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Morondava
What to see
The laidback atmosphere
of this
coastal town is
felt all over the city. The local market is well worth a visit
(interesting
lambaony fabrics). A usual exploration of the city starts normally at
the
airport, whose name, Anstakoameloky, has a weard origin and means
"angry
tree" (apparently an European pilot could not manage well the landing
of
his aircraft and crashed onto a tree, that was awaken to life and
reacted in an
aggrieved manner...) While we approach the city centre we pass throuh
the
boroughs of Tsimavao Bet and Tsimavao Kely. In Namahora Nord the second
most
imporant market of the city is held. The city centre, called Bazary Be,
is a
lively compound of narrow streets full of strident merchants and street
vendors. Nosy Kely, on the seashore, is the actual
tourist borough.
To get to hte village of Betania, you can hire a pirogue at the Hellot
port.
Morondava has of course its own
beaches, though
due to the strong streams, the are no suitable for bathing. If you are
on a
dolcefarniente mood, head to the beaches of Betania, Bosy and Ankevo.
- Analaiva
Every Wednesday the biggest
zebu market of the
region is held in Analaiva, a small village 25 km from Morondava.
- The baobabs’ Alley (19 Km)
 © Madagascar Travel Guide |
Baobabs are usually solitary trees, standing tall and proud in the midst of empty spaces. Yet in Baobab Alley, they cluster together forming an avenue of columns that border the dirty road. |
With their massive trunks, crooked branches and furry fruit, baobabs have learned how to adapt to a dry and hostile environment. The secret of the baobab's success in surviving in harsh environments and the reason for its massive trunk is that it has little wood fibre but a large water storage capacity. Each tree can hold up to 300 litres of water, enabling it to live through long periods without rain. The life-cycle of these unique natural oddities is as impressive as their bulk - most live over 500 years! For the people of the Menabe region (Menabe means literally “very red” –as soon as you walk on the vermilion tinted soil of this part of Madagascar you will know why), the baobabs are their symbol and their pride. But baobabs are also endangered. The encroachment of nearby rice paddies and sugar-cane plantations means the giant trees are being exposed to too much water, which is really bad news for these giants. A way to promote the awareness of the local inhabitants and facilitated their protection would be involving the local population into an ecotourism project. There are plans of charging entrance fees, set up a shop and train members of the community to share their knowledge and cultural beliefs about the baobabs with interested visitors. Right now, these are only rumours, and the only price visitors have to pay for admiring this stunning natural spectacle is a painful back after 20 km bumpy drive. The best time to visit these gentle giants is at twilight, when their stark silhouettes form a spectacular contrast to the soft, calming colours of sunset. The flowering period is between February and March.
 |
| Sunrise at the Baobabs Alley © Madagascar Travel Guide |
-
Kirindy Forest
See under Kirindy reserve
-
Funeral sites Sakalava Vezo
The visit of these burial sites is subject to prior authorization by
the local
administration. It is imperative to be accompanied by a guide because,
in
addition to the difficulties of access, there are many taboos aroundt
these
sites.
-
Mangily tombs
These tombs are only accessible during the dry season because of the marshy area.
Morondava is the core of the Sakalava culture and its awasome rites. During the dry seson funerary ceremonies recalling the famadihana take place, as well as the circumsion festivities. But the most "exotic" tradition is certainly that of the "tromba": a tromba is the spirit of an ancestor that takes possession of the body of a medium, who is usually also the main religious authority of the place. Getting permission of attend one of this possession ceremonies might be hard, but it will be doubtless a memory for your entire life. In addition to religious festivigties, Morondava is also the centre of the Sakalava fight, which is also practised in Diego.
Baobab
The office is inside the Baobab Café. Good
range of vehicles and excursions to Kirindy, Tsingy (including flights
over the
region), deep-sea fishing. Competent service, prices are maybe a little
bit
high.
Renala "Au sable
d´Or"
Located at the entrance of the Renala hotel (see below), they offer
transfers by boat to Belo sur Mer and excursions to Kirindy, Mangily,
Belo sur mer, Tsingy or Tsiribihina river.
Phone: 95 523 47 / 032 47 32 670
Email: info@remoterivers.com
Based at the Chez Maggie Hotel (see below) offering quality excursions
with multi-lingual naturalist guides. Along with the highlights of the
Menabe (western) Region including the Tsingy de Bemaraha, Kirindy
Forest Reserve, Tsiribihina and Manambolo Rivers they offer programs
throughout the island. They rent vehicles as well. Prices are more
affordable!
