Madagascar Travel Forum

Hi guys!
I hope someone can help me, because next august Iīm going to Mada and Iīll book with a local travel agency, and they have send me a quotation that not include entrance and guidance to parks. I have read in parks web that you can choose between different trails and some says "by car" or "by foot" which different prices, of course, so, is necessary a car inside the parks, my tour car or they have cars to do this trails?
Thanks everybody!
M del Mar from Spain

There never is much information on what's happening in Madagascar, so what is the current situation? especially in the capital?
JJ

We are in the south west of Madagascar.
We're planning to visit Mahajunga and Diego at the end of Novemeber.
Our plan was to go up by car and fly back to Tana (10-12 days in total).

Any suggestions on where to stop on the way, what we shouldn't miss and were to sleep/eat? Suggestion on the itinerary are welcome (we are not interested in Nosy Be).

Thanks.

Hi

Can a local give me a reliable contact in the real estate industry, in Tana. Phone and email if available.

Thanks
JJ

Hi guys, I'm new here and will travel Madagascar for 5 weeks styarting mid-October. And I have a few questions - I hope to get good advice and will 'pay back' here when I'm back :-)

I realize that Madabus is closed but are there other relatively comfortable alternatives (except hiring a vehicle which I won't) for transport from & to 1) Tana - Tamatave/Tulear and 2) Tana - Fianarantsoa? I'm reasonably fit but not exactly young at 51 and I'm pretty sure my knees will give me trouble if I have to sit crammed in a regular Taxi Brousse for up to 10 hours.

However, I am considering one long trip in Taxi Brousse which is from Antsirabe to Morondava - I will have a week to recover before flying back to Tana, haha. Do the brousses leave Antsirabe at night?

And finally about changing money: where in Tana does one get the better/best rates? I don't really want to change on the streets, I ain't that smart if someone wants to trick me ;-)

Greetings from Denmark /Jesper

Hi all,

We're thinking of going to Madagascar for 1 week in December. As we'll be diving in Mauritius beforehand, we don't plan on doing any more beaches. Could you please advice the best things to do in one week and which route to take? Also, what is the best way to travel on the island? Do we need to make a tour booking in advance or do we just pop by a market in Tana and see what's available?

All advices are appreciated. Thank you!

Dear fellow travellers,

Does some one has advise, especially about safety, on Madagascar?
Are there use full ATM's?

In the beginning of September I will arrive in Antananarivo for 3 weeks. I would like to go south on Route 7 as far as Isalo N.P. I try to visit Ranomafana N.P. as well. At the end of my journey I would like to visit Andasibe Mantadia N.P.

Thanks,

Tobias from the Netherlands

Hi! I am a 29 year old girl travelling to Madagascar for 3-4 weeks between Sept-Oct 2009.

Can someone please help me in the following?
-What can be a good route for 3 weeks in a "solo, adventurous" basis?
-Idem, but 4 weeks instead of 3.
-Does it worth to take an organised trip, because trying to do it on myself would be too difficult?
-Is there a way to arrive from Europe (preferably, Brussels or Paris) to a city in southern/northern Madagascar, going across the country, and then going back to Europe or Tana without having to start in Tana, go to one edge, come back to Tana, go to the other edge, etc.? Or is it too expensive or not feasible?
-Any vlauable tips in order to make the best use of my time?

Thank you very much!
Kat

I wish to visit Madagascar, first going to its capital, Antananaviro. How do I get there ? I will be travelling from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, or Singapore.

Thanks.

We're traveling to Madagascar next month and with all the political and travel advisories out, just wondering if I need to be concerned. We'll be with a guide through out the trip and just catching planes in Tana. Does anyone have anything current?

Hi all!
we are going to visit Madagascar next month and planning to visit some NP in the north. Is it advisable to use hammocks instead of tents when camping (like we used to do on some Carribean Isl.)? Is it possible to leave or somehow secure your main backpack for a day trip in NP (to travel light) or we will have to carry everything all day long? Any tips?

thank you a lot in advance!
Simon

Hello all

so I am having an interview for a volunteer programm in Forest Corridor Sud, Ivohibe. But I admit my ignorance and I know nothing about such location...and not a lot abt Madagascar...
Can you please redirect me to the right links?

