Madagascan Discoverer

Guide

Tour leader/support staff throughout

Meals

Food standards in Madagascar can vary and are probably not of the same standard you are used to at home. A one-course lunch/dinner should cost 21,930-32,890 Madagascan ariary (US$5-US$7.50) while a three-course lunch/dinner should cost 49,340-65,790 ariary (US$11.20-US$15). Please allow approximately 1.4m ariary (US$320) for meals not included, plus a little more if you enjoy a drink with dinner. Malagasy lager is reasonably priced and readily available. Malagasy wine is also reasonably priced but is not to everyone’s taste. It is sometimes possible to get hold of French or South African wine. A delicacy in Madagascar is the various flavoured rums, which are widely sold and very reasonably priced. Please note, if you do not eat fish or meat, your food options will be rather limited (ie omelette, cheese, pasta, vegetables and rice) on this trip. Breakfasts are usually simple: eggs, a baguette, jam and coffee or tea, and sometimes fruit. You may wish to bring something to supplement your morning meal (spread, peanut butter etc).

Others

All listed activities

Accommodation

We use tourist-class hotels throughout the trip, which are simple but comfortable. Most have mosquito nets in the rooms. Although all the hotels are said to have a reliable electricity and water supply there may be instances in which you experience some gaps in supply – this is more a reflection of life in Madagascar than the standard of the hotel. There is wifi in most of the hotels but often this is only in the communal areas.

Transport

Travel is mainly by small private bus. Most of this trip is on well-surfaced roads with only the occasional poor and bumpy section in the national parks. There are several days where the drives are long but we make plenty of stops along the way. There are two internal flights, one from Antananarivo to Morondava and one from Tulear to Antananarivo. We also take 4x4 vehicles from Morondava to Bekopaka and back again. We use 4x4 vehicles on this section of the trip as the road is a dirt road and very uneven (though the surrounding landscape and destination more than make up for it). This itinerary also includes the use of pontoon ferries, which do not (typically) offer emergency safety equipment such as flotation devices. We have risk assessed these crossings and find them to be low risk. However, if you are concerned about this aspect please consider an alternative trip, as we are unable to facilitate the provision of Western safety equipment. The driving distances are as follows. Approximate driving time including stops in brackets: Antananarivo to Andasibe: 85mi (135km); four to five hours Morondava to Kirindy: 37mi (60km); dirt road, two hours Kirindy to Bekopaka: 110mi (175km); dirt road, seven hours’ driving plus one-hour ferry crossing Bekopaka to Morondava: 145mi (235km); dirt road, 10 hours’ driving plus one-hour ferry crossing Morondava to Antsirabe: 295mi (475km); 12 hours Antsirabe to Ranomafana: 155mi (250km); 10 hours Ranomafana to Fianarantsoa to Ranohira: 230mi (370km); 11 hours Ranohira to Ifaty: 170mi (275km); six hours

Others

— Travel insurance — Single accommodation (available on request) — Visas or vaccinations — Flights

Flights

Flights are not included

Optional

Other activities and services are not included

Insurance

Insurance is not included