Ride.
- Miles: 218
- Start: Antananarivo
- End: Toamasina
- Time: 4 hours to 1 day
- Suitability: any A2 and above
The AR1 Highway is a toll road in Madagascar, designed to establish a direct connection between the nation’s capital, Antananarivo, and the strategic port city of Toamasina. This infrastructure project aims to enhance transportation efficiency, facilitate trade, and promote economic development by providing a modern and reliable route linking the central highlands with the country’s principal maritime gateway.
Antananarivo, often called Tana (pronounced [tana]), is the capital and biggest city of Madagascar. Its administrative area, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra (“Antananarivo-Mother Hill” or “Antananarivo-Capital”), serves as the capital of the Analamanga region. Located 1,280 meters (4,199 feet) above sea level in the heart of the island, it’s the highest-elevation national capital among island nations. It has been Madagascar’s largest population center since at least the 18th century.
Toamasina, which means “like salt” or “salty,” is also known in French as Tamatave and was once called Port aux Prunes. It’s the capital of the Atsinanana region, located on Madagascar’s east coast along the Indian Ocean.
