Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
undertaking. If you don't want to subject your body to this sort of torture, the only way to
reach Mananara without flying is by speedboat from Maroantsetra.
Where to stay
Aye-Aye
On the beachfront opposite the airport. Pleasant en-suite bungalows, en-
livened by free-ranging bamboo & brown lemurs. €€
Chez Roger
(6 bungalows) If visiting Aye-Aye Island is your main reason for coming
to Mananara you should stay here, since M Roger owns the island & will deal with all the
arrangements. Good en-suite bungalows with hot water & reliable restaurant. €-€€
Ton-Ton Galet
A friendly, modest set of bungalows near the hospital. Good meals &
convivial atmosphere. €
Money and communications
The town has a post office and a bank (BOA), the only one
on the 297km stretch between Fenoarivo and Maroantsetra. There is mobile phone cover-
age but no landlines or internet access.
AYE-AYE ISLAND
This is
the
reason most people come to Mananara. The privately-
owned river island of about 10ha has a few resident aye-ayes as well as white-fronted
brownlemurs.Normallyaye-ayeslivehighintherainforestcanopyandhavelargeterritor-
ies. On Aye-Aye Island, however, their range is restricted by the island's small size and the
treesaremuchlowerandlessdense,sotheyarecomparativelyeasytosee.Theyarepartial
to coconuts and coconut palms are found in abundance here.
Asightingisbynomeansguaranteed,butatleasthalfofthetouristswhomakeaneven-
ing visit to the island are lucky. Chances are increased for those staying overnight (you
can camp or there's a small hut) but not everyone is successful. Wybe Rood wonders if the
elusive animal even exists: 'Didn't see any! After having spent almost two years in Mad-
agascar, and having been to Nosy Mangabe and Aye-Aye Island, I am now convinced this
creature is a fabrication!'
Botanicallytheislandisinteresting;notonlyaretherecoconuts,butbananas,pineapples,
jackfruits, papayas, vanilla, coffee, cloves and maize are all cultivated.
Visits can be arranged at the hotel Chez Roger. The cost is 16,000Ar per person, includ-
ing the pirogue crossing.
MANANARATOMAROANTSETRA
To continue the journey north is a serious adven-
ture.Itispossible(just)byroadandalsobysea.Sincethemid1990s,readershaverecoun-
tedtheirexperiencesusingbothformsoftransport,mostresultinginextremehardshipwith
some near-deaths. As the road continues to deteriorate, the trek on foot is at least safe, if
hard work.
