Madagascar

[Neddy69]

Thanks for info neddy. I was at one tour agency they offer me shared 4 x4 for 80 k to ambanja from diego for Friday but its leaves afternoon so I need sleep one night at ambanja and I don't want to do it, so probably I will take kofifi or kofmad transport. If I leave early morning and will be same day at nosy be its suits me. Do they have direct van diego-ankify or i need change to another van at ambanja?

Kofmad and Kofifi drops you off at the road junction outside Ambanja. From there you have to organize tuktuk or taxi to Ankify. Better take a 4×4.

[Pokeris]

Ya. There is one company which goes every night from Diego to Ambanja direct. I wouldn't take it. Go to the Gare Routiere in Diego the Day before your intended travel and avoid the ticket touts. Just choose the Company yourself. Make sure they operate the bigger Mercedes Sprinter busses like Kofifi or Kofmad. Avoid UTA. Or as you pointed out shared 44 which needs some pre-planning. Go and see the receptionist of La terasse du voyageur. They have numbers of the consolidators and organize a place in a shared 44 to Ambanja.

Good Luck.

Neddy.

Thanks for info neddy. I was at one tour agency they offer me shared 4 x4 for 80 k to ambanja from diego for Friday but its leaves afternoon so I need sleep one night at ambanja and I don't want to do it, so probably I will take kofifi or kofmad transport. If I leave early morning and will be same day at nosy be its suits me. Do they have direct van diego-ankify or i need change to another van at ambanja?

[Neddy69]

Neddy has the right of it. I have only done the Diego Ambanja trip once and that was in a shared 4 x 4. It cost me 40 dollars but was worth every penny compared to what you just went through. I highly recommend you pop into all of the travel places in town and give them a time frame for when you want to leave. Be flexible, there are not that many opportunities. BTW as I recall the TB from Diego to Ambanja runs over night, just to add to the misery. Good luck.

Johnny.

Ya. There is one company which goes every night from Diego to Ambanja direct. I wouldn't take it. Go to the Gare Routiere in Diego the Day before your intended travel and avoid the ticket touts. Just choose the Company yourself. Make sure they operate the bigger Mercedes Sprinter busses like Kofifi or Kofmad. Avoid UTA. Or as you pointed out shared 4×4 which needs some pre-planning. Go and see the receptionist of La terasse du voyageur. They have numbers of the consolidators and organize a place in a shared 4×4 to Ambanja.

Good Luck.

Neddy.

[SouthEaster]

Neddy has the right of it. I have only done the Diego Ambanja trip once and that was in a shared 4 x 4. It cost me 40 dollars but was worth every penny compared to what you just went through. I highly recommend you pop into all of the travel places in town and give them a time frame for when you want to leave. Be flexible, there are not that many opportunities. BTW as I recall the TB from Diego to Ambanja runs over night, just to add to the misery. Good luck.

Johnny.

[Pokeris]

There is shared 44's available. I would consider those. But it requires some preplanning. Never take the smaller Minibusses like Mazda or Toyotas they stop at every hut and are totally overloaded. Always Kofmad or Kofifi Sprinter Busses. I did the trip last year from Diego to Ambanja. I know.

Neddy.

Thanks!! Next time I will know also. I have trip from hell take me 10.5 hour from ambanja to diego. With many stops and change van at ambilobe. It was packed. One time I counted 22 or 24 people inside and they stop everywhere picking up and droping people. Some people was sittijg on each other lap even they don't know each other. I get just seat in the back next the african girl who was carry small baby he was crying all the time, the girl change his pampers next to me and drop old ones on the floor and left. On other seat was sitting women and carry 2 chickens on the floor one of them was coming next to my feet everytime I was kicking him out!! The road is between ambilobe and diego is very bad I come diego with pain in my back. Lesson learned hard way!! Ist my own fault I should wait kofmadi transport at 8 am instead leaving 6 am with unnamed taxi brousse.

