These new roads brings the danger for killing mammals and birds. Like this road that is running thru Zombitse one of the 2 locations in the world for the highly endangered Appert's Greenbul (a bird). This forest is already reduced and this new road prooves I guess a new thread to the species!
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Popular Transportation | Other Transportation Tips | All Tips (39)
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 | New Roads   |  | |
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 |  on November 29, 2004 |
Many new roads are developed in Madagascar at the moment. Like the road dispicted on the picture here. The roads where very bad in the past but now getting in parts of Madagscar slowly better. These new roads brings the danger for killing mammals and birds. Like this road that is running thru Zombitse one of the 2 locations in the world for the highly endangered Appert's Greenbul (a bird). This forest is already reduced and this new road prooves I guess a new thread to the species! |
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| A private driver | | |
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| on September 15, 2004 |
To travel large distances in Madagascar you have to hire either a bushtaxi ore a private taxi driver. We hired in Antananarivo a private chauffeur with a mini bus. This drivers was good and speaks english and french! I recommend hinm strongly. Mr Razana Mparany Jacquot, Lot I.V.X. 40 Ankazomanga Sud, Antanarive 101, Madagscar. Phonenumber sister 0320793736 and him if he is not on the road 0320437814. |
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| TRANSPORT AND ROADS | | |
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| on November 5, 2004 |
Most of the roads are in average to good condition for African standards apart from the road to Ifaty which is probably unpassable during the rains and even now during the dry was practically a 4WD track due to deep dry loose sand. Good chances of getting bogged here if you hire a saloon car. Some people go with a big truck (which is the public transport here). Overland travel can be time consuming. Cheap long-distance taxis are available on most stretches from Tana to Périnet; Tana to Fianarantsoa and further on to Tulear. Reasonably reliable and cheap airtickets can be purchased in advance for stretches: Tana-Tulear; Tana-Majunga; Tana-Maroantsetra. The latter is the only option to get to Masoala NP, unless you have plenty of time and don’t mind a number of days uncomfortable travel by road. |
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| Boats | | |
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| on November 30, 2004 |
At many coastal places it is possible to hire a boat with captain to go out for snorkling ore exploring the area! From european standard seen cheap and you see the world from a other perspective. All of these are mostly wooded ships made and owned by locals. Only rarely you find motorised boats, so all handworking ore waiting on the winds..... |
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| Meals at Air Mad | | |
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 |  on December 18, 2003 |
Now you're probably thinking what is a pack of Tuc doing here. I hope you are familiar with these renowned salty biscuits. If not, fly with Air Mad and you'll know because you get a whole pack on each internal flight, together with a big bottle of soda pop. At first it was strange, then it became hilarious as we discovered you do get them on every flight. And then we were actually looking forward to it. I'll never eat Tuc again without thinking about those scary little Air Mad planes which turned out to be flown and landed in the most secure and stable way! |
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| AIR FRANCE!  | | |
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 |  on November 22, 2005 |
We booked air France to get to Antananarivo , the capital city- from Paris. Now the price is something that bothers a lot of people. It IS expensive. But I like to give you some tips how we booked our ticket much cheaper. The airplane was full , so I wouldn't count on last minute options. I booked well in advance - with travelocity and had the ticket send out to us. -we got a good insurance already , so no need to take one extra from the site. -make sure if you do that , you got a good annulation insurance too - you can take that separate , if you travel frequently , take if for the whole year? If you got a gold card - credit card - that annulation insurence might be in it. There are some disadvantages on booking NOT on the air France site. We had to leave from Brussels , and the flight was just after ten in the morning. You can make it to the plane , if you take the fast train Thalyss , but only with the special help of the Air France memers. You pay hard cash for that , and they don't want to deliver the service if you booked train and flight seperately. (I think that is a shame , we are all custumors right). So we booked ouselves a night near the airport. ( a more relaxing way to leave) Air France has modern aircrafts. The staf is friendly and professional. They got individual screens for computergames , movies , news , video , radio...that was good. When we left from France , it was the best aircraft food we've had so far. Coming from Madagascar...that was something different. Yakkes. It is a night flight , and they serve breakfast (awful) just before landing. (I didn't liked that). Oh , and the flight wasn't on time when we left. But in Madagascar we flew 4 times and none of them was on time. |
