Madagascar Travel Guide

Visitors from most countries can obtain a Madagascar tourist visa upon arrival in Madagascar (information accurate as of March 2020). You must pay for the visa with cash: in US dollars or euros. They also ask for an address of your first night stay.

Local money is the Malagasy ariary, denoted by the symbol "Ar" (ISO code: MGA). Ariary banknotes come in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 Ar. The ariary is subdivided into 5 iraimbilanja, making it one of only two non-decimal currencies (the other is the Mauritanian ouguiya), but travellers will never have to deal with this minuscule unit of currency.

By plane

Madagascar Airlines serves 11 destinations throughout the country, and provide a much faster option than driving given the poor state of many roads. While the airline will provide you with a hotel and book you on the next available flight in the case of a cancellation, don't book tight connections and always confirm your flight time the night before.

By train

As of 2023 Madarail operates only one service, a 9-hour trip between Moramanga (115 km east of Antananarivo) and Ambila Lemaitso on the east coast. The railway dates from the colonial period, so breakdowns are frequen…

The entire island speaks one language: Malagasy, an Austronesian language. "Malagasy" refers to both the language and the people of the island. Because the island is so large, there are many different dialects. The Merina dialect is the "Official Malagasy" of the island and is spoken around the highlands of Antananarivo. Most Malagasy, however, speak Merina across the island. Attempts by foreigners to learn and speak Malagasy are liked and encouraged by the Malagasy people. Today, Malagasy is th…

Madagascar is a fairly safe country. You must, however, respect some simple principles: The centre of Antananarivo should be avoided, as well as the Ankato area, Avenue de L'Indépendance, Ambohijatovo, Analakely, Bohorika, Isoraka, Ampasamandinika, 67ha, Isotry and the area around the military barracks. Elsewhere in the country, Nosy Be, Toamasina (Tamatave), Mahajunga, Ankarana, Isalo, Montagne d'Ambre Nature Reserve, Tuléar and Batterie Beach, and the RN 7 and RN 27 roads are particularly to be avoided.

Visitors to Madagascar should be aware of a vast number of health concerns. Diseases such as the plague, which are almost unheard of elsewhere, still occur in Madagascar. Drinking water is almost never safe for foreigners; treated or bottled water should always be used, and salads or dishes containing unpeeled fruits or vegetables should be avoided. While the AIDS epidemic has not reached the devastating level found in many southern African countries, it is widely assumed that the incidence of AIDS is underestimated and rising, so you should take no risks and avoid unprotected sex in all cases…

International phone calls and 4G Internet via data can be done via cell phone companies such as Airtel, Orange or Telma they work off prepaid phone cards. International phone calls using Telma to Europe cost 900 Ar per minute. There are also Internet cafes in the major cities and most large towns. Electricity may be erratic. Many areas have either mandatory shutdown hours or rationing. It's best to bring an openline smart phone and buy a SIM card when you get to Madagascar. It's also useful to h…

Everyday life in Madagascar is regulated by numerous fady (taboos) which vary from one region to another. They can forbid foods (lemur, turtle, beef), wearing clothes of a particular colour, bathing in a river or a lake, etc. Observance of "Fady" is mostly limited to rural areas, as tourists will most likely not encounter this problem if they stay in the main towns. However, there are Fadys in places such as Antananarivo but most vazaha are exempt.