Most blogs say hire a private driver. We took the public bus for less than $8 total for two people. Here’s exactly what that looks like, hour by hour.
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If you search “how to get to Andasibe” online, almost every result tells you to hire a private driver or book an organized tour.
Those are fine options, but they’re expensive, and they’re not your only options.
We took the public bus from Antananarivo (Tana) to Andasibe, and the total cost was under $8 USD for both of us.
It wasn’t luxury. Parts of it were genuinely uncomfortable. But it got us there, and the experience itself was part of the adventure.
Here’s exactly how we did it, with every timestamp and cost, so you can decide if this route is for you.
The Route
There is a direct public bus from Tana to Andasibe, but it left closer to 3 pm, and we wanted to start our journey in the morning to make our itinerary work.
The route we took went like this:
Tana → Moramanga (about 3 hours) Moramanga → Andasibe (about 1 hour)
You buy separate tickets for each leg at separate bus stations. It’s not complicated, but it helps to know what to expect at each stop.
Leg 1: Tana to Moramanga
We walked about 20 minutes from our hotel to the bus station in Tana.
Even early in the morning, the streets were full of people and vendors selling snacks.
Bought some chips and a Caprice (new favorite local soda) before heading over.
Tickets cost 12,000 ariary per person (about $2.60 USD each). There was a language barrier, but between a translation app and a calculator for showing prices, we figured it out.
We bought our tickets around 9:30 AM. Now here’s the thing about public buses in Madagascar: they don’t leave on a schedule. They leave when they’re full. We sat in the bus waiting, and the door closed at 10:10 AM.
The bus itself reminded me of the chicken buses in Nicaragua. Except this was a van with assigned seats.
You pick your seats when you buy the ticket (point to the position on the picture board that the ticket seller shows you, and they write the seat number on the top of your paper ticket).
The legroom was tight, but manageable. Not glamorous, but not scary either. Just unfamiliar compared to everyday life back home.
Once we got out of Tana, the roads were actually decent. The occasional pothole, but nothing terrible. The scenery shifted from crowded streets to open countryside with rice fields, and it felt good to get into nature.
We arrived in Moramanga around 1:35 PM. It’s a quieter town than Tana, but still busy with lots of tuk-tuks and people moving around.
The Transfer in Moramanga
This is the part that requires a little effort. When you get off the bus in Moramanga, you need to find a second bus station for the Andasibe leg. We walked about 15 minutes to find it here. (We may have just gotten off the bus too soon when we saw we arrived in Moramanga on our Google Maps).
We bought our tickets: 8,000 ariary for both of us (about $1.75 USD total).
Here’s where I need to be honest with you. This second bus was rough.
When we boarded, people kept pointing us forward even though it looked like there were no seats left.
Turns out there are little pull-out benches between the actual seats. That’s where we sat. One in front of the other, on these narrow fold-down things with barely any space. No assigned seating for this bus.
It was hot. We were drenched in sweat waiting for the bus to really fill up. And when I say fill up, I mean at one point there were five or six people across a row that was designed for four.
We left Moramanga at 2:22 PM. The bus struggled going up hills and barely felt like it was moving at times. People got on and off every few minutes.
We finally arrived in Andasibe at 3:30 PM. The bus conveniently dropped us right in front of our ecolodge, (Longoza Ecolodge, where we can’t recommend ENOUGH) which was a nice surprise after a long day of travel.
The Return Trip
On the way back, we did the same route in reverse, and here’s what I’d recommend differently.
The Andasibe to Moramanga leg was the same cramped situation. Left at 1:40 PM after waiting for the bus to fill, arrived around 3:15 PM.
If you can, try to find a taxi or shared ride for this stretch instead of the bus. The hour-long ride is tough when you’re squished with no legroom and barely any seat space.
The Moramanga to Tana leg was actually much better. We got assigned seats with real legroom (like the first time).
The lack of space during the shorter Moramanga – Andasibe leg made us appreciate the legroom for the Moramanga – Tana leg much more.
The bus left at 3:41 PM and we arrived in Tana around 7:30 PM. This longer route was overall more comfortable than the short one. Having assigned seats makes all the difference.
My recommendation: If you have to stop in Moramanga, try for a taxi or shared ride to Andasibe rather than the bus. The short leg is the uncomfortable one. The longer Moramanga to Tana route is fine.
Even better: ask at your hotel or at the bus station in Tana if there’s a direct bus to Andasibe. We wanted the direct route but it wasn’t available when we were there. If you can get it, take it.
