madagascar in december

HI

The weather in december is at the beginning of rainy season, so it is hot and humid although it is still confortable in the center (Tana region) when you get out of the capital.

I know a good driver. His name is Liva. He knows the country very well and he is reliable. But he speak french. You can reach for him at this email:

rgn@mel.wanadoo.mg

I have done my Ilakaka (saphirre town) reportage with him.

As for Hotel in Tana, what is your budget?

Low budget (_{15 Euro) : Tana Jacaranda, a hosting house confortable, clean and reliable with wi-fi and shower and WC on the floor.
http://www.tana-jacaranda.com
tana-jacaranda@tana-jacaranda.com}

Mid budget (75 Euro) : Tana Plaza on the Indendance blv, right beside the old train station. Excellent service, extra clean, confortable. WC and shower in room.

High budget (~ 100 Euro) : Royal Palissandre wich have the best vue over the city, and “Hotel Colbert” in the “Haute-Ville” beside Presidential Office. This last one is THE Hotel of choice for business and confort.

Of course there is the Hilton but I don’t really like it since it is big, impersonnal and too expensive.

In Ambatolompy you can stay at the “Manja Ranch”.

YOu can PM me for more info since I been there 7 times for many months at a time.

Best

Hi Marc,

thanks for the tips. French is not a problem. I’ll contact the driver soon. Do you have any notion of how much he would charge for a day + petrol?

k

Hi Krzysztof

I know that he was charging 90 000 Ariary (around 50 $) plus gazoline (last time it was 2700 Ar/L) for a recent clubwagon. The vehicule is big for one person but it is in excellent condition, very confortable on the road and running on diesel. He could take you on a small car for less, but it is running on gaz and not as new. If you intend to leave the main road (paved) you can ask him for a 4X4 (higher price). But if you are only going to Ambatolompy you’re going on the RN7, the best road in the country.

Also a very good driver with a Peugeot is José. You can find him if he is available by asking at the Tana Plaza near the old train station. But he was more expensive since he is a cab driver.

Let me know if you make business with Liva as he is a very good friend and you can salute him for me.

Hope this will help you

Thanks again Marc,

the place I am going is Manjakatompo. It’s close to Ambatolompy but don’t know how far nor by what kind of road. I couldn’t get any decent map so far (but wasn’t really looking either). You know the place perhaps? I am afraid it’s off road but didn’t get any more info.

I will salute Liva. It’s granted!

cheers

k

Yes I know the place. I was there in 2004 and it was a dirt road but doable in the ClubWagon. Liva could tell you if the road is in poorer condition since then (although I was not with him that time).

The wagon is a solid truck. Last year we rode for three month all over the country. We only had to turn around on our way to Morondave because of a road with 2 meter holes. We did 16 km in an hour and we sometime almost disapeared in holes. Lucky we were in the dry season!! Being afraid of breaking something and not having the money to repair, we prefered to turn around.

Any way you should be able to go to Manjakatompo with out these kind of problems.