Around Madagascar's capital Antananarivo a market "bus" system with horse drawn carriages, locally called "caleches", still exists. These leave very earling in the morning from villages in the city's environs to take farmers to the local markets. Until two years ago they would also run a "bus" route in Antananarivo, connecting a rural bus station with a market, but recently they were banned from entering the city centre during day time. The design is quite special and reminiscent of real coaches used in the US and Europe before the advent of railways and motorized traffic. The construction, however, is rather basic.

The pictures show some of these buses in Antananarivo, before they were banned from this route. Now some have found new employment as "tourist" buses.

Chassis Manufacturer:

various

Photo Location:

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Photo Date:

April, 1998

Photo Provided By:

John Veerkamp

Originally published on WBX:

       15-June-2001