I am going to Madagascar for the last 3 weeks in November. I have a fairly decent budget so am pretty flexible. Any suggestions re. the following?
1) I need a hotel in Antananarivo for the first 2 nights. Any suggestions (preferably that I can book over the Internet)?
2) It's a big Island and I think it best only to go South - start by heading straight to Ambovombe (flying) then work my way back up to Tana. Does this make sense? Or does anyone have a better idea?
3) What is the likelyhood of getting an internal flight when I get there? My research indicates that flights are often booked up well in advance. Or is this a myth? It seems that booking Air Mad domestic tickets over the internet can be difficult.
4) Due to limited time I would like to book some sort of wildlife tour (4 days to a week) for part of the trip. Any recommendations (from people who have done them - not from people who OPERATE them)?! Is it practical to do this when I get there or best to do in advance?
5) Any other suggestions regarding practicalities, itineries, must see places/things also gratefully received. I'm really looking at this trip as only a taster - will probably go back for a more in depth visit in the future.
And my main intrests are wildlife, people and the outdoors. I have no intrest in resorts, clubs, beaches and the like..
Hi Mike,
My suggestion for a hotel in Tana is the Sakamanga [http://www.sakamanga.com/contact.html] You can book by e-mail. When they write back asking you to transfer the price of the first night, tell them you can't make the transfer unless they tell you the IBAN and BIC of their (French) bank account. They'll then accept you paying when you arrive. Strange, I know, but it's a good, reliable hotel.
Heading south is an excellent idea - some of the most interesting and less accessible areas to see are down there. You can't fly to Ambovombe - the landing strip there is not for commercial machines. You'd need to fly to Tolagnaro/Fort Dauphin. That route is well served from Tana by sizeable machines (B737) and you should have little trouble booking a flight when you get there. On the other hand booking in advance has advantages, not least because you can spend half a morning waiting your turn at the Air Mad office in Tana. Use the Paris Call Centre (0033 892 70 18 19). You may have to wait a while in a loop, but once you speak to them, they're very efficient. If you're flying long-haul with Air Mad (50% discount on domestic flights), you can pick your tickets up on the day at CDG in Paris. If not, ask them to hold your domestic tickets at the airport in Tana. (If you do decide to book in Tana, by the way, and you want to pay by credit card, tell them this right at the start - if they set it up as a cash transaction, their software doesn't allow them to change it!).
There is no need for an experienced traveller to book a package in advance. I would get down to Tolagnaro and negotiate with an operator or owner/driver for the use of a 4x4 to get you where you want to go. Your hotel will be able to give you contacts. Things I would want to see are Andohahela National Park (again) - you can also access this by mountain bike from Tolagnaro - Cap Sainte Marie and Lac Tsimanampetsotsa. That should satisfy you on the wildlife score, and driving around the south, where made up roads are in very short supply is something that I found fascinating.
If you do that, and end up in Toliara, you can make your way back to Tana along the blacktop by taxi brousse, stopping off to visit parks and reserves at Zombitse, Isalo and Ranomafana as time allows.
Hope that helps.
Regarding accommodation for the first two nights- you haven't told us about your preferences. There is the Carlton Hotel which is a 4 stars and consequently must be expensive. There are some good cheap hostels like Jacaranda Guesthouse . Personally, I have been staying in Moonlight Hotel which is a B&B. I paid 20000 Ariary ( 8 Euros ) per night for a decent and clean room. There is also hot water all day long.
The southern part of the Island is served by a good tarred road. You can access some good national parks by using public transportation. If you really want to visit the very far south ( I strongly recommend the spectacular Lokaro Beach near Fort-Dauphin and the spiny forest of Andohahela ) then you should take a flight from Tulear to Fort-Dauphin. The other alternative ( taxi-brousse ) is very very bad.
If you really want to see wildlife you should visit Andasibe-Mantadia NP. It is not far from Antananarivo and can be accessed within a few hours by taxi-brousse going east. You can see the famous Indri there and several other lemurs' species. If you go to the adjacent Mantadia you may encounter the rare golden-silky sifaka which is thought to be the most beautiful mammal (Unfortunately I didn't have the time to go there).
Ranomafana NP is also a good place to watch wildlife though the diurnal lemurs are not so habituated to humans' presence. You may well see the fossa and mouse lemurs if you do a night walk.
Don't miss Isalo and Angingitra NPs ( hope I spell the second one correctly ). These two have spectacular lunar landscapes but absolutely different from each other. The first resembles the views of the Grand Canyon of USA while the second has granite rocks portraying strange unworldly shapes.
As I mentioned before, Lokaro beach in the very far south is one of the most beautiful places in Madagascar. Nearby there is a traditional village called Evartaha. This village is really intriguing located near a white sand beach and turquoise sea. Palm trees grow among the wood-thatched houses. It can all be done as a 4X4 day excursion from Fort-Dauphin. It is a must-see.
If you have time, try to visit Anakao village. It is a place where many fishermen live. There is a nearby island called Nosy Ve where you can see a nesting bird colony.
Oopppssss,
I haven't mentioned other nice places en route like Anja park which is very small but really interesting for the ring-tailed lemurs and the granite mountains in its background. And Reniala Nature Reserve encompassing a wonderful vegetation of the spiny southern forest.
Hello,
me and my boyfriend are going to Madagascar for 4 weeks in November. We are planning to visit the NP along the main road going from TANA south - ie. Ranamafana, Andringita, Isalo. Anything else on the road that should not be missed? Then we are deciding either to go to Tolanaro (Fort Dauphin) or Toliare - what would you recommend?
What is the best way to do this trip??? to rent a car? is that possible ONE WAY only and without a driver? How long would the journey take?
We would also like to go to Morondava to see the baobab alley and then continue to th Grand Tsingy - what is the best way to do this trip? I have read that it is not accessible in november because of the rainy season...
Finally we would like to spend a few days snorkelling somewhere abour the Nosy Be, nosy Komba or elsewhere ... What are the best islands to go to for snorkelling - low budget, few tourists ... :)
Thank you all for your advice.
Zuzana
Marogisa has made excellent suggestions but indeed also Andasibe/Perinet is really eaxcellent and just a few hours from Tana.
The south is lovely but it depends on what you like. If it's really lush tropical beaches with forests and spices and jungles etc, then it's more to the East and North to places like maraonsetra, ile St Marie, Antalaha and so on. The south is more arid beauty
I should ask on this forum if the Road from Fianar to Ft. Dauphin is at last tarred
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