Hotel Au Bois Vert

There's plenty of communal area designed for unwinding, from the the ample gardens and rambling patio to the light-filled restaurant. Bench seats run along a lovely alcove of the restaurant, creating a congenial, coffee-house atmosphere. Outside are shaded eating areas, a patio and a poolside space that begs you to chill out. The spa has it all, from treatment rooms to yoga and zumba venues. The atmosphere throughout is one of lushness. And more than 50 shades of green!

Unlike the gardens, which are ablaze with colour, the tranquil rooms feel as if they've been carved from the earth, with smooth, rustic walls and en-suite bathrooms featuring granite. Local timbers is used in the solid door-frames, and the steps that rise to a loft area. But the Zen-like calm incorporates modern elements too, from flat-screen TV and air-conditioning to wi-fi. Beyond the doors to the patio, the garden reminds you of the natural treasures that lie beyond the property.

You're probably planning to venture into the wilderness, but Antananarivo itself has plenty of local curiosities to discover. See historic churches and mosques, and take an outing to Rova, or the Queen's Palace – a complex on a hilltop within the city. Stroll, or take a rickshaw, to the markets, or a motorcycle ride past rice paddies and neighbouring villages. Note that heavy rainfall and cyclones between January and March often render the roads impassable.