Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Cap Sainte Marie
( Soanierana-Ivongo 57 404 06, 57 400 36, Tamatave 53 351 48,
032 05 218 08, one way Ar90,000, return Ar130,000) Shuttle from Tamatave leaves from
Tanambao V, next to Jesosy Mamonjy church.
Gasikara
( Soanierana-Ivongo 034 43 856 13, Tamatave 033 24 354 58, 032 62 870 99;
one way Ar70,000, return Ar120,000) Shuttle from Tamatave leaves from Gare Routière
Transport Vatsy.
Melissa Express
( Soanierana-Ivongo0331873264,Tamatave0321873272;oneway
Ar70,000, return Ar140,000) Shuttle from Tamatave leaves from Valpinson, near the baker.
The
Melissa Express
also offers a weekly service from Soanierana-Ivongo to Mananara
(Ar60,000) and Maroantsetra (Ar100,000). This is the only service of its kind on this coast,
and inexpensive, but is subject to interruptions, particularly from June to September.
Rozina V
( Soanierana-Ivongo 033 19 200 82, 034 61 970 63, Tamatave 034 76 301
89; one way Ar70,000, return Ar120,000) Shuttle from Tamatave leaves from Tanambao
V, next to Telemorefo school.
Taxi-Brousse
Taxis-brousses depart Tamatave for Soanierana-Ivongo (Ar8000, three to four hours)
around 6am every morning. However, they are not necessarily coordinated with boat de-
partures, so you could end up getting stuck. It makes more sense to book a transfer with
your boat company. Returning to Tamatave, vehicles wait for the arrivals from Ile Sainte
Marie, so a taxi-brousse makes more sense. For taxis-brousses going north, inquire at the
station.
Private 4WD
The RN5 north from Soanierana-Ivongo to Mananara and Maroantsetra is a Pandora's
box of potential delays, as well as a tremendous 4WD adventure. Taxi-brousse company
Kofifen
( 033 11 640 95) rents private 4WDs for this journey. They quote a price of
Ar1.45 million including driver but this can be cut in half with heavy bargaining.
THE INFAMOUS RN5
Depending on how you look at it, the RN5 from Soanierana-Ivongo to Maroant-
setra is either the worst road in Madagascar, or the best 4WD adventure in the
country. The very idea of calling it a 'National Route' is so hysterical that only
the sight of your 4WD being floated across a river on a few oil drums will stop
you laughing.
The trip has two legs, Soanierana-Ivongo to Mananara, and Mananara to
Maroantsetra, of which the first one is the most difficult. There are sections of
sheer rock, sections of deep sand, and everything in between, particularly mud.
