One of the most memorable trips we took

Dec 2018 • Couples

We spent November and December with Nirina’s team. A memorable two months. I had spent some of my youth in Madagascar so my expectations were high and my requests pretty specific. Nirina was the only tour organizer who addressed each one of them and who took the time to explain why some were not possible. The trip was well organized. In two months, a few things will, of course, not go as expected but Nirina and his team were very prompt to make the necessary changes.
In Madagascar, you spend a lot of time in a car so good drivers are important. Mahefa and Monsieur Petit (not his real name but the real one is impossible to remember for someone my age…)were not just good – – they were great. They were excellent drivers, kept the cars in perfect condition and clean (not an easy task on the roads we took) and the cars were miraculously full of gas every morning. What made them great was their attitude. Always a smile, ready to joke, did not mind stopping every five minutes so I could take pictures and, when there was an impromptu (and there will be in Madagascar), they always found a solution. You spend a lot of time with your drivers so trusting them and having fun with them is key!
Nirina uses local guides; another reason we chose him. They were very useful and enthusiastic.
Do not hesitate to take the Tsiribihina boat trip. Nirina is one of the precursors. The team is outstanding. They will pamper you. I was afraid I would be bored out of my mind – quite the opposite. I must have taken hundreds of pictures just on this part of the trip! Going down the river helped us recover from jet lag.
Nirina and his team did more than one would expect. They even packed our treasures so that we could easily check them in at the airport – No small task- they were a granite fish (25kgs) and a turtle (15 kgs). They went through three airports. Everyone wondered and laughed when they saw what they were and they came in one piece to our home
I could write a book on our trip so let me just say that if you are planning to go to Madagascar, ask Nirina to help you. You will be in excellent hand.