Itineraries in Madagascar

Planning a trip to Madagascar ?

In 2021, Madagascar is THE destination to go to !

The youngest will probably think of an animated movie when hearing about Madagascar, the not-so-young probably of the political instability.
If you get over these “clichés”, the Red Island is a jewel of nature : rice fields, tropical forests, stunning beaches rare and unique wildlife and flora.
During the dry season, explore this african-asian land and its rich cultural heritage. Enjoy the sun and meet the locals, living the simple life, they are very welcoming.
And get to meet the iconic Malagasy animal : the lemur (yes just like the ones in the movie) !

Ready for adventures ? Let’s go !

📗 You want to buy a paper travel guide ? We recommend this one ! In our opinion, it is the most complete, the most visual and the most up to date !

What to see in Madagascar ?

What to do in Madagascar ?

Live Malagasy experiences

• Stroll around Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital.
• Taste some Malagasy vanilla in Sambava.
• Party like a true Malagasy in Toliara.
• Explore some of the most beautiful islands in the world, starting with Nosy Be.
• Explore the local wildlife and flora with your new lemur friends in Ranomafana Park.
• Take a dip near the gorgeous beaches of Sainte-Marie Island in the natural pools.

But wait for it, Malagasies also know how to celebrate !

There are many national holidays all year long :

• In March celebrate the Malagasy New Year called « Alahamady Be » with the locals.
• On the 29th of March, celebrate the Malagasy Uprising of 1947.
• Between April and May, celebrate the first rice harvest during the Santabary.
• In May, discover the Zegny’Zo, a street art festival.
• On the 1st of May, no one works ! It is Labor Day.
• On the 25th of May, it’s Africa Day !
• In Madagascar, Whit Monday is celebrated (at the end of may or beginning of June).
• Between the end of may and the beginning of June, take part in the Donia Music festival on the island of Nosy Be.
• In June, many circumcision festivals are held across the country, like Sambatra.
• On the 26th of June, celebrate Madagascar’s independence !
• In July, experience a unique and key celebration : Famadihana. Corpses are taken out of their coffins, wrapped in a new linen cloth and celebrated by the families and friends.
• On the 14th of July, you can celebrate the french Bastille Day, for example go to the bal of Sainte-Marie Island. 
• In October, Madajazzcar in Antananarivo welcomes Malagasy and international musicians !
• On the 25th of December, Santa Clause also comes to Madagascar

Languages in Madagascar

We speak Madagscarin !

Well not really since Madagascarin doesn’t exist … sorry ! The official languages are Malagasy and French. You took french in high school ? It’s your time to shine !
But don’t worry, english is also widely spoken.

Malagasy 101 !

• Hello : Salàma
• Bye : Velòma
• Please : Azafàdy
• Thank you : Misàotra
• Sorry : Azafady
• Yes : Èny
• No : Tsia

Official currency in the Philippines

Money, money, money

The official currency is the Ariary (MGA). Better get a money converter on your phone to manage your expenses easily.
If you need to exchange money, don’t worry you’ll find many exchange offices and ATMs in the big cities. Visa card are accepted pretty much everywhere, MasterCards not that much … as for American Express and Diners Clubs they are not accepted at all. Just don’t forget to tell your bank you’ll be using this card abroad so they don’t suspect fraudulent transactions.

Traveling in Madagascar

Is the steering wheel on the left or right ?

To get around in Madagascar, better get a 4by4 because the roads are not the best ! To rent a 4by4 you need to be at least 23 years old and have had your driver’s licence for over a year to drive or rent a car.

If you were wondering what side the steering wheel is on, it’s on the left side and Malagasies drive on the right side of the road. But be careful, people do not really care about driving rules/ regulations !

🗺 Need a road map to prepare your itinerary ? We recommend this one, the most detailed and the most pleasant to read !

Overall cost of a trip to Madagascar

Thanks for all the information but how much will this actually cost ?

• There is only one airline that has domestic flights : Air Madagascar (58 150 MGA / flight).
  Don’t forget that if you flew in Madagascar with this same airline, you get 50% off domestic flights. Quite a good deal !
• About accommodations, a basic hotel room will be between 11 700 and 38 800 MGA / night. If you prefer more luxurious hotel rooms, expect between 116 300 and 193 800MGA / night.
• A meal in a cheaper restaurant will be around 3900 MGA, if you want something a little fancier expect between 23 300 and 31 100 MGA / meal. So don’t worry about eating, it’s very cheap !
• Rental cars start at 96 900 MGA / day without driver, but you can rent a car for longer with or without driver. Just remember that depending on when you go, the road will be more or less drivable so a driver could actually be useful !
• Or get a on bush-taxi, but the cost fluctuates a lot because negotiation is key (from 11 600 to 96 900MGA / trip).
  For any car or taxi rental, gasoline is about 3576 MGA / liter and diesel about 3280 MGA / liter.
• You will need to get a VISA to get to Madagascar, whatever the length of your stay is :
  – Less than 30 days = about 104 660MGA
  – From 31 to 60 days = about 128 000 MGA
  – From 61 to 90 days = about 178 300 MGA

Useful contact information in Madagascar

If you need to join / go to you embassy while in Madagascar, go to this website for the address, phone number, email address  and website : https://embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/madagascar

For any emergency call : 117 (Police, Medical Emergency and Fire Service)

Book your trip to Madagascar

Here are different websites to book your trip.

Flights :

• http://www.airmadagascar.com/fr

Car rentals

• • https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/

Looking for other travelers’ experiences in Madagascar to get inspired from ? Go to ShareYourTrip :

• • • https://www.shareyourtrip.fr/s?q=Madagascar&cid=&latitude=-18.766947&longitude=46.869106999999985&areaLevel1=&areaLevel2=&areaLevel3=&city=&country=Madagascar&countryIsoCode=MG&distance=100km&page=

Practical information in Madagascar

Tips to travelers :

• • • You probably should give tips, they are not mandatory but highly recommended.
    • Because of the rudimentary hygiene in the country, be sure to only drink clean water, to peel your own fruits, do not get ice cubes or fruit juices and wash your hands frequently if you don’t want to get sick !
    • Pack a flashlight because power failures are quite frequent.
    • Finally don’t forget to pack long sleeved clothes and insect repellant spray otherwise you’ll get eaten up by the insects !

The shop of useful purchases for Madagascar

⛑ On our side, we always go on a trip with a first aid kit, it can be more than useful. Add in this kit “made” paracetamol and medications for belly type Spasfon… You never know !

📖  The travels inexorably damage the passports… To avoid changing yours every 3 stripes, we advise you to opt for a passport cover !

🔐 You want to secure your bag a minimum ? Opt for a “special suitcase” padlock. Remember that between a protected suitcase and an unprotected suitcase, careless people will prefer to tackle the unprotected one.

🔌 Depending on the country, you may need a universal electrical outlet.

⚡️ You take pictures with your smartphone, use it for GPS, watch the time, and so on ? You will probably need an external battery to charge your phone during the day !

💼 For the choice of your cabin baggage, special mention for this solid and practical bag especially for “digital nomads” (like us ! ) who need to walk their computer around the world !

💧 Getting hydrated is essential when traveling ! We recommend this insulated stainless steel flask to overcome all your thirsts !