The Highlands | The North | The East | The South | The West
Tulear to Morombe
© University of Texas
Ifaty/Mangily | Salary Bay | Andavadoaka | Lac Ihotry | Morombe
Ifaty -
Mangily
What to see and do | Where to sleep
The quiet coastal area of Ifaty, featuring the villages of Ifaty, Mangily and Mandio Rano is only some 25km north of Tulear, but the road is so bad that it takes about two hours to drive there! Compared to Anakao, which almost has the same characteristics, Ifaty has an easier access (and is more beautiful too). There are numerous hotels, mainly built out of traditional materials.
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| Sunsets
at Mozambique Channel can be so spectacular! © Madagascar Travel Guide |
For
travellers, this place is synonymous for relaxation and beautiful
beaches,
mostly welcomed after a long trecking tour. Indeed
the beaches are beautiful and its
closeness to Tulear, where most trips to the South end, make Ifaty a
well worth
trip to lay down on the beach and do some snorkelling. The reef does
not look
in great shape but beginners can still enjoy (you can observe wrasse,
box/cowfish, parrotfish, angelfish and pipefish).
A further
attraction for those missing Sainte Marie are the whales passing by in
July and
August, as well as an amazing spiny forest along the road just north of
Mangilly is well worth a look. If fact, we still prefer the more
untouched and
pristine beaches of the northern coast (
- Ambotsibotsike
This
village on the road to Tulear deserves a visit, because of its superb
mangrove. You can go on horseback, mountain bike on a quad. You can
come here
with a traditional vezo dugout.
- Reniala Private Reserve
Located
just 800
meters from the sea, Reniala is a small reserve managed by a local
organisation which protects a baobab and spiny forest where visitors
can observe rare birds and reptiles.
For
further information see Reniala Reserve
- Ranobe Lake
- Diving
The southwestern coast of Madagascar is, together with Nosy Be and Sainte Marie islands, the best place to practice diving and snorkeling in Madagascar. You find a detailed list of tour operators and diving centres based on this area on our section Diving and Snorkeling.
- Horse riding
The Ranch Solaris (http://www.ranch-solaris.com, mail: ranch@atimoo.com) offers horse rides and treks along the lagoon, to the Bay of Sainte Augutin and through a beautiful baobab forest.
Where to sleep (Hotels in alphabetical order, prices from 2011)
Budget | Middle-class | High-end
Budget accommodations
Chez Alex
Phone: 032 04 098 29
Different types of bungalows with sea views and a nice garden. Food is
average. Some activities arranged. Price for two people between 20,000
Ar and 40,000 Ar, depending on
facilities and location.
Chez Daniel
Small bungalows complex with hot water and shared toilet. Quiet
atmosphere and basic meals.
Chez Micheline
Simple bungalows with no running water or electricity. Restaurant with
basic meals. Very cheap!
Reniala Nature
Reserve
Basic bungalows with cold water and shared toilet. Recommended for bird
watching.
Mora Mora
11 simple but well maintained bungalows on a beautiful site with a nice
garden and a pool, with shared or private facilities. A
double
bungalow between 20,000 Ar and 50,000 Ar
Middle class hotels
Chez Cécile
(Sur la Plage)
Phone: +261 20 94 907 00
Mail: surlaplagechezcecile@yahoo.fr
Web: http://www.surlaplagechezcecile.com
Formerly Chez Freddy, very nice set of welcoming basic bungalows with a
popular beach bar and a great and cheap restaurant,
ideal to meet travellers. Friendly atmospehre and fair prices. Many activities offered. They
work together with a local organisation. Very good price-quality
relationship. Recommended.
Double bungalows from 20,000 Ar to 35,000 Ar, triple from 45,000 Ar to
75,000 Ar with kitchen.
Hôtel
Vovo Telo
Phone: 94 439 69 / 032 02 62 148
16 traditional, comfortable bungalows on a nice beach with coconut
trees. Good service and tasty meals in a charming restaurant
with sea views. There is also a disco. Small bungalows for 28
€ and big bungalows from 32 €.
Hôtel
Le Tonga Soa
Phone: 032 02 788 98
Web: www.hotel-letongasoa.com
Mail: contact@hotel-letongasoa.com
15 comfortable, traditional and pleasant bungalows with hot water,
private bathroom, safe and terrace on a beautiful location. There is a
pool, a tee lounge bar and a small library. Delicious meals. Very good
value. Recommended.
