Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Reptileviewingisexcellentatthistimeofyeartoo,especiallycollarediguanasandMad-
agascar hognose snakes. The iguanas seek open sandy spots to lay their clutches of eggs,
while the snakes eagerly sniff out these freshly laid snacks, unearthing them with their
snouts and swallowing the eggs whole.
Before the rains start at the beginning of December, the forest is dry. With no leaves on
the trees, birds are easy to see. Climatically September and October are the best months.
December to March is very hot and humid (and the road is often impassable), while in
January and February there are terrible horseflies.
GETTING THERE AND AWAY
Kirindy is about 65km/two to three hours northeast of
Morondava, or 45km/1½ hours from Belo.
Package tours are offered by many Morondava hotels.
WHERE TO STAY AND EAT
There are 12 bungalows, some with en-suite cold
showers and shared flush toilets, or cheaper ones with shared showers and squat toilets.
There is also some dormitory accommodation and camping is permitted for 10,000Ar. A
small restaurant serves cold beer and simple meals.
AlternativelyyoucouldstayatCampAmoureux,about15minutessouthbyvehicle(see
Click Here
)
.
PERMITS AND GUIDES
The entrance fee is 15,000Ar for three days; guides cost
4,000Ar per hour (up to five people), or 6,000Ar per hour on night walks.
MORONDAVA
The Morondava area was the centre of the Sakalava kingdom and their tombs (sadly now
desecrated by souvenir hunters) bear witness to their power and creativity.
Thiswasevidentlyapopularstopping-place forsailorsinthepastandtheyseemtohave
treated the natives generously. In 1833, Captain W F W Owen wrote of Morondava: 'Five
boats came alongside and stunned us by vociferating for presents and beseeching us to an-
chor.'
Today Morondava is the centre of a prosperous rice-growing area - and has successfully
introduced ostrich farming to Madagascar! For tourists it is best-known as a seaside resort
withalaid-backatmosphere.Morondavaisthesoutherngatewaytomanyoftheattractions
ofthewesternregionandisthecentreforvisitingthewesterndeciduousforest,thefamous
baobabs, Belo-sur-Mer and the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park.
