Madagascar!
Even the word Madagascar shouts out adventure! Madagascar is that mysterious island on the side of Africa, familiar from my childhood adventure books and board games!
Actually traveling there did not seem very likely to me, much less touring the island on a motorbike. But now it is becoming a reality!
How much more exited could one be?!?
Our flight from Paris to Madagascar Antananarivo Ivato international airport arrived late in the evening. First items on the arrival list are the usual hassles of queuing to customs, exchanging local currency and finding the right SIM card. This is a small airport, services are few and customers arrive in bulk when international flights arrive. Ours was the last landing for the day.
Thankfully after the long flight, everything is easy to find, just need a bit of patience to get it all sorted. Money from the currency booth, (there is one ATM) and SIM-card from one of the two vendors.
Obtaining the SIM card takes a while, since they are not just handed over, but paperwork is meticulously prepared and the phone is also set up correctly to use the desired network.
It never seizes to amaze me how they can take any phone in any language, navigate through the menus to the right place on the phone, set everything to use the local providers and finally activate the SIM with text messages. You just need make sure that the SIM covers the area you are about to travel, although the coverage was pretty good anywhere we went.
The night is warm and taking in the first impressions of a new country is always memorable. We were now six and waiting for everyone to get their basics sorted gives some time to sit outside and to observe the airport life and to breath in the warm and fragrant Malagasy air.
Observing the airport porters is fun. Help is at hand if you need some with your luggage. And also if you don’t. There are some very active porters aggressively helping tourists and they come in herds. I guess now is the time to get some hefty tips before the tourists get an understanding of the costs and the level of tipping in the new city. Porters are happy to suggest a rate, which is easily ten times what would be the actual norm. Understandably the porters mainly go for the tourists just arriving.
2CV as a Taxi!
Our Madagascar experience starts from the first contacts with the locals at the service counters, porters and with our driver, who took us to our hotel in an impressive classic 1970’s Volkswagen Kleinbus. This Kleinbus was not something that would have been restored as a novelty for the hotel but a working vehicle.
The city is like an automobile museum of a kind, particularly if you like French classics such as Citroen 2CVs and Renault 4s. A number of older Peugeots as well. Should you fancy a ride in one of those, it’s easy since they are virtually all taxis!
Our hotel is modern and comfortable. The arrival beers from the room minibars (restaurants are already closed) and we congregate to the lobby for arrival beers and comparing first impression and making plans for exploring the city the following day.
Everyone can feel the anticipation for the coming days in the air.
Madagascar and Antananarivo Facts
Madagascar is an island some 400 km off the southeast coast of Africa and the fourth largest island in the world. It is separated from the African continent by the Mosambique channel. Island’s land area is 587,041 sq km and population some 29 million. Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, which explains the French influence. French is also widely spoken here. Malagasy is the local language though.
Since gaining its independence, the island has experienced political instability, including coups and violent unrest. The coup in 2009 led to five years of political deadlock, international condemnation and economic sanctions.
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