Madagascar Wildlife Experience

Madagascar Travel Information

Government Travel Safety Advice

We strongly recommend that you check your government's travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs. For UK citizens, check the latest Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice. Please refer to the COVID-19 entry requirements page for any country-specific conditions of entry.

Visa and Passport Information

Passport validity - If you are visiting Madagascar, your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive, and with at least 2 blank visa pages. You should be able to show confirmation of your travel dates.

Visas - If you are visiting Madagascar for less than 15 days, there is no visa requirement. However, travellers must pay a 10 Euro administrative fee on arrival. You can buy a 30 or 60 day single entry tourist visa on arrival at the airport in cash using US$, Euros, or Malagasy Ariary. Up to date information on visa fees is available on the Ministry of Tourism website. You can also apply in advance of travel to the Madagascar Embassy in London for a tourist or immigrant visa.

You will be asked for evidence of onward or return travel at check-in and on arrival in Madagascar.

Make sure an entry stamp is recorded in your passport, and that your visa is valid for the period and purpose of your journey. A tourist visa can be extended during your stay in Madagascar up to a total stay of 90 days. Overstaying may lead to detention and deportation.

Local Laws and Custom

In many parts of Madagascar, aspects of daily life are regulated by taboos, known as ‘fady’. These vary from one region to another. Fady can range from forbidden foods to restrictions on clothing. Some areas subject to fady may be forbidden to foreigners. If you plan a longer stay in a village, ask to pay your respects to the head of Fokontany (administrative subdivision), the head of the village or ‘Ray aman-dreny’ (wise man).

Due to random police checks, you should carry your passport with you at all times. Always keep a photocopy of your passport, visa and insurance details somewhere safe, and leave further copies with family or friends in the UK.

Drug smuggling is a serious offence. Punishments can be severe.

Although homosexuality is not prohibited by law, public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and public displays of affection may attract negative attention.

Paying for sex is punishable by 5 to 10 years imprisonment and / or a fine of €1,500 to €7,000. The campaign against sexual abuse of underage children (under 18 years) is strictly enforced with particular regard to foreign tourists. Identity cards of women are often faked.

The import and export of foodstuffs (including fruit), protected plants and animal products without prior permission is illegal. Removing protected plants (especially rosewood) and animals and animal products is illegal.

When leaving you may take the following, after declaring to Customs:

• Up to a maximum of 2kg of vanilla
• Jewellery: for residents, max 250g (hallmarked); for non-residents, max 1kg subject to presentation of currency exchange receipts
• Up to 400,000 Ariary
• Up to 1kg of pepper or cloves
• Some other plant and animal products, gold and currency may be exported if permission is obtained.

Full details of export allowances and requirements can be found on the website of Madagascar Customs (in French).

Health

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. Each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad. Guidance is also available from NHS (Scotland) on the FitForTravel website.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or purchased in the UK can be different in other countries. If you’re travelling with prescription or over-the-counter medicine, read this guidance from NaTHNaC on best practice when travelling with medicines.

Although there are public and private hospitals in Antananarivo, they can only handle routine operations. Complex surgery requires evacuation either to Mauritius, South Africa or La Reunion. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 17 (117 from mobile phone) or +261 20 22 357 53 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Outbreaks of plague tend to be seasonal and occur mainly during the rainy season, with around 500 cases reported annually. Whilst outbreaks are not uncommon in rural areas, the outbreak in 2017, saw an increase in reported cases in urban areas, including Antananarivo. 209 deaths were recorded, with none related to international travel. Further outbreaks cannot be ruled out. You can find further information and advice in the ‘Outbreaks’ section of the TravelHealthPro page for Madagascar.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

High levels of syphilis have been recorded.

Currency

The Malagasy Ariary (MGA) is the local currency of Madagascar. The most accepted foreign currency is the Euro, but US dollars and GBP are easily changed. You can exchange money at banks or make withdrawals from local ATMs. If you use a money exchange office, count your money immediately to make sure you haven’t been short changed. There have been a number of reports of this type of fraud in the exchange offices operating in the Antananarivo international airport.

Weather in Madagascar

The climate of Madagascar is subtropical, with a hot and rainy season between November and the end of March (summer), and a cooler dry season from May to October (winter). However, at all times of the year there is a big temperature variation depending on altitude and geographical position. The west coast is drier than the east coast, whilst the far south and southwest is a semi-desert region that experiences very little rainfall. Temperatures are much cooler in the highlands. Night temperatures in Antsirabe can descend below 5°C, so make sure you bring a warm pullover. Antananarivo has a pleasant, temperate climate thanks to its 1300 m altitude. Along the coast temperatures are much higher than in the capital and range from 27°C to 32°C in the wet season and 18°C to 22°C in the dry season. If you are travelling to the Eastern region, do not forget your rain gear: heavy rainfalls can happen at any time of the year. On the Masoala Peninsula and around Maroantsetra, the wettest months are from July to September.

Internet Availability

Madagascar’s networks are constrained to the national and region capitals and areas of relatively high wealth and purchasing power, while 3G and 4G towers are dotted around the countryside and interior, most remote areas still suffer from poor to no connection. While internet cafés are still around, and offer cheap online access, the spread of free wi-fi hotspots continues in restaurants and hotels, and these are likely to be the most useful for travellers. Only in very small towns are you likely to have to resort to the local cyber. Expect to pay around 5000ar/hr.

Electricity

For Madagascar there are two associated plug types, types C and E. Plug type C is the plug which has two round pins and plug type E is the plug which has two round pins and a hole for the socket's male earthing pin. Madagascar operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.