Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
able to take you right to the source, neatly sidestepping the middleman. These
are not necessarily places set up for tourists, but they are authentic. Similarly,
there are many producers of local foodstuffs, including wine, cheese, candy and
honey, to discover. In fact, you can even visit the local
pousse-pousse
manufac-
turer, Garage Vony.
Your challenge is to arrange the tour. Virtually any
pousse-pousse
driver can
do it, and there are an unlimited number of them prowling the streets, so try and
find one that speaks some English and appears knowledgeable, as he is doubling
as your guide. Prices range from Ar5000 per person per hour to Ar40,000 per
person for a full day, with room to negotiate. Make absolutely clear what the
cost will be, and whether that cost is per person or for the rickshaw. If haggling
isn't your style, you can arrange your tour through virtually any hotel. This may
make it easier to identify the right man for the job, but the cost will be higher. In
any case, make clear to the driver what your interests are. They'll go out as far
as Lake Andraikaba (
Click here
)
.
TOURS
Antsirabe is a popular place to find a tour down the Tsiribihina River in western Madagas-
car (
Click here
). These floating trips are often combined with a visit to Parc National des
Tsingy de Bemaraha (
Click here
)
and last around seven days. You can also organise shorter
excursions to places like Parc National de Ranomafana. Be sure to see the box (
Click here
)
on purchasing tours at national parks first.
THE RICKSHAWS OF MADAGASCAR
Antsirabe is the
pousse-pousse
capital of Madagascar. Brightly painted and
sporting racy names, such as 'Air France' and 'Zidane',
pousse-pousse
(literally,
'push-push') are the Malagasy version of the Asian rickshaw. Hundreds of them
fill the wide avenues of Antsirabe, clustering like oversize prams and pooling in
front of the post office and the market. Most drivers rent their vehicles, and have
to make a certain number of rides a day just to break even. In pursuit of their
goal, they hound pedestrians relentlessly with whistles, hisses and cries of
'pousse!'
. Passengers and freight vary - from teenage girls, reclining like
queens, to bleating goats.
Within the
pousse-pousse
universe, there are three major species. The basic
model is just a cart pulled by a man. It may feel uncomfortable to be towed
around by someone in this fashion, but remember this is the driver's living, and
your patronage will be most welcome to him. It is also a great way to see a city.
