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Madiro Kitamby Base Camp: Anyone been?
by Astaffort · 2026-06-05 · 2 replies
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!
Diego-Ambilobe route along the west coast and Vohemar-Sambava along the east coast by bike
by Etranger · 2026-05-18 · 2 replies
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
Feedback on our 2-month stay in Madagascar
by Nyora972 · 2026-05-13 · 3 replies
Hello, After asking questions on the site, here’s a little feedback on our trip in March and April. Marseille/Antananarivo flight with Ethiopian Airlines was great both ways. I’d recommend it. Domestic flights with Madagascar Airlines were just as smooth. We had to change our plans because I was the victim of a snatch-theft attempt at Ivato... patellar fracture... so I ended up with a brace and more rest than hikes. This let us spend more time in the same areas and make some connections. We loved Tulear. Stayed with Alain—excellent value for money. Mangily, where we stayed for 15 days. Hotel Bella Dona due to my little handicap. The pool replaced sea swims. Mangily gets a bad rap for being very touristy. True, you get approached a lot on the beach—you have to play along and buy some trinkets, but after that, you get royal peace and lots of exchanges with locals. The village and its lively street are nice too. Don’t hesitate to eat with fishermen or at local bars. Anakao, a big favorite. Just the journey there is worth it. Watching dozens of pirogues set off between 5 and 6 AM is a magical moment. Stayed at Peter Pan’s place. Lots of chats with Dario since we were the only guests. Planned a 4-day Antananarivo–Soniara–Ivango road trip with a driver. Cut to 2 days because the boat to Sainte Marie was moved up due to weather. I don’t remember the company’s name, but it wasn’t great for safety—plus, we brought back fleas. Visited Andasibe Park along the way. Quick tip: go in the morning. A little over 2 weeks on Sainte Marie at Hôtel Mantis Soanambo—total luxury negotiated at a price that defied all competition because it was low season. Meals were at little local eateries nearby. We chose not to sleep on Île aux Nattes but went there several times during the day (crossing: 4000 ariary for 2). You have to take a pirogue tour—it’s like stepping into a postcard. Sainte Marie is a special place. A tropical island that feels like the Caribbean ones we’ve lived on. No security issues at all. We rented a scooter because we found tuk-tuk prices a bit steep. You can leave the scooter with helmet and keys and come back 4 hours later. More amazing encounters here too. Last part of our trip in Ampefy, a beautiful volcanic region with a very welcoming population. Stayed with a friend of our driver. Hotels in Ivato are plentiful and vary a lot in quality. Les 12 Collines is a bit out of the way but only 21 € per night. La Chato... very expensive for what you get. I tried to keep it short. Madagascar is a wonderful island with so many facets. Always so many emotions when I think back on this trip. The extreme poverty... don’t hesitate to buy food for the kids on the beach, for example. It doesn’t cost much, but it means a lot to them. The kindness of the people and, above all, those SMILES. We’re hooked—we’re going back in November for 6 months... because yes, you can buy a 3-month visa at the airport (a question I’d asked), and you can extend it for another 3 months... if you apply in time at a police station. We didn’t take Malarone either. We’d brought some, but there were few mosquitoes, and "Insect Écran" worked really well.
RN7 route in reverse this early May
by Gasilahy · 2026-04-07 · 0 replies
Hi everyone, Is anyone here planning to do the RN7 route in reverse—that is, from Tulear to Antananarivo—early next month? If so, please get in touch!
Looking for a travel buddy for Madagascar in July
by Cortofred · 2026-03-19 · 0 replies
Hi everyone, while searching for a tour with a local agency, I received an interesting offer:

- 13 days from Tana to Tuléar (via Andasibe, Fiana, Isalo): 1200 € - 8 days in the West (Tsingy, Baobabs): 980 € These prices seem very reasonable for an all-inclusive package, but it's based on 2 travelers, and I'm solo. So, I'm looking for an experienced traveler to share accommodations (separate beds, of course) and split the costs. I can share the full itinerary details in a PM.