Price for two people between 25 and 35 €, suite bungalows from
45 €
La
Voile Rouge
Phone: 032 04 31 142
Mail: lavoilerouge@moov.mg
Pleasant and comfortable bungalows in a quiet and wild location.
Friendly atmosphere and excellent food. A lot of excursions arranged.
Price for two people from 38000 Ar to 60000 Ar, depending on the
facilities
High end hotels
Bamboo Club
Phone: 94 902 13 / 032 04 004 27
Web: www.bamboo-club.com
Mail: bambooclubifaty@gmail.com
24 pleasant, comfortable and well equipped bungalows in a fantastic
location right on the beach with a marvellous garden. Pool and dive
centre. The restaurant serves really good food. Recommended!
Price for a double bungalow from 34 €, a familiar
bungalow from 58 €
Ifaty Beach Club
Phone: + 261 20 94 914 27
Web: www.ifaty.com
Mail: ifatybeach@ifaty.com
Beautiful high standard bungalows complex on a nice setting. There is a
great pool surrounded by palm trees, hammocks, a dive centre, quads to
rent and
other activities. The food is great. Good value
Double bungalow for 38 €, triple bungalow 45
€, familiar bungalow 60 €
Hotel de la
Saline
Phone: 94 417 03 / 032 07 531 93
17 high standard and comfortable bungalows next to the beach, some with
fan and some with AC. Stunning views and delicious meals.
Price for a double bungalow 80000 Ar
Price for a familiar bungalow 170 000 Ar
Hôtel
Lakana Vezo
Phone: + 261 032 04 097 98 (book trough Hôtel Capricorne in
Tulear)
Web: www.madagascar-resorts.com
Mail: lakanavezo@madagascar-resorts.com
7 bungalows, 10 rooms and two studios of different categories and
prices, all of them large and pleasant with lots of comforts. The hotel
is located on a beautiful beach with a tropical garden. Many excursions
and sea activities organised ( great Club Nautique). Good food.
Bungalows from 27 € for one person to 52 € for four
people, a
studio from 30 € for one person to 66 € for five,
rooms from
30 € for one person to 44 € for three.
Les
Dunes
D’Ifaty
Phone: 20 94 914 80 / 20 22 376 69
Web: www.lesdunesdifaty.com
Mail: dunesifaty@shgi.mg
19 luxurious villas up to four people and 22 rooms (11 standard and 11
luxury) in the middle of a marvellous garden with an incredible pool.
Really sophisticated: lounge bar, disco, library, beach ball, horses,
excellent service. All type of trips and activities offered. Fantastic
restaurant serves superb meals. It is the best hotel in Ifaty.
Price for a villa between 90 € and 122 €, depending
on the season
Price for a standard room between 62 € and 82 €,
depending on the season
Price for a luxury room between 74 € and 100 €,
depending on the season
Half board 22 € Full board 36 €
Le Jardin de Beravy
Phone: + 261 (0)32 40 397 19
Mail: jardin.beravy@yahoo.fr
Web: http://www.hotel-jardindeberavy-tulear.com
5 charming rooms with private terrace on a quiet and beautiful
location, ideal for families with little children. The restaurant is
really fantastic. Several excursions, transfers to the airport in
Tulear and diving offered.
Double rooms for 35 €, triple for 40 €
Le
Paradisier
B.P. 490 Tulear 601
Phone: 032 07 660 09 / 20 94 429 14
Web: www.paradisier.net
Mail: paradisier@paradisier.net
21 high standard, large and bright bungalows and one luxury suite very
well equipped on a huge beach surrounded by a forest. Magnificent
location for animal watching and relaxing. Friendly atmosphere and a
great pool. The nice restaurant serves delicious meals.
Mangily
Hôtel
B.P. 333 Tulera 601
Phone: 94 421 97 / 32 02 554 28
Mail: info@mangily-hotel.com
20 charming, comfortable, bright and well equipped and decorated
bungalows right on the beach. There is a fantastic dive centre (Atimoo)
that organises all kind of diving and sea activities. Recommended!
