Madagascar to South Africa turned into chaos with a canceled flight, an unexpected Kenya detour, and a 17-hour layover in Johannesburg.
Table of Contents
Main Journey
The past two days had passed in a blur, and before we knew it, it was time to leave Madagascar. We hadn’t even finished writing about our adventures here, but we had to move on.
We woke up early, booked a taxi to the airport at the hotel lobby, and hurried through breakfast. There was a strange tension between Julie, Sweetie, and me.
Today and tomorrow would be our most difficult travel days yet.
Our original flight plan was:
- Madagascar to Seychelles – Overnight at the airport
- Seychelles to Johannesburg, South Africa
- Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth – A short six-hour layover
But the journey turned out to be far from what we expected.
The taxi that arrived wasn’t an official one—it was a private car. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as old and broken-down as I had imagined, which felt strangely disappointing. As we drove through Antananarivo, I watched the familiar clustered houses on the hills.
Leaving a place is always bittersweet, but we had no time to dwell on emotions. A new adventure was waiting.
When we arrived at the airport after an hour’s drive, we went straight to the check-in counter. While weighing our bags, we also weighed Sweetie just for fun. She felt heavier lately, but the scale said otherwise.
Then, we turned to the departure board to find our Air Seychelles flight.
It wasn’t there.
At first, I thought I had misread the schedule, but after checking again, I started to feel uneasy. Flights scheduled after ours were still listed, but ours was missing.
We rushed to the information desk, and what they told us made my mind go blank.
“The flight on your voucher does not exist today.”
Events
The Flight That Disappeared
The airline had canceled or changed our flight without notifying us. This wasn’t just an inconvenience—it was a disaster.
If we missed this flight, we would lose everything:
- Our flight to Johannesburg
- Our domestic flight to Port Elizabeth
- Our rental car reservations
- Our bus tickets and accommodations in Namibia
Panic started to set in.
I grabbed our flight voucher and searched for our travel agency’s contact number. It was Yellow Balloon, a Korean travel agency. But there was no phone number on the voucher.
Then I remembered the confirmation message I had received when booking the tickets. I found the number: 1644-3399.
But how do you dial a Korean number from Madagascar?
I tried +82 1644 3399—no luck.
I tried +82 2 1644 3399—still nothing.
All I could hear was a woman’s voice in Malagasy, telling me the call couldn’t be connected.
Minutes kept passing, and I could feel my frustration rising.
Then, suddenly, I noticed a small “+” symbol on my phone’s dial pad, right under the number 0. Of course! I needed to press and hold 0 to input the “+” for international dialing.
I dialed +82 1644 3399 again. This time, it rang.
A voice came through. Yellow Balloon Travel Agency.
Finally.
A Last-Minute Flight Change
I quickly explained the situation. The staff checked our booking and confirmed the worst.
“Yes, your Air Seychelles flight was canceled. Instead, you’ve been rebooked on Kenya Airways through Nairobi.”
What?!
Instead of going through Seychelles, we now had to fly through Kenya, completely changing our schedule.
“Why didn’t we get any notification?”
Yellow Balloon simply replied, “We weren’t informed by the airline either.”
Unbelievable.
I wanted to argue, but I was also very aware that international calls cost 3,806 KRW per minute—which meant this call had already cost me nearly 40,000 KRW ($30 USD).
At least we had a flight. But this new itinerary came with another nightmare:
A 17-Hour Layover in One of the World’s Most Dangerous Cities
Originally, we had a six-hour layover in Johannesburg before our next flight to Port Elizabeth.
Now, with the Kenya Airways change, we would arrive in Johannesburg at 1 AM and have to wait 17 hours in the airport.
Johannesburg is notorious for its crime.
- It’s ranked one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
- Even the airport staff are known to scam or rob travelers.
- Travelers are advised not to spend too much time there, especially at night.
And we were about to be stranded there with a baby.
There was nothing we could do but brace ourselves for the chaos ahead.
Tips for Traveling with a Baby
1. Always Double-Check Your Flight Before Leaving for the Airport
- Flight cancellations or changes can happen without notice.
- Contact the airline directly before heading to the airport.
2. Know How to Make International Calls
- If calling Korea from abroad, press and hold 0 to input “+”.
- Always save important phone numbers in multiple locations (phone, notebook, email).
3. Prepare for Long Layovers with a Baby
- Pack plenty of snacks and activities.
- Bring a blanket and small pillow for rest.
- Have emergency food and milk ready.
Local Travel Tips
1. Madagascar Airport Has No Wi-Fi
- Download important travel information before arriving.
- Have a local SIM card or roaming plan for emergencies.
2. Flight Schedule Changes Are Common
- Always check flight status directly with the airline.
- Don’t rely on travel agencies to notify you.
3. Airport Facilities Are Limited
- Bring your own snacks and water.
- Expect long wait times and minimal support.
Travel Reflections
This was, without a doubt, one of the most stressful travel days of our journey.
From a missing flight to a last-minute itinerary change to an extended layover in a dangerous city, this was a true test of patience.
As our plane took off, I looked down at Madagascar one last time.
“Goodbye, Madagascar. On to the next adventure.”
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