What It Cost (Two People, Round Trip)
| Bus | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tana to Moramanga bus (2 x 12k) | 24,000 ariary (~$5.20 USD) |
| Moramanga to Andasibe bus (2 x 4k) | 8,000 ariary (~$1.75 USD) |
| Andasibe to Moramanga return (2 x 4k) | 8,000 ariary (~$1.75 USD) |
| Moramanga to Tana return (2 x 12k) | 24,000 ariary (~$5.20 USD) |
| Total round trip for two people | 64,000 ariary (~$14 USD) |
Compare that to a private driver, which typically runs $80 to $150+ USD each way.
However, that could very well be worth it for more comfort.
A Note on Safety
I want to address this because it’s probably on your mind.
We were the only non-locals on every bus we took. A solo traveler we met later in the trip told us we were brave for taking public buses in Madagascar. I understand why someone would say that, but I don’t want to sensationalize the experience in either direction.
We never felt unsafe.
The buses were crowded and uncomfortable at times, but the other passengers were just people going about their day. Nobody bothered us. Nobody gave us trouble.
That said, I was traveling with my husband. I can’t speak to what the experience would feel like solo. And I do think there are a few things that made us more comfortable:
We kept our bags close. On this bus route, our backpacks stayed on our laps or between our feet. Nothing went overhead or out of sight.
We didn’t flash valuables. Phones stayed away unless we were actively using them for translation. No jewelry, no expensive camera hanging out.
We paid attention to our surroundings. Not in a paranoid way, just aware. Knowing where our stuff was, who was around us, and what the general energy felt like.
We had a translation app ready. Most interactions on the bus required some basic communication. Having the app open and a calculator for prices made everything smoother and kept us from looking too lost.
We traveled during the day. All of our bus rides between Tana and Andasibe were in daylight. I’d be more cautious about overnight buses on unfamiliar routes, though we did take the Morondava to Tana overnight bus later in the trip and that was fine too.
If you’re someone who’s traveled independently in developing countries before, the buses in Madagascar won’t shock you.
If this would be your first experience like this, consider hiring a private driver for the full route and saving the bus for a shorter, lower-stakes leg.
There’s no wrong answer.
It just depends on your comfort level and travel experience.
What We Did in Andasibe
We stayed at Longoza Ecolodge which was only 15 minute walk from the national park ($56 USD paid by card, with a 3% bank charge on arrival).
It was exactly my vibe.
I realized on this trip that I really thrive in two types of accommodation: a luxury resort and an ecolodge tucked in nature. This was the latter and it was perfect.
Night walk: Our front desk staff called a local guide named Solofi to meet us. They suggested we bring a lamp for the best visibility. Within two minutes, we spotted our first mouse lemur. The stars above us were incredible too, some of the most we’ve seen (though Namibia still holds the record for us).
Morning trek: We did the 3-hour circuit, which I’d recommend over the 2-hour. The walk starts on a stone path, transitions to muddy leaves, and eventually you’re walking down slippery slopes between trees to get close to the indri, Madagascar’s largest lemur. We saw three different species of lemurs, plus chameleons and tiny frogs. Our guide Solofi spoke some English and was great at spotting everything.
Park costs for two people:
- Entrance: 45,000 ariary per person (90k total)
- Tax: 5,000 ariary per person (10k total)
- 3-hour guide: 70,000 ariary (this covers 1 to 4 people, so it gets cheaper with a group)
- Night walk: 35,000 ariary per person (70k total)
Tips for Doing This
Download a translation app before you go. French is the primary language and English is very limited in this part of Madagascar. A translation app and a calculator for showing prices will get you through most interactions.
Bring snacks and water for the bus. You’ll be sitting for hours, sometimes in heat with no air conditioning. We grabbed chips, cookies, bread snacks, and drinks at the bus station and along the way. Keep in mind, refrigerated water bottles are hard to come by, especially near the bus station. They’re usually sold warm.
Bring cash in ariary. The bus stations, drivers, and most restaurants along this route are cash only. The ecolodge accepted card for check-in, but that was the exception.
Be flexible with timing. Buses leave when they’re full, not on a fixed schedule. Budget extra time and don’t plan anything rigid for your arrival day.
Know where you should be getting on and off the bus. Here’s the Tana bus terminal location, the Moramanga bus terminal location, and the Andasibe bus terminal location.
The Moramanga to Andasibe bus is the uncomfortable part. If you can afford a taxi for just that one leg, it’s worth considering. The Tana to Moramanga bus is much more comfortable.
Book the 3-hour trek, not the 2-hour at the national park. We’re glad we did. The extra hour is what took us deeper into the forest where we saw the indri up close. Worth every minute.
Ask your ecolodge to connect you with a guide. Our front desk made one call and Solofi showed up ready to take us on both the night walk and the morning trek. No need to arrange this in advance.