Nautilus (Deep
Sea Club)
B.P. 519 Tulear
Phone: 20 94 418 74
25 very comfortable, modern and well equipped bungalows on a beautiful
beach with a brand new spectacular pool. Ideal for diving lovers (the
team is really professional). Very
good food.
Price for a single bungalow 55 €, a double 63
€ and a triple 75 €
Those who
prefer a rather quieter environment can chose some of the excellent
accommodations offered further north by the village of Ambolimailaka:
Mira de
Madio Rano
Mobile: + 261 (0)
32 02 621 44
e-mail: lamira.hotel@moov.mg
Web: http://www.hotel-lamira.com
Well
equipped hotel and restaurant with remarkably comfortable rooms and a
nice
panoramic view over the beach. Menu costs
about
Ar 30,000. A motor boat is available for fishing trips.
Single room 58 €, Double room 65 €, triple 78
€. Basic rooms with shared toilets for 16 €
Mangosteen
A set of
small very basic bungalows at Ar 10,000 for two.
Au
soleil couchant
Phone: +261 (0)32 47 360 15
Mail: mailto:hotelsoleilcouchant@moov.mg
Web: http://www.hoteltulear-ausoleilcouchant.com
Hotel
Bellevue
e-mail: hotel_bellevue2@yahoo.fr
This new nice complex overlooking the Vezo village of Ambolimailaka
offers
seven rooms with fan and private facilities (with hot water), all set
in a
green garden planted with flowers. Prices are Ar 90,000
a double, Ar 110,000
for three and Ar 120,000 for four guests. Meals cost Ar 25,000.
Hotel de la
Plage
Mobiles: + 261
(0)32 04 362 76 / + 261 20 94 90 692
e-mail hotelplagetulear@blueline.mg
Web: www.hotelplage-tulear.com
Shortly
after the village this charming hotel offers fourteen high standard
very comfortable
bungalows. Menu costs Ar 25.000. Transfers provided
to
Tulear. You can take advantage too of the many activities proposed like
quad
rides, horse-riding, fishing, diving (the hotel has an own fully
equipped sailing
club is), windsurfing etc.
A bungalow costs between 46 and 80 €
Heading further North
The coastline
sand track from Ifaty to Morombe is probably one of the best
rides you will ever take in
Ankasy Lagon Lodge
& Spa
Phone: +261 (0)32 05 400 42
Mail: resa@ankasy-lodge-spa.com
Web: http://www.ankasy-lodge-spa.com
Brand new luxury accommodation opened in 2010 and still
being
built. The huge bungalows are just superb, the location
spectacular, the meals delicious and all kind of activities and water
sports arranged. Everything semms to be perfect here!
Chez
Odilon
Phone: +261 (0)32 04 105 45
This much basic set of bungalows is located on the village of
Tsiandomba, another little vezo community. The hotel is simple and the
meals very cheap, so this is a good choice for budget
travellers.
Salary Bay
Salary is a true gem with probably the nicest totally wild beach of the whole country. It takes about 4 hours to get here from Tulear on a 4x4. Though of course you can hire here a pirogue from Ifaty, though the piroguier will definitely charge you much more than someone from Salary (which is by far less touristy) will do. The best way is hiring a 4x4 or travelling by taxi-brousse to Salary and then hiring a pirogue for the return way (which is likely to be done in two days)
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| The beach in Salary © Madagascar Travel Guide |
If you are
on a short budget and decide that taking the taxi-brousse is the best
option,
truck-brousses head to Salary making a two-hour stop in
Manombo, where you'll
have to change the car. If
you're lucky, you can do it the same day (check in Toliara station). If
not,
you can find accommodation in Manombo. It should take about 12 hours.
