## Centre Lambahoany, Toamasina: Simple Bungalows with a Social Mission

Centre Lambahoany is a small, budget-friendly bungalow hotel in Toamasina (also called Tamatave), Madagascar’s main port city on the east coast. It sits just off Boulevard de la Liberté in the Tanamakoa neighbourhood, roughly a short walk from both the beach and the town centre, and within about 500–1,000 m of the coach station and central streets. of Hotels

If you’re looking for basic wooden bungalows, a leafy garden setting and a place that channels its profits into a rural development and conservation project, this is one of the more interesting small-scale options in Toamasina.

Jump to:
– Things to do around Centre Lambahoany
– Practical information for your stay

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## Where Centre Lambahoany Is Located

Centre Lambahoany’s address is listed as Boulevard de la Liberté parcels 12–47/13 in Tanamakoa, Toamasina, Madagascar. of Hotels

Key location facts:

– City context – Toamasina is Madagascar’s chief seaport and one of its largest cities, sitting on the Indian Ocean and handling a large share of the country’s trade. Britannica
– Neighbourhood – The property lies in Tanamakoa district, a short distance inland from the beachfront and port area.
– Distances (approximate, based on multiple listings)
– Around 0.6–1 km from the city centre and main services. of Hotels
– Roughly 4.5–5.8 km from Toamasina Ambalamanasy Airport, depending on the source.
– Around 3.9 km from the train station, which connects inland.

Several descriptions state that it’s about a five-minute walk to the beach and about ten minutes to Toamasina town centre, and around 500 m from the coach station (gare routière). Actual walking times will vary with route and conditions, so those figures should be treated as indicative.

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## The Bungalows: Layout and Comfort Level

Centre Lambahoany is very small: most sources agree it has seven bungalows / rooms set in a garden.

### Bungalow style

From descriptions and photos:

– The units are simple wooden or bamboo bungalows with steep roofs and natural materials.
– Each bungalow has:
– Two double beds in a family layout.
– A small seating area with chairs.
– A veranda / small terrace with a bench facing the garden.
– Mosquito nets over the beds (visible in photos and mentioned in listings).
– Private bathroom facilities.

The atmosphere is intentionally basic rather than polished “resort” style. TripAdvisor categorises it as budget and “original”/“picturesque,” which aligns with the bamboo build and rustic interiors.

### Comfort and maintenance

Guest reviews across different platforms consistently highlight:

– Very helpful staff, especially in organising onward trips (for example, support arranging travel to Île Sainte-Marie).
– Quiet, garden-like setting behind walls, with a calmer feel than some parts of central Toamasina.

At the same time, some reviews report:

– Basic cleanliness with issues such as cockroaches and damaged mosquito nets in certain bungalows.

Those comments suggest that while the place can be pleasant for the price, maintenance standards may be uneven between bungalows and over time. Checking very recent reviews before booking is important, as conditions in small properties can change quickly.

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## Facilities and On-Site Services

Listings for Centre Lambahoany are fairly consistent on the core facilities: of Hotels

– Garden and terrace – A sizeable green space with mature litchi trees and simple paths, plus outdoor seating.
– Bar / café / lounge – A small bar area serving drinks and basic refreshments; several listings mention a bar and lounge, and photos show a simple bar counter with bottled drinks.
– Shared / common kitchen – A kitchen space that guests can use or that is shared for basic meal preparation.
– Free Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi is usually described as available in public areas and included in the rate.
– 24-hour front desk – Reception staffed around the clock.
– Tour desk / excursions – Staff can organise outings in and around Toamasina.
– Meeting / conference / banquet space – Some listings mention small meeting facilities.
– Laundry service – Available on request, often at extra charge.
– Parking – Free on-site parking is usually available; one listing explicitly notes that arriving by car is recommended.
– Pet-friendly – Multiple sources state that pets are allowed.

Languages reported across platforms include French and English (widely agreed), with one listing also mentioning German and Portuguese among languages spoken. of Hotels The range you encounter in practice will depend on which staff are on duty.