[Neddy69]

I was planning to do diego, nosy be, majahunga and toliara but after super shitty taxi brousse trip last night (I will make report about it later) from ambanja to diego probably I will stick to diego, nosy be and mahajunga I left 32 days in total to do it. My first impression about diego is really good my reports will follows.

There is shared 4×4's available. I would consider those. But it requires some preplanning. Never take the smaller Minibusses like Mazda or Toyotas they stop at every hut and are totally overloaded. Always Kofmad or Kofifi Sprinter Busses. I did the trip last year from Diego to Ambanja. I know.

Neddy.

[Pokeris]

Pokeris,

You have been all over, Brazil Cuba, Kampala etc and you back to Mada only 2 month after your previous trip. I wish my last trip was so successful as you. This time I am in Kampala my report will come shortly. What is your intended route this time.

In Diego go to hotel Ambassador https://goo.gl/maps/5mNh4zicC1FKz6Yp6 at 50 k back huge room with A/C and WiFi. Directly on action.

I was planning to do diego, nosy be, majahunga and toliara but after super shitty taxi brousse trip last night (I will make report about it later) from ambanja to diego probably I will stick to diego, nosy be and mahajunga I left 32 days in total to do it. My first impression about diego is really good my reports will follows.

[Pokeris]

Stayed at hotel LE meridian they have rooms for 30,40,50 k ariary. I take for 50 k with aircon, fan its a budget hotel without hot water but its very near la concorde and nirvana to main clubs at ambanja. The guy at hotel is nice person and speak english. Hotel is girlfriendly and no problem bring 2 girls. Town have just couple vahazas standart places to eat one is at hotel patricia open from 12 pm and other at hotel palma nova open from 6 evening. I come to ambanja already with 4 girls contacts on facebook but meet just one. Others find excuses not to meet me or was busy. The girl was 18 years old was fine at bed I give her 30 k for short time. The city is boring at daytime nothing to do. They have just pus pus here yellow tuk tuks operate outside town. I make a lot of walking here and didint see any foreigners.

Nightlife at ambanja which I visited.

Club concorde on weekdays open as a bar and on weekends is a club was not busy small thb beer is 2500 ariary.

Bar select nothing special place.

La romance karaoke bar.

Nirvana club on weekdays open as a bar and on weekends is a club was quiet place maybe 7-8 people inside small thb beer is 3000 ariary. I find here 2 girls friends one is 19 other is 20 years old invite them for threesome at my hotel they was good at bed and funnny girls allowed many pic. After 1 hour I kicked them out with 30 k ariary each.

My suggestion if someone want visit ambanja better to come on weekend when clubs is open and not stay more than 1 day because you get bored.

I woke up 5 am was lazy to wait till 8 pm for kofmad transport so take unnamed taxi brousse to diego.

[Pokeris]

Thanks for the transport update. I intend to do almost the same thing end of June but I was intending to take the entire trip to Diego. Now that I know it is 28 hours I'm not so sure! Even the most comfortable trip is not any fun after 28 hours. Fortunately by then I should be able to book online. You are going to break your trip in Ambanja? Do you know if it is easy to get on another Cotisse bus the next day? Since they are now doing this route I suspect word has gotten out about how much better they are than most companies and everybody will want to use them.

Can't help but wonder if they are going to expand to Tulear one day.

I enjoy your reports so keep it up. I am interested to see what you think of Diego. The last few posters to wander through didn't seem to think much of it but I have always liked it.

Enjoy.

SE.

I ask at cottise office at tana can I book separate ticket from ambanja to diego next day the lady told me you need buy ticket from tana to diego for 90 k because they not doing this route separate ambanja-diego. She means I can catch the cottisse van next day at ambanja I just need pay full amount to secure this seat. I think even cottisse don't have any office here yet at ambanja. They just dropping people of here. So I will probaby go tomorrow with kofmad transport. I ask them in a morning today they told me come around 8 am and will have van. Ambanja is boring town but I have some luck here anyway will report later. Can't wait go diego its always was on my list and have many girls lined up.

