Madagascar possesses a number of hotel ranges from small scale to luxurious ones. The terms Ravinala and stars are used to classify them. Restaurants offer a variety of speciality from Malagasy menu to international dishes. Nevertheless, you can always have something to eat in snack bars, or in « hotely » which are local restaurants – with typically Malagasy dishes.
Baggage handling upon arrival is already taken care by the organizer. Keep an eye on your luggage until you are taken care by our team.
To travel to MADAGASCAR means travel light. Avoid carrying with you eccentricities. For all tours, it is extremely important to name tag your luggage (put conspicuous stickers) and not to forget to write your first and last names and your personal addresses.
COMMUNICATION:
Medias: Newspapers, Televisions, Radios, Books, Magazines….
Fixed line telephones, fax, Internet (at a Cyber café) as well as telephone booths are operational nationwide. Mobile telephony with Telma, Orange, Airtel, Life, and Taratra Mobile is very developed but serves only very populated regions. In addition, you will always find on the streets taxi phones. Post offices are in charge of mail services. There are many agencies throughout the island.
ELECTRIC CURRENT:
220 Volts with standard outlet
FORMALITY:
Visa: mandatory, issued by the Malagasy embassies or consulates abroad or upon arrival at IVATO international airport.
Required documents:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity after the planned date of departure.
- A round trip ticket.
The visa fee is free for the stay less than 30 days
For the stay more than 31 days till 60 days the visa fee is 45€
For the stay more than 61 days till 90 days the visa fee is 57€
HEALTH:
There is no mandatory vaccine. However, it is recommended to see your consulting doctor before departure.
All big cities and villages but in the country have hospitals, health centres, pharmacies, doctors. A general practitioner is easy to find, but it is not the case for all the medicines prescribed on the prescription. It is advisable to come with your own first-aid kit containing:
- Common antibiotics
- Anti-diarrheic
- Pain killer
- Local antiseptic
- Aspirin or Doliprane
- Chocolate bars or candy
- Betadine
- Compress and cotton
- Sunscreen
- Double skins
- Elastoplast or Tricostéril
- Common medicines
- A pair of scissors
- Ointment for sprain
- Healing ointment
- Dehydrating
- Mosquito repellent cream
- Lipstick
INSURANCE:
It is better if you will subscribe to an individual guarantee insurance and repatriation insurance.
MONEY:
- Local currency: AR (Ariary)
- Coins: 1 AR to 50 AR
- Banknotes: 100 AR to 10 000 AR
There are banks and change companies in big cities and they accept credit cards and travellers’ checks as the case with some places. Bureau de change does not hold foreign currency. It is best to always have some cash with you. To exchange Ariary into foreign currency is possible after your stay
PICTURES:
You will never regret to have brought with you a spare card. You just have to respect the customs and the regulations existing in the country. Think about bringing spare batteries, it is a lot easier than trying to recharge batteries.
SEASON:
Two distinct seasons:
- The dry season or the southern winter, between June and September
- The rainy season or the southern summer, between November and April
SHOPPING:
As gifts and souvenirs, Madagascar proposes a large range of handicrafts coming from all corners of the island according to specialities. It is possible to purchase them from supermarkets, boutiques, and grocery shops … but the ideal is to buy them directly once you see and like them.
For all purchase of souvenirs, always make sure that the item is not prohibited, otherwise, it is best to ask for a receipt (especially for valuably goods). For all fragile items; packaging must be prepared ahead of time. Hand baggage must be in conformity with the existing regulations.
TABOOS:
There are some FADY (Taboos) in MADAGASCAR. Therefore, foreign visitors as well as nationals are expected to respect them.
TIME ZONE:
- From March to October: - GMT + 01 hour
- From October to March: - GMT + 02 hours
TIPPING:
Apart from the tips for hotel services, it is more common and memorable to give « souvenir gift » than tips.
TRANSPORTS:
Madagascar is served by Air Madagascar, Air France, Corsair, Air Mauritius, Air Austral, Air Link,
Taxi brousses connect the different provinces on the national roads; taxis and taxi be (public taxi), rickshaws are the most commonly used means of transportation in the cities and trains, dugouts for the remote and non accessible areas. It is also possible to rent cars, motorcycles, quads and bicycles.
