Madagascar

[Docjan]

Here comes? The pictures

[Docjan]

Hi here are some more girls. From Manakara

[Docjan]

Hi,

Tomorrow I return to Mada. Arriving late Friday evening. Stay the first nights at Glacier. Then continue to Toamasina. Not decided yet how long to stay there. Anyone of you staying in Madagascar now. Could be nice to meet over a beer and have some talk. Here are some pictures from last trip (2008). More vill come. This is Juliette, a nice 19 year old from Morondova. She was study to nurse.

[Vavy Lover]

I have a little french can converse slowly, but thats enough to break the ice.

And I'm africa savvy which helps. (ie I don't expect ANYTHING to work or be on time or to be as advertised.)

As I've strictly limited time I need to hit the hot spots and quickly so flying is it. 3-4 days in the capital and 4-5 days in nosy be seems about right.

This seems a similar vibe to mtwapa in kenya, but perhaps less commercialised, and less organised (and significantly cheaper) , I'll find out in a few weeks\months

Tana. I typically try to spend as little time as possible there, just dirty and unpleasant, and right now the least secure. Most of the best girls are from the coasts, and you do get a wide cross section. The best times are when a Toliara band plays at Glacier, then all the Toliara girls come out! Some recs for good but cheaper hotels that are central: Hotel Aina (next to Disco Le 6) , Hotel Sun City (next to Sakamanga) , Merina Lodge (up the street from last). Cabaret Glacier is always the best evening stop. 7or8pm-11pm or midnight, live malagasy music and lots of girls. Also the Manson bar at top of hill up from Sakamanga is a relatively new hotspot, gets going earlier than discos around 10pm or so. As for the discos, Le Caveau had long been a gritty favorite, and on the weekends Le 6 is more chic and upscale, and sometimes has a remarkable selection. Recently discovered an alternative if you are looking for non-pro student types. Ku De Ta disco in the Hilton (not the restaurant, completely different part of town). Seems this is where the "good girls" go, mostly Merina from Tana or highlands, to avoid the places where the "makoreli" or "pute" (pros and semi-pros) from the coasts go, but I think there are plenty looking for a Vazaha for the night (although they will be more of a game / challenge and less a sure bet).

Again, I think I would recommend spending less time in Tana (2 nights max) , and doing Toliara / Ifaty (3/3nights) over Nosy Be. BTW, flights to both Toliara and Nosy Be are very reliable, may be delayed a few hours but typically you will not find the nightmare cancellations on those routes.

[Member #4349]

Hi Biffa,

You received some good advice from Botaki, and I thought I would give you another perspective. Morondava is a fun place, and probably safer then some other spots, as it sees less tourism. But I also found that the action is less, with not as many girls. Particularly if you are going for the first time to Madagascar, and are savvy in Africa, I would recommend.

Also, my French sucks, but a little goes a long way, and moreso if you learn a few Malagasy words.

Those are my 2 cents. Have fun.

VL

I have a little french can converse slowly, but thats enough to break the ice.

And I'm africa savvy which helps. (ie I don't expect ANYTHING to work or be on time or to be as advertised.)

As I've strictly limited time I need to hit the hot spots and quickly so flying is it. 3-4 days in the capital and 4-5 days in nosy be seems about right.

This seems a similar vibe to mtwapa in kenya, but perhaps less commercialised, and less organised (and significantly cheaper) , I'll find out in a few weeks\months

[Vavy Lover]

I may be able to fly in from mauritius end of July.

The capital seems a bit chaotic. Given I only have a few days, what would be my best itinerary for this island?

I speak French badly, and I like beaches. (and bitches.). The idea of a nice bungalow near to a beach is appealing. More appealing if the beach is well stocked with local ladies keen to meet white men.

Nosy Be has the media spotlight, but is it still going strong? Are there any better less publicised locations I should investigate. From the condition of the roads it appears I shouldn't bother with road travel in the short time I'd have there.

