The Sahambavy train station is close to Lac Hotel in Sahambavy, where you can also enjoy a night in a vintage train wagon! To see the real Malagasy life, I would advise you to go to the local market. We chose a medium level hiking circuit, a combination of two circuits including one night of camping inside Isalo National Park. Another thing to do in Tulear is visiting the Arboretum d’Antsokay, a botanical garden. I highly recommend staying at Chez Maggie. Madagascar.It’s more than an inaccurate (but fun) DreamWorks movie. The vendors were very friendly and didn’t mind me taking their photos. It’s also close to the FCE train station. Visit their website if you want to know more about this foundation and all of their projects and achievements. For that reason, it offers stunning views from your private terrace. This is a great time for whale watching, but many reptiles are hibernating. We also enjoyed some beautiful polyphonic live sung Malagasy songs by the talented staff members. The Bara is the only tribe that is allowed to bury the dead inside the park, up to the rocks. It literally means ‘place at the beach’ and it’s the gateway to Avenue of the Baobabs. It’s the largest lake and the closest one to town. Welcome to Madagascar Island Safaris travel blog, where we share useful travel tips, activities in and around Madagascar’s islands, promotions on packaged tours and more. Make sure to agree on the circuit (and the time spend on that particular circuit) before you enter the reserve. Le Relais de la Reine is a great option if you’re looking for a hotel between the rocks that is close to Isalo National Park. The high season coincides with the European summer holidays and cooler temperatures in July and August. The employees at the reception were very friendly and helpful and made us feel at home. The Tsena Sabotsy (Saturday market) is the central open-air market of Antsirabe, a good place to discover what the local Malagasy are buying from clothes and vegetables to pots and pans. I’m sure a Madagascar road trip will blow your mind. There are many different hiking circuits that vary in length and duration. Sorry Madagascar: My French Is Not Very Good Looking. The second time I flew into Tananarive I stayed in the beautiful San Cristobal Boutique Hotel only 4 km from Ivato Airport in Antananarivo. It’s one of Madagascar’s least known but most accessible National Park, located along the RN7. Thank you for sharing! However, caution and common sense is recommended, especially at night or … Apart from that, you will probably spot other Madagascar wildlife, like the Red-fronted brown lemur, the Sifaka or White lemur, the nocturnal sportive lemur, chameleons and the Standing’s Day gecko. Check out my 155K Instagram account @traveltomtom. I hope this travel blog and all the above Madagascar travel tips and things to do in Madagascar were helpful to plan your own Madagascar trip. On top of the Table Mountain you will have a 360 degrees overview of the beautiful coastline of Tulear. The different viewpoints, for example the climb to Namaza, were amazing with views of the valley. This is a natural window in a red rock formation that frames the sunset. The products they use are organic, homemade and homegrown. Anja Community Reserve is a forest, protected area and freshwater lake, situated at a rocky landscape at the feet of the ‘three sisters’ or ‘telo mirahavavy’. The staff is very helpful and friendly and the 3-course dinner as well as the breakfast was good. Remote River Expeditions Madagascar (RRE) is a small, experienced tour operator offering high quality and personalized services. In 2008 I decided to go on a trip around the world and in 1 year I traveled through 24 countries from North America to South America, New Zealand, Australia and finally South East Asia. Ranomafana National Park is also a paradise for birders! Ankarafantsika National Park (Parc National d’Ankarafantsika) is one of the largest dry, dense, deciduous forests left in Madagascar… Because of the low tourist numbers in Madagascar, you will only see a few other tourists, especially when you’re planning to do a longer hike. One of the other activities in Ranomafana is a night walk along the road – outside of the National Park – where you have the chance of spotting the Ranomafana’s five nocturnal species, including the adorable mouse lemur. Don’t miss out on this stunning park, add this to your Madagascar itinerary. The tomb is basically a heap of stones. There’s also a small pool to relax and cool off. The best time of year to travel to Madagascar depends on your specific interests. Antananarivo is the largest city in Madagascar and interesting for travellers who have enough time to visit Madagascar. Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site, Giving Back: Please Check Out These Social Impact Organizations, Work from Home Gift Guide: 21 Amazing Gifts for Remote Workers, it’s a country ravaged by poverty, corruption, and natural disaster, Yet Madagascar is a raw and beautiful destination, A Journey Through Madagascar: Notes on the Privilege of Travel, 30 Epic Photos From My Trip to Madagascar, The Top Things to See and Do in Madagascar. The area around Andraikiba Lake seems to be ideal for walking because of its peaceful and harmonious environment. Curious where I am right now? The meaning and sounds of these live sung Malagasy songs made the peaceful and serene atmosphere in Isalo National Park even more special. You can also visit the factory where they produce Antemoro Paper. Visit Madagascar as soon as you can, you will not regret it. We took the shortest one and it sure wasn’t the worst road of my Africa travels. This eco-friendly hotel offers everything you need after a tough hike. This 2-week Madagascar itinerary includes our route from West Madagascar along the national highway 7 to Tulear. A lot of Madagascar tour agencies include Anja Reserve as a short stopover on their way to Ranohira, so it’s quite normal, but I felt very rushed and needed more time to enjoy and photograph all the beautiful views along the RN7 road. The hotel has several art-works like photos and paintings hanging around the whole building, something I really loved. Antsirabe (literally ‘the place of much salt’) is well known for its thermal springs and therefore also called the ‘city of water’. Most of the tourists spend one night in Fianarantsoa on their Madagascar itinerary, or to take the train to Manakara at the East Coast of Madagascar. Depending on the time you have, you can see the natural cave(s) and climb up the rocks to a viewpoint, with stunning views of the valleys, mountains and villages. Things to take into account when traveling are usually the time you plan to travel, the budget, the steps to take and practical information. Other wildlife includes chameleons, frogs and the Malagasy striped civet. madinmadagascar Uncategorized November 3, 2020 2 Minutes. However on this trip we are on individual tours in each region (six in all) rather than touring with a group. Kaominina, the Malagasy name for Miandrivazo, is considered to be the warmest city of the island. So when you travel to Madagascar please include this in your itinerary. Here are our top travel experiences and recommendations from traveling through Madagascar to go deeper into the country's unique nature, cultures, food, landscapes, and more. We are group of 3 planning to travel in Madagascar from 3 – 18 Nov. Reading your blog post, we understand that having a driver is a necessity. Background: Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960.During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. For Kirindy I would advise to either stay in Kirindy Lodge inside the reserve or at Relais du Kirindy. I would definitely stay here again on my next trip to Madagascar. It’s an amazing place on earth, with an intense kaleidoscope of nature, that I highly recommend putting on top of your travel bucket list. Because we first explored Northern Madagascar, we decided to fly to Morondava to start the RN7 road trip from there. Inform yourself and be inspired or start your own free travel blog. Ambositra is famous for the quality of its marquetry, weaving and especially woodcarvings. At Lake Tritriva you’ll have to pay a guide- and entry fee of 5000 Ariary ($1,5) to enter the area. You will feel a strong colonial influence through the architecture of the city buildings. The hot springs of Ranomafana are located across the Namorona River and are very popular among locals. Be prepared for train failures and bring enough water and food. We also discovered cliffs, eroded massifs and savannah and desert landscapes. Couleur Café Antsirabe is perfectly located near the city centre of Antsirabe, close to the RN7 road. Traveling to Madagascar blew me away. Apart from hiking in Isalo National Park, there are plenty of other things to do in Isalo, like mountain biking, horse riding and wildlife watching. More things to know when traveling to Madagascar can be found in my Ultimate Madagascar Travel blog, including the best itinerary for 2 weeks in Madagascar. What are “must see” places for Madagascar? Also don’t hesitate to reach out on my Instagram account. From rainforests to beaches, wildlife and astonishing rock formations, there is a diverse range of sights to explore. Madagascar is a very safe country to travel to. In my North Madagascar Travel Blog I wrote about my short stay in Antananarivo and the Tsarasaotra Bird Park I’ve visited that is very close to Ivato Airport. Even inside the rainforest (where trees and plants provide some shelter) it was almost impossible to take pictures. If you are a bird lover you should visit Zombitse National Park as early as possible to have a fair chance of seeing Madagascar’s rarest endemic birds, like the ‘Appert’s Greenbul’. Most of the tourists will drive directly to Antsirabe or overnight in Princesse