African Wanderlusters

Just three students trying to travel

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

Tbt to 18/06/17! We were exploring the famous Isalo national park that day and we decided to take a little selfie. The park was gorgeous, some even qualify it as a little Grand Canyon!

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

Recommended sites

If you want to go on a trip like us, those are the sites we recommend: 1. airbnb.ca 2. tripadvisor.com 3. wikipedia.com 4. kayak.com 5. lonelyplanet.com

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

Playlist

This is the music we prepared for our wonderful journey. The following songs are included in our playlist: 1. The Circle of Life: When we think about Africa, we automatically think about The Lion King, right? 2. Waka Waka:The popular song by Shakira represents the ambiance of South Africa. 3. My Children, My wife: In 1973, this country song won the South African Music Industry award. 4. Remember Me: This song was interpreted by Lucky Dube, the first major South African reggae singer. 5. Pampoen: This song was written and interpreted by Steve Hofmeyr, an activist for Afrikaner rights. 6. Ranza Marrabenta: Marrabenta is a popular form of music in Mozambique. 7. Moçambique: Moçambique is a pandza. It is a new kind of music born in Maputo. 8. Malamba Kudja Mundino: It is a timbila. This kind of music is popular in the Inhambane region and is known for the presence of xylophone. 9. An'isa Ny Basy: It is a traditional song from Madagascar. 10. Masoala: This song was interpreted by Erick Manana who promoted the Malagasy acoustic guitar. 11. Io Ranomasina Io: This music is interpreted by Rakoto Frah who is considered to be the master of sodina, a kind of flute. Enjoy!! https://open.spotify.com/user/ludovic_obregon/playlist/28Sb6Saz9hcUiaJF6iWZmB

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

02/07/17 After spending way too much time on a plane, we are finally home! Even if we are really sad that this trip is already over, we will cherish the memories we made and there is still a teeny tiny part of us that is happy to see the Montreal gates with everybody that we missed when we were away. Luckily for us, the lane doesn't seem to be long so we will be able to go tell all of our misadventures to our stressed moms and show our families and friends all of our pictures soon. Overall, we learned a lot about other cultures and we also learned a lot about ourselves during our stay in Africa. We come back changed for the better (I hope) and more open in general. We would recommend to anybody that would like to go visit this part of the world to jump right in and go because they won't regret it! -Florence https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjI4JyM1pfKAhWGyT4KHbrNDboQjB0IBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpro.imagera.fr%2Fportfolio%2Fpatisserie-colbert-la-visite-virtuelle&psig=AFQjCNGCjtFpMUq5zKU49gWHbN3n8rhZEw&ust=1452255126570036&rct=j

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

01/07/17 On our way to the airport, we stopped to get croissants at the "Patisserie Colbert" http://www.patisserie-colbert-tananarive.com (they are 2 400 Ar each so 1$)... I think they were some of the best we ever had in our life. 👍 https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjI4JyM1pfKAhWGyT4KHbrNDboQjB0IBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpro.imagera.fr%2Fportfolio%2Fpatisserie-colbert-la-visite-virtuelle&psig=AFQjCNGCjtFpMUq5zKU49gWHbN3n8rhZEw&ust=1452255126570036&rct=j

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

30/06/17 We found this little hotel with a triple room at 92 000 Ar (39$) that is pretty close to the airport so it's going to be easy tomorrow morning.✈️ http://www.majunga.org/tourcats/hotel-2-etoiles/ http://www.petitfute.com/v42539-tana-antananarivo/c1166-hebergement/c158-hotel/1399388-anjary-hotel.html

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

30/06/17

Last day, last city… already. This whole trip passed so fast I almost can’t believe it’s over tomorrow. Today, we are visiting Antananarivo and its famous landmark, copying Hollywoods one. This place is really big and gorgeous; it ends our adventure perfectly.

http://www.an-unexpected-journey.de/did-you-know-madagascar/2013/11/15/

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

28/06/17 Tonight, we are staying in Tamatave, the second biggest city in Madagascar after Antananarivo. This hotel was really nice, we got some good night sleep (the mattress was exquisite) and it was relatively cheap (51 000Ar or 21$). 😴💤 https://fr.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g316110-d5301485-Reviews-Ocean_501-Toamasina_Tamatave_Toamasina_Province.html

