Madagascar

Enjoy palm-fringed beaches and turquoise waters on the island of Nosy Be

Head to Isalo National Park for striking sandstone outcrops and lush forested canyons

See dramatic ‘forests’ of limestone in Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve

Jump in a canoe and paddle down the stunning Manombolo River

Don your pack and boots and explore Madagascar’s striking wilderness on foot

Practice your photography skills on tropical flowers, ancient trees, spirited lemurs and deadpan chameleons

Marvel at the Avenue of the Baobabs, one of Africa’s most iconic sights

Experience unique Malagasy culture at markets, museums and festivals

Madagascar has two main seasons: a hot, wet season from November–April, and a cool, dry season from May–October. However, climate varies across the island based on elevation and proximity to trade winds/monsoon winds. The south is protected from moisture-bearing winds and remains arid, with the southwest in particular being almost desert-like.

Tropical cyclones are a major feature of Madagascar’s climate. Forming far out in the Indian Ocean, they bring heavy rains and destructive flooding to the east coast between December–March.

July is the coolest month, and December/January are the warmest months. Generally speaking, temperatures decrease with elevation, being coolest on the plateau and warmest on the northwest coast.

In Antananarivo, average daily temperatures vary from a minimum of 16.6°C (61.9°F) to a maximum of 27.7°C (81.9°F) in January, to a minimum of 10.3°C (50.5°F) to a maximum of 20.2°C (68.4°F) in July.

Madagascar is +3 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

French (official), Malagasy (official), English

Malagasy belongs to the Austronesian language family, a widely dispersed group that includes Japanese, Filipino/Tagalog, Malay/Indonesian, Hawaiian, Rapa Nui and many other languages throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

French has been an official language on the island since 1958; it is used as a language of education, law and business and is widely spoken among Madagascar’s educated population.

English is spoken by an increasing number of people, but it is not yet widespread. Knowledge of basic Malagasy and/or French will be very useful throughout the island.

Additional foreign languages are spoken by the island’s Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Comorian communities.

Malagasy Ariary

It is advisable to carry Euro’s in cash, mostly in notes smaller than €100 as banks, hotels and change bureaus don’t readily accept notes larger than €100. Do not try to change money "on the streets" as the black market is illegal and you risk having your money stolen or being arrested and fined by plain-clothes government agents.

Banks are generally open from 0800-1100 and from 1400-1630, Monday-Friday.

You can also change money in your hotel - the rate of exchange is about 5% less than that of the bank. You should always get a receipt when changing money.

Try to ask for some small denomination notes in the local currency as change is often scarce in the rural areas

Major credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are accepted in larger hotels and some shops in main cities. Expect larger merchant fees.

ATM’s are located in major towns and cities only (ie. Antananarivo, Morondava, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Toliara). Visa is accepted at all ATM’s. Mastercard is accepted at some but not all.

+261

Electricity in Madagascar is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Electricity in Madagascar is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. The most common pin type is C. (2 round prong).

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.