Madagascar is an exceptional country and the Malagasy people are friendly, considerate and kind. Cepandant, once in the Big Island not to neglect and respect the laws and customs of the countries (Fady and other traditions).
To travel to Madagascar, foreigners must have a passport valid for 6 months after date return and a full blank page in your passport.
A visa is mandatory.
The entry visa and residence with a single input is issued to tourists by the Diplomatic and Consular Representations or airport of unloading. To avoid the risk of spoiling your stay and simplify procedures, consider scan your documents and send them to your Mail box, including a copy of the visa and leave all the originals in a safe place.
Madagascar is GMT +3. It is therefore to :
+1 ..... of South Africa
+2 in winter, +1 in summer ..... of Western Europe
+1 ..... of Reunion and Mauritius
-4 ..... of Thailand
Mandatory vaccinations
There are no mandatory vaccinations except yellow fever if you have already gone through an infested area.
Recommended vaccines
For other vaccinations, it's like all the recommended travel to be up to date on vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus and polio, hepatitis A and B). We suggest you bring a good first aid kit including anti-diarrheal, disinfectant, bandages and paracetamol.
Malaria
Malaria occurs throughout the island. Prevention must first go through individual protective measures against mosquito repellents, long clothes at dusk and use mosquito nets.
The 2 main seasons:
- The austral winter (April to November) the dry season.
- The austral summer (December to March) the wet season.
The different types of climate:
There are generally Highlands mild climate, warm and dry west, the east coast rainy, hot, humid northern and southern semi-arid.
Cyclone risk: from late December to late March, mostly on the eastern part of the island, major hurricanes can cause quite considerable damage (roads, hotels, suspended supplies).
1 Euro (EUR) ≈ 2800 - 3 000 Ariary
Banks and Bureaux de Change in town, in airports, in shopping malls or big hotels are the only ones authorized to conduct foreign exchange transactions. Avoid exercising traders to black in some streets..
The euro is accepted in major hotels. You can also withdraw Ariary with a credit card in the machines located in major cities.
As everywhere, there are intruders, but no more than anywhere else. It is your responsibility to take precautions to avoid this kind of trouble. Avoid carrying self valuables such as jewelery, camera, high liquidity. Avoid dragging in some neighborhoods at night.
Do not despise "FADY" (forbidden) or attempt to circumvent a foreign logic.
Do not be too familiar or too direct. For Madagascar, a foreign brand is a host to whom he owes respect.
Respect the elderly and ancestor worship. Do not hesitate to take advice from Ray-Aman-Dray (Sage of the village), local authorities.
Ask for permission to take pictures, especially for adults.
Respect wildlife. (Some products are banned for export. Check with different ministries.)
Malagasy kitchen is a kitchen full of flavors It is mainly based on rice, meat (pork, chicken, zebu) and leafy vegetables. Another classic, the Ravitoto is prepared with mashed cassava leaves and pork pieces. On the coast or on the islands, the cuisine is based on fish and shellfish.
Madagascar is a large island. Transport is therefore an important part of the budget traveler. Several solutions exist to cross the country.
Taxi: Present in all major cities, 4L and 2CV, they are deprived counter, prices are fixed and running often posted, very cheap, however, always fix the amount before departure, prices increased slightly for night trips.
Taxi-Be: A minibus types who connects a neighborhood to another neighborhood.
Rental cars and 4X4
This solution is nice, but be aware that most of the time the vehicle is offered with a driver. This solution is expensive. Provide between 40 and 120 euros per day depending on the vehicle. The 4X4 is sometimes the only way to travel to remote areas with no paved roads.
The plane
But the plane is still often the only way to get in some areas especially in rainy season.