Madagascar Travel Guide

Madagascar is set 400 kilometres off the east coast of Africa, entirely surrounded by the invitingly warm Indian Ocean.

The world's fourth-largest island contains an immense diversity flora and fauna. Of 12,000 plant species identified here, 10,000 are endemic to the island including seven of the world's nine species of the iconic Baobab tree, some renowned national parks and World Heritage Site.

Madagascar offers you diverse habitats with 5000 km of coastal line and 220 small islands. You'll find some of the 40 different species of lemurs, a primate group found only on Madagascar, and identify many species of chameleons in their wild habitat as well as some of the world's most bizarre creatures on Earth like the Giraffe-necked weevil.

The rich and fascinating culture is composed of 18 different ethnic groups that derive from a long history of trade and migration from throughout Indonesia, Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, all united today in a common Malagasy culture and language.

Explore the uninhabited islands and lush rainforests in the north, Lunar landscapes of limestone formations in the west, canyons, beaches and baobabs in the south of Madagascar as well as lush, dense forests and wetlands with incredible wildlife, and the tropical island of St. Marie in the east of Madagascar.

Capital
Antananarivo

Population
20,042,552

Language
English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official)

Electricity
The two-pronged plug and the European standard socket are the most used - 220 volts.

Time Zone
UTC +2 (summer) and  UTC +3 (winter)

Climate
There are only two seasons in Madagascar: Dry season and wet season. Wet season lasts in most areas for 5 months (from December to April). In eastern Madagascar it rains quite often all year long, whereas it rarely rains in western Madagascar.

On the central parts of Madagascar, winter nights are so cold that the temperature may go down to +5°C. It may even go down to around freezing point in Antsirabe. Please bring warm clothes if you travel to Madagascar between May and September.

From November till March, it is hot in southern and western Madagascar. The temperature in the coastal regions is generally higher than that in inland Antananarivo.

Health
There is a risk of Malaria in Madagascar. It is therefore highly recommended to ask your doctor’s advice about anti-Malaria drugs before leaving your country. Bring a good mosquito repellent with you.

 Please also bring sunscreen to avoid sunburn; the sun in Madagascar can be very harsh.

You do not need any vaccinations unless you have been to certain African countries where there is a danger of contracting yellow fever -  vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory.

Vaccination against Hepatitis A is recommended

as medical cures and medicines are only available at hospitals in big cities, it is recommended that you bring your own basic First Aid kit with you.

Do not eat raw vegetables and do not drink unstamped bottles of water.

Visas
A visa is required to enter the territory of Madagascar. You can get a visa at the Consulate of Madagascar in your country, or more easily, upon arrival at the international airport of Madagascar.

Please check if your passport is still valid (at least 6 months before expiry date). With a valid passport and return flight ticket you can easily obtain a visa at the airport of Antananarivo. Please note that, to get a visa at the airport, you do not need to bring photographs.

Communications
It is possible to call abroad from any public phone: you just need to buy phone cards from a Telma (Telecom Malagasy) office.

Some cities are now covered by the local mobile phone network, and even some small towns. There are two mobile phone operators in Madagascar: ORANGE (dial 032) and CELTEL (dial 033).

Money
The National Currency is the Ariary (Ar), which replaced the Malagasy Franc. Upon arrival, it is recommended to change money at airport banks. Please note that only EUR, USD & GBP can be exchanged.

Credit cards (the most useful credit card is Visa Card) are only accepted in large hotels, restaurants and some shops, mainly in Antananarivo.

Travellers Cheques are also not recommended, as many banks refuse to accept them. But if you really want to bring Travellers Cheques then bring only of EUR 50 or USD 50 face value, and do not forget to also bring the invoice or receipt of where you bought the Travellers Cheques. In some provinces, it may take you up to a few hours to change Travellers Cheques.

Transport
Despite their condition, the taxis are safe to take. Taxis can be hired out on a daily basis as well. This is a good idea when wanting to make various visits as the taxi drivers are familiar with the routes. T

The traffic in Antananarivo is extremely busy and it is quite difficult to find your way around. Maps are difficult to come by too. If you need a car rental, we strongly advise that you rent with a driver.

What to Take
During winter time, warm clothes and windbreakers are recommended, especially in the Highlands, whereas light clothes made of cotton are needed all year long in western Madagascar and during the hot season. You should always bring raincoats when visiting the humid eastern part of Madagascar and its rainforests.

Light mountain boots are recommended when visiting national parks, especially the rainforest parks. Waterproof sandals are recommended for beaches. In other places, you can wear almost any shoes.

Do not forget to bring a torch for nocturnal visits of parks and for any electricity failures.

Films, battery and photography kits are expensive in Madagascar and specific films like APS or slide films are very rare. You should buy them in your own country.

How to get to Madagascar
From South Africa:
Airlink and Air Madagascar fly 7 days a week between Johannesburg and Antananarivo

From Europe:
Flights from Paris (4 times a week) and Milan (twice) by Air Madagascar to Antananarivo. From here it connects to about 40 destinations within the country.

From Other Countries:
Via Mauritius, Nairobi (Kenya) or Bangkok (Thailand).