Discussions Astaffort took part in

Hi everyone.

My partner, our daughter, and I are planning a walking trip to Madagascar in July-August 2027. We’d love any tips or info you can share about this plan. Which regions should we prioritize? Is a local guide better than a well-established agency? Where’s the best place to buy our flight tickets from Réunion? Thanks for your input!

I’m arriving in Tana on 9/10/26 as a solo female traveler. Which hotel in Tana is good for the first night since I’ll get in at 10 PM? What’s worth seeing around Tana? I’m planning 2 nights in Tana, then 2 nights in Andasibe? After that, Lake Itasy. Any suggestions? Thanks

Hi everyone, although I’m still in love with Madagascar, I feel I must report the unacceptable behavior of some guides in Antalaha. I know I’m responsible—I obviously shouldn’t have paid in advance for a service at this price. As someone who usually travels on a budget, I treated myself to a fully guided experience for once. I was charged 1,500,000 ariary for a 4-day trek between Antalaha and Maroantsetra. In reality, it was a total scam: terrible logistics, a motorbike taxi that abandoned us along the way (I’m not sure if the guide arranged this just to squeeze out a bit more money), basic Malagasy bush meals—which I expected since I know the country well—but the hotels were absolutely disgusting: mouse droppings in the bed, no way to get a blanket, cigarette butts on the floor, and of course, no water. I had warned them that at 73 years old, I needed a bit of comfort and some consideration—that’s why I paid this price. In the end, to arrive a day early and get home faster, on the second day we walked from 5:30 AM to 4:30 PM with just a long siesta break at 1 PM. The park visit was nonexistent—I would’ve liked to see a lemur! Anyway, be especially wary of Sylvano. He’s apparently the head of the guides in Antalaha and organized this "charming" trip for me. He canceled the day before and sent his replacement, Théophile. This poor guy kept complaining that tourists were scarce. I didn’t tell him everything I was thinking when we parted ways—it would’ve taken too long. So, remember these two names: Sylvano and Théophile. The official rate is 800,000 ariary, and even that is way too much given the quality of the accommodations and food. I’ve marked the guides’ office location on Google Maps to deal with them directly, but it seems the mafia is well-organized here…

Hi there,

I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉

Paul

If anyone has stayed at this eco-lodge, I’d love to get some info. Thanks

Has anyone been to this base camp in the Diego area towards the west coast (Mozambique Channel)? The trip starts from Diego Suarez by 4x4 and boat, with a visit to Nosy Hara and a few nearby islands. Possible big-game fishing and diving. Thanks in advance if anyone has info!

Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info. Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)? Any info is welcome. Cheers,

diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao

Hi everyone, I’m heading to Île aux Nattes in a few weeks and I’d like to know if euros are accepted in the island’s restaurants. At the hotel where I’ll be staying, they take card payments, but for activities, I can’t find any reliable info. Could anyone tell me the approximate cost in euros and/or ariary for a week (food outside the hotel) on the island for two people?

Also, has anyone ever exchanged money at the Paris Magenta exchange bureau? Thanks!

Hi there, We’re planning our trip and want to spend 3 MONTHS in Madagascar, but we’re getting really conflicting info about visas. Apparently, it’s not possible to get one at the airport. We contacted the consulate in Marseille… and they don’t know either. The phone number for the embassy in Paris is no longer in service… Anyway… help! If anyone’s gotten a 3-month visa, could you shed some light on this for us? Thanks so much.

Hi

Are there any boat connections between Mananara and Sambava in September 2026?

Thanks for your replies

Hello, We’re planning to spend 3 months in Madagascar starting in mid-February. Areas: Mahajanga, Tulear, Diego Suarez, and Sainte Marie—the order isn’t set yet. We’ll either drive for part of the trip or take flights. We’ve heard all sorts of things about required vaccines and medications (is anti-malarial mandatory?). What’s the exact situation for travelers? I’ll come back to you for other topics (like finding a reliable driver, among others). Thank you. Best wishes to you all, Nicole

Hi everyone, I’m planning to explore the western part of Madagascar from May 1st to 5th, specifically to visit the Tsingy. I’ve heard different versions about the road conditions and access to the Tsingy during this time, so I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually made this trip during this time of year.

Have you traveled from Morondava → Tsingy between May 1st and 5th? Was the journey doable and safe? Did you have access to the Grands Tsingy, or just the Petits Tsingy?

