Concerning a travel to the North Madagascar!
Dear Travis,
Last topic the overland trip to the North!
I do not really advise you that! For the first the rainy season is about to start quite soon, this means that many roads canbe closed especially the secondary ones. For instance some of this rods are a pain in the ass, I ll give you the exemple of Vohemar.Ambilobe leading to Diego a distance of 90 kms can take 6 hours in optimal conditions!
Go figure when it rains! Another aspect is the risk for eventual robbers! This has happened and will continue to happen.
Now the north has been safer then the south but bear in mind that an overland trip from Tana to Nosy Be or Diego or elsewhere in the north has in the plateau areas between the capital and Ambondromamy scarce villages along side the road which provide suitable places for any eventual robbery ambushes!
Any guy can by mobile phone from any taxi brousse station report Vazas on the road to a specific direction especially if you are carrying valuable stuff such as expensive cameras or other things, so beware!
I also know that most taxi brousses and Truck drivers normally travel in convoys to deter this eventual situations, but my sources and I have a lot of people that travel through this areas have told me that one should always consider this risk even travelling day time especially in the plateau areas in the central massifs of VAZOBE, but the risk has beeen much higher in the southern areas of Madagascar around Tulear, Morondava or Fort Dauphin.
If you need more comfort try to make a deal with the driver to seat at the front if you choose to travel by road!
If you fly AIR MADAGASCAR from abroad this means long haul you get a 50% discount in their domestic network destinations and a return trip that normally costs around 280 Euro from TANA to Diego or Nosy Be or Sambava becomes half the price thus around 140 Euros. I think this a bargain compared to all the hassle you might get by travelling by road! But if you are going for adventure and do not carry valuable stuff with you, then hit the road!
It can certainly provide a lot of fun if you make some short stop overs on your way to the north.
Air Madagascar has a call center that can assist you with any help, besides you are allowed to carry 10 extra kgs of travelling gear / luggage with them from abroad without any additional cost.
I have enjoyed travelling with them and have made a lot of documentary films from my flights into different towns in Madagascar, they have always been reliable and professional and the airliner has had an agreement programe for the maintenance of their aircraft with the german LUFTHANSA and have had a good safety record for the last decades!
Hope this report has given you the necessary information.
Otherwise if anything is missing I ll always be available!
Greetings from Sweden.
Gabriel
Shuttle from Ivato Airport
Hi,
You can save money if you pick up the shuttle operated by Adema (Aeroport de Madagascar). Ticket cost only 10. 000 ariary. Taxis fares are 30. 000 ariary.
They drop you in any good hotels in downtown. For your return call one day before leaving.
Pol
Avoid fishing or cargo boats the risk of capsizing is greater then being robbed!
Hi everybody!
I do not advise anybody for taking any short cuts by taking boats especially cargo or fishing boats the risk for sinking is enormous and they are generally overloaded and lack many times appropriate lights night time as I have seen it outside the port of Antalaha on their way to Tamatave! I was amazed by the fury of the ocean and those tiny boats are are a nut shell at the mercy of the whims of the ocean so be careful!
Apart of that, even if you are an olympic swimmer and survive the ocean the sharks will be delighted by your swimming skills and there are plenty of them especially around Tamatave or elsewhere around this beautiful island!
Regarding the airlines Air Kenya has a good reputation but consider the fact that any stop over in the African mainland may demand the need for yellow fever vaccination from the destination authorities, do not forget this issue if you do not want to take any shots in Africa you can get it at Gatwick airport, just ask the British Airways personel as I did in my last trip to Nigeria many years ago!
Grretings,
Gabriel
Q. Gifts for the Girls. What do you Take?
If anything? Underwear? Bikini? Cosmetics? Perfume? Or is money still Number One?