Population - 24,430,325 (July 2016 est.)
Capital - Antananarivo
Official language - French (official), Malagasy (official), English
Currency - Ariary
International phone code - +261
Time zone - UTC/GMT +3
Main airports - Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo)
Where to stay in Madagascar
If you're looking for a hotel in Madagascar, Booking.com constantly offers the cheapest rates and has the largest selection of accommodation. The platform offers competitive prices and in many cases allows cancellations free of charge.
Madagascar travel insurance
Before travelling to Madagascar it is extremely important to check the safety conditions. This is essential for better planning the adventure. And, during the journey, to keep up to date in the event of any minor or serious situation during your stay.
My advice is that, even before you book your flight to your destination of choice, you should check this website and see if there are any problems. What's more, you'll find detailed maps showing which places and regions are not recommended or where it's dangerous to travel. If you're spending €500 or €1,000 on your holidays, are you going to risk losing all that to avoid investing €30 or €40 in travel insurance?
I recommend travel insurance at IATI or Heymondo 5% discount with this link. Do you already have travel insurance for your holidays in Madagascar?
When to visit Madagascar
Madagascar's climate is characterised by a dry season from April to October and a rainy season from November to March. This is the time when destructive cyclones hit the east coast. The heavy rains, although less intense, in the west and south-west of the island and in the semi-desert of the far south-west, only moisten the dry land.
The best time to visit Madagascar is during the dry season, from April to OctoberAvoid the east of the country between June and September, when it is often plagued by heavy rains. The rest of the year, from April to October, Madagascar is characterised by dry and cold weather.
During the austral winter, April to October, the trees lose their leaves, the animals are less active and some species hibernate. However, this can be the perfect time to follow the whales.
November is often recommended as a good time to spot wildlife, as the first rains cause an explosion in animal activity and see the climax of the mating season and spawning among amphibians, reptiles and birds.
For diving and snorkelling opt for the period between August and October, when the waters are already free of the sediment washed down by the rivers during the rains. In the highlands, above about 2000 metres, it can rain at any time of year and the nights can be cold.
Out of time in Madagascar?
Book in advance to avoid unforeseen problems, the best tours, activities and transfers with GetYourGuide. Don't forget to check out the passes and monument tickets, which offer easy access to various attractions. often at a discount.
Flight to Madagascar
Skyscanner is a platform for finding cheap flights quickly and easily. With a simple interface and price comparisons from various companies, this is an essential tool for planning your trip.
Renting a car in Madagascar
A DiscoverCars is a car hire comparison and booking platform that lets you find the best deals in 8,000 destinations. With a simple interface and transparent pricing options, it's a great choice for anyone looking to hire a car.
Money in Madagascar
I use Wise and Revolut cards to avoid bank fees and commissions. Wise and Revolut are great for travelling, as they both offer prepaid travel cards that allow you to make purchases and withdrawals in different currencies, without fees and without complications. I always travel with both.
Internet and Wifi in Madagascar
The most affordable method of accessing the internet is to use this eSIM (with 15% discount). Discover the world without worrying about roaming and access high-speed internet in over 190 countries.
Luggage in Madagascar
Store your luggage safely and affordably to explore Madagascar without the burden of carrying bags. This storage service lets you leave your belongings in shops, hotels, and other partner locations. Booking takes just a few seconds online, and the service is available 24 hours a day.
Madagascar boasts a biodiversity found nowhere else in the world. Ranomafana National Park is an excellent choice, with tropical forests, hot springs and a huge variety of animals, including lemurs. For those who like jungle adventures, Andasibe-Mantadia is also a must-see, with the possibility of seeing the famous indri lemur, Madagascar's largest lemur.
Madagascar also has stunning beaches, such as Ifaty, with clear waters for diving and snorkelling. The Avenue of the Baobabs is another magical place where you can admire the huge baobabs, Madagascar's iconic trees.
If you're going to be in Madagascar, then take the opportunity to find the best experiences, activities and tours. From gastronomic experiences to buying tickets or unique adventures on land and sea, this is a great way to discover this destination.
Located in the south-east of Madagascar, near the village of Ranomafana, Ranomafana National Park is one of the country's most popular parks. The park was created in 1991 with the aim of ensuring the unique biodiversity of the ecosystem while reducing human pressure on the protected area.
The park is a natural refuge for the golden lemur, an endangered species whose diet includes bamboo roots that contain doses of cyanide that would be lethal to other animals, but which has no harmful effect on the golden lemur.
With more than 416 square kilometres of tropical forest, Ranomafana National Park is home to other species of flora and fauna, including more than 120 species of frogs. Due to its easy access and proximity to the RN7, great biodiversity (12 species of lemur) and developed infrastructure, it has become one of the most visited places in Madagascar.
The immense wildlife also includes 60 species of reptiles (chameleons, snakes and lizards), 90 butterflies and 350 spiders.
Located in the north-east of Madagascar, Masoala National Park covers thousands of hectares of rainforest and includes three marine parks. The park is home to ten species of lemur, including the Aye-Aye, the world's largest nocturnal primate.
This primate spends the day curled up in nests of twigs and leaves at the top of trees in the humid forests of Madagascar, avoiding the ground whenever possible.
The park is also home to a diverse range of birds and reptiles, including the exotic tomato frog, so named for its bright red colour. The marine parks of Tampolo, Ambodilaitry and Ifaho are perfect destinations for snorkelling and kayaking trips.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park covers more than 150 square kilometres of land in eastern Madagascar and is home to eleven different species of lemur, including the country's largest lemur, the sacred Indri, whose sound echoes through the forest.
In addition to the various species of lemur that inhabit the park, visitors can also spot reptiles such as geckos, chameleons and snakes and more than a hundred species of birds.
Located near Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, the Andasibe-Mantadia Park is one of the easiest to visit and is divided into two areas, the Mantadia National Park and the Analamazoatra Reserve. It is an extraordinarily diverse region and very popular with tourists visiting Madagascar.
Ifaty is the name given to two fishing villages on the south-west coast of Madagascar, close to a coral reef more than 60 kilometres long. This natural barrier protects the coast from high tides, creating ideal conditions for snorkelling, snorkelling and fishing in the crystal-clear waters teeming with colourful fish.
The inland desert area is known for its thorn forest, where baobab trees have thrived for centuries. Ifaty offers beaches with perfect golden sands, which gently shift with the movement of the tides and where the sun is a constant.
The Avenue of the Baobabs is a group of trees lined up almost perfectly on a dirt track between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in Madagascar. This stunning landscape attracts tourists from all over the world, making it one of the most visited places in the region.
Baobab trees - which can be up to 800 years old - are the remnants of a dense forest that has been felled over the years for agricultural use.
Sainte Marie Island, or Ile Sainte Marie, lies off the east coast of Madagascar. The bays and islets, sheltered from storms, attracted pirates to Ile Sainte Marie during the 17th and 18th centuries and some traces of pirate ships can still be found, for example in the Baie des Forbans.
Today, the island is one of Madagascar's main tourist attractions because its transparent waters are the perfect place for snorkelling and for following the migration of humpback whales up close during the summer and early autumn.
Whenever you want to book a flight, a hotel or buy travel insurance, use the platforms I recommend and trust. All you have to do is click on the links below before researching your trips.
You don't pay extra for using these links.
- Hotel in Madagascar at the best price
- Travel Insurance at IATI or Heymondo (5% discount with this link)
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- Rental car with reduced rates
- Bank card without commissions for travelling
- Store your luggage safely and cheaply
- Photography workshops — learn photography with me
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