Madaconnection
(Le Relais de Morondava, Nosy Kely)
Phone: +261 20 24 248 02 / +261 (0)34 11 409 02
Web: http://www.madaconnection.com
http://www.madagascar-insolite.com
Mail: info@madaconnection.com
They organise 3 days tours to the Tsingy with brand new 4x4 (110
€
without accommodation and meals) and Tsiribihina´s descent
for
300 €. Departures guaranteed with 4 people.
Madamora Tours
Phone: 032 02 36 120
Web: www.mada-mora.com
Mail: info@mada-mora.com
High standard vehicles for discerning
customers. Professional service in all tours they organise: Tsingy,
Kirindy,
journey along the coast till Tulear.
(Hotels in alphabetical order, prices from 2011)
|
Chez Maggie Phone: 95 523 47 / 032 47 32 670 Web: www.chezmaggie.com Mail: info@chezmaggie.com |
Budget | Middle range | High end
Budget accommodations
Hôtel
Central
Phone: 95 520 81 / 032 05 621 02
10 comfortable and basic rooms with hot water and fan on the main
street.
Price for two people from 16000 Ar
Hôtel
le Batelage
Phone: 95 527 32
8 comfortable and basic rooms with private bathroom and hot water, some
with fan and some with AC
Price for two people from 20000 Ar to 27000 Ar
Le Cheval de Mer
Phone: 032 04 703 91
6 basic, clean and comfortable rooms with private facilities, fan and
cold water. Good value.
Price for two people 28,000 Ar
L’Oasis
Route de Batelage
Phone: 95 527 81
4 basic bungalows with private bathroom. Really friendly and relaxed
atmosphere. The restaurant is very popular and serves cheap and
excellent meals.
Price for two people 18000 Ar
Zoom
Hôtel
Phone: 95 520 59
10 basic but pleasant rooms with hot water, some with AC. Good quality
report.
Price for two people between 18,000 Ar and 28,000 Ar.
Middle class hotels
Hôtel
Morondava Beach
Phone: + 261 20 95 523 18
Web: www.hgi-mbeach.com
Mail: mbeach@blueline.mg
15 welcoming and functional bungalows at different prices depending on
the comforts and facilities. Beautiful
location right on the beach. Different excursions offered. The
restaurant is very good.
Double bungalow with fan and cold water 10 €, familiar for 15
€
Double bungalow with fan and hot water 15 €, familiar for 19
€
Hôtel
Les Philaos
Phone: 95 520 81
20 comfortable rooms, some with a small kitchen. Nice atmosphere and
friendly staff.
Price from 25000 Ar with fan to 40000 Ar with AC.
Les
Bougainvilliers
Phone: 95 521 63
8 bungalows and 12 rooms with different prices and facilities (fan or
AC, cold or hot water, en-suite or shared bathroom), all of them are
clean and comfortable. Nice setting by the sea. Very good food.
Activities and trips to tsingy arranged.
Price from 8 € to 18 €
Trecicogne
Hôtel
Phone:+261 95 924 25
web: http://www.hoteltrecicogne.com
Mail: trecicogne@moov.mg
14 welcoming, clean and comfortable rooms in an nice area by the water,
some with cold water and fan, some with hot water and AC. Friendly
atmosphere. The restaurant serves delicious meals. Recommended!
Price for two people from 21,500 Ar to 46,000 Ar, depending on the
facilities.
High End hotels
Chez Maggie
Phone: 95 523 47 / 032 47 32 670
Web: www.chezmaggie.com
Mail: info@chezmaggie.com
12 unique bungalows and 2-story Chalets with a magnificent location
directly on the beach. A relaxed and secluded setting with extensive
tropical gardens and a small swimming pool. All rooms are large, nicely
decorated and very comfortable. The restaurant is really good. Offering
excursions throughout the region (same owners as Remote River
Expeditions). Free Wifi internet for guests. English spoken!
Price for a double bungalow between 35 € and 50 €
Baobab
Café
Phone: + 261 20 95 520 12
Web: www.baobabtour.com
Mail: baobabtours@blueline.mg
30 high standard and very comfortable rooms with AC, hot water,
mini-bar, satellite TV and fridge. It is probably the best hotel in
town. It has a large pool and a billiard room too. Great variety of
excursion organised (flight over the tsingy on a private plane,
deep-sea fishing, ship trips). Very good restaurant.