[SouthEaster]

Thanks for the transport update. I intend to do almost the same thing end of June but I was intending to take the entire trip to Diego. Now that I know it is 28 hours I'm not so sure! Even the most comfortable trip is not any fun after 28 hours. Fortunately by then I should be able to book online. You are going to break your trip in Ambanja? Do you know if it is easy to get on another Cotisse bus the next day? Since they are now doing this route I suspect word has gotten out about how much better they are than most companies and everybody will want to use them.

Can't help but wonder if they are going to expand to Tulear one day.

I enjoy your reports so keep it up. I am interested to see what you think of Diego. The last few posters to wander through didn't seem to think much of it but I have always liked it.

Enjoy.

SE.

[Pokeris]

So will give some update about my trip with cottisse tana-ambanja for 80 k ariary they also use same van tana-diego (90 k ariary) just on the way droping people at ambanja and carry on to diego. Van is leaving 12 pm daytime from tana and come ambanja 8. 30 am morning (20.5 hour trip) and 4 pm diego (28 hours trip). They have 2 diffrent drivers so they change. Everybody have their own seats, have tv inside which plays malagasy video clips but not have wifi internet at van also all the way telma signal is very weak so internet connection is weak or don't have at all just bigger cities catching strong signal. Van have speed limit 80 km per hour so if driver goes higher its starts beeping all the time. First short stop for toilet was after 4 hours drive and second stop 30 minutes for food was just after 8 hours drive so is better to take some snacks with you. Third stop was after 15.5 hours drive for toilet again. The last stop was just ambanja van drop people and carry for diego.

I meet one guy at cottise van inside he travelling to diego and told me he works at cottisse and he speaks some english. He told me after 3 weeks its will be posible to book this route online and after 3 month they plan to start new route diego-nosy be. We will see it truth or not.

The trip was not so bad I though it will be worst. Probably kill the dog on the road when he run straight into the van. The driver even not stop to check any damage happens for van. Also the road half way to ambanja from tana becomes really bad many holes in tarmac.

[Member #4673]

Arrived Sunday evening at the airport.

Pokeris,

You have been all over, Brazil Cuba, Kampala etc and you back to Mada only 2 month after your previous trip. I wish my last trip was so successful as you. This time I am in Kampala my report will come shortly. What is your intended route this time.

In Diego go to hotel Ambassador https://goo.gl/maps/5mNh4zicC1FKz6Yp6 at 50 k back huge room with A/C and WiFi. Directly on action.

[Pokeris]

Arrived Sunday evening at the airport 2 diffrent international flights land same time so was busy takes 1 hour till get 2 month visa for 40 euros. Check in at sole hotel and take a taxi to cottisse transport want buy tana-ambanja ticket for next day but its was fully booked so buy for Tuesday morning also was just 2 seats left. They not show this route for online bookings yet so can't book online in advance. Take taxi back to glacier it was poor collection around 7 pm evening saw one girl I like offer her 40 k short time and walk back hotel with her. She was great allowed many pic, ass licking, ass fucking, cum into mouth anything I like. She stayed 3 hours and make me cum 3 times so at the end I give her 60 k. We walk back glacier with her I didint see any new girl I like so I decided invite same girl go with me look some clubs and have some beer. We go la suite 101 it was closed on Sunday after taxi be it has a lot of people most of malagasys and couple vahazas. Have few beers and take taxi to Indra club. To get inside you need first pay for drink after they give you piece of paper an when you inside you give this paper for bartender and he give you a drink. This place was full on Sunday but very local have no vahazas, many drunk malagasy guys and not good looking girls. Poor selection you can find better girls at manson, glacier or taxi be. Have one beer and walk back to my hotel because its just 300 metres away. Keep the same girl for night. She make me cum 2 times more and stay till 3 pm afternoon. Probably one of the best fuck I have at mada. I give her 40 k more and send home.

