FAST FACTS
- Capital; Antananarivo
- Main cities; Fianarantsoa, Toamasina, Mahajanga, Antsiranana, Toliary, Antsirabe
- Population; 20,146,000 (As per the year 2010 estimates)
- Currency; Ariary (MGA). Euro and US dollars accepted in banks and many hotels. Credit cards in some major hotels. Exchange rate (approximate MGA 2,198 = $ 1). Tipping (Expect to leave 10 % for good service).
- Time; GMT + 3
- Electricity; 220 volts. Adaptor required
- Driving; Rental vehicles (4WD) usually come with drivers; self – driving in Madagascar can prove difficult for visitors. Driving is on the right.
- Public Holidays; Include January 1; March 29; April 6; May 1, 14; June 26; August 15; November 1; December 25
- Language; Malagasy and French. English is spoken in hotels and tourist areas.
- Religion; Christian, Muslim, traditional Beliefs.
- Country Dial Code; + 261
Visa requirements
- Visa is essential and required.
Health requirements
- Yellow fever certificate if arriving from an infected area; Precautions against hepatitis A, tetanus, malaria and typhoid recommended
Climate
- The Madagascar climate is hot and subtropical, colder in the mountains, while the south and west regions are particularly dry. The daily temperature averages around 46 F year round. The west season in Madagascar is also the hottest time of the year. During this time, temperatures hit a daily average maximum of 82 F in December. July is the coolest month, with average temperatures between 70 F and 48 F. Indian ocean trade winds bring variations in precipitation throughout the region. The western side of the Island is sheltered by the highland area, which is home to Antananarivo.
Getting there; (Major gateway – including Antananarivo Ivato (TNR). Typical flying time from UK is 12 hours via Paris, while from New York, 20 hours via Paris.
Transfers; Antananarivo (11 miles / 17 km) bus, taxi
Port; Toamasina
TOUR DESTINATIONS IN MADAGASCAR
- Parc National de L’ Isalo
- Parc National de Ranomafana
- Ifaty
- Musee Regional de I’ universite de Toamasina
- Zoma
- Fort Flacourt
- Centre Ecclogique de Libanona
- Stadium
- Nosy Kely Beach
- Mozea Akiba
- Musee Regional de I’ universite de Toliara.
- Asabotsy Market
- Fort Rova
- Musee de la Mer
- Betania Beach.
TOUR DESTINATIONS IN MADAGASCAR BRIEFLY
PARC NATIONAL DE L’ ISALO;
- All hiking trails in this park start and finish in Ranohira, and range from one to seven days in length making official guides compulsory for visits and fees dependent of the length of each trek. Two of the most popular short trips are a walk to canyon des singes & piscine Naturelle – as part of a day walk – where you can take a plunge in the cool water, and natural window, which is a short distance off the highway. Here you can watch the sunset through a square hole in the rock. The best time to visit is during the cooler months (April to October), when walking for long distances is more much comfortable.
BAIE DES GALIONS BEACH
- This beach in Taolagnaro is the place to be for watersports enthusiasts, with surfing and windsurfing providing popular amongst visitors. The best time to visit is from late August to May.
ASABOTSY MARKET
- In the city of Antsirabe, Saturday is market day and it is well worth a wander around the town’s two biggest markets, Asabotsy Market and Petit Marche, while there is also a variety of handicraft shops in town, perfect place for stocking up on gifts for loved ones and yourself
FORT ROVA
- Offering great views over the city and bay below, Fort Rova, at the end of Rue du Marechal Joffre in the city of Mahajanga, was built in 1824 by king Radama1 but suffered extensive damaged during the French – Malagasy wars the late 19th
HAUTE – VILLE
- The oldest and most attractive part of town in Fianarantsoa, is the Haute – Ville, where a climb around the cobbled streets offers great views of the surrounding countryside, while in the very centre sits the imposing Ambozontany Cathedral, which dates back to 1890 and dominates the skyline.
PARC NATIONAL DE RANOMAFANA
- Guided walks here – through the 41,500ha of lush rainforest – range between two and four hours. The area is swarming with a variety of species, including the Malagasy civet and several variations of lemurs including the red – bellied lemurs and broad – nosed gentle lemurs. Permits to enter the park are compulsory and are made available for visitors at the Angap office at Ambodiamontana village
- IFATY
- White sandy beaches, coral reefs just offshore, sea breezes, a relaxed tropica l- ambience draw visitors to this quiet coastal area of Ifaty, which features the nearby villages of Mangily, and Mandio Rano. Whale – watching normally takes place in late summer, and there is a forest just north of Mangily which is also certainly worth making the trip.
