Thanks for the TR, as someone who visits Madagascar quite a bit but doesn't get time to do anything too touristy I'd be interested in what kind of costs the tours were? I often think of tagging on a few extra days and flying down Mrs FB but whenever I scope out using a driver or local tour companies, the cost is far higher than what I would expect for where it is.
When you crossed back into Zambia from Zim did you have to pay for the Zambia entry visa again or did you have a double entry visa ($25 vs $40 USD)?
The JNB-TNR Airlink flights are usually half full at best, so passport control shouldn't be too bad, although it depends on how close you land to the ET and KQ flights. I've done the entry at TNR......... quite a few times, so hopefully this information is of help.
When you arrive, go straight to the line/desk on the far left; that's where you can pay for your VOA. If your trip is less than 2 weeks, you just simply pay the admin fee (€10) and the person in the booth will give you a receipt. For longer stays, you just pay a bit more, the process is the same. They'll ask you how many days you're staying and charge you accordingly. You can pay by cash or card. Once you have that...... you then pop over to the next desk and they will then put the visa sticker in your passport. Think you're done and ready to enter? Nope. Then you need to play booth lottery (shortest line) and they will then process your entry, stamping an entry stamp over the top of the visa and that's your ticket to enter. Well.......... almost. Just as you leave the passport control area and before you enter the baggage reclaim area, there's a desk with a few ladies there checking the documentation you filled in, this is the health check area. Yes, they still ask you when you had your last COVID vaccine (on the form), what type etc. 2 trips ago she looked at my entry for "countries visited in the last 14 days" and I had 7 countries on it. She laughed quite a bit, commented on it and told me I was good to go. Some people do seem to get stopped there, but I've been waived through every single time regardless of where I've been prior. Then it's off to the baggage reclaim area and you're good to go............. Don't forget, once you enter arrivals, if you want cash don't use the SocGen ATM! They'll charge you 9,500 MGA for the privilege. Go around to depatures and use the MCB one, which is free.
The place you had your meal is a chain restaurant - La Gastronomie IIRC. You'll see a few around the place. It would have to be one of very few chain restaurants that exist in MG! I've never eaten there, but have been tempted for a guilty pleasure. That being said, the hotel I usually stay at in Tana which is near the airport has very good food, so although I've done the menu 10 times over, I generally am happy just to eat there.
