Madagascar Wildlife Experience

Good to Know

Travel Information

Safety, Passport, Visa and Health Information

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 for Madagascar.

Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive, with at least 2 blank visa pages, and you should be able to show confirmation of your travel dates. Visits under 15 days require no visa, but a €10 administrative fee is payable on arrival – a 30 or 60 day single-entry tourist visa can be bought on arrival in cash (USD, EUR or Malagasy Ariary), or applied for in advance at the Madagascar Embassy in London. You'll be asked for evidence of onward or return travel at check-in and on arrival – a tourist visa can be extended up to a total stay of 90 days, and overstaying may lead to detention and deportation.

In many parts of Madagascar, daily life is regulated by local taboos known as 'fady,' which vary by region and can include forbidden foods or clothing restrictions – some fady areas may be off-limits to foreigners, so if staying longer in a village, ask to pay respects to the local head or elder. Carry your passport at all times due to random police checks, and keep copies of your passport, visa and insurance details safe, with further copies left with family at home. Drug smuggling carries severe punishments. Homosexuality is not illegal, but public attitudes are less tolerant than the UK, and public displays of affection may attract negative attention. The import/export of foodstuffs, protected plants (especially rosewood) and animal products without permission is illegal.

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. Hospitals in Antananarivo can only handle routine operations – complex surgery requires evacuation to Mauritius, South Africa or La Réunion, so make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds. For emergency medical assistance, dial 17 (117 from a mobile) or +261 20 22 357 53 and ask for an ambulance. Plague outbreaks occur seasonally, mainly in the rainy season – drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.

What to Bring

Good walking gear is important, including walking shoes or boots, light trousers and a long-sleeved shirt (quick-drying is best), a raincoat, a water bottle (1.5 litres minimum), a small daypack, camera, binoculars and a headlamp or torch. Sandals are also useful.

Please allow yourself one main piece of luggage and a day-sack – you're expected to carry your own baggage, so don't overload yourself; a soft wheely bag may be easier to manage than a suitcase. We also recommend a sunhat, sun cream, insect repellent, and a power adapter for phones and laptops.

While You're There

The Malagasy Ariary (MGA) is the local currency – the Euro is most widely accepted, though US dollars and GBP are easily changed. Exchange money at banks or ATMs, and count your money immediately if using an exchange office, as fraud has been reported at Antananarivo airport bureaus.

Madagascar has a subtropical climate, with a hot, rainy season (November-March) and a cooler dry season (May-October) – temperatures vary considerably by altitude, with the highlands notably cooler and the coast much warmer. Internet is largely confined to national and regional capitals and wealthier areas, though wifi hotspots are increasingly common in restaurants and hotels. Madagascar uses type C and E plugs, on a 220V/50Hz supply.