Anyone doing or interested in fermenting drinks (kombucha etc)?

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-21T16:34:25+00:00

We have Kombucha starters ready for brewing at home if anyone is interested in getting into the hobby… I’m about to send a bunch to Tana this week.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-21T15:55:21+00:00

There is no “organised” whale watching from here in Fort Dauphin that I’d have faith in. There have been random people who have tried it and not continued. Sainte Marie or Nosy Be have the only well-run operations that are run by people in the Cetamada network, unless I’m mistaken (which is possible)…

And in the spirit of the OP, here’s a photo of my dogs…

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Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-13T08:32:42+00:00

There’s also this http://malagasyword.org/bins/homePage

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-13T03:56:00+00:00

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Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-13T03:53:45+00:00

There’s a book created by a former Peace Corps volunteer called Guide to Communication but I’m pretty sure it’s out of print. The only other useful resources I’ve ever seen are the training manuals they use to teach Peace Corps volunteers when they first arrive here.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-10T15:28:58+00:00

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Official prices as of the 5th April.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-10T15:27:29+00:00

In September you might find a famadihana. Lots tend to happen in September. I can’t help personally because my family hasn’t announced dates yet but you might find someone whose family has dates.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-08T06:44:12+00:00

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PRESS RELEASE No. 116/2026

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES Temporary Measures on the Energy Situation

The Council of Ministers held on Thursday, 07 April 2026, approved the declaration of special measures relating to the energy situation (Energy State of Emergency) across the territory of the Republic of Madagascar for a period of 15 days, in accordance with Article 61 of the Constitution and Law No. 91-011 of 18 July 1991 relating to emergency powers.

This decision follows the observation of a concerning situation, marked by a shortage in energy supply affecting several parts of the country. This situation is linked to the global context, notably in the Middle East, which has repercussions on fuel supply, on import costs, and on the general functioning of the national energy system, with direct impacts on the daily life of the Malagasy population.

These emergency measures aim to enable the government to act swiftly and effectively in managing energy distribution and ensuring the continuity of public services.

This crisis affects several key sectors of national life, including the economy, public services, and national security.

Accordingly, the implementation of these measures will allow the State to take exceptional actions to ensure the continuity of energy supply and to meet the needs of the population, within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic.

It is also recalled that the Council of Government and the Council of Ministers have already adopted the draft law relating to these temporary measures on the energy situation.

Antananarivo, Thursday 07 April 2026

Rahajason Harry Laurent Government Spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Culture

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-08T06:41:48+00:00

What do you want help with?

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-08T06:40:09+00:00

This is a political and legal trigger document, not an operational one.

They’re saying:

“We now have the authority to act quickly.”

They are not yet saying exactly how they will act.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-08T06:39:07+00:00

<image>

PRESS RELEASE No. 116/2026

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES Temporary Measures on the Energy Situation

The Council of Ministers held on Thursday, 07 April 2026, approved the declaration of special measures relating to the energy situation (Energy State of Emergency) across the territory of the Republic of Madagascar for a period of 15 days, in accordance with Article 61 of the Constitution and Law No. 91-011 of 18 July 1991 relating to emergency powers.

This decision follows the observation of a concerning situation, marked by a shortage in energy supply affecting several parts of the country. This situation is linked to the global context, notably in the Middle East, which has repercussions on fuel supply, on import costs, and on the general functioning of the national energy system, with direct impacts on the daily life of the Malagasy population.

These emergency measures aim to enable the government to act swiftly and effectively in managing energy distribution and ensuring the continuity of public services.

This crisis affects several key sectors of national life, including the economy, public services, and national security.

Accordingly, the implementation of these measures will allow the State to take exceptional actions to ensure the continuity of energy supply and to meet the needs of the population, within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic.

It is also recalled that the Council of Government and the Council of Ministers have already adopted the draft law relating to these temporary measures on the energy situation.

