Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sambava-Antalaha
89km
Sambava-Andapa
119km
GETTING AROUND
Although maps show roads of some sort running almost the full length of the east coast,
thisisdeceptive.Rainandcyclonesregularlydestroybridgessoitisimpossibletoknowin
advance whether a selected route will be passable even in the 'dry' season. The rain-satur-
atedforestsdrainintotheIndianOceanvianumerousrivers,manyofwhichcanbecrossed
only by ferry. And there is not enough traffic to ensure a regular service. For those with
limited time, therefore, the only practical way to get to the less accessible towns is by air.
ThereareregularplanestoIleSainteMarieandflightsbetweenToamasina(Tamatave)and
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez). Planes go several days a week from Toamasina to Maroant-
setra, Antalaha and Sambava.
For the truly adventurous it is possible to work your way down (or up) the coast provid-
ing you have plenty of time and are prepared to walk.
TOAMASINA (TAMATAVE)
HISTORY
As in all the east coast ports, Toamasina began as a pirate community. In the
late 18th century its harbour attracted the French, who already had a foothold in Ile Sainte
Marie, and Napoleon I sent his agent Sylvain Roux to establish a trading post there. In
1811, Sir Robert Farquhar, governor of the newly British island of Mauritius, sent a small
navalsquadrontotaketheportofToamasina.Thiswasnotsimplyanextensionoftheusual
British-French antagonism, but an effort to stamp out slavery at its source, Madagascar be-
ingthemainsuppliertotheIndianOcean.TheslavetradehadbeenabolishedbytheBritish
parliament in 1807. The attack was successful, and Sylvain Roux was exiled. During sub-
sequent years, trade between Mauritius and Madagascar built Toamasina into a major port.
In1845,afteraroyaledictsubjecting EuropeantraderstotheharshMalagasy laws,French
and British warships bombarded Toamasina, but a landing was repelled leaving 20 dead.
During the 1883-85 war the French occupied Toamasina but Malagasy troops successfully
defended the fort of Farafaty just outside the town.