Price for a room between 32 and 60 €
Palissandre Cote Ouest
Phone: +261 20 95 520 22
Mail: palissandrecoteouest@gmail.com
Web: www.palissandrecote-ouest.com
This is nowadays the most luxurious hotel in Morondava. Recently opened
in 2008, it has 30 huge bungalows with all comforts (private terrace,
satellite TV, minibar, safe), a spa centre and a great pool facing the
sea. All kind of sport activities offered and trips organized.
Renala "Au sable
d´Or"
Phone: + 261 (0)32 04 976 88
Mail: contact@renala.net
Web: http://www.renala.net/
13 high standard wooden bungalows (fan or AC), 2 apartments and 4 rooms
(fan or AC), all
comfortable and tastefully furnished, with WIFI, satellite TV
on
a beautiful
and green location next to the sea. The restaurant serves
very
good food (especially seafood) and has day menu for 3
€.
Good value.
Price for a room 12 to 36 €, an apartment 23 to 41
€, bungalows from 19 to 60 €
Where to eat
La Campannina
Very popular restaurant serving excellent
Italian and local specialities on the beach road opposite The Lord
Club.
Recommended!
Popular snack bar among expats, ideal for
lunch. Not far from Central Hotel
Right on the beach, friendly atmosphere, good
food (delicious seafood) and incredible punch coco!
In town centre, small and quiet bar serving
pizzas, fresh fruits and cocktails.
Inexpensive place full of locals. Its
speciality consist of zebu steak and French fries. If you are missing
western
fast food this is your place.
The local craft products are very varied. You can find beautiful wooden funerary steles of the Sakalava and Vezo tribes, but of course they are a simple copy! Original funerary art cannot be exportet out of Madagascar. The craftshopf of the city centre offer all what any eager visitr might desire.
Morondava has a regular air
connection the
capital. The bureau of Air Madagascar is found on the road to the
airport (95
521 01/520 67).
The taxi brousse station is
found on the Avenue
de l'Indepenance, close to the petrol station Solima. You can come from
Antananarivo with a taxi brousse but the 700 km kilometres on a
terrible road
that separate both cities will be a true torture. If you really want to
avoid
flying and descending the Tsibirihinba on a pirogue is not an option
for you,
you might better to make the trip in stretches.
There is a coastal track to
Morombe on the
South, which is more or less easily passable during the dry season, and
completely unpassable during the wet season. A service of taxi-brousse
makes
the route to Tulear a 30 hour journey full of unexpected events!
Of course you can access
Morondava on a boat
too, since it is a port town! Cargos usually move between Toliara,
Maintirano,
Morombe and Morondava. They ofer a very basic confort but are a cheap
way of
travel. To enquire prices and schedules ask at Auximad, at the Les
Bougainvilliers Hotel or directy the boatmen at the port.
Madaconnection
(www.madaconnection.com,info@madaconnection.com) offers a scheduled mixed
car-boat service
connecting Tulear and Morondava and calling at Salary, Andavadoaka and
Morombe
on Saturdays.
Important information:
due to the present political crisis Madaconnection cannot offer this
tour in 2011
The first strech is made on a good maintain four-wheel
vehicle
until Salary, where an overnight is planned. On Sunday the spectacular
journey
is continued with the truck until the small and enchanting fishermen
village of
Andavadoaka, where a second night is spent. From Andavadoaka a speed
boat
carries the passengers via Morombe and Belo sur Mer until Morondava.
The boat
returns to Andavadoaka on Mondays. This three-day-adventure costs 180
€ p.
person.
The boat transfer between Morondava and Belo sur Mer is only possible
for those who have booked a circuit with Madaconnection.
Nightlife in Morondava is full of the sounds of kwassa-kwassa. There are a couple of pubs, a night club called My Lord (opposite to the restaurant La Capannina) and a cabaret on Fridays called L´Escale.
Practical guide
Mail: webmaster@alliancefr.mg vincentminquoy@yahoo.fr
Phone: 95 524 21
There are several Internet
Cafés in town, a
couple of them in Nosy Kely and some more in city centre, like
CyberEspace
opposite to Madabar.
Phone: 95 524 20
Banks
BFV-Société
Générale
Avenue de l`Indepéndance
Phone : 95 520 24
Corner of
Phone: 95 523 79
