Madagascar is ‘Unique’, the best way to describe Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world. Almost everything from wildlife to Afro-Asian people can only be found here. In addition to the beautiful beaches and magnificent coral reefs, the mysterious and the strange fill the atmosphere surrounding the strange landscapes, sights and customs, such as the ‘turning bone’.
Home to the world’s largest open-air market and some of the best diving and snorkeling available anywhere in the world, Madagascar will enthrall laid-back visitors with a taste for adventure…
CAPITAL:
antananarivo
CLIMATE:
Madagascar’s climate is diverse, but generally tropical, pleasantly sunny and warm year-round. Summer is from September to April, winter from May to August and the dry season (May to September). Cyclones occur from January to mid-February.
BADGE:
1 Malagasy franc = 100 cents. Some hotels and restaurants accept Amex, Master and Visa credit cards, but a fee of up to 7 percent of the transaction value applies. Change money only in authorized exchange houses. Hard currency traveler’s checks can be exchanged at banks and major hotels. ATMs accept Visa cards.
The machines have a withdrawal limit of 900,000 Malagasy Francs, but it is possible to make multiple withdrawals at once. Please note that the Malagasy franc is not convertible. Traveler’s checks in USD are recommended.
ELECTRICITY:
Mostly 127/220 volts, 50 Hz, other times 110 or 380 volts. The plugs are round 2-pin.
HEALTH:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for travelers who come from or have been in transit in areas considered infected. Visitors are advised to take precautions prior to arrival against malaria (risk exists throughout the year throughout the country, with the highest risk in coastal areas), typhoid fever, polio and hepatitis A. Other Health problems include cholera (especially in the rainy season), water (drink bottled water only), influenza (risk extends throughout the year), plague (officially considered infected), minimal medical facilities, and unavailable medicines.
LANGUAGE:
Malagasy and French. English is hardly ever spoken.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
New Year’s Day (January 1); Celebration of the 1947 Uprising (March 29); Good Friday (April 9); Easter Monday (April 12); Labor Day (May 1); Independence Day (June 26); Asunción (August 15); All Saints’ Day (November 1); Christmas Day (December 25); Boxing Day (December 26); Anniversary of the Republic (December 30)
SHOPPING:
lamba cloths; chessboards and boxes made in zafimaniny marquetry style; silver jewelry, shells and precious stones; reed, raffia and straw fabrics; embroidery. The Andravoahangy Wednesday market offers better quality products. NB: All products that include local fauna and flora (including dried flowers) require export permits which you must obtain at the time of purchase. Many items are made illegally and cannot be taken out of the country.
SOCIAL AGREEMENTS:
Fifty-one percent of people practice animism (the belief that inanimate and natural phenomena have a soul), about 43 percent are Christians and the rest are Muslims. People have a laid-back attitude towards time, which can be frustrating. Ask for advice before approaching graves or tombs and find out what the taboos (“fady”) of the region are and respect them.
TIME DIFFERENCE:
GMT+3
TIPS:
It is not usual, although waiters expect 10 percent especially in European, Chinese and Vietnamese establishments. It is not necessary to tip taxi drivers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TEN BEST ATTRACTIONS:
Antananarivo and surroundings:
The colorful capital is home to most of the island’s friendly locals; shop for exquisite embroidery and other handicrafts at the Zoma market and see the fascinating architecture and rice paddies; Tsimbazaza is a botanical and zoological garden; nearby is Ambohimanga, an ancient sacred town that contains a historical museum; to the south are the cities of Antsirabe with their healing springs, crater lakes, and highlands dotted with huge granite heads; and Ambalavao, a quasi-medieval European-style town that produces wine and papyrus.
Ankarana Reserve:
A hollow mountain surrounded by a practically impenetrable jagged plateau; inside are spectacular caves linked by possibly hundreds of kilometers of tunnels; isolated pockets of sunken forest grow where caves have collapsed and deep pits harbor eels and giant crocodiles; Abundant wildlife appears in forested canyons.
Nosy Be archipelago:
Commercial vacation destination with palm-fringed beaches and coral reefs in a national protected area ideal for snorkeling, scuba diving and exploring the forests; lemurs nature reserve; and good fishing; visit numerous nearby islands, for example, Nosy Sakatia, Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely; Live-aboard yacht charters are available.
Isalo & Sur Seco National Park:
desert sandstone canyons; towering baobabs; giant cacti; colorful ancestral tombs; delicate coral reef; strong dolphin; the Berenty Nature Reserve with its thorny forest, succulents and lemurs; and Libanona, where there are beautiful swimming beaches and some of the best tide pools.
Masoala and Nosy Peninsula:
Mangabe In the northeast, one of the largest expanses of tropical rainforest meets a tropical coral reef in a biologically rich desert; Nosy Mangabe is a lemur reserve island and home to the leaf-tailed gecko, bright orange tree frog and nocturnal aye-aye lemur; Masoala has the largest lowland rainforest in Madagascar, ideal for hikers and naturalists; Visit from late August to late December.
Perinet Reserve and surroundings:
The eastern rainforest reserve is one of the last strongholds of the mythical indri, the largest of all surviving lemurs; scenic hiking trails and a bewildering diversity of plants; Visit the neighboring Maromizaha Rainforest to see rare species.
Ranomafana National Park:
Wild montaneous rainforest home to 12 species of lemurs, numerous endemic birds, and dominated by the whitewater Namorona River; the best time to visit is from August to January; near the park there are thermal baths to relax after a walk.
Ampijoroa Forest Station:
One of the best wildlife spots on the island; easy trails into tropical, dry, deciduous forest; accessible all year round; abundant lemurs and birds.
Morondava and the ‘Swiss Forest’:
Vibrant west coast city with wide beaches, safe swimming and the Kirindy Forest, the best place for nocturnal wildlife; rare mammals, birds and three species of baobab.
Ifaty, Anakao, Tulear and Sainte Marie Beach:
coral reefs; coastal hotels; diving and snorkelling in Ifaty with boat trips to Nosy Ve, Anakao, St Augustin Bay and excursions to the ‘thorny desert’; Ile Ste Marie has secluded coves, historical traces of pirate occupation, and whale watching from July to September; Tulear has scuba diving and snorkelling on a coral reef said to be second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; it is also a good starting point to see baobabs, giant cacti and thorny trees.
