Driving From Andasibe To Antananarivo, Madagascar

Intro

Is it just me, or is Antananarivo one of the most difficult capitals in the world to spell😅??

Well, following a very short time in Andasibe, it was time to head back to the capital to go and explore what Antananarivo (there it is again) had to offer, including the slums and visiting a local house. 

Now, if you are thinking about heading to Andasibe, the most efficient way to get there is driving from the capital, a whopping 4 hours through winding roads. It’s no small feat, and while I didn’t review it on the outbound leg, the leg back is practically the same.

The Experience

Heading off from the Mantadia Lodge, we embarked on the long drive through the beautiful backcountry of Madagascar. To say it was green would be an understatement, as the views were something out of a movie. 

It's a one-lane road the whole way to the capital

The coolest part about Africa is running into random houses in the middle of nowhere

Minus being stuck behind a very large number of trucks, there wasn’t much to report on for the first hour before arriving at a small town. The roads are extremely narrow, barely scraping by the inbound car as if a 30cm gap would crack if it were placed between. However, if there is one thing you should know about drivers in Africa, they are some of the best. 

The most random places in the world are the most beautiful

A whole banana truck!

Fancy doing some shopping?

A small shop where you can buy what you need

Continuing on the adventure, it was fascinating to see adults and children walking home from school, collecting water, or even walking between towns. While Madagascar might be an island off of Africa, it still has that African charm. Approximately 2 hours in, we came across a small town and decided to make a stop to pick up some supplies and beer.

The small town we stopped at halfway through

Gas actually isn't that cheap here, probably because it is an island

People walk for multiple KM at a time to return home

And from there on out, it was simply stunning all the way. The winding roads, going around a corner, and seeing a drop-dead gorgeous view you would never have expected. However, there were some occasions when traffic became bad, but it wasn’t due to the number of cars on the road; it was due to trucks having to go slow when going up a mountain. 

If you happen to travel here, definitely try out the THB beer

The backcountry of Madagascar

Antananarivo is a very spread out city, this was taken 30 minutes before the Radisson Blu

Kids playing on the street in the capital

4 hours and 10 minutes after departure, we arrived at the Radisson Blu around 6:00 pm, just in time to watch the beautiful sunset over Antananarivo.

Radisson Blu Antananarivo

Final Thoughts

If you are thinking about heading out to Andasibe, the easiest way to get to and from the capital will be by driving. While the drive at times might get frustrating, being behind truck drivers, the views are some of the best you will come across in the world. 

Side note: we had a guide when we were there, which we paid 75 USD per day, plus fuel. From what I understand, a taxi between the two from a local will cost about 40-60 USD one way, while a taxi arranged from a hotel is a little more.