Thanks in advance! Fred (Réunion) PS: I’m also open to joining another traveler or group who already has a trip planned! ???
Looking for a travel companion for Madagascar in July
by Cortofred · 2026-03-17 · 0 replies
Hi there, I’m Fred, I live on La Réunion and I’ll be traveling to Madagascar this coming July. While searching for a tour with a local agency, I received an interesting offer:

13 days from Tana to Tuléar (via Andasibe, Fiana, Isalo) from July 11 to 23: 1200 € 8 days in the West (Tsingy, Baobabs) from July 26 to August 1: 980 € These prices seem very reasonable for an all-inclusive package, but it’s based on two travelers and I’m alone. So I’m looking for an experienced traveler to share accommodations (separate beds, of course) and split the costs. I can send you the full itinerary details in a PM. Thanks in advance! Fred (La Réunion) PS: I’m also open to joining another traveler or group who already has a trip planned. ???
Route between Diego Suarez and Sainte Marie Island
by Nyora972 · 2026-02-24 · 2 replies
Hello, Our trip is taking shape. We’re leaving on February 28th. We’ll start by flying to Tulear, then make our way up to Tana at a relaxed pace before catching another flight to Diego Suarez. We’d love to end our stay on Sainte Marie Island. Is there a way to make the trip by land? By sea? Just to clarify, we’re not pressed for time. Thanks!
3-Month Visa for Madagascar
by Nyora972 · 2026-01-26 · 9 replies
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.
Inviting a Malagasy friend to France
by Dom66 · 2026-01-20 · 11 replies
Hi, I want to invite a Malagasy friend and I’m surprised to learn there are procedures (that seem complicated) to follow… It would be a short stay (max 3 months). She’s got her passport, I’m paying for the flight ticket, and I read that I need to get an accommodation certificate from my town hall—but what else is required after that? What other documents are needed? What are the processing times? I’m really disappointed that in 2026, it’s still such a hassle for this kind of thing.
Are there any boat connections between Mananara and Sambava?
by Nawewe · 2026-01-17 · 6 replies
Hi

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

Thanks for your replies
Precautions and Vaccines for Madagascar Starting in February
by Nyora972 · 2026-01-04 · 6 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
Ivato scanner for domestic flights - stolen SD cards
by Ours81 · 2025-12-19 · 2 replies
Hi! Recently, the domestic-flight terminal at Ivato has been moved to the old "international" airport, complete with its own scanner. On October 13th, I checked my luggage (which I had inspected before leaving my hotel in Tana) for a flight to Sambava. It wasn’t until I arrived at my accommodation in Antalaha and opened it that I discovered it had been searched (normal before boarding a plane), but to my surprise, the case containing my GPS fishfinder had been opened—likely mistaken for a laptop due to the scanner’s open access to all kinds of theft—and three SD cards were stolen. Luckily, two of the SD cards had their micro SDs inserted into the device, so I still had the Navionics micro card (300 €) essential for fishing. Of course, I’m not asking for compensation, just urging caution with checked luggage on "domestic" flights. (This is a copy-paste of my post on *Le Routard*.)
Road conditions to the Tsingy in May
by Maya2025 · 2025-12-07 · 2 replies
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!
Does the exchange office at Ivato buy ariary?
by Ours81 · 2025-12-03 · 5 replies
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!
Private transfer contact between Tana and Mananjary
by Jiroyaku · 2025-11-26 · 1 reply
Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a private transfer from Tana to Mananjary from May 16 to 20, 2026.

Do you have a contact, please?

Best regards,

Jary
Trip through southern Madagascar from Anakao to Fort Dauphin by 4x4
by Mpederzoli · 2025-11-24 · 0 replies
Hi everyone! For those who want to take this 18-day trip with an agency, we need to be 4 people to get the rate of 1720 €, which comes to 3000 € including the flight ticket and extras. It needs to be after April because of the rain. If you're interested (we still need 3 people), please send me an email. See you soon! Mireille
Armed attack on foreign tourists at Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, western Madagascar
by Quatrevingt · 2025-11-12 · 3 replies
Hello,

A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
Hiking, camping, and snorkeling on Madagascar's east coast
by Rotsaka · 2025-11-10 · 12 replies
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!

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