Ranomafana National Park Tickets and Tours

5-Day - RN7 Road trip tour to South Mangily Ifaty

8 day tour along the RN7

Together with our guide Princi and driver Lova we had an unforgetable journey through Madagascar. The operator was flexible and made sure we had a personalized trip to fit our schedule. We feel like we got to know the real Madagascar.

12 Days Private Tour in Madagascar

An intrepid journey!

On booking, Hajatiana Lionel organised every aspect of our wonderful journey with military precision. From the moment we were met at the airport to our departure. Our driver and companion was well informed and helped us feel that we were welcome guests in Madagascar rather than itinerant tourists. Some of our excursions required a fair degree of physical fitness/stamina. All rewarded us with spectacular views and equally spectacular flora and fauna. For us the lemurs and baobabs were merely a small, and amazing part of the overall experience. The roads were largely execrable and distances long. However travelling slowly suited us, for the scenery was just overwhelmingly beautiful. The small hamlets and villages fascinating. We chose to eat locally and the 'Hotelys' did not disappoint. For us hotels are merely places to sleep. Clean sheets, a shower and a simple breakfast were enjoyed at every stop. The icing on the cake was the wonderful 'café au lait' variants that came with each breakfast. Madagascan arabica coffee is up there with its Ethiopian and Kenyan counterparts. We chose not to spend too much time at the beach (we live by the sea). However the nights we did stay by the ocean suggested that this option would certainly not disappoint (sea food amazing). Overall, an amazing glimpse of parts of this huge and spectacular island. We left wanting more, wishing we had months rather than days in this wonderful country. Postscript. I think, weatherwise, arriving in early April was a stroke of luck. The rain in the rain forests was no deterrent!

Private Tour for the Highlights of Madagascar

Magnificent Madagascar

If you’re considering a visit to Madagascar, choosing Manitra (Nature & Culture Madagascar) is a smart first step. Your most important step, however, is to be very specific about your needs and expectations for your experience. Like many Americans, my only familiarity with Madagascar was the cartoon and its location off the coast of Africa. When I began planning an African safari, I thought I might as well add a trip to Madagascar since we were flying all that way. I anticipated a step down in services and infrastructure, but I was unprepared for the reality. I told Manitra I wanted to put our bags in the back of a four-wheel-drive vehicle and go, and that’s exactly the experience he created. My fantasy and reality, however, soon collided. Let’s start with the many wonderful things about Madagascar. The nature throughout the country is truly spectacular. We visited multiple rain forests and other amazing locations. Manitra and his team put together a very comprehensive private tour across the entire island, capturing the broad diversity of climates and scenery. We stopped to see several artists creating their crafts and experienced wonderful local food. Because of the French influence on the island, the baked goods throughout the country were a wonderful surprise. Everyone was very welcoming, and we felt safe everywhere we went. Our personal guide Ori and our driver took great care of us as we made our way across the country. I will never forget the awe-inspiring sights and sounds we experienced while trekking through one of the rain forests at night during a storm. Now the surprises. When we booked, the itinerary listed three- and four-star accommodation, which I thought would be fine. I didn’t realize that most hotels either don’t have air conditioning, or a limited number of rooms with air conditioning. We also had several hotels with no electrical outlets near the bed. One hotel had only one outlet, located in the bathroom above the sink mirror. At every hotel but one, we were able to upgrade to a room with air and other amenities for very little extra cost. When booking, be very specific about the amenities you require. There are nice hotels available, but you have to be specific. Phone service is also a challenge. The best cell service we experienced was 3G, with most coverage even worse. The good news is that many of the hotels and restaurants offer WiFi. We were also warned about the bad roads, but I thought they meant once we got off the main highway. Nope. All roads, including main roads between cities, are in very bad condition and will slow your travel tremendously. A drive that should take four hours on a good road can easily take more than twice that time. Again, just be prepared and you’ll have a great experience. Go with the flow. We arrived at the country’s main airport one day for a flight to another location, and it was literally on fire. Passengers, staff and police were all standing in the parking lot while firefighters dealt with an electrical fire. I panicked, but Manitra told us to be patient, and sure enough, about 45 minutes later they reopened and our flight went out on time. Don’t bother bringing US dollars. According to Manitra, US tourists represent less than 5% of their visitors. As a result, very few locals speak English, although most of the businesses and hotel staff could understand enough to help. Most locations accept Madagascar currency and Euros. Only the bigger restaurants and hotels accept credit cards, so have lots of currency on hand for expenses and tipping. Because of the high unemployment rate, there will be many locals trying to offer help for tips. I didn’t find it uncomfortable, but I definitely needed more cash at times. There are ATMs available at the airport and in the major cities. We used several that had low limits on the amount you can withdraw, so you may need to make several withdrawals. Insects are also a problem. Be sure and bring lots of bug repellant, preferably DEET. The mosquitos are everywhere, and several of the hotels only offer outdoor dining and bar options. Like in most developing countries, I wouldn’t recommend drinking the water or eating produce washed with local water. I got violently ill from eating ice cream at a high-end restaurant, so be very careful with what you eat and only drink bottled water. We also brushed our teeth with it. Perhaps the biggest surprise was electricity – or the lack of it. Power went out multiple times a day throughout our entire trip, including all hotels except for the one on solar power. I’d recommend you bring several power batteries with you for when you are in the vehicle and when the power goes out. Fast chargers worked the best. Overall, our vacation in Madagascar was spectacular. Manitra and his team put together a very comprehensive and thoughtful itinerary that gave us a real appreciation for the country and its people. I would definitely book with them again, especially now that I know what to ask for before I get there.