Madagascar Travel Guide

The commonest solution from the east coast is usually a flight to Europe on Air France or on Kenya Airways’ partner KLM, followed by flights as described above from London or Paris. Alternatively, if you’re travelling to Madagascar from the west coast, you may find it cheaper to fly via Bangkok and connect with Air Madagascar there . Round-trip tickets start at around US$2000 from New York.

Admission is 45,000 MGA and the required local guide is 60,000-80,000 MGA. There are also lodges in the park where you can stay overnight for 57,000 MGA per night. You’ll stay in mid-range hotels and have your own bus with a driver and local guide. You’ll also get private guides at each park who will explain what you’re seeing, help spot animals, and give some added context on the destination.

Budget Travel In Madagascar

Avoid a lot of internal flying if you want to avoid losing travel days to flight delays. Located 160 kilometers east of the capital, Mantadia National Park is a protected area spanning 155 square kilometers . It’s home to 14 species of lemurs as well as over 115 types of birds and 84 kinds of amphibians — many of which are endangered. The landscape is a stunning mix of old-growth forest and rainforest, and you’ll see lemurs almost everywhere you go!

COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for travel to all regions, both foreign and domestic. Check with your local Passport Health clinic if immunization is offered in your area. For those who like to experience destinations by their cuisine, Madagascar offers a wide variety of options. Restaurants specialize in French, Creole and native Madagascan dishes. An initial deposit of $1,000 per person is required to reserve space.

Other Destinations

There is very little passenger shipping except for small ferries and motorboats running over quite short distances. The seas on the east coast can be very rough and the scheduled small passenger ferries between Soanierana-Ivongo and Île Sainte Marie are often cancelled. The CDC’s latest guidance on international travel for vaccinated people can be foundhere. Travel Malawi, a paradise for those looking for beautiful landscapes without the crowd. The country offers natural diversity for animal.. In Madagascar the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

Book your flights and hotel rooms during these months to take advantage of lower rates and fewer people on the island. I wanted to book my own hotels through Booking.com, and I’m glad I read the reviews and consulted my guide before booking. The hotels the guides recommend are safe and up to Western-style standards.

Reasons Why You Should Travel To Madagascar

The forests are wonderful, there are no dangerous animals in them. The people are very kind and the lemurs, geckos, and birds are very special. Madagascar is a large country and therefore the climate varies hugely.

If I went back, I’d go by myself and explore with a car but I’m glad I went with a tour on my first visit. However, seeing the condition of the buses and how many people they cram in there, plus the number of accidents on the road, I’m not sure I’d even get in one. I wouldn’t want to spend 24 hours packed like a chicken in a van with no air conditioning . Additionally, most of these destinations only offer a limited amount of flights per week. There are no passenger ferries to Madagascar from South Africa, Mozambique or Tanzania, nor from Madagascar’s nearest neighbours, the Comoros Islands and Mauritius. You can, however, get around Madagascar Dropdown content by sea and river, though options are very limited.

Madagascar Weather Averages Temperatures

If you have an unlocked GSM cellphone, you may want to buy a local SIM card and a 3G package. If you don’t want to purchase a plan, you can buy phone credit at virtually any shop. However, even luxury hotels don’t always have internet or outlets in individual rooms/bungalows. Sometimes you have to sit in the reception area for internet access and charging.

We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Airbnb is available around the country in larger towns and cities. You can find private rooms for 48,000 MGA per night and entire homes/apartments for around 100,000 MGA per night. This small west-coast town is famous for its expats, pizza , and for being a launching pad for diving excursions to the Great Reef offshore. There’s not much else to do except sit by the beach and relax. Driving here on the N7 (the only north-south highway) is also pretty amazing as you can take in Ranomafana National Park, Isalo National Park, and other stunning vistas along the way!

Crime In Madagascar

Scuba diving and snorkeling is exceptional in Nosy Be, and is also possible in other areas like Toliara. In the far north near Diego kitesurfing and windsurfing are exceptional between April and November when a constant 30 knot-wind makes the area one of the best surfing spots in the southern hemisphere. Kayaking and deep sea fishing are always rewarding water activities.

The prime months to visit Madagascar are from July to September because of the pleasant weather and whale watching. April to November is considered tourist season in Madagascar, with July as the high season. This time can be wet and also incredibly hot in some areas.

Exclusive  Travel Experiences In Madagascar

Smaller towns and remote areas will have far less access, so prepare to disconnect when travelling out of urban centres. This bizarre little species can bare resemblance to many different animals due to the unique circumstances of its evolution. Sharing ancestry with animals as diverse as elephants, sea cows and aardvarks, most tenrecs look like small hedgehogs or otters and can range in size from a tiny 1.5 inches cm to a robust 15 inches.

It also belongs equally to cars as it does people in these ox carts. Arab traders came later on, followed by the French who would eventually colonize the island and also influence the culture and language of this island. Travelling independently can be surprisingly affordable if you are prepared to rough it a little.

People & Culture

If you speak French, your life will be a lot easier here, as that will help you connect with locals, read important information and get around. Not a lot of tour companies will even accept children under 8 years of age because of the conditions of the country. It is definitely worth going through the pros and cons of visiting Madagascar before deciding to book a trip.

Although it’s not actual tea, it’s comforting and reminds me of popcorn… Rice is the cornerstone of the Malagasy diet. It’s the base of every meal, including breakfast. Please remember to be flexible, patient, and respectful to your drivers and other Malagasy people you encounter.

Madagascar

And to celebrate the arrival of a whole new year. We’re often asked who we’d invite to our ideal dinner party. So we invited our friends at Eater over to dinner and quizzed them about their favourite foodie trips and then created them for you to experience too. From the Sahara desert to the Andean Mountains, with Blink anywhere you can envisage it, we will create it. Stay where no one has ever stayed before and where no one will ever stay again. We’ve chosen these experiences, destinations and adventures to bring you closer to the great outdoors, all the while guaranteeing social distance by design.