Thanks in advance!
Luisa

Hi all!
I asked a question a moment ago about Madagascar and a fast reply told me about the safety issue in Mada. I used to think it was a very safe country compared to African standars, so I was intrigued.

Then I found this link: http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/SODA-7NSP5A?OpenDocument from the U.N, so it is serious.

I would like to ask to locals what do they think about that issue, and if they are having problems. We send our best wishes to them, and we hope it won't be a very, very bad situation. we donīt get any info about mada in our media, so thatīs why I am so surprised.

Hello!
We keep planning our trip. We have decided that it is imposible to carry all the clothes we'll need during three weeks, so we'll just pack clothes for a week or so, and then we'll wash. It is better as we wonīt be carrying too many kilograms.

Now I wonder. I am reading the Bradt travel guide and I get the impression that there are some areas with real problems of water shortages. Weīll bring our piece of soap usefull for washing both, clothes and our body...I just want to know how other tourist(or locals traveling in the country) dealt with this subject. Is it easy to buy cheap t-shirts so you donīt have to worry too much about washing?

I still donīt have a clear idea about which areas we shouldnīt miss. Your piece of advice is to do trips from and to Tana, or just land in Tana and leave to tour the country, not returning to Tana until the end of the trip?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Hello all.
We are preparing our trip to Mada. It wonīt be soon, but we enjoy getting ready in anticipation.

We have some questions:

Is it easy to change currency outside Antananarivo?
I guess that credit cards are not accepted in many places, but...we donīt like to go carrying "lots" of notes with us...but I am afraid there is no other solution.

My wife speaks french, so I think thatīs enough to comunicate with most of the people in the island, right?

What about tips? Do people spect a tip for everything, and it is the rule, or just for a good service?

Our trip will be in October and we want to go with a "free itinerary". I mean, depending on the information weīll get there(plus all the reading we are doing here), we can go to one place or another...Is it easy to book rooms in hotels or campings just one day ahead of our arrival at that moment of the year?

And finally, I would love to hear all the MUST things in Madagascar in your opinion. I am reading the VT guides and commetaries about Madagascar too.

Thank you very much.

Hello,

I am part of a school group that will be traveling in Madagascar throughout the month of December.

We will be visiting Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, the Andringitra National Park and Nosy Be.

I was wondering if anyone had particular advice on any of these locations

As we are students we have a tight budget, so what are our best options for cheap hotels? Where is the best place for tourist information? Will there be many/any speakers of english outside of Antananarivo?

Thanks in advance for any response

Hello to all VT members,
I intend visit Madagascar and use services of local guide his name is Fiacre,
had somebody toured with him ,I would like to read some reviews.
Thanks.

Hello all,

my family is planing on going to Madagascar for this Xmas and New Years. And it would be great if you could help me answer some questions.

I am still a bit confused with the weather. Its a rain season now but I read that Nosy Be should be okay. Correct? We want to travel with my 14 years old brother. Do you think thats a good idea? Because of that we are not planing on any extreme adventure it will be more about beach and diving but still would like to see something. We will be flying strait to Nosy Be. What should we see on the island? Should we take a boat trip to the small islands? Which ones are must see? Should we rent a car and go to Diego Suarez for couple days? Or any other locations near the island?

Our return ticket departs from Tana. Should we fly from Nosy Be to Tana or get a driver? Is the drive worth it? Do you have any idea how much it costs?

Any thoughts are much appreciated!

Hi all.
We WANT to visit Madagascar next year. It wonīt be soon, probably October or November...so it is not an urgent question at all.
Anyway. I LOVE to read and know as much as posible about our destinations. I will patiently surf the internet during those months. Including the travel guides in VT, but I would like to know any sugestion you would like to give us, about anything: Must sees, transport, hotels, weather...

Any travel guide specially good about Madagascar? Is it a safe country to travel on your own? We are two spaniards(one man, one woman) who like national parks, animals, beer, villages and interactuate with people...