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| Hire a guide or miss hidden jewels! | | |
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 |  on June 17, 2003 |
One thing interesting in long trips is that they enable you to drive while escaping from crowded urban cities like Tana and, why not, drive in empty roads. Thus, a chauffeur is not always needed for your long trips, guiding is mandatory. First, without a guide, you would miss hidden gems. Second, he would serve as translator if needed. Third, he would know about how to preserve safety.... Beware of fake guides though!! => See my tourist traps tip One thing however: if you intend to only visit nature reserves and national parks, hire a driver to lead you there.. and hire ANGAP guide while entering parks and reserves. It would cost you less and money would go to those guys who know about animals, plants, hidden places and best moments to find them |
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| Rather hire a chauffeur to move around cities... | | |
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| on June 17, 2003 |
Rather hire a chauffeur to move around cities, especially in Tana... as traffic jam and ignorance of circulation code would turn you mad :-) As for traffic jams, an exemple: In the 80es, it took me 45 minutes to join urban area from our place in North Tana. Nowadays, it takes my Dad 1.30 min - 2 hours to do so... Alternative: Rather hire a chauffeur to move around cities.. and choose a hotel located in urban area. For long trips, you can experience driving by yourself (with the help of maybe a chauffeur to alternate). One thing however: if you intend to only visit nature reserves and national parks, hire a driver to lead you there.. and hire ANGAP guide while entering parks and reserves. It would cost you less and money would go to those guys who know about animals, plants, hidden places and best moments to find them |
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| Sun sets at 5.30 pm in winter | | |
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| on May 14, 2003 |
Tip also applies to motorcycle and other outdoor activities. Bear in mind that in winter, (June- September), sun sets at 5.30 pm. That means that you'd better calculate your timing for visiting specific isolated and remote areas. In addition, as directions in Madagascar roads are always missing and in case you travel without a guide, better head to a hotel in the nearby and make an early leaving the day after. Off course, the tip also applies for picture taking. No light at 5.30 pm Know that: - from May to October, sun rises at 5.00 am and sets at 7.00 pm, - from June to September, rises at 7.30 am and sets at 5.00pm. |
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| For road trips, extra fuel and bottles of water | | |
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| on January 1, 2004 |
While touring in Madagascar, bring extra fuel supply (in jerry cans) as you would sometimes travel in desert areas with noone around (neither oil station). While having a stop over villages, fill up as you can... or be sure your chauffeur thinks of it... Sounds weird but you would see, sometimes, cars (esp. taxi-brousse and taxi-be) that are hanging around on roadsides, waiting for fuel to come from another convoy of taxi-brousses. Well, it would be nice to rest or walk a bit, take pictures but what if it's dark and isolated? Scarry, he... So as for bottled (and sealed) water, only one you can afford to drink BTW. Same tip applies for extra tyres. Notwithstand with all of that, taxi-brousses and railtripping are nice and cheaper alternatives to internal flights. I had some reserve regarding trains in Madagascar but recent developments made me optimisitc. The rail company has nearly collapsed in the 90s. Now, lines are being rebuilt and some are functionning again. Click here to read my insight of taxi-brousses and train rides. For sure, you will have to plan internal trips when visting this big country. Plus, there are some nice railtrips to be done in Madagascar. Fianarantsoa-Cote Est (FCE) is one of them. The low speed (20-35km/hour) allows you to appreciate the landscape, from thick forests to bamboo forests and ricefields. A real turning off! |
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More Madagascar Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 72 - Photos: 84 |
| Restaurants Tips: 35 - Photos: 47 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 60 - Photos: 77 |
| Things To Do Tips: 133 - Photos: 232 | Nightlife Tips: 17 - Photos: 8 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 33 - Photos: 35 | Tourist Traps Tips: 12 - Photos: 12 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 48 - Photos: 32 | Transportation Tips: 39 - Photos: 38 |
| Local Customs Tips: 44 - Photos: 54 | Packing Lists Tips: 16 - Photos: 15 |
| Shopping Tips: 22 - Photos: 21 | Sports Travel Tips: 5 - Photos: 12 |
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