a story of Madagascar... (help!)

Hello all,
I just heard a terrible story.
2 couples have done a circuit by 4x4 in Madagascar just a few weeks ago. Coming out of their hotel (don't know where) they've been attacked by a few local men. The men didn't even asked for their money, they just started to hit them with manchetes(!) and finally robbed them!! They were all injured but one woman was so badly injured that her husband, who happens to be a dentist, needed to sew her wounds at the spot where it happened, or she would have bled to death.... Afterwoods they heard from the owner of the hotel that these kind of things happen more...huh!!??

Well, I'm leaving within 3 weeks and I'll be spending 30 days in Mada on my own as a woman of 33. I still didn't manage to get a circuit booked. Should I really start to worry? Is it safe enough? My friend heard this story from the 2 couples themselves and was pretty shocked. So I presume that the source is pretty reliable...(?)
Has anyone heard anything similar or has any experiences, good or bad, about safety in Mada?
Thx,
Namaste

Oh my goodness! I am off there alone early next year. Please let me know how you get on, or if there are any precautions I should take, areas to avoid etc. Sorry, not wishing to use you as a guinea pig!!!!!
Somewhat concerning though isn't it. But then again, there are often isolated horror stories coming from most places, even from UK.
We could always stay safe at home...in the kitchen....I think not!!!

That does sound awful.
I have heard no such stories.
But no need to avoid your trip, just because of this. The hotel guy may have been exagerating. I would check the danger and annoyances section, of the lonely planet, to see if this sort of thing is usual in Madagascar. People get attacked, in every country. One incident would not make a place particularly dangerous.

Mel

Hi,
According to my previous message, I would like to say that there's no need to worry. I just got back from a marvellous trip to Mada. The local people are very friendly and not at all agressif. During those 30 days, I haven't had any bad experience what's how ever with them. I've been in small villages, in touristic places, slept on riversides among tens of locals where I was the only 'white' woman.... and nothing ever happend... Okay, I've been carefull and had a driver, but nevertheless...
So, I guess that the previous story was just a sad story of tourists being at the wrong place at the wrong moment... maybe they didn't respect certain 'fady' (sacred places,taboe) and got themselves in trouble,(!) I don't know....
I realise now that I have been generalising to quickly....
such things happen all over the world after all.... every traveller just needs to be carefull and to be lucky not to run into a 'madman'...
Anyway, Mada.... You're a great country!
Grz,