Tsiribihina Hotel. The RN7 in Madagascar is the 980 km long main road in Madagascar, connecting Tananarive (Antananarivo) to the western-coast town Tulear. Just would like to ask you if you might have some contacts on EN speaking drivers and would be willing to share? Because it’s a reserve run by locals, all the profits go back to the community. Definitely one of the best places to visit in Madagascar. We were invited to celebrate with them, but unfortunately we had to continue our journey because of our planned visit to Anja Reserve or Parc D’Anja, about 13 km south of Ambalavao. If you want to see more of Isalo National Park I highly recommend a minimal of a 2-day hiking package with Momo Trek. A journey along Madagascar’s RN7 highway includes the most famous highlights of Madagascar. Because of Stella, we learned a lot about this ‘red island’ and that definitely made our Madagascar trip complete. I got in touch by mail and we had quick and reliable communications until our arrival. Of the now 101 countries I have been to, I will go so far as to say that Madagascar is one of the slowest and most uncomfortable countries to travel around in the entire world. Long time no blog. This Madagascar travel guide is written by travel photographer Kim Paffen, one of Traveltomtom’s talented team members with a deep-seated passion for traveling to Africa. I got back to the Netherlands and saved as much money as I could and in December 2012 I quit my job again and ever since I am continuously traveling the world. It’s the only operating passenger train line in Madagascar. They offer a number of individual brick bungalows, facing a lovely and well-maintained garden. From Miandrivazo to Antsirabe you will even see people working on the road to cover some holes. The longer trail includes a hike to the top of the mountain at 1400 meter, where you will have a 360-degree view that includes a view of the city of Ambalavao, 13km away. The different shapes as well as the changing colours of the eroded rock formations are quite interesting. Visitors can buy his books and a huge selection of postcards and poster prints of his photo collection of Madagascar. This is the best 2-week Madagascar itinerary possible. Unfortunately we got the impression they wanted to take advantage of the ‘rich’ tourists by charging more money. Madagascan Reefs are among the rare places on earth where you will get to swim along the whale sharks, manta rays, and stingrays. A handy Madagascar travel tip is that on Sunday all the shops are closed. When you continue the RN7, you need to take the RN25 to Ranomafana through the Betsileo highland region. I loved their continental breakfast with fresh eggs as well as their coffee. This is the best travel blog I have read with such detailed agenda with restaurants, hotels, and sightseeing recommendations with prices and websites. Our Madagascar trip. Check out my ultimate North Madagascar Travel Blog for the best North Madagascar itinerary, countless Madagascar travel tips and the best places to stay in for example Nosy Be and Diego-Suarez. According to experts, this botanical garden has 900 plant species of which 90% is endemic to Madagascar. Does this unusual destination meet the various requirements to make it family-friendly? We didn’t overnight in Fianarantsoa on our Madagascar itinerary, we decided to make a small detour to Sahambavy, which is located 23 km from the city of Fianarantsoa. No wonder Isalo is a hikers paradise and one of the best things to do in Madagascar. For the budget travellers: It is possible to get a taxi-brousse (shared taxi bus) directly from Antananarivo or Fianarantsoa, but there is no transportation between the park and the village of Ranomafana. Travel blog entries about Madagascar selected from different Travellerspoint travel blogs. On top of these canyons you have breath-taking panoramic views. After a long day of hiking, the Momo Trek staff already set up our tent and cooked a great dinner. Lemur comes from the Latin word ‘lemures’, which means ‘ghosts of the forest’. Traveling makes me a better person with ever day I am on the road. Madagascar is a country that isn’t very touristic. Crime rate is low in comparison to other African countries. An interesting place to add to you Madagascar road trip itinerary. But also tours to Kirindy Forest Reserve and Tsingy de Bemeraha National Park are totally worth it. The roads are curvy and close to Ranomafana a bit dangerous depending on the weather conditions; road verges can be very soft or roads can even be closed after rain. Isalo National Park is the most visited national park in Madagascar and one of the natural wonders of the country. Once you reached the area of Ambalavao you will notice a change in landscapes. Travel blogs on Madagascar; The third-largest island in the world hardly knows any tourists, you will notice that immediately after arrival. Lac hotel Fianarantsoa is also very innovative and