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

27/06/17

We had the chance to go snorkeling today! the bora dive &amp research center provided us equipment for the hole day at 10€ (15$). 🐙🐚🐠🐟🐬 ahttp://www.boraresearch.com http://www.boraresearch.com/tarifs-promotions/

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

26/06/17 We were on this cliff and had this breathtaking view of a classical scenery of Île Sainte-Marie. This famous (maybe not that much) and gorgeous island was discovered in 1506 by the Portuguese. They gave it this name because this very island saved them from a shipwreck so they named it Santa-Maria in honor of the Virgin. 😶 https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiL9dqNnpfKAhWDoD4KHQVyDLkQjB0IBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lelibertalia.com%2F&psig=AFQjCNEcXtbugx_Cj77m9UOZ4f1pn3t2tg&ust=1452240093645157&rct=j Wikipedia

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

24/06/17 We are still in Ambodifotatra and we found this really nice little restaurant/bar so we're going to eat lunch here for 13 000 Ar (5$). Hopefully it's going to be good because we are STARVING. 🍗🍵 https://fr.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g479206-d1744044-Reviews-Nandipo-Nosy_Be_Antsiranana_Province.html

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

24/06/17 We are now in Île Sainte-Marie! Actually, this is the biggest city of the island, Ambodifotatra. This place is recognized for its beaches and the amazingly relaxing views of the sea. We are planning on relaxing for the next three days here. http://www.marsnjak.com/sergej/?menu=madagascar&zoom=1&pic=627&type=pic

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

23/06/17 We are now on a brousse-taxi heading to Tanatavre. Pretty crowded car but lots of good energy (everybody was singing!). We met other tourists coming from France and a bunch of locals. Everybody is so nice here, that's one of the things that hit us, everybody is just so smiley and happy. 😄😃😀 http://aufildelaterre.over-blog.com/2015/10/de-isalo-a-morondava.html

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

21/06/17

Oh well isn’t that our train… not moving. Yes, we got some problems along the way back to Fianarantsoa. The driver tried to explain to us what happened but we didn’t really understand so we had to wait a couple hours until it was fixed and then we continued… something that is really frequent with the trains. The struggle when you go somewhere in something four times older than you. 👴👵🚂

https://www.flickr.com/photos/myplanetexperience/8434956237

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

20/06/17 We had to chill down after the day we had so we rented a room at "Les Délices" in Manakara for only 30 000 Ar (12.94$)! God everything is so cheap here I'll never get used to it. We're so exhausted I think we'll crash at 7pm. Good night! 😴 https://fr.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g1916792-d1889035-Reviews-Les_Delices_de_l_Orient-Manakara_Fianarantsoa_Province.html

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

20/06/17

What we did today is something we were really looking foward into. I’ve read that it’s an important moment in a trip and that it’s a life changing experience. First of all, I have to explain what we did (it sounds really dramatic but it was fun I promise!). We took a train that was build in the 1920’s by the french. The train connects Fianarantsoa to the coast (Manakara) and it’s main use is to refuel the many little villages (seventeen) between the two cities that are completly isolated from the rest of the world. The train passes two times a week (supposedly…) and when it stops at a station, you can exit. If you do, you get surrounded by people trying to sell you litterally anything and little kids that want to be taken in pictures. One thing popped out in every village we went : their happiness. They all had the biggest smiles and everything seemed so light. Then you get back in the old train that goes really slowly and you see those amazing and breathtacking landscapes. This activity really got us to think. We tought about how we are surrounded with so many simple, beautiful and happy things, but we are so trapped in our own little world and so obsessed with everything and every little detail that we stop to live and enjoy life. We were shocked by how those people have nothing and depend on a old train to survive but still manage to be so glowingly happy. Okay a little stop from the philosophy now. Another really great thing about that adventure is that it only costs 31 000 Ar (13.37$)! Overall, we got off that train with our eyes opened wider and with a whole lot of memories. We definitely recommend it to everybody! 👍🚂

http://bit.ly/1OPY7Mk

[african-wanderlusters-blog]

19/06/17

Still can’t believe we already left Isalo. 🙈 Our current location : Fianarantsoa. We went downtown (such a big city of 200 482 people woohoo) to get a good dinner before our big day tomorrow. 💪 We also met those really nice people at the restaurant (“L'Ancre d'or”), really welcoming and warm!

https://lacasemadrigal.wordpress.com/le-marche-du-mardi-et-vendredi/les-restaurants/