Travelling Toamasina
Before You Travel
Toamasina (commonly known as Tamatave) is Madagascar second city and with the presence of the main regional seaport has a growing potential for economical activities. It is the country’s largest port, and therefore the country’s commercial hub, handling much of the island's foreign trade.
Three stories explain the origin of its name. One theory states that it was derived form the Portuguese name São Tornás (St Thomas), while another attributes it to King Radama I's first visit to the seaside in 1817; it is said that the king knelt to taste the water and said, 'Toa masina' ('It is salty') own, eastern Madagascar. The town was destroyed by a hurricane in 1927 and rebuilt after that with the modern sector centring on the tree-lined avenue Poincaré.
The city covers comfortably between the Bay Ivondro and the immense beach along the bay and the Indian Ocean. Its colonial past resurfaces through wide boulevards with ancient colonnaded buildings straight stand side by side. For travellers, it’s a pleasant place, with long, wide avenues lined with flamboyants and palm trees, a seaside promenade and a good selection of hotels and restaurants. Toamasina is a popular holiday destination among the Malagasy too and is to Antanarivo what Brighton is to London, or Nice is to Paris. Unlike the waters off Brighton or Nice, however, the sea is not friendly - it’s unwise to swim because the water is polluted and sharks are attracted the abattoir around the corner.
It’s a convenient spot to break the journey between Antananarivo and Ile Sainte Marie, or to organize a trip down the Canal des Pangalanes.
~~ What to see
· Walking around
Whilst Toamasina is certainly much safer than Tana during daylight, because of increasing
insecurity on the streets it is definitely recommendable to avoid walking on foot and taking pousse-pousses at night.
Main thoroughfare in Toamasina city is Boulevard Joffre. All commercial activities are here: banks, change services, car rentals, restaurants, tea rooms, pharmacies, souvenir boutiques. All you want indeed! During the day, seafront is interesting, packed of street vendors.
Nice beach along Bd Ratsimilaho especially between Pointe Asti and Pointe Tanio, where you have a great view of the district. But remember "bathing is strictly forbidden in the city! (because of the sharks’ danger). For swimming, you will need to go further north, where sharks cannot enter the beautiful lagoon surrounded by coral reefs.
The visit of the local markets is compulsory for any visitor. You can head with your pousse-pousse either to Bazar-Bé ("Big market") or Bazar kely ("Tiny market", behind the train station). You can buy vanilla in all forms: syrup, powder, in sticks, but also other spices, tons of tropical fruits: litchis, mangoes, guayavas, jackfruit, souvenirs shells or local artcraft like the one made with Ravinala leaves.
Wander in the small streets between Rue du commerce and boulevard Ratsimilaho and let yourself being inspired by the vanilla, spices and clove fragrances of the warehouses. If you come in the months of November and December you can probably witness the manufacturing process of litchis: taxi-brousses are loaded and unloaded, litchis are treated, sorted, packaged, put in refrigerating cameras and shipped into the big cargos departing for Europe’s supermarkets. At night, the same streets are packed with kebab stalls. But beware not to walk at night! Rather hire a pousse- pousse or a taxi.
The Avenue of Independence is the widest street of the city. It is where all major administrative buildings are located. Near the town hall, outdoor dances and political meetings are frequently held. Traditional Betsimisaraka dances and kwassa-kwassa shows often continue throughout the night.
Following boulevard Ratsimilaho we cannot miss to appreciate the beautiful Toamasina bay. Old colonial-style buildings succeed on the waterfront lined with palm trees Several buidings of this style are in really bad shape. Continuing the walk, we go to the Grand Mosque and reach the of the port, full with cranes, freight trains and containers.
If you are interested in basketry we recommend a sailors club called "Stella Maris" at the backside of Joffre hotel. The wives of fishermen have associated to produce and sell basketry items whose sale contributed to their household (ask for Suzanne). Manager Felix can arrange a visit to the port of Toamasina. In the evening hours, sailors from all over the world come to relax during their stopover.
· ~~ Place de la colonne
It is said that in the seventeenth century, prophetess Timasy Vavitiana lived in this place and making miracles. She was buried in this place and her descendants perpetuated the tradition by being successively buried here to, which turned the spot into a worship place, a practice which did not count on the support of the religious missionaries, the colonial administration decided to exhume the sacred relics and bury them in the municipal cemetery.
· * Belasety tomb
Here rest the mortal remains of prophetess Séraphine Frantsay, who lived in the seventeenth century and was famous for her miracles. Visitors come here to ask her for love, fortune, health or good luck.
· * Musée de l'Université
Open from 8 am to 11:30 am and from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
This museum offers a selection of regional handcrafts, gemstones, archeological funds and some pictures of Toamasina dating from the beginning of last century.
· * Musée du Port
Opens daily except on Monday. This new exhibition shows the history of Toamasina with pictures from the early 20th century including those of the cyclone that destroyed the town in 1927.
· * Palais des enfants
Near the taxi-brousse station.
Here visitors can admire traditional Betsimisaraka shows, as well as singing ortheater shows.
Toamasina Tours
