Madagascar FAQ's

• What is Madagascar known for? ›

  Situated 300 miles east of southern Africa, across the Mozambique Channel, lies the island of Madagascar. Best known for its lemurs (primitive relatives of monkeys, apes, and humans), colorful chameleons, stunning orchids, and towering baobab trees. Madagascar is home to some of the world`s most unique flora and fauna.

• What are the best places to visit in Madagascar? ›

  Antananarivo, also known as Tana, is the national capital of Madagascar located at the center of the island. Two forts watch over the city from the east and southwest, while within the city limits lay royal palaces, embassies, some fifty churches and a mosque. The city`s most distinguishing feature may be the burnt out remains of the Rova, or Queen`s Palace, situated on a prominent hill. Its steep alleys and stairways make Antananarivo a challenging but rewarding city to explore on foot.
  
  Madagascar appeals to both animal lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. At national parks like Lokobe, Mantadia and Isalo, visitors can come face-to-face with creatures like lemurs, birds, chameleons and snakes, plus various trees and plants. Towering baobab trees are front and center at the Avenue of the Baobabs, while unique rock formations and ample hiking opportunities are available at Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve and Tsingy Rouge Park. But travelers will find more than just land-based activities here. Nosy Sakatia is one of the country`s best spots for snorkeling with sea turtles, and at The Three Bays, vacationers can swim, windsurf and kitesurf.

• When is the best time to visit Madagascar? ›

  Madagascar is a country the size of France but has the geological diversity of a country the size of America. There are many different climates throughout the country. The area surrounding Antananarivo, Madagascar`s capital, is surrounded by mountains giving a climate that is cool at night. The east coast is subtropical with beautiful beaches and abundant rain. The west coast is drier than either the east coast or the central highlands because the trade winds lose their humidity by the time they reach this region. The deep south is semi-desert, with very little rain falling here.
  
  The rainy season runs December-March, and it is best to avoid visiting during this time. Violent cyclones can hit the country at this time and the roads leading up to tourist attractions like the Tsingy Stone Forest, can be completely washed away. May-October are the driest, coolest months, and the best time to visit.

• How many days should I spend in Madagascar? ›

  We recommend 7-10 days based on what you want to see and do. We offer flexible vacation packages so you can select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel and activities. We suggest a minimum of 3 nights in larger cities.

• What is the best way to get around Madagascar? ›

  Organized tours are the most common way to visit the country. Most visitors come on organized tours, and a small amount hire a private driver to get around. Organized tours include a certain amount of days, accommodations and you have your own bus with a drive and local guide. A 14-day tour costs around $2,500 to $4,000 USD. This generally includes private guide at your stops. Most of these tours follow the same route, visiting all the big parks and destinations in the center of the country.
  
  Going on your own is difficult to do in Madagascar. There`s little tourist infrastructure and information for visitors is limited. Public buses don`t go to many cities and national parks. You`ll need to know French, too, as English is barely spoken. It can be very difficult to get around without any assistance. It can be done, though very few people do. Also worth noting is that the roads are in fairly rough shape, getting from point A to B can be a challenge. Buses are generally in poor condition and go when they are full and there is no set timetable.
  
  Renting a car and driver costs around $50 USD a day (or slightly more if you want 4WD) and is the most popular option for people looking to go on their own (and not wanting to wait for the buses). While you could drive on your own, many companies require that a driver go with you.

• What is the currency of Madagascar? ›

  Madagascar uses the Ariary as the official currency. Ariary`s come in 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 notes. Since Madagascar is a former colony, the majority of its visitors are French and the Euro is commonly used by tour operators` in quoting prices for tours. We recommend taking Euros to the country and exchanging it at the airport. This is a good move but if you have a bank card that does not charge you ATM fees, this is not necessary as the ATMs in this country dispense cash just fine.
  
  Cash is the best method of payment because many establishments are not set up to take credit cards. Even many of the gas stations do not take credit cards! Prepare to visit the ATM frequently and prepare to carry around a large amount of cash. 400,000 Ariary is 40 bills.

• Do people speak English in Madagascar? ›

  The official languages in Madagascar are French and Malagasy. The former is the language left behind from colonial times and used primarily among the more educated and those working in tourism. Malagasy is the more commonly spoken language. Everyone speaks Malagasy, with only about 15% of the people able to speak fluent French.
  