Hi Biffa,

You received some good advice from Botaki, and I thought I would give you another perspective. Morondava is a fun place, and probably safer then some other spots, as it sees less tourism. But I also found that the action is less, with not as many girls. Particularly if you are going for the first time to Madagascar, and are savvy in Africa, I would recommend:

Fly to Toliara from Tana (as said by Botaki, about 170Euro per leg on Air Mad). Stay on the main waterfront strip at the Plaza Sud (AR25,000) or more upscale at the Paletuvier (about AR70, 000) about 400m up the road to the north. Avoid places to the south of Plaza Sud, where the street is dark at night and danger lurks. The strip from south to north from Plaza Sud to Paletuvier to the disco Za-Za Club is fairly well lit and well trafficed. During the afternoon and evenings you can find action at the BoBeach (and good food at AR10, 000-20, 000 / meal, as well as drinking partners) , right next to Plaza Sud. At night there are two discos, one next to Paletuvier (forget the name) and Za-Za Club, about another 3-400m north from Paletuvier. As it says on the sign, Za-Za is Paradise. I have found no where else the collection of beauty that is regularly there, particularly thur-sun. And they tend to be wonderful and very adventurous. Gets going late, after 11pm or midnight. I walk there as long as there are still people on the rode, and pousse-pousse or taxi back to the hotel with your catch.

Problem with Toliara, is no good beach. You have to go north to Ifaty, or boat south to Anakao (where there is no monger scene). If you want beaches, I recommend you spend a couple nights in Ifaty, where the girls are the most intense in the SW scene. Find a taxi in Toliara that will take you (ask at your hotel) , and only during daylight hours, preferably morning, about 1-2 hours on a very bumpy road. Many hotels on the beach, varying in price, no recommendations. I think weekends are best there for the disco, but action on the beach by day. Both of these places have a fair amount of Vazaha, more expats then tourists, but there will be fellow mongerers around.

Alternatively, you could go to Nosy Be, fly into Hellville, and taxi up to Ambatoloaka, many hotels right on the beach. This is the biggest scene on all of Madagascar, so many many girls, and a higher chance to get ripped off (either by a girl or petty crime). And many Vazaha, much more than in Toliara, so you will not be alone. I have had a few disappointing and even bad experiences here, but it is a wild place and I have had some remarkable experiences as well. On the girls, I find them generally not to be as beautiful as the SW girls in Toliara. I would say the top 5% in Nosy Be, are comparable to the top 25-50% in Toliara. And I find that results in the prettiest girls in Nosy Be being more spoiled and expecting more, and more like pros, whereas in Toliara the same or prettier tend to be less assuming and less demanding, and less professional in general.

Also, my French sucks, but a little goes a long way, and moreso if you learn a few Malagasy words.

Those are my 2 cents. Have fun.

VL

[Vavy Lover]

Realistically how dangerous to a white middle aged euro monger is madagascar?

Relative to Kenya, Mombasa for example. Will I be the only euro guy in the capital? Or one of only a few? And how about nosy be. I've heard its a big french tourist hang-out, but realistically will there be a euro presence or will (like some places in ethiopia I've been to) I be the only guy with a white (pink in the sun?) skin?

I'm not talking about the Bush or rural areas where I just won't have time to visit, I'll be in the capital and maybe Nosy Be.

I think the concerns about safety are somewhat overblown here. I have made regular visits since the 2009 coup, and yes it has become quite a bit rougher. However in the places you would be going, Tana, Nosy Be, Toliara, as long as you are smart you are safe. Stay at a decent hotel (avoid the cheapest dives) , travel the well trafficed areas, taxis to get around at night. And there are plenty of Vazaha (white folk) around in all these places, particularly in Nosy Be (like in Ambatoloaka, the main mongering town) , so you will not be alone at the bars and discos. I have only been to Mombasa once, and it was far more intimidating than any place I have been in Madagascar, although that could be a result of familiarity.

[Member #4349]

Realistically how dangerous to a white middle aged euro monger is madagascar?

Relative to Kenya, Mombasa for example. Will I be the only euro guy in the capital? Or one of only a few? And how about nosy be. I've heard its a big french tourist hang-out, but realistically will there be a euro presence or will (like some places in ethiopia I've been to) I be the only guy with a white (pink in the sun?) skin?

I'm not talking about the Bush or rural areas where I just won't have time to visit, I'll be in the capital and maybe Nosy Be.

[Amadeuss]

Botaki, I know you are a fan of Toliara. .

Not really a fan of only the south. But a fan of l'ile rouge in total: the nature, beaches, lifestyle, food and yes. Les boxes. .