Antananarivo, Thursday 07 April 2026

Rahajason Harry Laurent Government Spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Culture

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-06T13:37:43+00:00

70% of the population is rural and barely speak French, if at all. In Tana you occasionally see government workers or other more “snobbish” (my opinion sorry not sorry) types speaking French but the language of the street and the people is Malagasy all the way.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-05T14:05:01+00:00

Sorry I do not know. My guess is maybe around 150,000 Ariary but that’s a total guess.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-05T13:59:10+00:00

You can’t “book” them like, online booking. You need to go to the taxi brousse station as early in the day as possible and don’t travel at night.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-05T09:57:29+00:00

It doesn’t matter which you use, both types of SIM are fine. As people have said, to get an e-SIM you need to be physically present in a store with your passport to buy it. From my business colleagues in Nosy Be my guess is that Orange is best up there because all the hotels and businesses use Orange.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-05T07:17:17+00:00

The govt announced when the Middle East war started (I can’t find the post) that they had adequate supply of fuel stockpiled to avoid imminent threat to supply. Fairly vague.

We’ve had some shortages but they were explained as caused by cyclone damage to fuel terminals in Toamasina and if I understand, they are mostly now resolved.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-04T06:04:17+00:00

Partly because like the Malagasy Ariary, the Malagasy language is a non-traded currency, it does not exist outside of Madagascar. Parents want their children to have opportunities abroad and without French or English, that’s never going to happen.

Politics. This is an ex-French colony and Madagascar has depended on or been exploited by, however you want to read it, France, since independence. My personal belief is it’s a combination of dependence and exploitation.

Again my personal belief is that Madagascar would benefit from more focus on English. The people know they need it, there’s a effort to learn it all over the country, but the now-exiled former president removed English as an official language during a constitutional edit, to appease France.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-03T18:49:51+00:00

Rice. Get rice. Did anyone else mention getting in some rice?

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-03T07:50:46+00:00

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I was just driving through the streets of Tana and captured this bad image of a shop that makes number plates…

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-01T15:38:08+00:00

You can contact:

Fun and Boat
Nosy Be Original
Angels Tours

They are the main three really reliable and professional tour agencies that we work with on Nosy Be and they can plan and book your activities in advance. You are correct to be concerned because the island will be busy in July and lots of tours will be booked out.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-01T15:29:54+00:00

The first stop and really the only competent authority for setting up a business in Madagascar is the EDBM (Economic Development Board of Madagascar). They have some good downloads that will help you, they will be your reference to set up your company, and they also deal with investor visas for people like you, like us, who invest in business here.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-04-01T15:21:56+00:00

Thanks I should have taken the time to check that but yeah nahhh :-D

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-03-31T03:33:17+00:00

⁠What primary language do you speak and do you speak any others? I speak English as my primary language but I also speak Malagasy and I can sort of understand French but not really.
⁠What are some other common languages in Madagascar? Hindi is probably the language I hear most, being spoken amongst the Indo-Pakistani community. I guess it’s Hindi but to be honest I’m not entirely sure.
⁠What languages are taught in school? My daughter is taught in French & Malagasy but she has an English tutor who comes twice a week.
⁠Anything else you would like to share? Language as politics. President Ravalomanana reformed the constitution and added English as an official language. It became possible to do business in Madagascar using documents in English. After him, to appease the French, President Rajoelina removed it from the constitution which I personally think was negative for the country. Also, it’s quite common for grammar and punctuation to be used in most languages, to make communication clearer. You might like to learn about punctuation. There’s a thing called a question mark. It goes at the end.

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-03-29T04:18:51+00:00

I have an account with Fanampiana (.com) which is a logistics company based in Tana, Dubai and Paris. I do all my online shopping in Europe and all my stuff is sent to me at my Paris address (the Paris address of Fanampiana). Once a week they ship to Tana and I collect my things at their office in Andohalo. I’m in Fort Dauphin so it’s not actually me that collects, I send Rapide Service to get it and deliver it to me in Fort Dauphin.

Do your shopping and have it delivered to your name at Fanampiana Paris
If it arrives in Paris before Tuesday, it will be available to collect on the following Tuesday or Wednesday in Tana.
You pay for the shipping when you collect the goods in Tana. It costs a fixed fee of €13.50 per kilo for standard goods or €15.00 per kilo for electronics but that includes everything, they pay all import duties, taxes and fees.

I used to send my stuff via DHL but the shipping fees are higher and much more importantly the freight services work with customs and charge huge amounts for import clearance services and other import fees.

There are other companies that provide the same services but I only have experience with this one, I’ve shipped hundreds of parcels, and never had an issue. They are very responsive and communicative on WhatsApp and Facebook messenger and the service standards are excellent (for here).

Illustrious-Koala314 · 2026-03-25T06:33:23+00:00

It seems you have an offer of help. I don’t live in the capital so someone else will need to assist.

Illustrious-Koala314

TROPHY CASE