Has anyone used the Pangalnes Canal to travel North from Mananjary? If so, is it possible to get all the way to Ampitabe and how long is it likely to take, any information gratefully received!
Many thanks
Paul
pkh
1
soloduc
Hello,
I travelled the canal des pangalanes last winter (july/august) by merchant boat. It is very nice...
I travelled from Tamatave to Ambila-Lemaitso by boat. Taxi from Ambila to Mahanoro and then, boat from Mahanoro to Mananjary.
The first part was 20 hours. The second boat part was 3 nights/4daysDuration depends on the boat you catch : private boat is very very costly and is very fast ; merchant boat is very slow and can be unsafe ( depends on the "state"of pilote, the number of people in the boat and the canal itself. I had a very pleasant ttrip but you have to know that can be dangerous : some boat just sink, there is a lot of crocodiles in some parts, and according to the weather some parts of the canal are very rude...
The boat rides day and night ans stops fews hours at the beginning of night till the moon rise (to have some light). I can tell you that it was a really great experience but cruising by night in this jungle is very very impressive.
I paid 20.000 Ar for the first boat section and 40 for the second (2500 Ar = 1 euro) and met very nice people on the boat and at the stop.
You find quite esaily a boat on canal sections where the road are bad or the bridges weak (so merchants go by boat) but on the other section it is much more difficult.
There is no comfort at all on the boat and you have to know that if there is a problem you cannot reach a city or an hospital quickly...
You travel from Manajary and you can find there a boat to go up. Ask on the "harbour" of canal or in shops ( merchants use these boats for the products).
Avoid the rainy season and cyclonic season to travell on the canal as it can be very dangerous at some points.
You can take the boat till the end or make few stops and wait for the next boat (few days later).
You can take old clothes and give them in villages along the canal as people are really poor in these places and are very friendly. Nobody ask money or help as you can experience it in other parts of the country.
The landscape is very impressive and the stops on the earth between the sea and the canal are really great.
I can give you more details if you want.
Have a nice trip
It was the highlight of my trip but be prepare to have rough times too.
Solo
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