Madagascar Add on - Anjajavy Experience II

Evolution has occurred more or less in isolation on this remote island – located 400 kilometers off Africa’s east coast – with the result that much of its indigenous wildlife is found nowhere else on earth. Madagascar’s menagerie of weird and wonderful creatures includes the world’s biggest and smallest chameleons and over 70 species of lemur – long-tailed primates endemic to the island. The Madagascan landscape is no less compelling than the resident wildlife, with terrain ranging from lush jungles and palm-fringed beaches to the knife-edged karst Tsingys of the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park’s ‘stone forests’. Madagascar is an otherworldly paradise where visitors are offered a unique glimpse into a fantastical one-of-a-kind world.

VISA

A touristic visa is mandatory for all foreigners willing to enter to Madagascar. You can apply for 30-days to 3-months visa:

• At the International Airport: You apply for your visa after landing in Madagascar.
• Online: Please remind that no visa will be granted online. The Online procedure delivers a landing authorization only. Your application to this authorization must be sent 6 months to 72 hours before you travel. Visit http://www.evisamada.gov.mg/en/ for more information. Do not apply on any other website, they are fraudulent.

For both ways, you will pay for your VISA (35€ or 40$ for 30 days) after landing in Madagascar (Cash only, change is not given back). You must also provide your return ticket. Your passport must have 2 empty pages and a minimum validity of 6 months from the day you leave Madagascar.

Currency

The official currency of Madagascar since 2005 is the Malagasy Ariary (Ar), which has been reintroduced to replace the Malagasy franc. There are banknotes of 20,000 MGA, 10,000 MGA, 5,000 MGA, 2,000 MGA, 1,000 MGA, 500 MGA, 200 MGA and 100 MGA.

1 Euro is currently worth 4 000 Ariary, 1 US dollar worth 3 500 Ariary (Feb. 2019).

Banking

Banks are normally open from 08h00 to 12h00 and 14h00 to 15h30 weekdays. Credit cards (the most popular is VISA CARD) are only accepted in city hotels, restaurants and some shops, mainly in Antananarivo. In the other mid-size cities, you can get cash from Automatic Cash Machines (ATM) with VISA & MASTER CARDS. There’s now also an ATM inside Antananarivo airport. Don’t rely on ATM machines only, they are sometimes out of order. Keep some cash (Euros) with you for emergencies.

Madagascar is a huge place, the roads are bad and travel times long: it takes more than 24 hours of solid driving from Antananarivo (Tana) to Diego Suarez (northern tip), 18 to Toliara (South), 16 to Morondava (West) and so on. Be realistic about how much ground you want to cover or you’ll spend every other day in the confines of a vehicle!

• Driving: Due to the often difficult driving conditions, hiring a driver is compulsory with their vehicles. Driving in Madagascar is on the right-hand side. Police checkpoints are frequent – make sure you have your passport and the vehicle’s documents handy.
• Self-driving: not recommended if unexperienced driver in African countries. Available on request.
• Local flights: domestic flights can be huge time savers but they are expensive. Tsara Dia (Air Madagascar) or Madagasikara Airways are the only 2 local airlines. You can book these flights with us. Maximum load for luggage is generally 20 kg (44 lbs.) per passenger. Cabin luggage allowed.
• Charters flights: We can charter flight to quickly reach the most remote places in Madagascar. Maximum load for luggage is generally 20 kg (44 lbs.) per passenger.

No vaccine is mandatory to come to Madagascar. However, we highly recommend people to come with up-to-date vaccines against B-hepatitis, Typhoid fever, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Polio.

Anti-malaria treatment: Malaria is everywhere in the island and all along the year. Therefore, an anti-malaria treatment must be taken before, during and after your stay. Ask your general practitioner before traveling.

Food and water safety:  
Can you drink the tap water: No
Fresh fruit and veg: Yes, only if well-cooked and peeled
Ice: No
Meat: Yes, only if well-cooked
Street food: No

 
Local cuisine:  

Madagascar's cuisine blends African, Asian, and European influences. Staples include rice, zebu meat, and seafood, seasoned with local spices. Notable dishes are Romazava (beef stew) and Mofo Anana (bread with greens). For dessert, Koba is a mix of peanuts, bananas, and honey. 

Drinks: 

Ranovola - Burnt rice water 

Three Horses Beer 

Malagasy Wine 

Litchel - An aperitif made from lychees. 

Rhum arrangé - Homemade flavoured rums 
 
Tipping: 5% 

Any time of year is fine for a visit except from January to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas can make some roads all but impassable, and when there’s a risk of cyclones in the east and northeast. In general, the best time to travel in most areas is from April to October/November. The coolest time to travel anywhere is during the dry season (May to October). During this time the hauts plateaux (central highlands; which include Antananarivo) can get cold and windy, with freezing showers.

The west and southwest get searingly hot during summer, but the winter months in these regions are pleasant, with blue skies, cooler temperatures and little rain. Most rain in the northeast falls from July to September.

Average maximum temperatures vary from about 30°C in coastal areas (higher in summer) to around 25°C on the hauts plateaux. In Antananarivo and other highland areas, temperatures during winter can drop to 10°C and even lower during the night.

To cope with the Madagascan climate, lightweights should be worn during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the north and south. Cotton and natural fibers work better in this sweaty weather. Warmer clothes are advised for during the evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rain wear is advisable as a precaution. Prefer casual, comfortable, and easy-to-wash clothes. A warm jacket is indispensable during the winter in the highlands (June to September). Hiking boots are highly recommended because most of the visits implies walking (To spot wildlife in the National Parks). Keep luggage to a minimum for your own comfort and ease of transport. Don’t forget: Mosquito repellent, Sun screen, flashlight or headlamp, sleeping bags if you go on a trekking tour.

Wifi available at: 
Internet cafes: Yes 
Accommodation options: Yes 
Restaurants: No 
Cafes: No 
Shopping malls: No 
Public parks: No 
Libraries: No 

In Madagascar, the two-pronged plug and the European standard socket are the most used with a tension of 220 volts (but it may go down to 170 volts in some areas at peak times).

Electricity (220 volts) is available in main cities. In smaller villages or bush hotels, electricity often comes from a privately-owned generator and is not available all the time. Bring a flashlight/headlamp with you.

You can not drink tap water in Madagascar, use bottled mineral water only.

• Landing in Antananarivo: During your flight, the crew will distribute a small leaflet for you to fill in. Please fill in this leaflet before landing. Customs, health, visa formalities and luggage collection take time. Be patient after landing! The terminal is small, after passing the last customs desk and X-ray check, you will enter to the arrival hall. The meet and greet is just outside the terminal (gate in front of you, across the hall).
• Language: The local language is the Malagasy. The population speaks more or less French all over the island. Few people speak English or German. People in the tourism industry speak more and more these 3 languages.
• Phone: Your guide can help you to get a local sim card when landing in the country. The operators in Madagascar are TELMA, ORANGE, and AIRTEL. But keep in mind that lot of places in Madagascar still have no connectivity at all. WiFi is available in most of the hotels and some public areas, upon available connectivity (Bush hotels).
• Tiping: Restaurants: service is generally not included (It is clearly mentioned on the bill otherwise). Count +5% of the total bill if satisfied. Porters : 2000 Ariary/luggage. Guide and/or driver: 10 000 Ariary per person per day recommended, upon satisfaction.