  Being able to speak French is highly useful. We`d recommend learning some basic phrases just to get around as the English spoken in this country is very poor. The lack of education in this country is wide-spread. Most of the population that lives in a big city or works in the tourism industry knows some French. We recommend getting a good English-French guidebook or to download the offline French language pack with the Google Translate app before coming here.

• What are the best vacation packages to Madagascar?›

  Cape Town - Johannesburg - Madagascar (Antananarivo) by Air (6 nights)

  Madagascar Vacation Packages, customize multi-city vacations to Madagascar, flexible trips to Madagascar. Review past Madagascar itineraries, book Madagascar vacation packages online. Travel to Madagascar your way

  Includes: Hotel 2 nights in Cape Town, Flight Cape Town to Johannesburg , Hotel 2 nights in Johannesburg , Flight Johannesburg to Antananarivo, Hotel 2 nights in Antananarivo

• What are the best deals to travel to Madagascar?›

  Dubai - Madagascar (Antananarivo) - Mauritius by Air (8 nights)

  UAE, Madgascar and Mauritius!. Start this marvelous experience by going to Dubai (known for luxury shopping, extraordinary skyscrapers and the best desert safari). Up next is Antananarivo (the capital city of Madagascar, in the island’s Central Highlands. Overlooking the city, the Rova of Antananarivo palace complex was the center of the Merina kingdom from the 17th century). Finally fly to Mauritius Island (famed for its beaches, lagoons and reefs).

  Includes: Hotel 2 nights in Cape Town, Flight Cape Town to Johannesburg , Hotel 2 nights in Johannesburg , Flight Johannesburg to Antananarivo, Hotel 2 nights in Antananarivo

  
  

  Johannesburg - Madagascar (Antananarivo) by Air (6 nights)

  Start this marvelous experience by going to Johannesburg, the wealthiest and vibrant heart of South Africa. Shopping is popular here, as the city offers numerous up market shopping malls such as Mall of Africa and Nelson Mandela Square. Next take a flight to Antananarivo the capital city of Madagascar, in the island’s Central Highlands. Overlooking the city, the Rova of Antananarivo palace complex was the center of the Merina kingdom from the 17th century.

  Includes: Hotel 2 nights in Cape Town, Flight Cape Town to Johannesburg , Hotel 2 nights in Johannesburg , Flight Johannesburg to Antananarivo, Hotel 2 nights in Antananarivo

  
  

  Madagascar and Reunion Island by Air (6 nights)

  An exotic combination of these two Island countries in East Africa: Madagascar and Reunion with this holiday package!. Combine and visit; Antananarivo (town and national capital of Madagascar, central Madagascar island. Major historic landmarks and attractions include: royal palaces, zoo, stadiums, 19th-century martyr cathedrals, and the Museum of Art and Archaeology); and then, catch a flight to Reunion Island (island of the Mascarene Islands and a French overseas department and overseas region in the western Indian Ocean. The island is most famous for Piton de la Fournaise, with more than 500,000 years old and is one of the most active volcanoes in the entire world).

  Includes: Hotel 2 nights in Cape Town, Flight Cape Town to Johannesburg , Hotel 2 nights in Johannesburg , Flight Johannesburg to Antananarivo, Hotel 2 nights in Antananarivo

  
  

  Dubai - Abu Dhabi - Madagascar (Antananarivo) (6 nights)

  The United Arab Emirates and Madagascar!. Explore Dubai (known for luxury shopping, extraordinary skyscrapers and the best desert safari) and Abu Dhabi (capital of the United Arab Emirates and the richest city in the world. After that, take a flight to Antananarivo (the capital city of Madagascar, in the island’s Central Highlands. Overlooking the city, the Rova of Antananarivo palace complex was the center of the Merina kingdom from the 17th century).

  Includes: Hotel 2 nights in Cape Town, Flight Cape Town to Johannesburg , Hotel 2 nights in Johannesburg , Flight Johannesburg to Antananarivo, Hotel 2 nights in Antananarivo

  
  
• Can I combine a vacation package for Madagascar with other countries?›

  Yes, you can combine with: United Arab Emirates | Turkey | South Africa | Reunion | Mauritius