Madagascar Info
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 14
Home Country: madagascar
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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:36 am Post subject: GETTING AROUND IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR TRANSPORT GUIDE |
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GETTING AROUND IN MADAGASCAR
BY AIR
Air Madagascar serves numerous destinations throughout the country, which is a good thing considering the bad state of the roads.. Most of Madagascar can be reached by air, the exceptions being a few towns in the central highlands. Air Madagascar flies to 51 towns and localities in the island and they offer a 50 per cent discount on domestic flights to passengers using the airline to travel to Madagascar.
BY SEA/ RIVER/ CANAL
Madagascar has a strong maritime tradition and there are many coastal transport services. Rapids render many of the rivers unnavigable; local tour operators can organise small-boat safaris on the Betsiboka and the Tsiribihina. The Pangalanes Canal runs for almost 600km (370 miles) along the east coast. Much of it is currently too clogged with silt for commercial traffic; the Tourist Board can arrange sailing holidays.
BY RAIL
There are five railway links on the island, Antananarivo to Toamasina and Fianarantsoa to Manakara travel through mountains, rainforests and quaint villages. Other links are Antananarivo to Antsirabe and Moramaga to Lake Alaotra. The only regular passenger rail service runs from Antananarivo to Moramanga and Lake Alaotra. Services leave every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, returning on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. First-class carriages are air conditioned. Light refreshments are sometimes available. The rail service is intermittent in that trains arrive on one day and return on the following day. Children under four years old travel free. Children aged four to six years old pay half fare.
BY ROAD
The road network is in need of repair. Tarred roads of varying quality link the main towns in the central highlands and continue to the most populous parts of the east and northwest coasts. The Government have given priority to road building and improvement. There is a new route from Antananarivo to Toliara which has reduced travel time between these destinations from three to two days. There are isolated sections of tarred road, but dirt tracks are more common. Many roads are impassable in the rainy season (November to March). In 1988, the World Bank approved a US$140-million loan to rehabilitate the network. Traffic drives on the right.
Bus
A flat fare is charged, irrespective of the distance travelled. Services can be unreliable and buses tend to be crowded.
Car rental
This is not widespread and car hire agencies can only be found in the main tourist towns. It is advisable to make enquiries in advance about insurance requirements for car hire.
Motorbike rental
Available from several companies in Madagascar.
Documentation: A national driving license is sufficient.
Bicycle
Madagascar is a great place to tour by bike and staying in small towns and villages along the way gives a real sense of what the country is all about. A mountain bike or heavy duty tourer at least is required as the roads can be in poor to terrible condition. In rainy season on the East coast the main North-south road can become impassable and at the time I did it we had to walk 2 days over soft sand in one section - this is not an easily rideable route. Generally there is little to no traffic which makes cruising around a great pleasure. The people are amazingly friendly and you'll be greeted with crowds of kids shouting 'Vazaha' in every village. There are little or no facilities for cyclists, so be prepared to camp rough (ask if it is somebody's land and never too near a family grave) or sleep in very basic guesthouses. Likely you will be invited to stay in people's houses. Bring a spare tyre, puncture kit, chain, brake/gear cable, derailleur and all the tools you need.
URBAN TRANSPORTATION
Taxi
Flat fares apply except in Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa, where fare is calculated according to whether the ride is confined to the ‘lower town’ or goes on to the ‘upper town’. There are two types of taxi: the taxi-be, which is quick and comfortable, and the taxi-brousse (bush taxi), which is cheaper, slower, makes more stops and generally operates on cross-country routes. Fares should be agreed in advance and tipping is unnecessary.
Rickshaw
The pousse-pousse (rickshaw) takes passengers except where traffic or gradient renders it impractical. Prices are not controlled and vary according to distance.
Stagecoach
A few covered wagons continue to take passengers in Antananarivo. |
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