Shipping to Madagascar
 

Hello everybody,

I am trying to cross from Mozambique, South Africa or Tanzania to Madagascar, by boat if it is possible. Does anybody have information about it?
Thank you very much!

Charly

As far as I investigated the option, cause I wanted to do that too, there is no ferry, you can only fly in officially. There is the option of going on a private fisher boat and cross that way, but I heard the immigration services don't like you coming into Madagascar that way, and may give you some trouble.

Years ago I hitched a lift on a sailing boat from Zanzibar ( I was cycling ) and made it to Moroni on Grande Comore in the Comoros Islands. I then hitched lifts on passing barges and cargo ships to make it to Anjouan, Mayotte and eventually Nosy Be on the northwestern coast of Madagascar. I stayed on the island for a while ( it is wonderful ) and found a Mauritius-bound cargoship. It is certainly doable but you will need time and patience. There is very little cargo traffic between Mozambique and Madagascar ( I was just there and investigated, just in case ). Your best bets are definitely Durban ( all the Indian Ocean Islands import their wares and some of their food from SA ) and to a lesser extent Dar-Es-Salaam/Zanzibar or Mombasa. If you do find a boat to Madagascar or any of the islands make sure you can prove that you have a ticket OUT of them or they won't let you disembark.
Hope that helps.
L.

Two of the few travellers who have actually made it to Madagascar with their own vehicle are world record holders Emil and Liliana Schmid from Switzerland. Their story on their website World Record Tour - Madagascar does not only prove the difficulties of finding transport to the island but mainly illustrates the challenges of clearing customs.

Here are the pictures of the Madagascar part of their trip: Pictures from Madagascar

Greetings,
Achim