Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Andapa lies in a fertile and beautiful region, a 105km drive southwest of Sambava, where
much of north Madagascar's rice is grown. This is also a major coffee-producing area. To
help facilitate export, the EEC provided funding to build an all-weather road in the 1960s.
It has been resurfaced subsequently and remains in goodcondition. The journey to Andapa
is really beautiful, with the jagged peaks of the Marojejy Massif to the right, and bamboo
and palm-thatch villages by the roadside. The journey takes three to four hours by
taxi-
brousse
.
The town itself is one of my favourites in Madagascar. The relative wealth of the area
shows in the goods available in the many shops, but because it sees relatively few tour-
ists - and only the very best sort (those willing to hike up steep slopes in pouring rain) -
the people are exceptionally friendly and easygoing. It is also wonderfully compact, which
comesasareliefafterstragglySambava,andcool.Evenifyouarenotdoingthemajortrek
in Marojejy there are numerous wonderful walks in the area.
WHERE TO STAY AND EAT
Riziky
88 072 31;
m
032 40 214 22;
e
riziky@yahoo.fr
;
http://riziky.marojejy.com
.
Quiet bungalows in Ambendrana, on the Sambava side of town. Rooms to suit all budgets,
all with hot water & comfy en-suite bungalows with TV. €-€€€€
SoalandChalet
RueRamandraibe;
m
0324011882;
e
flavienne@marojejy.com
.New
guesthouse with nice rooms. €€€
Beanana
(10 rooms) 88 070 47/072 20;
m
032 40 226 10;
e
hsbeanana@yahoo.fr
;
http://beanana.marojejy.com
.
Roomsaregroupedroundacourtyard&overlookabeautiful
garden. Excellent service & value for money. €€
Vatosoa
88 070 78;
m
032 02 603 89. This once-popular hotel is starting to become
run down, but is still comfortable with en-suite rooms & hot water. Superb food.
Maroantsetra
A mediocre eatery opposite the Vatosoa.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Visit
Pièces Auto
in Andapa for help and advice on visiting
the region (see
http://travel.marojejy.com
).
Thisisawonderfulareaforwandering.Ateverystepyouseesomethinginterestingfrom
the people or wildlife perspective (in the latter category butterflies, snakes and chamele-
ons) and the scenery is consistently beautiful.
Refer to the wall map in Vatosoa hotel to plan a variety of day hikes. Almost any dirt
road through the villages would make for an enjoyable walk watching the locals go about
their daily lives.
