| Madagascar is 'Unique' - the best way to describe | | | | especially in European, Chinese and Vietnamese |
| Madagascar, the world's fourth largest island. Almost | | | | establishments. Tipping taxi drivers is not necessary. |
| everything from the fauna and flora to the | | | | TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS DESCRIPTION: |
| Afro-Asian people can only be found here. Apart | | | | Antananarivo and surrounds: |
| from beautiful beaches and magnificent coral reefs, | | | | The colourful capital houses most of the island's |
| the mysterious and bizarre fill the atmosphere | | | | friendly locals; buy exquisite embroidery and other |
| surrounding the strange landscapes, sights and | | | | crafts at the Zoma market and see the fascinating |
| customs such as 'bone-turning'. | | | | architecture and rice paddies; Tsimbazaza is a |
| Home to the world's largest open air market and | | | | botanical and zoological garden; nearby is |
| some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling globally | | | | Ambohimanga an old, sacred village containing an |
| available, Madagascar will enthrall laid-back visitors with | | | | historical museum; to the south are the cities of |
| a taste for adventure... | | | | Antsirabe with its healing springs, crater lakes and |
| CAPITAL: | | | | highlands dotted with enormous granite heads; and |
| Antananarivo | | | | Ambalavao, an almost medieval European style city |
| CLIMATE: | | | | which produces wine and papyrus. |
| Madagascar climate is Diverse, but in general tropical, | | | | Ankarana Reserve: |
| pleasantly sunny and warm throughout the year. | | | | A hollow mountain surrounded by virtually |
| Summer is Sep-Apr, winter May-Aug and dry season | | | | impenetrable spiky plateau; inside are spectacular |
| (May-Sep). Cyclones occur Jan to mid-Feb. | | | | caves linked by possibly hundreds of kilometres of |
| CURRENCY: | | | | tunnels; isolated pockets of sunken forest grow |
| 1 Malagasy Franc = 100 centimes. A few hotels and | | | | where caves have collapsed and deep pools shelter |
| restaurants accept Amex, Master and Visa credit | | | | eels and giant crocodiles; abundant wildlife appear in |
| cards, but a charge of up to 7 percent of the | | | | forested canyons. |
| transaction value is levied. Only change money at | | | | Nosy Be archipelago: |
| authorised money changers. Traveller's cheques in | | | | Commercial holiday destination with palm-fringed |
| hard currencies can be exchanged at banks and | | | | beaches and coral reefs ina a protected national zone |
| major hotels. ATMs accept Visa cards. | | | | ideal for snorkelling, diving and exploring forests; |
| The machines have a withdrawal limit of 900 000 | | | | natural lemur reserve; and great fishing; visit |
| Malagasy Franc, but it's possible to make several | | | | numerous nearby islands e.g. Nosy Sakatia, Nosy |
| withdrawals at once. Note that the Malagasy Franc is | | | | Komba and Nosy Tanikely; live-aboard yacht charters |
| non-convertible. USD traveller's cheques are | | | | are available. |
| recommended. | | | | Isalo National Park & the Dry South: |
| ELECTRICITY: | | | | Desert-like sandstone canyons; towering baobabs; |
| Mostly 127/220 volts, 50Hz, other times 110 or 380 | | | | giant cactus; colourful ancestral tombs; delicate coral |
| volts. Plugs are 2-pin round. | | | | reef; Fort Dauphin; Berenty Nature Reserve with its |
| HEALTH: | | | | spiny forest, succulents and lemurs; and Libanona |
| A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from | | | | where there are beautiful swimming beaches and |
| travellers coming from, or having been in transit in, | | | | some of the best tidal pools. |
| areas considered to be infected. Visitors are advised | | | | Masoala Peninsula & Nosy: |
| to take pre-arrival precautions against malaria (risk | | | | Mangabe In the northeast, one of the largest tracts |
| exists throughout the year in the whole country with | | | | of rainforest meeting up with tropical coral reef in a |
| the highest risk in the coastal areas), typhoid, polio | | | | biologically rich wilderness; Nosy Mangabe is a lemur |
| and hepatits A. Other health concerns include cholera | | | | reserve island and home to the leaf-tailed gecko, the |
| (rainy season especially), water (drink bottled water | | | | bright orange tree frog and the nocturnal aye-aye |
| only), influenza (risk extends throughout the year), | | | | lemur; Masoala has the largest Malagasy lowland |
| plague (officially considered infected), minimal medical | | | | rainforest, ideal for hikers and naturalists; visit from |
| facilities and unavailable medicines. | | | | late August to late December. |
| LANGUAGE: | | | | Perinet Reserve & surrounds: |
| Malagasy and French. English is hardly ever spoken. | | | | Eastern rainforest reserve is one of the last |
| PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: | | | | strongholds of the mythical indri, the largest of all |
| New Year's Day (1 Jan); Celebration of the 1947 | | | | surviving lemurs; scenic hiking trails and bewildering |
| Uprising (29 Mar); Good Friday (9 Apr); Easter | | | | plant diversity; visit the neighbouring Maromizaha |
| Monday (12 Apr); Labour Day (1 May); Independance | | | | rainforest for rare species. |
| Day (26 Jun); Assumption (15 Aug); All Saint's Day (1 | | | | Ranomafana National Park: |
| Nov); Christmas Day (25 Dec); Boxing Day (26 Dec); | | | | Wild montane rainforest harbouring 12 species of |
| Republic's Anniversay (30 Dec) | | | | lemur, numerous endemic birds and dominated by the |
| SHOPPING:lamba cloths; chessboards and boxes done | | | | whitewater Namorona river; best time to visit is |
| in zafimaniny marquetry style; silver, shell and | | | | Aug-Jan; near the park are thermal baths to relax in |
| precious stone jewellery; reeds, rafia and straw | | | | after a hike. |
| woven items; embroidery. The Wednesday | | | | Ampijoroa Forest Station: |
| Andravoahangy market offers better quality | | | | One of the island's top wildlife hotspots; easy trails |
| products. NB: all products which include local fauna | | | | into tropical, dry, deciduous forest; accessible year |
| & flora (including dried flowers) require export | | | | round; abundant lemurs and birds. |
| permits which you must get at the time of purchase. | | | | Morondava & the 'Swiss Forest': |
| Many items are manufactured illegally and may not be | | | | Vibrant west coast town with wide beaches, safe |
| taken out of country. | | | | swimming and Kirindy Forest, the best place for |
| SOCIAL CONVENTIONS: | | | | nocturnal wildlife; rare mammals, birds and three |
| Fifty-one percent of people practise Animism (belief | | | | species of Baobab. |
| that inanimate and natural phenomena have souls), | | | | Ifaty beach, Anakao, Tulear & Sainte Marie: |
| about 43 percent are Christian and the remainder | | | | Coral reefs; coastal hotels; scuba diving and |
| Muslim. People have a relaxed attitude to time, which | | | | snorkelling at Ifaty with boat trips to Nosy Ve, |
| can be frustrating. Seek advice before approaching | | | | Anakao, St Augustin Bay and excursions to the 'spiny |
| graves or tombs and find out what the region's | | | | desert'; Ile Ste Marie has secluded coves, historical |
| taboos ("fady") are and respect these. | | | | traces of pirate occupation and whale watching |
| TIME DIFFERENCE: | | | | Jul-Sep; Tulear has scuba diving and snorkelling in a |
| GMT +3 | | | | coral reef said to be second only to Australia's Great |
| TIPPING: | | | | Barrier Reef; it's also a good starting point to see |
| Not customary, although waiters expect 10 percent | | | | baobabs, giant cacti and thorny trees. |