Later evening around 10 pm I check glacier it was like 3-4 vahazas inside and 20-25 girls inside some live band playing I didint see any girls I like have few beers and want almost go check manson club but suddenly good looking girl come to me from nowhere and say bonjour. At first I didint recognise her she has diffrent hair style, but later I remember it was same girl I fucked 2 month ago on my last day at mada. I liked her so offered her 60 k for all night she quickly agree and we walk back hotel. She was fun to be and good at bed I send her home 10 am in a morning with 60 k. Have breakfast at hotel check out and take taxi to cottisse transort for my trip to ambanja...

[Vavy Lover]

In fact Air Mad office uses the same online booking platform. No difference in prices. The prices depends how fast a flight is filling up. The more bookings the higher the price. Tsaradia hired more pilots and leased more ATR 72's. So far its far more reliable and flight cancellations seems to be a thing of the past.

Neddy.

I explored all of this recently, and there is now no advantage to buying in country, and there are no longer local vs tourist (Vazaha) prices as Air Mad used to do. I used to get local friends to buy my tickets in country and paid a lot less then I would online. Now the online prices are the same as going to the office in country. There are several levels however, ranging from no checked baggage (cheapest), to baggage but no changes, to changes with fee but not refundable, to fully refundable (most expensive). And as you get closer to the flight date the cheaper classes start to disappear, so they are apparently limited in seat number (like fare categories on most other airlines. Madagascar is catching up with the rest of the world). The great thing is that the cheaper fares are dirt cheap in comparison to anything that Air Mad used to offer. The down side is that you need to book well in advance to get the cheaper flights on the most busy routes, whereas previously you would get the same fare at the last minute. That is definitely no more.

And unfortunately, I did not share the same experience as Neddy with reliability, and had a flight canceled out of Tana after waiting hours in the airport. Hopefully that was an anomaly and reliability will get better.

One other observation, on the scary side. On one of my flights we had a VERY rough landing. As we came in suddenly the pilot dropped the plane down hard on the runway, bouncing so much it hurt to strain against the seatbelt (I would have been out of my seat if I was not wearing it.), and then the pilot hit the brakes HARD to slow the plane rapidly. It seemed like he nearly overshot the runway from what I can tell. That makes me really worry when Neddy reports they hired more pilots. In addition, I have noticed a general deterioration in a lot of things that I did not think could get much worse, reliability and competence in general, from restaurants to hotels, etc. The exchange rate is getting better for us, but that mean things are more expensive for the Malagasy and their economy is worsening, and the country is deteriorating. The new president will not help, only worsen it as he continues to pillage the country for his and his cronies wealth.

VL.

[Pokeris]

Unfortunately that is not an option. I have already booked a return flight to Tana and plan to visit every major city. That means an awful lot of taxi brousse travel or flying. I am thinking of doing the Cotisse trip to Diego now that they offer the route, then overland (I know one of the worst roads in the country) to the boat to NB and then flying back to Tana. Other destinations can all be done by Cotisse and / or other companies like to Tulear. Will probably TB there and fly back as I am going for almost 3 months so I have lots of time and want to see what that route overland is like anyway.

Since I have the luxury of time I am not worried about fully booked flights. I could buy a ticket for NB to Tana in Tana or Diego 3-4 weeks before I need it. Should still be plenty of available seats in that time frame.

I know it is a couple months away but I will post on my dealings with Tsaradia for up to date info when I get there.

Tomorrow I am doing the cottisse route from tana to ambanja for 80000 ariary I will stay here one night and carry on to diego. I will make report how it was. I agree with people who says tsaradia price increase. I was looking for a flight tana-diego it was 240 euros one way if I was booked 1 week ago before my trip.