Madagascar

Country or Region Description

Madagascar is a beautiful island, ringed by golden beaches and palm trees. With an interior resplendent in its variety from grassy plateaus to volcanoes and opaque forests and natural reserves. It's long isolation from the neighbouring continents has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world. Rich with wildlife, there are 10 different species of lemur that inhabit the island, and about half the world's 150 or so species of chameleons. The island is also a mass of unusual and colourful flowers and other flora. In terms of biodiversity alone, Madagascar really is one of a kind.

Some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent".

Please Note: Madagascar is not for the faint of heart. Tourism infrastructure is very limited and accommodation levels are quite basic. English is not widely spoken, French and Malagasy are the primary languages spoken on the island. You will need to have a 'go with the flow' attitude to fully enjoy and appreciate this unique land.

Country Facts

Name: Republic of Madagascar. An island nation located in the Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa (east of Mozambique).

Capital: Antananarivo

Time: +3 GMT

Size: 587,040 km² with a coastline of 4828 km. Madagascar is slightly less than twice the size of Arizona and is the world's fourth-largest island. Madagascar has 6 provinces which consist of Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina and Toliara.

Geography: The east coast of Madagascar has lowlands leading to steep bluffs and central highlands. The Tsaratanana Massif in the north has volcanic mountains. The west coast has many protected harbours and broad plains, while the southwest is a plateau and desert region.

Biodiversity: Madagascar is the home to 5 percent of the world's plant and animal species, greater than 80 percent of which are endemic to Madagascar.

Climate: Tropical along the coast, temperate inland and arid in the south.

Population: Around 18,595,469. The vast majority is a blend of Malay, Polynesian and African ancestry, with two small minorities of Indian or French origin.

Currency: Madagascar Ariary (MGA)

Credit Cards: Credit cards are not widely accepted in Madagascar, they are sometimes accepted in the main cities, hotels and larger restaurants. MasterCard is NOT at all accepted outside of Antananarivo. It is recommended you do not rely on your credit cards for payment, it is recommended you have enough cash with you to cover the needs of your stay.

Languages: French & Malagasy. The primary language spoken in Madagascar is Malagasy followed by French. English is not spoken outside of major hotels and tourist attractions.

Public Holidays:

In addition to the public holidays below, Good Friday and Easter Monday, the following public holidays are recognized.

1 January - New Year's Day

29 March - Commemoration Day

1 May - Labour Day.

26 June - Independence Day.

15 August - Assumption.

27 September - St. Vincent de Paul's Day.

1 November - All Saints' Day.

25 December - Christmas Day.

30 December - Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar.

26 June - Independence Day.

Electricity: 110V and 220V.

Banking: Monday to Friday 08h:00-11h:00 and 14h:00-16h:00

Economy: Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy. Major exports are coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts and livestock products. The Malagasy economy took a brief downturn during the 1980's when Coca-Cola, the world's leading purchaser of vanilla, switched to the New Coke formula that contained synthetic vanillin. The situation reversed itself when the company reintroduced its classic formula.

National Parks & Reserves:

Ankarana Reserve: Ankarana Reserve is a small vegetated plateau in northern Madagascar with elevations that exceed 1220m (4000ft) above sea level. Ankarana has the highest density of primates of any forest, many different species of lemurs call it home. It's composed of 150-million-year-old limestone. With an average annual rainfall of 1,800 millimetres (70in), the underlying rocks are susceptible to erosion, thereby producing caves and underground streams. The rugged relief and the dense vegetation have helped protect the region from human intrusion.

The plateau slopes gently to the east, but on the west it ends abruptly in the "Wall of Ankarana", a sheer cliff that extends 25 km (15 miles) north to south, and rises as high as 280m (920ft). To the south, the limestone mass breaks up into separate spires known as tower karst. In the centre of the plateau, eons of rainfall have dissolved the limestone away in deep gorges, and sometimes re-deposited it in ribbons of flowstone. In places where the chalky upper layers have been completely eroded, the harder base rock has been etched into channels and ridges known as tsingy.

