Madagascar Travel Guide

you can avoid the Taxi booking counter or touts inside the arrival hall they have fixed fares Ar 50,000 (negotiable to 45,000 to the CBD - Analakelly, Antsahavola, Tsaranlalana etc) although the Vehicles are very new and safe) , walk out to the parking lot and get the taxi from there for Ar 20,000 ~25,000 to anywhere in Central Tana there will be...

Updated 06/05/2014> Fare is Reduced to MGA 10,000.00Updated24/02/2013> New Fare is MGA 14,000.00There is regular Shuttle Van to and from the Antananarivo Airport at Ivato (TNR) serving the route from Airport to Isoraka/Analakely picking and dropping off from any hotels. This is the cheapest way to and from airport for single travelers, ample...

Quite good food, a lot of travel information, free wifi, also some rooms (from € 6. didn´t see them, but people seemed to be happy about them) and tours. Owned by a French Malagasy family.http://www.chez-billy.comule.com/ Crevettes dans la sauce Pastis, Entrecôte aux poivre vert

Markets exert a magnetic attraction for me, and so it was inevitable that we would end up wandering around the one in Andasibe ...The range and quality of produce in Madagascar is an endless source of fascination for me. Most of what is on sale is recognisable for a tourist from the developed world, but was usually located in the section for...

If ever there were a boulevard designed for elegant evening strolling, Avenue de l'Independence is it! Tree-lined, designed with panoramic proportions and stretching between the delectable railway station and Hotel des Thermes, it takes little imagination to conjur up the ghosts of long-dead expats retreating to the cool highlands to 'take the...

30 Days Tourist Visa can be extended in Tamatave by visiting the Immigration Office at Rue Lieutenant Berad (about 700 feet left turn from Boulevard Joffre/BM Madagascar Intersection)For further 60 days visa extensionto Ar 80,000.00 to be paid at Ministry of Commerce which is about a km away near the Port, the Immigration Office staff can do this...

Nice Clean Place serving Halal Foods only, The Menu is in French but the staff can speak EnglishSpicy Curry with White Rice cost from Ar 5000 to Ar 7000Free Wifi and LCD TVOpen at 7.00~ 7.30 for Brakfast Close at 22.00 Fish Romazava, Mutton Curry with White Rice, Onion Steak with Pomme FritJuices, Coffee, Soft Drinks, Confectionery, Bakery...

The Taxi Brousse station on Tamatave (Toamasina) is at Boulevard D'Andovoranio (10 minutes walk from Avenue de l'Independence (Ar 1000~1500 by Taxi Pousse Pousse)Unlike the general perception (being unsafe) I took the Night Departure to Antananariovo left Tamatave at 7.30 PM many vehicles departed and traveled in caravan and it was very safe (3...

Most Common and Economical Way of Travel to Mahajanga (in fact to most cities in Madagascar) is Taxi Brousse. They are Frequent, Reliable and Cheap, although for some it may not be so comfortable. The Journey is on the RN 4 which is abrasive but no big bumps or pot hole (if the vehicle's glass are loos then the banging noise can be terrible)...

Various Companies operates from Majunga to North Madagascar (Antisiranana province) CTVA is most reliable.The Fare is listed (photo attached) always good to book a day in advance to get better choice of seats. Majunga Taxi Brousse Station (Gare Routier, same for departure to Antananarivo) is very well organized and all the booking offices are under...

They are Uniform Blue/Red Colored and Registered by Numbers, Man Powered Pousse Pousse for short distance, MGA 1,000 but these guys deserve a bit extra to serve in the scorching heat

Lemur's Island could be controversial. The lemurs are reputed to be rescued pets (and their offspring). The lemurs (we saw white ruffed lemurs, common brown lemurs and grey bambooo lemurs) climb all over visitors in search of fruit. There are ample opportunities for close up photography. Problem is of course that the lemurs keep coming towards the...

There is a Crocodile park a short walk from Lemur's Island, where one can see deep spooky looking lake, which is home to several of the beasts. The chief attraction (birdlife in the trees notwithstanding) is a chance to get up close and personal with the mongoose like Fossa. Inside a stout enclosure, there are a couple of these endangered...

The night walk..We continue walking for another 5-6 minutes then we saw this lemur.The Red-tailed sportive Lemur.It was one of the specie that I wanted to see so much this trip.It's body size around 28cm long and weigh about 800-900 grams.It's a nocturnal species feeding on leaves and some fruits.They normally live in pairs and are monogamous that...

The night walk..The night walk start at 6 pm. before sunset.We have to drive into the reserve area for about 3 Km.There 's parking area or a small flat area along road side that can park few cars.Jeff waited for us at the car ,only my new guide ..Ceriel lead us into the reserve .He walked quite fast,start to look for animal for his customer...

There are about 13,000 species of plant and about 89 % of them are endemic. I saw this Pachypodium along the way climbing Grand Tsingy.There are so many species of Pachypodium in Africa and about 20 from Madagascar ,they have different flower colour..,white,.. yellow and orange-red.. like this one.I still din't find out what exactly specie it is...

The ideal way to experience the glory of the beaches and reefs which surround Ile aux Nattes is to take a pirogue ride - as this is the only way to access the island anyway, by the time you get there, you should be well aware of what you're letting yourself in for!The pirogue operators don't venture outside the fringing reef, which ensures that in...

True to its name, Les Lemuriens' most endearing residents are its black and white ruffed lemurs! The lemurs are free ranging, but habituated to human beings, and - as our daughter discovered - most partial to bananas!We had a look around Les Lemuriens on our way up to the lighthouse. It is set in a gorgeous location on the southern extremity of the...

