Toamasina is a port city on the east coast of Madagascar. It is still commonly called Tamatave, which was its official name until 1977.
Toamasina is Madagascar's port and second largest city by population. It is also a former pirate-haven. The rows of palm trees of the city's main thoroughfare, l'Avenue de l'Independence, give it a distinct tropical feel. However, the dirty buildings and streets coupled with casinos and rampant prostitution create a sordid vibe. For the average tourist, there is little reason to spend a lot of time here. It is a convenient stopping point for those headed to St. Marie, however.
Climate
Toamasina features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. While Toamasina has no true dry season month where less than 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of precipitation (on average) falls, the seaport has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year.... Read more
Toamasina is a port city on the east coast of Madagascar. It is still commonly called Tamatave, which was its official name until 1977.
Toamasina is Madagascar's port and second largest city by population. It is also a former pirate-haven. The rows of palm trees of the city's main thoroughfare, l'Avenue de l'Independence, give it a distinct tropical feel. However, the dirty buildings and streets coupled with casinos and rampant prostitution create a sordid vibe. For the average tourist, there is little reason to spend a lot of time here. It is a convenient stopping point for those headed to St. Marie, however.
Climate
Toamasina features a tropical rainforest climate under the Köppen climate classification. While Toamasina has no true dry season month where less than 60 millimeters (2.4 inches) of precipitation (on average) falls, the seaport has noticeably wetter and drier periods of the year. September–November is the driest period of the year, while February–April is the wettest time of the year. Average temperatures are relatively constant throughout the course of the year, though it is slightly cooler in the months of July and August, where average highs hover around 24 °C (75 °F) and warmer in the months of January and February, where high temperatures on average reaches 30 °C (86 °F). Toamasina averages roughly 3,368.2 millimeters (132.61 inches) of precipitation annually.
Pousse: Toamasina may just be the bicycle pousse capital of the world. Thanks to the city's flat, wide streets, pousse-pousses are the most popular and cheapest way to get around. You shouldn't have to look far to find one, no matter where you are. Beware though, as the drivers are all too eager to take advantage of a confused tourist. Be sure to agree on a price before getting in. Taxi: Toamasina has standard taxis too. Be sure to bargain and agree on a price before going anywhere. Taxi-Brousse: If you are leaving the city limits and don't have your own vehicle, you will likely have to take a taxi-brousse. To get to the station, just tell your taxi or pousse-pousse driver to go to the "gare-routiere." Upon arrival, be prepared to be mobbed by hawkers trying to pull you into their taxi. Protip: Always try to find the vehicle with the most people in it heading for your destination. Despite what the hawkers will tell you, taxi-brousses only leave when they are full.
The city has wide palm tree-lined avenues and a wide selection of restaurants. The beaches in this area are famously beautiful, although sharks and pollution often prevent swimming and watersports. Bazary Be is a famous colorful street market, specializing in exotic spices and locally made handicrafts. The central market in the heart of the city is one of the most popular sites in the city.
Besides, you can visit Parc Ivoloina and Fort Manda.
. It is an amazing man-made and natural canal that effectively extends halfway down the east coast of Madagascar. The boat service is run by a French man who only runs services when there is sufficient clientele.
XL Bar. A decent bar by western standards, open most nights with all the kinds of liquor and beer you'll likely be able to find in Madagascar. It is frequented by expats, though at times can be quiet empty. It's on Blvd Joffre very close to Hotel Joffre.
Bazary Be. This tourist market is called the "big market" in Malagasy, but in actuality, it is the small market. It is located one block west of Blvd Joffre. If you're on the lookout for souvenirs, this is the place to go. Be sure to bargain hard before pulling out any money.
The Canal des Pangalanes is a canal that consists of a series of natural rivers, waterways and man-made lakes that extends for over 645 kilometres (400 mi) and runs down the east coast of Madagascar from Mahavelona to Farafangana. It is used primarily for transportation and fishing, and it also has unspoiled natural beaches that are visited...
The University of Toamasina (French: Université de Tamatave) is a public university in Madagascar, in the city of Toamasina.
The school was formerly part of the University of Madagascar system, along with public universities in Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara and Fianarantsoa. In 1988 that system was reorganized and the member...