I do read weekly L'express de Mada and other newspapers to catch up on whats happening on the political, economical and social scene. I do not notice any extreme changes. Mada is still considered more safe then most African countries. But perhaps unsafe for Mr and Mdm Miller, dressed up in their finest and having a walk from the Sakamanga after dinner to their hotel on Place the' Independence at 11pm. Also not cuddly-safe for expat guys running a business in Toliara and then stepping on some local influential toes. That will end up with bullets sprayed into their 4WD on the RN7 (as what happend a year ago). But it happens in other countries as well.

And yes, flights can get cancelled. It happened before. Its painful if there's only 1 flight a week. Air Mad is a shit airline with no competition.

John. I understand your concerns and appreciate warnings if founded. But still. Once the Mada-cancer is in you, you can't get rid of it. So, newcomers: beware!

Thanks for the offer: love to share a GHB avec Msieur Mécontent. PM you on time.

Salut!

[Member #4178]

Prove please. Nothing in the Mada newspapers except the regular crimes between locals. Flight delayed for days? Hersay.

My source is a friend of mine, a 60 years old french expat. We normally talk one in while on skype as we have met in Mada.

The most safer places are in the area of the vanilla coast, mahajanga and tamateve when the more isolated area of vanilla coast is more safer.

Toliara, Diego, nosybay, Tana are nightmare especially for expats. I trust him while he looked so disappointed. It may be possible to travel but only with a low profile only at the areas that I mention but again take a few days spare for flight delay.

Botaki, I know you are a fan of Toliara but I strongly suggest to visit only the places I have mention. I have many reason to encourage visitors but this is first hand info from expat that actually lived there.

Personally, if I had the money and time I would replace my trip this week to Uganda with Mada's Vanilla coast and keep a few days spare for the returned flight delay. (I saw it myself delay for 24h)

If you do speak french PM me for his email, you can even have a drink with him in sambava while he is supper funny and a great monger.

[Amadeuss]

Talked to my friend that lives in Mada he said many vhazas got murdered while brutal crime is a routine. The country is in chaos and many expats left to Thailand.

Air mad flight can be delayed for days.

Prove please. Nothing in the Mada newspapers except the regular crimes between locals. Flight delayed for days? Hersay.

[Member #4178]

Talked to my friend that lives in Mada he said many vhazas got murdered while brutal crime is a routine. The country is in chaos and many expats left to Thailand.

Air mad flight can be delayed for days. He left nosy bay and live now in Sambava, his favorite place for mongering is maroantsetra but this guy is in deep panic.

[OpenRoad]

I may be able to fly in from mauritius end of July.

The capital seems a bit chaotic. Given I only have a few days, what would be my best itinerary for this island?

I speak French badly, and I like beaches. (and bitches.). The idea of a nice bungalow near to a beach is appealing. More appealing if the beach is well stocked with local ladies keen to meet white men.

Nosy Be has the media spotlight, but is it still going strong? Are there any better less publicised locations I should investigate. From the condition of the roads it appears I shouldn't bother with road travel in the short time I'd have there.

Hi Biffa,

I'll be there as a first timer in July. If you end up flying in from Mauritius at the end of the month, I'll be back in Tana around 28th then moving up to Nosy Be until early August. My French is pretty awful too. Let me know if you're in the area around that time.

[Amadeuss]

I hope the rural areas are more "traditional" in their approach to tourists.

No French spoken, only Malagasy. And you will be the attention of the "kraal"

[Member #4349]

Nosy Be is still ok as a SeaSunSex destination. But at that time of the year it can be wet and rainy there, as it can be all over the north.

To get a more aboriginal feel, I would fly south: Tana Morondava, stay there a couple of days and then fly on to Tulear, explore Ifaty. If you still got time, fly on to Ft Dauphin: not much talked about here but a nice spot for our hobby. From there back to Tana.

Budget in those towns down south with 10. 000 MGA = 3. 50 EU: Food 30. 000 MGA / day. Bungalows / rooms 40. 000 150. 000 MGA / day' depending on your standard, daytime beach pick up 10. 000 20. 000 MGA, evening 20. 000 for drinks and 20. 000 30. 000 MGA for the sleeping companion.

Biggest expenses will be the domestic flights: approximately 170-EU each sector, and they not going each day. Book early and enjoy, mate!

Thanks, glad to hear its that economical. Is there plenty of choice in the more aboriginal areas? My understanding is that culture doesn't frown too much on poor ladies "freelancing" although in the bigger towns the authorities are trying to stop this form of self-help, so I hope the rural areas are more "traditional" in their approach to tourists.