Things to know about Madagascar before you go

Passport and Visa:

A valid passport is mandatory. All foreign visitors to the Republic of Madagascar require entry Visas. Visas are issued for stays of up to 90 days and are valid for six months from date of issue.

Entry & Exit Requirements:

A passport valid for six months beyond the date of entry, visa and evidence of yellow fever vaccination (if coming from an infected area) are required.

Health:

Yellow fever vaccination certificate & cholera vaccination certificate are required if you are arriving from or have transited an area considered infected by the Malagasy authorities. Malaria Prophylaxis is recommended as is a vaccination for typhoid, polio and Hepatitis A. It is not recommended to drink tap water. Boil it or buy bottled water from the shops. It is strongly advised that visitors to The Country take full health insurance.

Availability of health care is very restricted and where available, the services are in high demand and can be expensive. Bring any special medication you may need. For your own comfort take a mosquito repellent. Bilharzia is present in some of the lakes, and swimming is not recommended except in designated areas.

Weather:

Tropical/subtropical Climate with two seasons: Hot and rainy from November to April, cooler and dry from May to October. The south and west regions are hot and dry. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and thundery from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year. Monsoons bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December to March.

Lightweight clothing is worn during the summer on the high central plateau and throughout the year in the north and south. Warmer clothes are recommended during the evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rainwear is advisable.

Arrival Guide

Transport

Air Madagascar connects Antananarivo to 51 towns on the island although flights do not depart daily for most locations. The train journey between the capital and Toamasina, and between Fianarantsoa and Manakara is recommended for its scenery. Buses are the most commonly used form of transport for the local population and are generally overcrowded, leave at irregular times and are slow. The island has just three main roads with dirt tracks covering the rest of the country, and many roads are impassable during the rainy season. Car hire is not common, but agencies can be found in the main tourist towns.

Climate and Weather

Generally the climate of Madagascar is subtropical, with a hot and rainy season between November and April, and a cooler dry season from May to October. However there is a big variation in climate depending on altitude and geographical position. The west coast is drier than the east coast and the central highlands, while the far south and south west is a semi-desert region that experiences very little rainfall. The east coast receives the most rain and is hot and humid during the wet season, and also prone to cyclones between February and March. Temperatures are much cooler in the highlands. Antananarivo has a pleasant, temperate climate. May to October is the most pleasant time to travel to Madagascar, with cooler temperatures and little rain.

Health

Malaria is a risk throughout the year and is highest on the coast. Cases of dengue fever and chikungunya fever were reported in February 2006 and are transmitted by mosquitoes; precautionary measures against being bitten should be taken at all times. In April 2008, an outbreak of Rift Valley fever was reported in five regions; contact with domestic animals and mosquitoes should be avoided. All travellers coming from a country with yellow fever require inoculation against the disease. Other risks include bilharzia, tuberculosis and rabies. Tap water should not be drunk unless it has been boiled or chemically treated. Medical facilities are limited, and outside of the capital medical care may be difficult to find. Limited French medications are available in Tana and it is advisable to bring along a medical kit for private use. Comprehensive medical insurance is advised.

Visa & Passport

Passports of all visitors must be valid for at least six months after entry date. Visas can be issued on arrival, but it is highly recommended that visitors obtain visas prior to arrival. At least one blank page is needed in passports, reserved for use by the Madagascar Immigration Authorities. Return or onward tickets are required; otherwise a deposit must be paid before arriving in Madagascar, which is equivalent to the cost of a flight to the country of origin.

Entry requirements for Australians:

Australians require a valid passport and a visa to enter Madagascar. A 90-day visa can be obtained on arrival.

Entry requirements for New Zealanders:

New Zealand nationals require a valid passport and a visa to enter Madagascar. A 90-day visa can be obtained on arrival.