Tana to Tamatave
The first impact with the capital of Madagascar has been a bit harsh: cycling from the airport to the centre, I followed some cars into a busy street and found myself literally stuck in a huge market neighbourhood, squeezed between buses, cars, bicycles and pedestrians. Nobody could move anymore, and I had a small crowd pressing against me and the bike, trying to pick my pockets. Well, it was my own fault: I should have known better than to put myself in that situation!
Managing to extricate myself from the market without any loss, I made it to central Tana. The city is busy and lively, although I admit at first I did not like it particularly.
I left the day after, in the direction of Tamatave.
One of the main aims of my travel was to visit the North-East, riding along the coast to Maroantsetra. Unfortunately this region has a very humid climate, with lots of rain even outside the rainy season.
You can probably see where the story is leading: I spent 3 days riding in the rain to Tamatave, feeling quite miserable.
The track to Maroantsetra is renowned for its spectacular scenery and sorry state of disrepair, especially in case of heavy rain. After just another stormy night, I decided to change plans and headed to friendlier climates.
Having to abandon the road to Maroantsetra and the Masoala Peninsula was the only disappointment of this trip. Will have to go back some other time!
Mounting the bike after arrival in Antananarivo’s Ivato Airport
Broom seller on the road to Tana
Local laundry service
Getting stuck in the market area on my arrival in Tana. When I took this picture, I was still finding the situation quite funny.
Friendly encounters on the road to Tamatave
My first lemur sighting: the Indri-indri in Mitsinjo
A group of common brown-lemurs ransacking a ravinala tree
Profiting from the slope
When it rains, it’s for real
Arrival in Tamatave
Attempting to head North, road to Ivoloina
Lemurs at Ivoloina
Spending the night at the parks entrance - luckily with a roof over my head, since I am in for a 10-hour downpour...
Heading back to Tamatave
And the decision is made: back to the start by taxi-brousse, looking for the sun elsewhere!
For more pictures of Madagascar, click below:
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