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'''Morondava is a picture-postcard coastal town in the Menabe region within the Tulear district, in south west Madagascar. In former times Morondova Morondava was a centre of the [[Sakalava]] Kingdom and a popular stop-over for sailors. Now it Today the area is an area rich in sugar and rice farming. Today, Morondava is while remaining a popular location for tourists to experience relatively remote areas of Madagascar as well as a stop-over in particular for tourists travelling to and from [[Tsingy de Bemaraha]]National Park.'''

{| class="imageTable"|-|colspan="3" | [[File:Morondava 00600102.jpg|600px]]|-|[[File:Morondava 0078.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Morondava 0082.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:Morondava 0088.jpg|none196px]]|thumb-|Beach at Nosy Kely pensinsula in Morondova[[File:Morondava 0065.jpg|196px]]|align="center"|[[File:Morondava 0110.jpg|196px]]|align="right"|[[File:Morondava 0036.jpg|196px]]|}

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="margin-right:10px;"><tr><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0078.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Sandy road at Nosy Kely pensinsula]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0082.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Zebu owners]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0088.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Zebu market]]</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0065.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Lady with fish]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0110.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Zebu cart]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 0036.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Zebu cart at sugar cane field]]</td></tr> </table> As the population has grown in the region the forests have also been gradually cut down, except the baobab trees which the locals has preserved for religious reasons. However, unfortunately deforestation continues in large parts including some of the remaining baobabs to make way for sugar cane plantations. Morondava can be reached by a 700km drive from [[Antanarivo]]. However, the road conditions continues in the latter part large areas including some of the journey, the 120km between [[Miandrivazo]] and [[Malaimbandy]] are especially poor and can take six hours. The entire drive can take between 11 and 18 hours. As such, Morondava is best reached by plane. There are daily flights by [[Air Madagascar]] connecting Antanarivo and [[Tulear]]remaining baobabs.

<td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 00170117.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Nearby [[Baobab Avenue]]Morondava from the air]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 00300060.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Baobab fruitsBeach at Nosy Kely]]</td><td valign="top">[[File:Morondava 00290001.jpg|189px|none|thumb|Baobab trunkRound rice fields]]</td></tr>

Nearby attractions include Tsingy de Bemaraha (150 km north),About 12km from town enroute Baobab Avenue is [[Kirindy ForestParc Menabe]] (40km northeast) , a small zoo including a couple of lemurs, a crocodile, various chameleons and a collection of green Malagasy lovebirds. Additionally, this is an ostrich farm set up by a South African ex-patriot who brought the ostriches to Madagascar. As such, Morondava may be the only place in Madagascar where ostrich meat can be found on restaurant menus. '''Update March 2010:''' As a result of a downturn in tourism, this zoo along with the ostrich farm have closed. However, the animals are still roaming around the [[Baobab Avenue]] (15km east)park area and are being fed by a zoo keeper. Some 70km south is [[Belo sur Mer]]

''Taxi de la mer'' (sea taxi) is a boat transfer that runs twice weekly a week between Morondava and Belo sur Mer and which takes around 2.5 about 2½ hours. The price is 50,000 each way. Tickets Reservations can be booked made at the office in the port or via at the ''Hatea Café '' on Nosy Kely (tel. Tel: +261 032 0469261). <!-- or email: [mailto:hatea04@yahoo.fr hatea04@yahoo.fr]. BOUNCED! --> <div style="max-width:600px;">{{#display_map:-20.291705, 44.278121~'''Morondava'''~~;|type=satellite|service=google|width=auto|height=400|zoom=14|controls=pan, zoom, type, scale|copycoords=yes|icon=https://www.madacamp.com/images/madagascar/Green_marker.png}}</div>

Morondava offers plenty of accommodation alternatives, ranging from cheap budget backpacker rooms to comfortable beach bungalows. The hotels are either in the town or on Nosy Kely peninsula, a few minutes walk from the town centre.

'''[[Baobab Café]]'''<br>

Email: [mailto:baobab@blueline.mg baobab@blueline.mg] or [mailto:baobabtours@blueline.mg baobabtours@blueline.mg]<br>

'''[[Eden Garden]]'''<br>Close to the beach and the post office '''[[Chez Maggie]]'''<br>

Tel: +261 20 95 52163 209552163 <br>Email: N/A<!-- Email: [mailto:bol_ndbvl_nd@yahoo.fr bol_ndbvl_nd@yahoo.fr] BOUNCED! -->

Tel: ++261 32 07 782 93320778293<br>

Tel: +261 32 42 04 877324204877<br>

Tel: ++261 2095 520 81209552081<br>

Tel: +261 2095 523 18209552318<br>

'''Le Reniala au Sable d'OrHotel Renala'''<br>Tel: +261 2095 520 8920 9592089<br>Email: N/A[mailto:renala.sabledor@mel.wanadoo.mg renala.sabledor@mel.wanadoo.mg]

'''Hotel Trecicogne'''<br>

Tel: +261 9552732<br>Email: N/A '''Cheval de Mer'''<br>Tel: N/A<br>Email: N/A

Tel: +261 9592059<br>Email: N/A

Tel: +261 9552222<br><!== Local Guides == '''Gera''' -- Email: [mailto:vezahabe@dtsHelps organise trips to Baobab Avenue, Tsingy de Bemaraha and other local places such as Kimony Beach.mg vezahabe@dts.mg] BOUNCED! -->

'''Hôtel Central'''<br>Tel: N/A<br>Email: N/A+261 326866130 (WhatsApp)