The
taxi-brousse ride ends in Salary Atsimo (Salary South), where there are
some overpriced
basic bungalows (Chez Jean Louis) belonging to the local kingpin, who
is unfortunaltey
said to make some tourist exploitation, inflating prices and even
charging of
items never consumed by the guests. A much nicer place to overnight
both for
the superb location of the bungalows, set over white-sanded dunes, as
also for
the five kilometres of pristine beach is Salary Avaratra (Salary
North). To get
there just walk the two kilometres on the seaside track and ask for
Francesco’s
home (salaryfrancesco@yahoo.it). Francesco, an Italian
fishermen married who is living here for 15 years,
has built 5 nice bungalows on the seaside with either private or common
facilities. He will help you organizing expeditionary trips to Mikea
villages 5
kilometres inland. You can also accompany him on fishing trips aboard
his Vezo
pirogue and even sail north to the nice Baie des Assassins (where many
galleons
stranded here long time ago) and even further north to the main village
of Andavadoaka
(such a return trip will take about 4 days and will lead you through
some
extraordinary diving places). His Malagasy wife Claire is an
exceptional cook
and bakes break herself. A really (still) untouched place to discover
by
individual travellers…
However,
the wild beauty of this unspoiled place at the very end of the world
has
already been discovered by some bigger enterprises. A new
hotel of the luxury
price class mostly attracting couples on their honey moon has been
opened
recently:
e-mail: salarybay@malagasy.com
Web: www.salarybay.com
The hotel
owners are the same that the Cotsoyannis in Fianarantsoa. It offers
full
comfort in
ten nice bungalows, which all of them have a private veranda
overlooking the
blue lagoon. Prices range between 70 € and 80
€ a double
depending
on the season. A meal costs around 16 €. Half-pension is
compulsory! Activities
offered are canoeing and diving.
Of course you can also bivouac on the beach… If you intend to do so, bring your own bottled water! You can buy fish from the villagers and even let your meal prepared by a Vezo woman (for a fee). We really do not have to mention that it is absolutely essential that you take your rubbish with you!!
At the small vezo
The Floma Hotel
Ambatomilo (http://www.hotel-floma.com)
is simple, pleasant, comfortable and inexpensive: a double room costs
20,000
Ar. The location is as spectacular as in other points of this region,
but maybe
even more peaceful. It is a very good place to practice snorkelling!
Andavadoaka
| Andavadoaka
is a “large” Vezo village counting about 1,200
inhabitants and a big market
that attracts Mikea farmers coming to sell some of their crops. Its
setting on
a really nice bay makes a large part of its attractive, though the
authentic
Robinson Crusoe feeling is gone long ago. Three tourist complexes and
an
increasing number of Vazaha visitors have contributed to the lost of
some of the
old charm of the village. It is still however a well-worth place to hang around a couple of days, explore some fabulous diving-sites and walk through a fantastic baobab forest, where these amazing trees grow in the most incredible shapes. Andavadoaka is also the base place for the research activities conducted by the NGO Blue Ventures (www.blueventures.org), dedicated to the development of sustainable conservation programs for the unique reef ecosystem of the lagoon. |
 Vezo fisher with his
boat© Madagascar Travel Guide |
(Hotels in alphabetical order, prices from 2011)
The owner
is the same Indian that owns the two hotels in Morombe. Basic
accommodation
that usually hosts volunteers coming to work for Blueventures.
Manga
Lodge
Phone: + 261 (0) 32 05 330 09
E-mail: madamangalodge1@yahoo.fr
Another welcoming
lodge of the high price standard. Comfortable bungalows with views over
the lagoon in a isolated and wonderful place. Restaurant serves good
meals.
Single bungalow for 24 €, double for 28 €, triple for
36 € and familiar for 44 €
Since
diving is of course the priority of most visitors, the italian couple
Italo and Nina manage the diving center Madablu,
which works together with both hotels Manga lodge and Coco
beach
(See www.madablu.com Phone: +261 (0)34
3819236) Tours
to the baobab
forest and to the Ihotry lake (see below) are also proposed.
Lake Ihotry
Morombe
Morombe,
a small city enclave between Toliara and Morondava, is the capital of
the Vezo people and its economical centre. It is located some 350 km
north of
Toliara and its relatively inaccessibility makes it to be a rarely
visited town
by foreigners. It is connected to the capital (via Toliara or
Morondava) twice
a week (check with Air
Hotel Baobab
Tel: + (0) 261 20 22 427
01
e-mail: luxxor@blueline.mg
Twenty nice bungalows on the seaside
Le Crabe
Phone: + 261 (0)32 48 411 45
Mail: baynbb@yahoo.fr
More basic bungalows by the sea
Pirogue
d’Or
Tel: (+ 261) 32 02 147 24
e-mail: morombe98@yahoo.fr
Web: http://www.piroguedormorombe.com
Probably the best hotel in Morombe. The 16 bungalows have hot water and
some of them private facilities, the restaurant serves local and french
food.
