Olympe Du Bemaraha

We found it easy to unwind here after hikes and spend time together away from our devices. The pool deck has lovely sunset views, and the drinks were reasonably priced. The food was pretty good, although the menu was very limited. Power depended on the generator schedule shown in my photos, so there was no electricity when it was off. Our room had a fan, a few outlets, two beds with mosquito nets, an attached bathroom, a small front deck, and a safe that had no batteries. Hot water worked fine. A portable battery powered travel fan was a big help, and a tree frog came by in the evenings to eat bugs in the bathroom.

We were put in the last room down the hill, with the other guests about a 5-7 minute walk away. We were the only tourists there, and the setup felt odd from the start. At 3:45 A.M., we heard quiet voices and saw a flashlight aimed straight at our door. The room has lots of windows. Someone came right up, tried the door, walked around outside shining a light in, and opened the bathroom window. We were terrified. Thankfully, the door was locked and they couldn't get in. After they moved away, we called our driver Fidel. He arrived within two minutes and spoke with them. They said they were hotel security, checking that the door was locked, and claimed they did this for every room. That didn't match what we heard and saw, since they seemed to focus only on ours. The whole thing was frightening and deeply unpleasant.

Once I was back in Morondava, I told my hotel I'd had food poisoning, and they immediately asked whether I'd stayed at the Olympe. Apparently its reputation gets there first. I wouldn't recommend going. I'd already been wary about food cleanliness, so I ate lunch and dinner elsewhere and only had breakfast at the hotel. After a crepe and papaya, I spent the rest of the day vomiting, which made the second half of my trip to Tsingy miserable. I booked before seeing the negative reviews and only came across them after free cancellation had ended. I was also concerned about theft. They make you sign a form saying you're responsible for packing up all your belongings and storing them in your car or at reception during the day, because things left in the room could be taken. Packing and unpacking every day just wasn't worth the hassle.

Rats ran past while we were eating, and the bathrooms were a hygienic nightmare. The rooms were disgusting too, with ants, cockroaches, beetles, and plenty of insects I couldn't identify in the beds and bathroom. People crowded the steps outside reception because the WiFi there was so poor. The staff acted as if they were being made to work, and seemed more interested in hanging around than doing their jobs. Most of the positive reviews seem to come from local guides who arrange trips with the hotel. Worst hotel stay I've had. Don't come here if you have any other option.