eco-friendly. Unfortunately we didn’t see any ‘dancing lemur’ in Isalo. If you love Yosemite National Park then you should definitely visit Andringitra National Park. We stayed an extra night in this Residence, located in a beautiful area in the middle of the rice fields. Madagascar Travel Blogs, Photos from TravelBlog.org. Location: Nosy Be, Madagascar Cost: I… Our initial plan was to visit Window rock in Isalo on our arrival day in Ranohira, but didn’t make it for sunset because we spent too much time in Anja Reserve including several photo stops along the way. In theory, this journey will take about 8 to 12 hours (20 km/h), but in reality around 12 to 24 hours. Some of the best hiking In Madagascar can be found here. Especially in the morning and late afternoon you’ll have a high chance of seeing ring-tailed lemurs sunbathing. Most travel in Madagascar is dictated by flights and, more specifically, Air Madagascar (an airline that epitomises the word awkward in terms of timings, airport names, codes and general aviation-ness) so a night in the capital Antananarivo or Tana, as it's called locally, is inevitable. The journey along highway 7 included some of the best places to visit in Madagascar like: Lake Tritriva in Antsirabe, the rainy Ranomafana NP, the serene and peaceful Lake Sahambavy near Fianarantsoa, Anja Reserve with its ring-tailed lemurs, the beautiful peaks of Andringitra National Park, Isalo National Park and Zombitse National Park. The rooms here were good and comfortable and there’s Wifi in the main building, where you can also watch TV and have a beer at the bar. Madagascar Island size: The fourth largest island in the world is 587,713 square kilometer in size. Read more about my story and how I afford to travel in this link. After seeing this part, I truly wish I get to chance to travel to Madagascar again to visit Andringitra National Park, Tsaranoro Valley and the surrounding areas. Hiking or trekking lovers will love Ranomafana rainforest and its mountain ranges! Madagascar location: The island Indian Ocean lies on the southeast coast of Africa close to Mozambique. Because of the dry climate, the best time to visit Isalo National Park is all year-round. It’s mostly known for its incredibly rugged Jurassic terrain that has been formed into beautiful canyons and gorges by eroding winds and rain. Glad I found your travel blog. As we were there on a national holiday, all shops were closed and we sadly couldn’t find any artists at work. To me it didn’t feel like a big deal to travel to Madagascar… We chose to do the short 1,5 hour ‘Tavira Mandresy’ circuit in Zombitse-Vohibisa Park. Jul 10, 2019 | News, Travel Blog In Madagascar it is not only the flora and fauna that is both unique and intriguing, but the people as well. While the traffic can be challenging, there are treasures to be found in the shopping and restaurants, at good prices. If you are an adventurous traveller then this is another great Madagascar travel tip. She traveled for Traveltomtom to this beautiful country and shared all her Madagascar tips and incredible photos in this Madagascar travel blog and itinerary. Reply. Go out and explore the world. There is plenty of space in the room, with a TV and fireplace and the beds are really comfortable. We had a great English speaking guide with a lot of knowledge of the flora and fauna of Isalo, Madagascar wildlife in general and the history of Isalo National Park and the history and traditions of the Sakalava Tribe and Bara tribe. This is truly one of the exciting and unique things to do in Madagascarand you ought not to miss it. Apart from that they take care of the meals of 45 children. Their restaurant serves good food for diner and in the morning you can enjoy a buffet breakfast with fresh eggs from Antsirabe’s market. We only stopped there from a distance on our way to the prettier Tritriva Lake. The team of Momo Trek is specialized in organizing hiking and camping tours in Isalo National Park. And then the country turns out to be beautiful too! The tourist season falls between April and December, with the rainy season claiming the other months with risks of cyclones and many roads becoming un-passable. I’m happy to help! Madagascar feels like a land far far away. For those who have more time to spend in Tulear (read: beach days), I would advise to continue your road trip to Ifaty; a beautiful place along the coast about 30 km north of Tulear, where you can also discover a different species of Baobab: the Fony Baobab. It’s not only for tourists but also the daily transportation of local Malagasy. Ranomafana is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and became a protected area in 1991 after the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur in the rainforest in 1985. Cooked a great time for whale watching, but because rainforests are subject to heavy rainfall, the Malagasy for! 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