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Though my preference goes to roadtrips, here is a link to "Domestic flights" of Air Madagascar. Air Mad liaises Antananarivo (Tana) with main Malagasy cities. See weekly time-schedule for that.
http://www.airmadagascar.com
A tip in the tip: it seems that it is cheaper to book your internal flights while booking your international flight to Madagascar. Ask TOs and travel agencies about that.
Updated Nov 22, 2005
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Another trip to do is railtrip. Tana-Toamasina by train is just amazing since you would go through forest packed with palm trees, bamboo trees, ferns, eucalyptus trees... and appreciate the vision of water falls in Andekaleka, climbing and descending hills covered by deep forests ... I made it once by train. It was a kind of inaugural trip to Ambila Lemaitso and this was superb. It was the first time I took the train, and the only time I did it in Madagascar.
Since Madagascar national train company had difficulties to be operational these recent years, you would wait for it to be reshuffled and trains to go across cities to experience it! Up to now, it is a "off the beaten track" tip for me. But current government is reshuffling the rail company so as to make it work again .
++Update Jan 2004: Notwithstand with all of that, taxi-brousses and railtripping are nice and cheaper alternatives to internal flights. I had some reserve regarding trains in Madagascar but recent developments made me optimisitc. The rail company has nearly collapsed in the 90s. Now, lines are being rebuilt and some are functionning again. Click here to read my insight of taxi-brousses and train rides. For sure, you will have to plan internal trips when visting this big country.
Plus, there are some nice railtrips to be done in Madagascar. Fianarantsoa-Cote Est (FCE) is one of them. The low speed (20-35km/hour) allows you to appreciate the landscape, from thick forests to bamboo forests and ricefields. A real turning off!++
Updated Jan 1, 2004
Pay attention to phantom cars, ox carts while taking a bend...
I know, landscape is fascinating, road in Tana-Toamasina route is superb but curvy. Even in daylights, other "drivers" may surprise you. Be it ghost cars or ox carts.
Don't drive so fast, especially when taking bends since truck drivers are sometimes sleeping (yes!). They don't sound their horns. And while driving at night, some just forget to put on lights. That may create problems since Tana-Toamasina is so curvy.
Well, as for carts, you just have to know that they are driven in same roads as yours.
Written Jun 15, 2003
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They are my favourite transportation means to hop from a city to another since they allow you to see landscapes. Besides, travelling by taxi-brousse with other passengers is a good way to know about Malagasy people since this transortation means is used by Malagasy of all kinds.
Book seats within taxi-brousse companies or associations in Tana. Be careful to book in advance since this is a really sought-after means (cheaper, adventure). It's quite strange but they are professional (on time, in contrary of other services). Taxi-brousses are often cars like a sedan with 8-9 seats or vans.
OR, rent a sedan car with a chauffeur-guide who will show you around cities. This was our choice to travel from Center to South of Madagascar.
In Tana, book your seats at taxi-brousses station in Ambodivona. This station is dealing with roadtrips to Northern parts (Antsiranana), North-West (Mahajanga) and Eastern parts (Toamasina). I think departures would be there as well.
Antananarivo-Toamasina city: 372 km.
PS: Tip applies for travelling AROUND as well.
Updated May 28, 2003
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