- INTRODUCTION
- MALAGASY CULTURE
- MALAGASY TRADITIONAL SPORT
- MALAGASY CUISINE
- BEACHES AND RIVERS
- MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS
- PURCHASE TIPS
- SITES AND ACTIVITIES
- MONUMENTS
- MALASY HANDICRAFTS
- TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS
- MADAGASCAR CONNECTING FLIGHTS
- MADAGASCAR NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES
- FAUNA AND FLORA OF MADAGASCAR
- PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MADAGASCAR
- THE SOUTH WEST AND WESTERN REGIONS
- THE SOUTH EAST REGION
- THE NORTH WEST REGION
- THE NORTH EAST AND EAST REGIONS
- THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
TIPS FOR TRAVELERS
Entry formalities
Visa to Madagascar is obtained directly on arrival for 35 Eur. Your passport is valid 6 months after your arrival in Madagascar.
Recommendations to travelers
Travel with light luggage, if possible; backpacks are very handy especially when taking public transport: light trousers, long sleeved shirts or t-shirts, pair of tennis or/and sandals; Hikers must have good walking shoes; mosquito repellent sprays and/or creams; sunblock cream and swimsuits; for bivouac lovers: swiss knives, first aid kit, flasks, water purifying tablets, sleeping bags (camping), torches, cameras and/or video cameras to immortalize the highlights of your trip.
Seasons and weather
There are 5 climatic zones which follow the varied physical geography of the island: there are the mild Highlands, the hot and dry western regions, the rainy and the eastern coastal regions under the influence of trade winds, the hot and wet North, and the semi-arid south. Rainfall decreases progressively from the north-east (over 3 m) to the south-west (less than 400 m) with several variants between these two extremes. The dry season or the southern winter is from April to October, and summer is from November to march. If, at sea level, temperatures range from 27°c and 32°C in summer, and 22°c in winter, on the Highlands, they may go down to 4°c or even less in winter nights.
September to November is the best birdwatching period in Madagascar and one can book at Madagascar Birds and Birding website.
Health
No vaccination is required to travellers, except if they have travelled in an infected area. However, it’s better to take preventive measures against malaria, hepatitis, cholera and yellow fever.
Roads
“The road to development requires the development of roads”. The bad condition of roads has, for a long time, hampered the development of tourism, making access to some spots difficult, which results in less time available for tourists. Since 2002, 3000 km of roads have been rehabilitated, and in the near future, the objective is the rehabilitation of 14 000 km of national and provincial roads. 72% of Urban means of transport (Antananarivo) in the capital, are public transportation, 21% private cars, and 7% bicycle. The fleet of cars for transport in Antananarivo comprises 7000 taxis, 4000 buses with twenty or so seats each, serving the capital intra-murous and the suburbs.
Power supply
220 V. European two-prong plugs. Some places have no electric network. Take battery powered appliances and make sure not to leave them in nature once they are worn out.
Religions
Since the 19th century, strong syncretism has established Madagascar as one of the great christian countries in the world. However, several other religions cohabit peacefully and in Antananarivo, there are religious services (catholic, protestant, orthodox, muslim) in foreign languages.
– Catholic: Andohalo Cathedral, Faravohitra and Ankadivato churches
– Reformed Protestant: International Parish of Andohalo – Adventist: Francophone Adventist church, Rue Rainandriamampandry
– Orthodox: Dormition Church of the Mother of God, Behoririka
– Evangelical: International Evangelical church, Behoririka
– Church of Jesus Christ of the Last days’ Saints: Main church at
Andrainarivo.