Please use the comments facility below to submit updates to chapter 7 (Antananarivo and area) of Madagascar (10th ed).
To comment on other chapters visit the main Madagascar Updates page.
Please use the comments facility below to submit updates to chapter 7 (Antananarivo and area) of Madagascar (10th ed).
To comment on other chapters visit the main Madagascar Updates page.
Parisii said,
27 November 2011 at 6:20 pm
Hote Niaouly – this was one of the best value places we stayed in Mada, 30,000 a night for a clean, ensuite room with hot water and an amazing view over Tana. It’s small but perfectly functional, no fan or mozzie net tho. Restaurant does good cheap evenings meals and an amazing array of rhum arrangés. Breakfast is average though.
Parisii said,
27 November 2011 at 6:14 pm
Restaurant Tranovola: the Bradt guide describes this as the place for an end of trip treat. Oh dear. It has really lost its magic and even the manager was surprised it was in this year’s guide. We went on a Friday evening and the place was in darkness, they put a few lights on for us and the receptionist from the hotel downstairs showed us to a table and gave us the menu. None of the Malagasy dishes have explanations and he didn’t know what most of them were but was hurrying us to order anyway. He explained that since the 2009 crisis, they don’t have music in the evenings any more and it’s very quiet. The food was OK, a bit bland and when the patronne arrived she was very nice and it’s a shame that the place isn’t doing well anymore but it’s a long schlep over from town (and difficult to find a taxi driver who knows where it is) and really not a special treat any more sadly.
Anton Rijsdijk said,
16 July 2011 at 3:21 pm
Medical (p161): Clinic Mpitsabo Mikambana is NOT very good in contrast to your remarks in the guide. The clinic does not look very hygienic and how can you trust them as they cannot do something small as removing some stitches in a proper way?
Sophie Lee said,
13 March 2011 at 6:21 pm
I highly recommend ‘Le Pavilion de l’Emyrne, in Isoraka, Tana’s Upper Town.
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:25 am
The Isoraka outlet of Fosa Shop (Madagascar T-shirt retailer) has closed. However, their out-of-town branch at Tana Waterfront is still open.
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:25 am
Indigo restaurant has closed; the site has become Villa Isoraka Guesthouse.
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:24 am
Anjozorobe:
There is a new forest lodge at Anjozorobe just outside Antananarivo. Saha Forest Camp is managed by the owners of KuDeTa restaurant and boutique in the city. There are ten tented lodges nestled among forest, with six hiking circuits of 1–7hrs. (tel 22 611 40; email resa@sahaforestcamp.mg; http://www.sahaforestcamp.mg)
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:23 am
Accommodation in Antananarivo near the Airport:
IC Hotel is just 3min from the airport, with en-suite 10 rooms around a garden, each with fridge, minibar, TV, hot water and private terrace. It offers a restaurant, swimming pool, internet, car rental and free airport transfers. (tel 22 489 63 / 24 347 67; email ichotel@blueline.mg; http://www.madagascar-ichotel.com)
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:23 am
Accommodation in Antananarivo Outskirts:
Hotel Ibis Antananarivo is a new spaceship of a hotel (the Ibis group’s 835th) opened in 2009 in the north of the city. It has 174 rooms on six floors, with flat-screen TV, internet connection, minibar and safe. (Rte des Hydrocarbures, Akorondrano; tel 23 555 55; email H6857@accor.com)
Daniel Austin said,
9 March 2011 at 11:22 am
Upper-Range Accommodation in Antananarivo Town Centre:
Tana Hotel is a new 3-star hotel with 31 rooms on two floors (the upper floor is non-smoking), double-glazed for quietness. Situated on Rue Rabehevitra between the BOA bank and Caveau nightclub – see map square E5 in Bradt Madagascar guide 10th ed, p147. (4 Rue Rabehevitra, Antaninarenina; tel 22 313 03/20/26; email tanahotel@moov.mg; http://www.tana-hotel-madagascar.com)
Daniel Austin said,
6 March 2011 at 7:46 am
The MadaSmiles office has moved. It is no longer in Isoraka. The new office is opposite Moonlight Hotel on Rue Rainandriamampandry (map square F1 in Bradt Madagascar 10th ed, p147). Go up the steps from the Pavillons de Zoma, turn left at the top, and the office is on the right after 200 metres.
