Botanical and Zoological Garden of Tsimbazaza

The Botanical and Zoological Garden of Tsimbazaza is a 23-hectare (57-acre) facility with collections of native plants and exhibits of lemurs, turtles, and crocodiles. The grounds also house a museum with displays of local natural history and preserved specimens.

Established in 1925, the garden developed into a research center housing Madagascar's largest herbarium with roughly 80,000 plant specimens. The collection grew systematically to document and preserve the island's botanical diversity.

The museum displays carvings created by local communities and skeletal remains of extinct Madagascar animals like elephant birds and giant lemurs. Visitors can trace the island's biological story through these preserved remnants.

Located north of the National Assembly building, the garden features walking paths through plant and animal exhibits with informative signage throughout. Good footwear is advisable as pathways can become slippery during rainy periods.

The garden has specialized sections for southern Madagascar vegetation featuring distinct species like didieraceas and pachypodiums rarely seen elsewhere. These drought-adapted plants reveal how life thrives in the harsh southern regions of the island.