There is a reason that tropical paradises are lush - it usually rains a lot and there is plenty of water around. And with the water come the unwelcome locals- the mosquitoes!Malaria is endemic throughout all of tropical Madagascar. Even if you are right on the coast, chances are that there is standing water close by, which makes ideal breeding...

A great way to explore the islands around Nosy Be is by private yacht charter. Fully crewed with a skipper, deckhand and chef the catamaran is exclusively yours and charters include excursions to Tanikely Marine Reserve, Nosy Komba Lemur Park and (if you are on the right boat) Lokobe National Park.Islands you will visit may include Nosy Iranja,...

While staying in Nosy Be - an island in the nothern part of big Madagascar - tkae your chance to explore some more remote places like Nosy Iranja island. If you are lucky enough - on your way there you meet dolphins and whales, but arriving on the island - just sea of incredible colours and white pristine beaches. And above that - it is very likely...

Le Kavitaha owes its name to the lake which its terrasse looks onto. It has been, for years, the best in town & on week-ends, urban dwellers (from Tana) just flock in to get away from it all.Its main asset is the shaded terrasse where al fresco lunches use to take place on a dozen of tables, all looking onto the lake.Then, the possibility to lunch...

RN1... the famed one. From Tana to Analavory through old-glory cities such as Fenoarivo, Arivonimamo, Miarinarivo. All of them have history. Miarinarivo has this singularity to have its own cathedral, a privilege only for ex-provinces' capitals (Tana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara, Fianar & Antsiranana). As how it came this building construction...

Has been awhile since we’ve been craving for some roadtrip. We live in the countryside, off Tana. In the Northern Tana (Avaradrano, i.e “North Bank”), to be precise. We use to breathe pure air. We only go to the crazy, crowded, air-polluted city with the downtown hassle for work & purpose. Our week-ends are very nature-tuned, if not spent hiking...

Views, yes. 360°, check. Aerial, check."King of the world feeling", check.But first, the climb. Short & steep. Great. Silent. Scary. Not dangerous, just risky to climb the pinetree frest underwood there as a solo female. Haven't encountered any danger, any threatening behaviour. Surprising. Busy climbing the steep slope, I came across a woman...

I must have a special connection with this hill. The first hill ever (Ambohimanga apart) I managed to reach the summit although the highest I climbed. The first doany area where I had a feeling to not be set apart due to my status (I don't believe in the efficiency of pilgriming & asking for blessings at those doany, that pilgrims seemed to not...

A shame that the royal compound uses to be the only spot locals & most tourists visit. As a local living just 3 miles from Blue Hill, I used to consider the place as one that was always there, that I would be able to visit anytime. Indeed, it is.. but it took me years, guiding my Belgian friends who visited Madagascar in 1995 to see the compound...

I still wonder myself..A "guide", one of the boys who tout for clients (tourists and holidaymakers) in Foulpointe beach, told me about a natural pool in the coral reef. I wanted to see and rendez-vous was made. My friends and I stepped on a "pirogue" (little boat) and the "guide" rowed till we reached the "natural pool".I was disappointed as it...

In Mahavelona, it seems to be sunset watching and campfire with guitar serenades.For more hectic, see my Toamasina page.. No tie required :-)))

Good food there. Warm welcome. Fresh seafood: grilled (camaron grillé) as well as in salad... mmmOne of my fave: beignet de crevettes (shrimp beignet)... Delicious with some sweet-and-sour sauce dip.

I call this Hotel 'Big Ship', and I say '' Big'' because it is really '' Big''. I don't know how big is the ship named titanic but when you look at this Hotel from far, You wonder if it is an hotel or a real ship. This Hotel is located no far from the sea, It is well placed and very attractive.I stayed there two nights on last January 2015. ...

To be frank, we found Tulear (Toliara) to be a little short on major tourist attractions (except the utterly brilliant Arboretum outside town, which we think is worth visiting the town for all by itself), but the other major highlight was visiting the coelacanths at the small Museum of Ichthyology.I am sad to report that said coelocanth is long...

We ended up visiting the Arboretum outside Tulear because we had time to kill and didn't particularly want to visit the Shell Market. What a fortuitous discovery, as this was one of the highlights of our trip to Madagascar, and this sort of happy accident (I think that the correct term is 'serendipity'?) is exactly why I find travel so...

Nahampoana reserve is a botanical garden that was created during the colonization. They tried to keep the old colonial infrastructure, in the middle of a great hiking adventure, breathing fresh air, in company of lemurs.

There are few places for surf and kite-surfing in Madagascar and Fort-Dauphin is among them. This activity is best for beginners because of the small waves although there are international competition organized from time to time. If there are surf-schools in the city, there are no available tools for those who are interested in kite-surfing... so...

Hike up to Fort Dauphins highest peak, Pic St. Louis. There's a well marked path leading up to the 529m high peak, about 4km away from the town. It takes about one and a half hours to climb up but the views are worth it.

The birds one can spot in my area. For some, the kingfisher, fodys, an easy sight... For others, you'd consider yourself lucky whenever you can see one.Photo 2: for years, have only heard its song... the first time I could really spot it was while returning from a trek. As I passed by an eucalyptus tree, I could hear its call. Couldn't see it...

Apart from some poultry produce and veggies, nothing to buy over there, except that those are all natural food that you'd buy from peasants.Still, in the heavy buys section, you'd buy sand (yeah! yeah!), baked bricks (our area is known for clay bricking making).Now, I tell you: this is the type of serene countryside village, no shop except stalls...

This activity wouldn't take you a long time since it's about a typical coutryside village mainly living on subsistance farming, without any specific activity other than rice cultivation and zébu breeding (see my local custom tips for more).However, it gives you sceneries of everyday life in the country. I think if you go to the main place of the...