MadaSmiles offer road transfers between major towns and national parks in all areas of Madagascar, as well as boat transfers on the Pangalanes Canal, the crossing to Ile Sainte Marie, and between Toliara and Anakao. Also vehicle hire (4×4 or minibus).
Contact: mob 032 40 264 97 or 034 13 515 53; email madasmiles@yahoo.fr; http://www.madasmile.com
Daniel Austin said,
6 March 2011 at 7:32 am
Restaurant Le Sud in Isoraka has closed down. But very close by is Zébu Original Bistrot, a recommended bar and restaurant with Wi-Fi (open daily 11.00-22.30; 28 Rue du Docteur Villette, Isoraka; tel 22 299 97; mob 033 14 683 95; email zebu.original.bistrot@gmail.com).
Daniel Austin said,
5 March 2011 at 10:11 pm
Soarano railway station now has a Madagascar National Parks Ecoshop, which sells T-shirts, maps of many of the national parks and some books. (mob 034 49 400 55; open 09.00-18.00 daily)
Next door is the combined office of Madarail, operators of the Tana to Toamasina railway line, and an information desk of ONTM – Madagascar national tourist office (tel 24 519 80; email ontm@ontm.mg; open Mon-Fri 9.30-16.30, Sat 9.10-19.00, Sun closed).
Elise Armitage said,
18 October 2010 at 9:35 am
I would highly recommend Chez Aina where I stayed for 5 weeks earlier this year June/July 2010 in Antananarivo. Aina is friendly and welcoming and will speak English if required (French is preferable). The hotel is in a quiet location down a back street which if this puts you off is easily reached by taxi.
Dinner is available as a three course (or smaller if you wish) meal at 8pm and reasonably priced. Single and double rooms are available inside the house but if you are looking for cheaper more dormitory style accommodation there are rooms located adjacent to the main house which have a communal kitchen, bathroom and sitting area. Aina is welcoming, friendly and is a wealth of local knowldge.
http://www.chezaina-maison-hote.com/
Pablo & Itziar said,
6 August 2010 at 1:52 pm
Transport to/from the airport
When arriving to the airport, if you do not want to bargain for the taxis are three options:
- Get your hotel to arrange a pickup service.
- get a “legal” taxi (aprox. 20.000-25.000 airary, but ask in the information desk or the exact prices just to be on the safe side) that will be waiting for you just by the exit (they will not come and hassle you as you leave the gate)
- or, even better, take Adema´s official Shuttle Bus, that leaves every time an airplane lands and takes you to the centre of the city stopping along the way on the requested hotels. It costs a flat 10.000 ariary (4€) and will drop you off, if you have not arranged any hotel, at the Hotel de France (right in the centre in Av. de la Independence, in the Analakely neighbourghood).
To get to the airport you can arrange a pickyp by Adema Navette by calling at 032 0706256 / 032 0706302. Although they seemed very professional and reliable when we arrived, when we needed to use their service to get back to the airport from town we called them, made an appointment and after 20 minutes of not showing up, we had to take a taxi to get to the airport… Therefore, we would not say their service is reliable…
Moving around the city
Buses cost 300 ariari. We found them easy to use, safe and best way to get to see how malagasy people move around the city. Tourism office can provide excellent information on lines and stops.
Visiting the city
If you are visiting the Haut Ville, and have no valuables and stuff and is day time you might want to continue walking all the way to a very beautiful viewpoint located about one kilometre ahead. Locals go there and there are a few bars and shops where to buy something to eat or drink while enjoying the views.
If you visit the zoo on Sunday, by far the most active day, do it after 2-3 PM. This is the time malagasy people come, after going to the church in the morning and after lunch. It closes at 5PM. Do not miss the dark room with cages for the night lemurs, they are great oportunity to spot these otherwise difficult to see animals.
Media and communication
POST OFFICE: The office where international parcels can be sent from is the one located at the neighbourhood of Tsaralalana (right behind Tana Plaza Hotel). The maximum weight is 2 kilos per package and you have to take all the stuff unpacked in order to be checked by the customs officials in the same building. If you could not get a box, they sell cardboard boxes for a minimal fee. The only way of sending parcels is by air mail, that will take about 10 days to reach Europe.