Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tickets are expensive (one-way €125 to €187) but generally exchangeable.
You can pay for tickets by credit card or in ariary, euros or US dollars at the head office in
Antananarivo and Air Madagascar offices in larger towns. Smaller offices may only accept
ariary or euros, however.
Certain routes such as Morondava-Tuléar (Toliara) during the high season (May to
September) and all flights to/from Sambava during the vanilla season (June to October) are
often fully booked months in advance.
AIR PENNY SAVER
Domestic flights are about 30% cheaper when bought in Madagascar compared
to when purchased abroad. If your itinerary is flexible, this is a great way to
save money. But bear in mind that flights on popular routes are booked far in
advance and that it is difficult to get tickets at short notice.
Air Madagascar also offers a 50% discount on domestic flights to travellers
who flew the airline to Madagascar. (The discount doesn't apply to taxes, so the
final saving is about 30% of the final fare; still, not to be sniffed at.)
Prices quoted in this topic do not take either discount into account.
Bicycle
»A mountain bike is normally essential if cycling in Madagascar.
»Inner tubes and other basic parts are sometimes available in larger towns.
»The terrain varies from very sandy to muddy or rough and rocky.
»It's usually no problem to transport your bicycle on taxis-brousses or on the train.
»You'll find mountain bikes for hire (Ar5000 to Ar20,000 per day) in most large towns and
tourist hot spots such as Ile Ste Marie (Nosy Boraha) or Nosy Be.
Boat
CARGO BOAT
In parts of Madagascar, notably the northeast coast and Canal des Pangalanes, cargo boats
(sometimes called
boutres
) are the primary means of transport. Cargo boats have no sched-
ules and leave with the tides. Some cargo boats have passenger cabins, but most have deck
space only.
Capsizing occurs regularly, so don't get in if the seas are rough or if the boat is over-
crowded. Some precautions to keep in mind:
»Always check the forecast and ask local advice before setting off.
»Make sure there are life jackets on board.
