Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»Wearing a helmet is compulsory; they should be provided in the rental.
CAR & DRIVER Q&A
In Madagascar the road transportation system is such that most rental cars come
with a mandatory driver, making the choice of both a critical decision in your
travel planning. Here are the key issues to consider.
WHY DO I NEED A CAR?
If you take a taxi-brousse (bush taxi), it takes a great deal of time. You will go to
the station and wait for it to fill up with passengers. This can take an hour or a
day, and you may need to do this more than once if you need a connection. Hav-
ing your own car allows you to stop wherever you want.
DO I NEED A 4WD?
It depends on your route. If you're sticking to the RN7 between Tana and
Tuléar, you don't need a 4WD. But most roads in Madagascar are dirt or sand,
and frequently require 4WD.
WHY DO I NEED A DRIVER?
The roads can be very rough, so you have to know how to drive on them. Even
if you do, navigation is tricky: tracks change, depending on traffic and rainfall.
There are a lot of police checkpoints: you have to know how to deal with them.
If you get in an accident or something goes wrong with the car, you may be far
from anywhere. You will have to contact someone and describe where you are.
There may be no mobile phone (cellphone) signal. You have to know how to
find spare parts. The driver is responsible for all this.
SO HOW DO I FIND A GOOD DRIVER?
You either go through a tour agency or hotel or hire one directly. Either way, it
is essential you shop around. Talk to the driver ahead of time. Make sure you
speak a common language and that the driver has experience in your region. If
you're not hiring through a reputable agency, take a look at the car, particularly
if you are going on a long journey. See how well he takes care of it. If you are
out of the country, ask him to send you pictures.
HOW MUCH DOES A CAR AND DRIVER COST?
The car and driver are one package. Fuel is generally extra, although not al-
ways. Prices for a car are typically Ar80,000 to Ar100,000 per day. Prices for a
4WD are Ar150,000 to Ar240,000 per day. Some drivers will charge by the road
