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 signposting and appropriate assistance for travelers are almost always sought 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 absolutely want to rent a car for self-driving. Their experiences in countries like Namibia, South Africa or elsewhere lead them to the insane opinion that one can also reach the destination in Madagascar well as a self-driver. 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 drive with a rental car is a tempting alternative.
We strongly advise renting a car including driver for several reasons!

While the driver can assist with hotel reservations and general logistics, it is not a tour guide who handles the complete planning and logistics of a trip.
For one thing, a driver's local and language skills are practically irreplaceable. Especially in remote regions, you can get lost very quickly and get into serious trouble. No GPS will help - especially since there are no exact, 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, people, feathered cattle, dogs and other inhabitants of the red island often appear on the lane. The risk of an accident is incomparably higher than in Europe!
While it is almost normal to kill a chicken or to graze a dog while driving, we don't even stop for that. More problematic are accidents involving people: 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 many roadside 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 don't know your way around!
And finally, you always have to expect a breakdown or simply impassable routes. Without a driver who can order help and spare parts via his cell phone, you're practically out of luck!
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 add to 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 relevant 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 that is particularly close to our hearts.
Comfort and safety are indispensable components of a successful trip. Therefore, 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 you travel safely through the country.

The prices below are valid for paved roads and easy slopes, for more demanding slopes tours the price is calculated on an individual basis.

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