Avenue of the Baobabs, Ancient baobab tree alignment in Menabe, Madagascar.
The Avenue of the Baobabs is a 260 m stretch of unpaved Road No. 8 between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina where 20 to 25 Grandidier's baobabs (Adansonia grandidieri) line the track. Their massive, smooth, reddish-brown trunks taper upward and split into twisting branches with flat, leafy crowns. About 25 more of these trees grow among nearby rice paddies and meadows.
The baobabs are remnants of the dense tropical forests that once covered Madagascar. As the population grew, forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only these trees, which locals kept for food and building material. In July 2007 the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forestry granted the area temporary protected status, a step toward making it Madagascar's first natural monument; it became a natural monument in July 2015.
Locals know the trees as renala or reniala, from the Malagasy reny ala, "mother of the forest". The name recalls that these baobabs once stood inside dense tropical forest, not on open scrub. Villagers kept them standing as they cleared land, valuing them as a food source and building material. About 7 km northwest, two Adansonia za trees called Baobab Amoureux have grown twisted together; legend says they are lovers from nearby villages who asked their god to live as one.
The site lies along unpaved Road No.8 between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina; a parking fee of 5,000 ariary (under 2 USD) applies as of 2026. The 260 m stretch of 20–25 trees is best walked at sunrise or sunset, when light falls on the trunks and temperatures are lower. A few tourist shops stand nearby.
About 7 kilometers northwest of the main avenue, two baobabs known as Baobab Amoureux have grown intertwined, their trunks naturally wrapping around each other over time. This unusual formation makes them a noteworthy destination for visitors willing to venture beyond the main road.
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