Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
as the hammocks on the porch, open-roof showers and raffia-decorated mirrors, and the
home-cooked food is delicious.
INFORMATION
There are no banking facilities in Belo - the nearest bank is in Morondava - nor is there
electricity apart from that generated by the hotels. The only working mobile phone network
is Airtel.
GETTING THERE & AWAY
Boat
From November to May, the only way to access Belo-sur-Mer is by sea. Local pirogues ply
the route, but journey times are entirely dependent on winds: many travellers have reported
being left stranded, so bring plenty of food and water and allow plenty of time. It is much
faster (2½ hrs) but also more expensive to arrange a motor boat transfer with one of the
tour operators in Morondava or Ecolodge du Menabe in Belo.
Car
Access to Belo-sur-Mer by road is only possible by 4WD from May to November. There
are irregular taxis-brousses (Ar25,000, four hours) between Belo-sur-Mer and Morondava
in 4WD bâchés .
MORONDAVA TO TULÉAR
The coastal road from Morondava to Tuléar may look like a short cut compared
to backtracking all the way to Antsirabe, but make no mistake: this is not the
easy option. This road is only passable in the dry season (theoretically from
April to October, although you should always check conditions with locals) and
it takes three bone-shaking days on dreadful tracks. The reward is an adventure
that'll be worth telling the grandkids, with beautiful landscapes, interesting vil-
lages, makeshift ferries and heavenly beaches. The journey goes like this:
»Day 1: Morondava to Belo-sur-Mer, four hours. Head off in the morning and
spend the afternoon in the atmospheric village of Belo. Go on a pirogue trip to
the coral islands, laze on the beach or visit the lovely Parc National de Kirindy-
Mitea.
»Day 2: Belo-sur-Mer to Morombé. This is a long, punishing day of off-road
driving. You'll have to set off at first light, stop in Manja for lunch and you'll
arrive in Morombé just before it gets dark.
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