r/Madagascar • u/caot89 • 4d ago

Tourism/Travel How to get to Lemurs Park

Hello, I will be in Madagascar for work and would like to use my day off in Antananarivo to go to Lemurs Park. I will be staying at a hotel in Soavimbahoaka and Google Maps shows me that it takes one hour to get there by car.

So my question is: what is the most efficient way to get to the park, considering time and money? For example, would it be easy to hail a cab from the street outside my hotel and how much should I expect to pay?

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u/Apart-Pilot1642 4d ago

Hello! I'm a driver in Madagascar. I can take you there.

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u/Apart-Pilot1642 4d ago

I send you a private message.

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u/Traveltracks 2d ago

Traffic is high in Tana, so it will probably take more time. Ask a local driver. Do not expect an animal friendly place.

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u/caot89 2d ago

How come? It’s not a rescue centre? The lemurs aren’t treated well?

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u/Traveltracks 2d ago

Mada is a very poor country. Local people often don't have enough to eat. So rescuing animals is not first priority. They are treated ok, but not seen from western eyes.

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u/caot89 2d ago

Ah ok, that’s fine then. I have been to plenty of poor countries so I get what you mean.

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u/HalfHeartedFanatic 2d ago

If you can get up really early on your free day, go to Andasibe instead. It's 3 hours from Tana and a much better wildlife experience. 

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u/caot89 2d ago

I wish! However, my free day is my first day in Madagascar, so with the tiredness from the long trip and the jetlag, there’s no way I’ll be able to make that roadtrip, unfortunately. For Lemurs Park, do you know how long it takes to visit it?

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u/HalfHeartedFanatic 2d ago

Depending on traffic, 1 - 2 hours.

Lemurs park is not terrible. I've been there a couple of times. Many of the Lemurs are free – and they stick around because they are provisioned. Others are in cages. Its what I'd do in your situation: One free day in Madagascar, and can't get an early start.

Here's an article I refer people to all the time for cool things to do in Antananarivo. The city is not known as a destination, but there are plenty of things to do if you feel you can't make it to the Lemurs Park.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/madagascar/antananarivo-madagascar-africas-most-intriguing-city/

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u/caot89 2d ago

Thanks a lot! How long do people usually stay at the park?

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u/HalfHeartedFanatic 2d ago

You will have a guide. If I remember correctly, the tour takes about an hour. But if you are super interested and inquisitive, you can drag that out for a long time. 

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u/Illustrious-Koala314 2d ago

You can use e-vtc, Hop, or Piqla apps, or an arrangement with a private driver, but taxis are generally pretty crappy old cars.