Madagascar Country Guide
Madagascar is one of the most biodiverse-rich countries of the world. Unique combinations of landscapes, people, history and culture offer the traveller a unique and inspiring experience. Madagascar is a country that is quickly becoming a 'must see' on the travellers' map, and for very good reason: Animal species that can only be seen (and heard!) in Madagascar, a fascinating mixture of Asian, African and Middle Eastern cultures and a welcoming aura of peace and kindness unlike any other.
Come see exotic and enticing Madagascar for yourself!
This Madagascar Country Guide below gives some quick facts and background information to let you learn a little more about the country. Our Madagascar Destination Guides give more detailed information about specific cities within Madagascar. More general information about what there is to see and do can be found in our Madagascar Tours page.
Check out the latest Madagascar Travel features on YouTube.
Madagascar Country Guide
Useful information on this page includes:
Climate/Weather
Check out our Madagascar weather page for a comprehensive six-day Antananarivo weather forecast, along with some useful information about the best time to visit Madagascar.
Communication
The country code to dial into Antananarivo from overseas is 261, followed by the area code (Antananarivo is 20 22 and Antsirabe 20 44). Cellular phone codes begin with either 33 or 32.
Phone calls can be made at the telecom offices. Phone cards are sold in different denominations, and range from €1.50 - €30.
Internet cafes are readily available in the major centres, and they offer quite reasonable rates.
Currency/Money
Electricity
Embassy Information
General Information
Population - 18 million people
Total Area - 587,040 square kilometres
Capital - Antananarivo (1.25 million people)
Time Zone - GMT/UTC +3 hours time zone
To view the current time in Antananarivo, click on this link to TimeAndDate.com.
Language
The official language of Antananarivo is Malagasy, which is spoken by 90 percent of the population. French and English are also spoken, mostly in larger cities and towns and popular tourist destinations.
Some handy Malagasy phrases for travellers to know include:
Hello: pronounced Manao ahoana
Good Bye: pronounced Veloma
Where: pronounced Aiza
Thank you: pronounced Misaotra
How much: pronounced Ohatrinona
Yes: pronounced Eny
No: pronounced Tsia
One: pronounced Iray
Two: pronounced Roa
Three: pronounced Telo
Public Holidays
Follow the link to view a current list of public holidays in Madagascar.
Madagascar's diversity is reflected in its plentiful colourful festivals. Alahmady Be opens the traditional Malagasy year, followed by the rice harvest (May) and Donia, a celebration of traditional music on Nosy Be resort island (May/June). The 'turning of the bones' (July-September) and 'cleansing of the relics' (September-November) ceremonies fill out the calendar.
Alongside the old traditions are the Catholic spiritual calendar - Easter, Assumption (August 15th), All Saints Day (November 1st) and of course, Christmas - and the calendar of political milestones: the 1947 uprising against French rule (March 27th), Independence Day (June 26th), with the Republic's Anniversary on New Year's Eve bringing in the New Year.
Religion
Visas/Passports
Only Malagasy citizens can travel to Madagascar without a visa. All other nationalities are required to have a visa upon entering Madagascar. You will need a passport that is valid for at least the next 6 months. It is about €40 for a one month tourist visa.
US citizens who do not wish to go through the trouble of dealing with the red tape themselves can count on the professional services of Travel Visa Pro to speed things up: Apply for Madagascar Visa Online (service starts from $39). If you need to renew, add pages, change name, or just get a new US passport, you can Apply for a New US Passport here.
Location
Madagascar is located in the Southern hemisphere, separate by the Canal of Mozambic to the west and bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east At 587 040 km², Madagascar is larger than France. To view a map of Madagascar, click on this link to WorldAtlas.com.
It's the fourth biggest island in the world. Other islands in the vicinity include La Réunion, Mauritius, the Maldives and Comoros.
People
Provinces and Major Cities
Madagascar is divided into six provinces, namely: Antananarivo (the capital), Fianarantsoa, Tulear, Majunga, Tamatave and Diego. Major places of interest include the economic and business hub of Antananarivo, the beaches and National Parks of the South, the mountains of the North and the coastal boat trips of the East.
