnamon, Muscatnut, Pepper in many varieties, and especially Vanilla from Madagascar is among the best in the world. Be aware that Madagascar has certain rules for how much Vanilla you’re allowed to bring home through customs.
Antsirabes Nightlife
Madagascar in general is not a place you visit for the nightlife. Tourism is as undeveloped as the rest of the country, and so the selection of tourist-friendly establishments is scarce. In Antsirabe your best bet for having a fun night out is staying in your hotel bar.
Most hotel bars can offer a selection of tropical cocktails, quite a few locally brewed beers (which are very good), and perhaps if you’re lucky; one or two bottles of wine.
There are many local bars in the city, and if you dare, you should visit. Preferable during daylight, or without carrying too many valuables. Antsirabe is not known to be unsafe, and in general, Madagascar is safe for an African country. But when that’s said, pickpockets are a huge problem in the larger cities, including Antsirabe. The wealthier you look, the higher the risk. But more on that in safety further down. Keep reading!
Food in Antsirabe
The food scene in Antsirabe is interesting. The Malagasys descend from many different cultures, which has shaped a fascinatingly mixed cuisine. And of course, it was a French colony, so the French kitchen has influenced the local traditions everywhere.
Another factor impacting the local cuisine is the scarcity of food. The Malagasys cook what is the most accessible and affordable on the given day. The tropical areas of Madagascar serve dishes with fruits and funny-looking vegetables. The coastal areas serve fish and coconut.
In Antsirabe agricultural products are abundant such as grain, rice, and meat. It’s a great place to try a Zebu steak or indulge in milk products, but saltwater fish is something you’ll rarely see.
Just as with the bars, the area is underdeveloped. There are plenty of local restaurants called ”Hotely”. The food is often amazing, but the environment is rarely tourist friendly. At least, you’ll have to be a very adventurous tourist. If you want a meal in a nice-looking place where you don’t feel the need to spray everything with alcogel, the hotel restaurants are often the better choice.
When that’s said, I’d highly recommend you to try a Hotely. It’s quite the experience. Just make sure to bring some wet vibes, and go to the bathroom before you go.
Cost in Antsirabe
Madagascar is an incredibly cheap country to be in. A beer will cost you 7000 ariary (1,5€) in a hotel. A main course in a nice restaurant is usually around 24.000 ariary (5€). If you visit local places, you’ll get at least half of that. A Menakely (a traditional cake comparable to a donut) from a locally owned bakery or street seller is 200 ariary. That’s 0,04 €.
Hotels are somewhere between 20€ and 70€ pr. night depending on the level of luxury. Very few tourists will feel comfortable staying in the 20€ options, so aim for something in the middle.
What will cost you when going to Antsirabe, is the trip to Madagascar. Depending on where you’re from, you’re bound to need a few flights. And when you do decide to visit Madagascar, you might as well take a 2- or 3-week roundtrip to make the most of it. Flights and transportation within the country are what will cost you.
Safety in Antsirabe
When visiting Antsirabe you’ll have to take a few precautions. While Madagascar is safe compared to other African Countries, the larger cities are always the worst example. And Antsirabe is a large city.
During the day there’s nothing to fear, if you make sure to hide your valuables and use your common sense. Leave your bag unattended for just a second, and you can be pretty sure it’s lost forever. At night the risk is higher, and additional good advice is to not walk around alone.
Worse crimes than petty theft happen in Madagascar, but very rarely for tourists. Even females traveling solo can feel safe in Madagascar – if taking the right precautions.
Want to read more about which precautions to take? Read the article: ”Is Madagascar Safe for Tourists?”.
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Karen Roigaard
A grateful traveler with thousands of mind-blowing memories behind me. Especially fond of Madagascar, which succeeded in capturing my heart. Now I'm dedicated to spreading the word about its many wonders!
Antsirabe is a great place to visit in Madagascar! Most travelers just treat Antsirabe as a quick stop between Antananarivo and the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava. Personally, I enjoyed the time I spent in Antsirabe. It is considered a large city in Madagascar, but most travelers will stay in the downtown area, which resembles a small town. It is very safe here, even at night (just be smart!). There are plenty of great food options if you are brave enough to eat from the street vendors. However, there is not much to do here after a couple of days. The only nightlife that I witnessed were the groups of tourists who would go to the fancier restaurants to drink beer.
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