Thanks so much for your feedback—it’ll really help me get a clearer picture! 😊 Also, if you have any recommendations for reliable and experienced driver-guides, I’d love to hear them. Thanks again!

Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!

Hello, I’m continuing the Antalaha–Maroantsetra discussion but for some info in the other direction, specifically about hiking from Maroantsetra to Antalaha.

In mid-December, I plan to take it easy from Tamatave to Antalaha. I’m thinking of making a few stops, like Nosy Atafana—has anyone snorkeled there? Is it nice? Can you find bush taxis on the Soniera–Ivongo / Maroantsetra stretch?

After that, I’m considering walking from Maroantsetra to Antalaha and figuring things out as I go, since the path seems well-used, so I’m not planning on a guide. Good idea or totally foolish? Should I bring a tent and some camping gear, or, as I’ve read multiple times, are there several villages with lodging and food options along the way? Any spots worth stopping at or nothing special to see?

In Antalaha, I saw the recommendation for Villa Malaza in the previous discussion, so I’m keeping that in mind. If there’s space, I’ll plan to stay there. In Antalaha itself, are there any places to visit, things to see, or activities you’d recommend?

Thanks in advance to everyone for any tips—they’ll be really helpful!

Hi everyone. We’ve been feeling like there’s a big drop in activity on our forum... Probably due to the current situation... Have any of you canceled or postponed your upcoming trips? The forum is also facing competition from social media like Facebook and others, which play a big role in the political situation but are pretty limited when it comes to planning an individual trip. The mandatory ads for new members on the forum are also a major turn-off that should be removed. As for the current situation, I’m in Nosy Be, and there’s no problem here. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the future. I feel like this crisis is different this time and could lead to real change. Hope I’m not wrong! Thanks for your replies!

Hi, is it possible to find out? How can I stay for 3 consecutive months in Madagascar, based on a fixed-date flight ticket? In short, how do I get a visa stamped at the airport??

Does anyone know if there’s maritime transport from the southern tip of Africa to a port in MADAGASCAR?

CHEAPER THAN A FLIGHT, see you soon, fellow traveler!!

Hey everyone!

I’d like to explore the northeast of Madagascar, using bush taxis, boats, and my own two feet.

I already have an ideal itinerary in mind, but I’d love to know if it’s doable at a relaxed pace in one month. The goal, of course, is to avoid being constantly focused on time and days and to travel spontaneously.

I’m aware that the roads are rough and there are a lot of unexpected delays, which isn’t a problem in itself. I just struggle to estimate the *time* it takes to get between stops.

Potential itinerary:

Tana – Sainte Marie Island (4 days) – Maroantsetra (3 days) – Masoala Park (8-day trek?) – Antalaha – Marojejy Park (3 days) – Ambilobe – Nosy Be (5 days) – Tana

The days listed are just rough averages. Cities don’t interest me, and I don’t plan to visit Tana.

I’d really appreciate any info or tips from you all! 😊

Thanks in advance,

Romain

Hey Fellow Travelers,

I was caught off guard when the Malagasy consulate in Scandinavia informed me they don’t issue entry visas for Madagascar—what’s the point of a consulate, I wonder! They advised me to apply at the Malagasy embassy in London. So, I started filling out the online form, but the price for the visa made me do a double-take: nearly 200 €!

But apparently, you can also get it on arrival! Has anyone tried this before? I’d love to know if the process takes a long time (I’ll be landing in Nosy Be, exhausted after nearly 15 hours of travel), what the cost is, and—since corruption isn’t just a word—whether you absolutely have to grease the palm of the official(s). This is because I almost took the next flight back when I arrived in a country I won’t name. Even though all my documents were in order—passport, visa, vaccinations, hotel reservation—the immigration officer initially refused to stamp my passport. I later found out I was supposed to slip at least $10 into the document when presenting it... Thanks! /d

Hi everyone, I’m planning my trip to Madagascar for the fall and starting to think about getting my visa. After reading through different posts, I’m a bit unsure about the best way to go about it. Is it better to apply for an e-visa (and if so, which official website?) or just queue up on arrival? It seems there are "unofficial"—and therefore fraudulent—sites out there, and that you’ll have to queue either way (which I’m not thrilled about since I’m arriving at 11 PM). What do you think?

Hi there, we’re planning a trip to Nosy Be next summer and we’ve come across Neos Air, which offers direct flights from Rome and Milan. It looks really appealing, but how reliable are they, especially in terms of punctuality—particularly for evening departures?