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Madagascar Travel Blogs

Background: Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner.

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By Jooly
April 5th 2007

Change of plan Africa » Madagascar

So, back in Fianar again. Hopefully I can say goodbye to this place for good soon. I got up as planned, and settled by the roadside to wait for the first taxi brousse back to Fianar. One of the guides settled in next to me and started to discuss the plan for me. He told me that, since I was going to Fianar in the morning, it would not be possible to do any walking in the forest in the day, as it would be the afternoon by the time I got back. Therefore, I would only be able to do [View Full Entry]

By SamZRule
April 4th 2007

Madagascar-Fun Finale: Dutchy and I travel Africa » Madagascar

Malagasy People

I should start by explaining that Dutchy is really called Marchien, and as you might guess she is from Holland. Marchien and I worked together on Manta Camp and like me she had some time left on her visa. So going sightseeing together seemed the right thing to do. After some not so studious planning, largely a lot of drinking and talking, we decided that’d we'd like to travel south of Tana, heading overland to Tulear and Ifaty on the SW tip of the island. Being the intrepid explorers we are, we packed our bags and, needless to say after [View Full Entry]

By Jooly
April 4th 2007

Fianarutsoooo Africa » Madagascar

Well, that's apparently the correct pronouciation of this, Madagascar's second city. I had found it slightly amusing that my guide book had described a visit to Tana as a chance to get a "glimpse into the edgy, urban side of Malagasy culture", but one look at Fianar was enough to get some perspective on that statement. It feels more like a huge village than a city, with clusters of banana trees and even small paddy fields right in the centre of town, but I do disagree with the Lonely Planet that it's dirty and disappointing. If I was planning to spend [View Full Entry]

By Jooly
April 4th 2007

Typed from notes written in my tent last night Africa » Madagascar

I have only just left Fianar, and already I have to return. Not that I'm especially drawn by the magnetism of the place, but due to shortsightedness on my part. On finishing the last installment of this blog I decided it would be prudent to get myself somewhere close to the bank for its opening at 2pm, lest there be horrendous queues. I thus stationed myself at the Zomatel salon du thÃ© (one of the town's business hotels and identical to every business hotel in the world ever) with a bottle of Coke purchased with my last remaining Ariary. I had [View Full Entry]

By Jooly
April 2nd 2007

Day 3 Africa » Madagascar

Well, I've been in Tana a couple of days now and I'm getting to know my way around (which is more than I can say for these French layout keyboards!). It's not a bad little city - all hills lined with terracotta buildings and streets filled with little Renaults, CitrÃ¶en 2CVs and battered 4WDs. It bustles moderately - more Abergavenny on a market day than Calcutta, as an example. More beggars though - unfortunately, many young children - and more aging French ex-pats with tucked in t-shirts and, more often than not, unreasonably young Malagasy girls on their arm. The sky [View Full Entry]

By Jooly
April 1st 2007

Greetings! Africa » Madagascar

I got safely into Tana late the night before last and am staying at the beautiful Hotel Sakamanga (blue cat in Malagasy). I spent most of Saturday sleeping off the journey and generally lazing, but today I plan to see a bit of Tana (closed though it is on a Sunday) and move on to a cheaper hotel. I shall write a proper entry soon, but my time online is about to expire. The adventure starts today! [View Full Entry]

By satch
April 1st 2007

First few days.... Africa » Madagascar

We spent the first day hiding in our hotel becquse tana is scary and busy and loads of people ask you in French for money and we didnt understand... :P We cqaught a flight from Tana to Diego at 6am on the 30th/31st (I forget which) and met a girl from the forest group called Rosanna. We met a coupàle more guys from frontier in Diego and hung out all day, saw the market etc. The power went out thqt night tho so we were at a restaurant with no lights and had to try and get ho,e in the dark [View Full Entry]

By satch
March 30th 2007

In Madagascar!! ...finally... Africa » Madagascar

We finally made it!!! We got to our hotel at about 1o'clock this morning after about 35 hours travelling. Our flight from Heathrow was delqyed for a couple of hours so we got to hqng out in a stuffy non-airconditioned departure gqte thing for ages before the plane was fixed qnd we could go. The flight was alright and we got to Mauritius (which is absolutely stunning!!) at 8 in the morning; so pip and I were hqppy thqt our 9 hour or so wait for the flight was now under 8. Through our long day wait we watcxhed ppl come [View Full Entry]

By moon
February 20th 2007

avy ny orana Africa » Madagascar

welcome once again to the red island. these days, the red island seems to be bleeding a bit more profusely into the ocean however. late december and early january were hit quite hard with cyclones along the coast and even in the plateau. for 4 days i could not get to Tsarazaza because the roads were flooded, water waist high and a current to reckon with. once i made it home, it seemed unlikely i'd ever be able to leave again! the rains continued long after the cyclones left us, bring rain for days on end. it is only now, late [View Full Entry]

By SamZRule
February 10th 2007

Madagascar - Work Travels Africa » Madagascar

Breakdown

I can safely say, that I well and truly landed on my feet with this little jaunt. As luck would have it, not long after I had decided to come back to Madgascar, I got an e-mail from the boss asking if I fancied doing something different for 3 weeks. The different being accompanying a group of 5 University students around Madagascar. This was an expedition the group were undertaking as part of their degree and I was to go along to be a responsible adult!!! Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and what else could an [View Full Entry]

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