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## Sustainability and Community Impact

A distinctive feature of Centre Lambahoany is its link to Project Lambahoany:

– One detailed description explains that profits from the centre are directed to “Project Lambahoany” in the rural community of Fetraomby, with aims of poverty reduction and nature conservation.
– Guests are explicitly invited to visit the project from the hotel to better understand rural life and the conservation work.

That information appears on an accommodation listing rather than on an official project site, so it likely reflects the intentions and structure at the time it was written. Because projects and ownership structures can change over time, anyone choosing the hotel primarily for its social impact should confirm directly with the property (or current project partners) that this arrangement is still in place.

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## Things to Do Around Centre Lambahoany

### Immediate surroundings

From the bungalows, you’re positioned within walking distance of:

– Toamasina Beach – Several hotel aggregators note the property as being close to the main beach, which runs along the front of the city.
– Restaurants and cafés – TripAdvisor notes well-rated restaurants within roughly 0.6–1 km, including La Villa Tamatave, Le Bateau Ivre and Sarky’s.
– Padel Club Tamatave – A sports complex also mentioned as being within about 10 minutes on foot.

### Exploring Toamasina

Toamasina itself is one of Madagascar’s major urban centres:

– It is the capital of the Atsinanana region and the main seaport, handling a significant share of Madagascar’s imports and exports.
– The city has a tropical rainforest climate, with consistently warm temperatures and a particularly wet season from roughly February to April.

Common experiences in and around Toamasina include:

– Walking the boulevards and markets – The city centre has broad avenues and busy markets selling spices, tropical fruit (including the lychees the region is known for), and everyday goods.
– Canal des Pangalanes – Toamasina is the northern end of this long canal system that runs down Madagascar’s east coast. Boat trips on sections of the canal offer views of villages, lakes, and coastal forest.
– Parc Ivoloina – A nature park about 12 km from the city centre, used for conservation and environmental education, often visited as a half-day trip from Toamasina.

With Centre Lambahoany’s tour-organising capability, guests have historically been able to arrange local excursions and visits to the Fetraomby project area through staff. Again, the exact excursions available will depend on current partnerships and transport conditions.

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## Practical Information for Your Stay

### Check-in, check-out and room count

Different booking sites list slightly different times, but there is a clear range: of Hotels

– Rooms / bungalows – Most sources agree on around seven units.
– Check-in – Often listed as after 14:00, though one site mentions check-in from 08:00.
– Check-out – Commonly listed as by 12:00.

Because of these inconsistencies, it’s best to confirm your exact arrival time and any early check-in possibilities directly with the hotel when you book.

### Payment and pricing

– At least one detailed listing states that payment is only in cash, in Malagasy ariary (MGA).
– The same source cites a bungalow rate of 35,000 MGA when reserved in advance and paid on arrival. That figure is clearly historical: room prices in Madagascar fluctuate significantly with inflation and demand, so current rates are very likely higher.

For anything related to current prices, cancellation policies, and whether card payments are accepted, up-to-date information from the property or your chosen booking platform is essential.

### Getting there

Using the aggregated data:

– From Toamasina Ambalamanasy Airport – The hotel is roughly 4.5–5.8 km away by road. Most travellers use a taxi from the airport, with journey times often quoted in the 10–15 minute range in light traffic.
– From the train station – Listings indicate a distance of around 3.9 km.
– From Antananarivo – Toamasina is connected to the capital by National Road 2 (RN2), a key highway for freight and passengers. A new toll highway project (AR1) is under construction with the goal of shortening travel time between the two cities; its completion timeline may affect future overland travel conditions.

Road and rail conditions in Madagascar can change due to weather and infrastructure works, so recent local advice is important if you’re planning to arrive overland.

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## Who Centre Lambahoany Suits

Based on the facilities, descriptions and available reviews, Centre Lambahoany tends to be most appropriate for:

– Budget-minded travellers who are comfortable with simple, rustic bungalows rather than hotel-style rooms.
– Small groups or families who can make use of two double beds in one unit and appreciate a garden setting where children can move around under supervision.
– Travellers interested in community-linked stays, particularly if the Project Lambahoany connection is still active and visits remain possible.
– Guests who value green space and a quieter compound a short walk from the busier harbourfront.

On the other hand, it may not be ideal for: