Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. Located in the Indian Ocean about 250 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, the island is more than 1,000 miles long. The teeming tropical forests on the island are home to an abundance of wild animals. Many plants and animals on the island are found nowhere else in the world. This makes Madagascar a naturalist's dream.
The climate is typically hot and subtropical, with a rainy season from April to October. Monsoons occur December to March.
The Malagasy people are relaxed and welcoming in nature. Their origins are a mixture of African and Indonesian. The official language, Malagasy, contains words imported from Swahili, Arabic, English, French and Bantu. English is not widely spoken or understood. The predominant faith is Christianity, but traditional beliefs and rituals are common.
Flights from Europe and Africa serve the international airport outside the capital city, Antananarivo. With considerable distances between hubs, the domestic airline offers a viable option to more than 50 destinations. The island's four railway links are under reparation and under normal conditions rail services are extremely limited and unpredictable. Although rental cars are available, traveling by road is not recommended as most of the roads are in a poor repair. Driving is on the right. Buses operate throughout the island. Safety, however, is often compromised by overloading and speeding.
The communications infrastructure in Madagascar can be described as "Africa efficient." Normal services (phones, mobile phones, faxes and Internet cafes) are available in the larger cities, but similar services are severely limited outside urban areas. Credit cards are accepted at major hotels, with limited use elsewhere. Foreign currency and travelers checks can be exchanged at banks and major hotels.
Medical services in Madagascar are minimal and many medications are not readily available.
Petty theft and pickpocketing are the greatest security threat to be faced by travelers and these normally occur in or near public transportation stations and at night. Be cautious of people volunteering as tour guides at the airport and railway stations as many are petty criminals. Avoid being on or near beaches at night. Violent personal crimes do occur but are not as prevalent here as they are on mainland Africa.
For a free map of Madagascar and more detailed information, be sure to click on the Destination Brief above.
Please note: the situation in Madagascar can be volatile and dynamic. You are encouraged to purchase an Intelligence Brief ($7.50) or Destination Tracker ($25) for complete, up-to-the-minute information on the Country, Security and Health, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Transportation, Communications/Technology, Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language in Madagascar.