Catering and accommodation

The quality of your accommodation can vary from a modest room, for instance during a homestay program, to a 5-star luxury hotel, depending on your budget.

As for the catering, there are various types of dishes and the Malagasy culinary art will amaze you. For a more authentic trip, do not hesitate to taste our succulent traditional meals which are among the most exquisite in the world.

A meal usually costs between 6 and 15 Euros in a restaurant or a hotel, and between 2 and 5 Euros in a small restaurant.

Visa

Visa is mandatory and can be issued upon your arrival at Ivato international airport, but also at the embassy or consulates of Madagascar in your country. Foreigners who wish to stay up to 3 months are considered as “non-immigrants”.

Then, they have to provide the following documents:

– An original passport signed and valid for more than 6 months after the end of te trip

– A copy of the return air ticket

– The visa fee to be paid in cash :

• 35 Euros or 37 US Dollars for a stay less than or equal to 1 month
• 40 Euros or 45 US Dollars for a stay more than one month and not exceeding two months
• 50 Euros or 55 US Dollars for a stay of 61 to 90 days.

These rates are subject to change without notice by the competent authorities, therefore, you should check the information at the embassy or consulates of Madagascar in your country before your departure.

We strongly recommend you to make photocopies of your travel documents : passport, visa, air ticket, travel insurance, etc.

Customs provisions

The below list is not exhaustive and the information may be modified at any time by the Malagasy customs administration. Therefore, we advise you to check the regulations on the website of Madagascar customs, before your arrival.

– Purchase of prohibited articles: endangered species (fosa, ankoay, lemur, boa, red frog, turtle, orchids, …), and drugs (heroin, cocaine, …).

– Goods to declare: gems and precious stones (gold, sapphire, …)

– Amount in foreign currency to declare: from 7500 euros.

International flight

The airlines flying to Madagascar are : Air Austral, Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Seychelles, Corsair, Ethiopian Airlines, Ewa Air, Kenya Airways, Meridiana, Neos Spa flights, South African Airlink and Turkish Airlines.

Domestic flight

In general, a trip in Madagascar includes at least one domestic flight. We can book it for you if you want us to do so.

The luggage load each traveller is entitled to is 20kg with the unique company operating commercial domestic flights called Tsaradia.

Please note that if the airline you are going to fly with, if you depart from Europe, is Air Madagascar, then Tsaradia will offer you a 50% discount on some domestic flights.

Health

Compulsory vaccination: none, EXCEPT yellow fever vaccination for a trip to the inter-tropical region of Africa planned before or after your stay in Madagascar.

Advised vaccinations: covid, malaria, typhoid, hepatitis A and B.

Do not drink tap water and never eat in a restaurant, if you deem it has poor hygiene.

Other requirements: https://madagascar-tourisme.com/Fr-fr/border-reopening/

Security

–  Follow carefully the instructions of your guide and driver.

– Avoid walking around at night.

– Do not walk around with high-priced items, especially in some areas of Antananarivo and Tamatave.

– Do not carry a lot of money or at least avoid putting all the cash in one place.

Climate

The temperature varies depending on your location in Madagascar.

However, there are two main seasons: the austral summer from November to March, which is rainy ; and the austral winter, from April to October, which is dry.

Finally, please note that in the Southern and Northwestern part, the weather is fine all year long. During the austral winter, the temperature in the Highlands is relatively cold.

Time difference

UTC/GMT+3:00

Time difference between Madagascar and Western Europe: +2: 00 in winter, and +1: 00 in summer.

Local currency

The Malagasy currency is Ariary (Ar).

Nevertheless, please note that some people can sell you their goods or services by adopting the Malagasy Franc or FMG as a reference. In such a case, bear in mind 1 Ar = 5 FMG.

To carry out foreign exchange transactions, we advise you go directly to a bank or exchange office, such as the one at Ivato airport. Avoid black market, do not encourage illegal practice.

Euro payment is accepted in some hotels. You can also withdraw Ariary cash with a card from ATMs located in major cities.

Travelers checks and credit cards

Most banks in Madagascar accept Visa, MasterCard and Carte Bleue as well as travelers checks.

Communication

Internet: internet connection in big cities is good with a 3G or 4G network

Telephone: there are 3 major operators in Madagascar namely Telma, Orange, Airtel.

You can buy a SIM card for less than one Euro and, one Euro is way enough for an airtime lasting about one week.

Culture

Respect the “fady” or taboos.

Do not photograph someone without their approval.

Malagasy is the official language in Madagascar, however, there are 18 dialects. French is the second most spoken language. English is the third; many tourism professionals like tour guides, hotelkeepers and travel agents speak this language.

NB: greeting people in Malagasy is very appreciated if you are a tourist. Malagasy people are very hospitable, so we encourage you to salute people in Malagasy by saying “salama” or “manao ahoana”, it will be seen as great gesture of sympathy.

Tips

Tipping people for the good services they performed is a fairly common practice everywhere, though not mandatory.

Electric current

220 V, standard socket.

Items to carry with you

– A pharmacy case

– A rain suit in case it rains

– Warm and / or light clothes depending on your destination

– Walking shoes

– A flashlight

– An anti-mosquito

– A hat

– Sun glasses

– A sunscreen