Every trip to Madagascar stands and falls with successful logistics. As a developing country, Madagascar has all the typical phenomena that make a trip more difficult than in other parts of the world. These include not only the often very bad roads and tracks, which in some areas change their course from year to year. Also a signposting and corresponding assistance for travelers one looks almost always in vain.
If you don't necessarily want to travel around the country with the typical shared cabs, the "cab brousses", which is not without risk and stress, you will hardly get around renting a car!
There are always people interested in Madagascar who want to rent a car to drive themselves - their experiences in countries like Namibia, South Africa or elsewhere lead them to the erroneous view that one can also drive in Madagascar as a self drive reach their destination well. Since in most cases a four-wheel drive car is required and these people have a fair command of the often not easy operation of such vehicles, the fallacy is obvious that an individual trip with a rental car is a tempting alternative.
We strongly advise renting a car including driver for several reasons!

The driver can assist with hotel reservations, general logistics but is not a tour guide who takes over the complete planning and logistics of a trip.
On the one hand, the local and language skills of a driver are practically irreplaceable, especially in remote regions you get lost very quickly and get into serious trouble, no GPS helps, especially since there are no accurate, detailed maps!
On the other hand, it is the rule that the roads are also walked by herds of cattle, in the villages or even outside often appear people, feathered cattle, dogs and other inhabitants of the red island on the lane, the risk of an accident is incomparably higher than in Europe!
While it is almost normal to kill a chicken or a dog on the road, you don't even stop for that. More problematic are accidents involving people: a liability insurance in our sense does not exist, as a white tourist you quickly find yourself in enormous trouble in such a case. This may mean imprisonment and immense costs!
In addition, there are the many road checks by uniformed people who often just want to "cash in" because something is allegedly wrong with the vehicle documents - this is annoying and costs time and money if you do not know exactly!
And finally, you always have to expect a breakdown or simply impassable routes, without a driver who orders help and spare parts via his cell phone you are then practically lost!
It is not for nothing that hardly anyone in Madagascar rents a car without a driver, the few agencies that were on the market in the past with this difficult business model have learned from painful experience and no longer do this.
The costs for the driver are extremely moderate and hardly affect the total price, they are included in the rental price anyway. We employ only reliable and competent drivers, who know the country and its people and, on top of that, are fluent in at least one foreign language spoken by the guests. A German speaking tour guide can join the trip for an extra charge.
The technical condition of our vehicles is a point , which is particularly close to our hearts...
However, comfort and safety are indispensable components of a successful trip, so our vehicles are intensively maintained and cared for - for this, our drivers may not wash the cars every day, as do the drivers of the countless rust buckets that are on the road in the country and bring the travelers more poorly than not to their destination (or not).

We will select the right type of vehicle and driver for you and ensure that they travel safely through the country - just ask us!

Conditions for car rental in Madagascar 

Rent

The appropriate vehicle is rented in Antananarivo or exceptionally in Antsirabe, the driver is at your disposal from 6 am until about 7 pm. The car cannot be used at night, except in case of emergency. The cost of gasoline is not included in the indicated price. The kilometers are unlimited.

Expenses for the driver

All costs for the driver (food and accommodation) are included in the price.

Gasoline :

The cost of gasoline is paid by the renter, the car starts the tour with a full tank and is refueled by the renter at the end of the trip with a full tank.

Return of the vehicles

All vehicles must return to their starting point. The round trip of the vehicles will be calculated as follows: Antsirabe or Fianarantsoa to Antananarivo (one day), Tulear to Antananarivo (2 days), Tamatave to Antananarivo (1 day), Morondava to Antananarivo (2 days), Fort Dauphin or Diego Suarez to Antananarivo (3 days). The cost of gasoline for the return trip is paid in full by the renter.

Solutions for possible breakdowns

Although we attach great importance to vehicles that are as good as new or at least in perfect condition, breakdowns are always possible in road conditions. A replacement vehicle will be provided and sent to the area where the breakdown occurred in the best possible time. The corresponding days where the guests have to wait for the replacement car will not be charged.

Down payments

After the firm reservation, a deposit of 30% of the total price is due.

Payment

The final invoice must be paid in full before the start of the tour.

Prices

The basic prices indicated are calculated only for the paved roads, in the case of slopes there are surcharges corresponding to the degrees of difficulty which are calculated individually when planning the trip.