My wife speaks french, but I have no idea. Is it easy to find english speaking people?

Interesting websites about the country, or with good local travel agencies...

Well, no more questions now. Thank you very much for your attention.

Does the exchange office at Ivato airport exchange Amex US dollar travellers cheques? If not, would any of the banks in Tana do so, or do I need to bring cash only? Thanks for any replies :)

I will be working in Tana for 2.5 weeks and may have the opportunity to take day trips on the weekends. Sleeping in Tana is preferable because my accommodations are there. Suggestions for things to do, places to see?

I would like to go to Madagascar either this September, October, or November. Is it still safe to go there?

I checked out the travel.state.gov and didn't see any significant safety warnings except that they mentioned there was a political upheaval going on at the camoros islands [url]http://www.usmission.mg/wardmsg.htm [/url] which is very close, though not on Madagascar.

Does anyone know if that political upheaval on the Comoros is making it unsafe to visit Madagascar or Nosy Be?

Is Madagacar beautiful island? Does it have beautiful and safe sight?

PLZ REPLY

My husband and I planned to be in Mada from Nov 30-Dec 13 but I am worried about weather! We haven't planned the details of our trip, but I am thinking that we would be based in Tana (spending time there at the beginning and end of our trip), go to Andasibe and stay there for a couple of nights, travel on Canal de Pangales, maybe go to Toamasina, and spend some time on Ile St. Marie. So here's the question. Is this too close to the rainy season? Do we risk having bad weather? Is it worth the change fees we might incur to change our plane tickets to November. We are so excited about this trip and I would hate to have picked the wrong time! THANKS MADA-PHILES!

Hi,to all VT members,
I'm intend travel to Madagascar on October for some 7-8 days please advice itinerary for very highlight places (wildlife, nature)and any company for chauffeur-guide and car.
Thanks,
Michael.

Hi All
i am thinking of travelling to mauritius for a holiday is it possible to travel from there to madagascar on a organised trip for a few days.
thanks
clive

how difficult is it to get to "avenue of the baobabs?"

Hi everyone,

I'm due to fly out to Tana in the first week of October 08 for 2 months, thing is I'm hoping to get a cheaper flight than I've found so far, seems that October is more expensive than Summer. Cheapest fare I have so far is 994 EUR with Air France around 4th October - 6th December.

Anyone know of any specialists that may have cheaper air fares for that period?

Many thanks in advance
Tem

Hi all,

I am thinking about traveling to Madagascar in the next year or two - a 2-3 week trip--and am currently in the process of researching things. However, I've never been to the country and would love any tips or stories anyone here can share.

I adore ringtails and sifakas and would love the opportunity to volunteer with preservation groups while in Mada. The idea of traveling with a group (Something like Earthwatch) would be awesome. Has anyone done this before? Are there any similar groups out there?

Also, airfare seems to be another major stopping point for me...has anyone found anything less than $6K per ticket? Maybe I am just having poor luck...

Anyhow, sorry for all the questions! I look forward to all the feedback you guys have to offer. :)

Cheers,
Anne

Hello
I would like to travel to Madagascar for a period exceeding a three-months-time.
As far as I'm informed, it is possible to go out of the country and get another 90 days on arriving for the second time (maybe I will take a cruise to the neighbouring Mayote Island and return back to Mada). However, when arriving for the first time to Madagascar, one has to apply for the first 90 days and show his air-ticket as well.
In case the departure date of my flight back home printed on my air-ticket exceeds a 90-days-stay ( I fly with Air France and every date change costs me about 100 USD ), is such an air ticket may cause me problems with the officials at the airport ?
It is convenient for me to land in Antananarivo having an air ticket with a departure date after four months since arrival( that's the time I would like to stay in Mada). Is such an air-ticket problematic ? Has anybody had any experience like this ?
Or......Should my departure date in my air-ticket be exactly up to 90 days and then I would change it when in Mada on condition I extend my visa more than 90 days ? What do you say ?
Thanks in advance