Getting around and travelling in Madagascar can be quite time consuming due to the narrow and at times, poor roads. Traffic in the city centres and on market days can be overwhelming, so we recommend private drivers who know the traffic patterns, backroads and Malagasy driving style. When you book a holiday with Fleewinter, we will arrange your transfers in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the journeys. Our drivers are always accompanied by English-speaking guides, who can tell you all about the local area and give tremendous insight into the culture and ways of life.
If having a driver and guide sounds overwhelming and you prefer to go without these services, you can always travel by train, “brousse” or “quatre-elle’s”. These cheap options may be a hit-or-miss affair… The train service is offered via two routes, with limited and unpredictable scheduling as in theory, there are supposedly two services per week in each direction, but this can change at a moment’s notice. Whereas “brousse’s” and “quatre-elle’s” are taxis, which can either be held together with duct tape, will-power or used chewing gum; or bursting at the seams but always with room for 17 more passengers… So probably not the best choice, unless you like a pig, three chickens and a sack of coal possibly being stuffed on your lap during transit.
Consequently, we always recommend for your safety and sanity, to travel with a private driver between certain destinations as this would be faster and safer (and much less cramped!). We’ll therefore always recommend the option that makes the most of your holiday – balancing efficiency, value, and the benefit of having a guide so that you can focus on enjoying the holiday and not worrying about getting from one place to the next.
As Madagascar is quite a large island (with many smaller islands), you may find yourself taking flights – often between destinations like Nosy Be, Mahajanga, Toliara, Antsiranana and Tólanaro. We recommend Tsaradia (a subsidiary of Madagascar Airlines) as these are scheduled flights, and we are more than happy to make the bookings on your behalf. If the thought of sitting for hours on end feeling trapped in a luxury SUV whilst traveling vast distances between destinations on poor roads, just doesn’t sound appealing, it may be necessary to use chartered flights, such as TOA, AEROMARINE and GSAVIATION. These flights would be between smaller centres or to remote destinations. Many lodges situated at or near destinations, such as Isalo National Park, have airstrips suitable for planes like the 22-seater Twin Otter.
In order to reach some of the smaller islands, ferries will be required and options abound as the Malagasy are a seafaring nation. For a touch of luxury, why not try a chartered liveaboard catamaran for your exclusive use as you take a slow cruise between the islands. This option provides for unlimited and spectacular snorkelling/diving, fishing and island hopping, whilst allowing for greater range and reach to some impressive islands and dive sites. And yes, an onboard chef will be on hand to tantalise your taste buds! Alternatively, smaller less luxurious boats are available which offer day trips to nearby islands, such as Nosy Komba, Nosy Ranja or Nosy Tanikely.
