HOW TO GET TO MADAGASCAR
Several airlines serve the great island: Ethiopian airlines, Airlink, Turkish Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Mauritius, Air Austral, Emirates, Air France.
VISA
A touristic visa is necessary for any foreigner of any nationality to enter and stay in Madagascar. You can obtain it either at the Malagasy Embassy / consulate in your country, or directly at the airport when you arrive. In both cases, you will need to present:
- Your return or continuing plane ticket
- A valid passport for six months at least, after the departure date from Madagascar.
- For 2026 touristic visa cost is 10 Euros for less than 15 days, and 35 € for less than 30 days
MONEY & BANKING
It is the ARIARY which is currently around 5000 Ar for 1 euro.
Banks are normally open from 08h00 to 15h30 weekdays. Credit cards (the most popular is VISA CARD) are only accepted in city hotels, restaurants and some shops, mainly in Antananarivo. In the other mid-size cities, you can get cash from Automatic Cash Machines (ATM). There’s also an ATM inside Antananarivo airport.
Don’t rely on ATM machines only, they are sometimes out of order. Keep some cash (Euros) with you for emergencies.
THE LANGUAGE
The population speaks more or less French all over the island. Few people speak English or German yet. However, the tourism’s sector professionals speak more and more these three languages, and we can provide English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, japanese and Russian speaking guides.
HEALTH
* Vaccinations
No vaccinations are requested by law to enter Madagascar. However we highly recommend people to come in with up to date vaccinations against:
- B hepatitis
- Typhoid fever
- Diphtheria / Tetanus / Polio
* Anti-malaria treatment
In spite of stronger risks on the coast than in the highlands, and during the rainy season more than during the dry season, Malaria is present all over the island all year round. As a consequence, an anti-malaria treatment must be taken before, during and after your stay in Madagascar. Ask your general practitioner before traveling.
WEATHER
Best season to come to Madagascar is during dry season, from April to mid November. Peak season is July to October : book ahead!
Mid June to mid September is winter on the highlands (Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Andringitra, Andasibe…) : during the day, temperatures are cool, approx. 18°C; but at night, temperatures can drop down till 5°C.
On the coast, it is always nice and warm.
Cyclonic season (mid December to mid March) is to be avoided.
CLOTHING & LUGGAGE
Casual, comfortable wash and wear clothing is recommended. A warm jacket is useful during the winter months on the highlands (June to September). Hiking boots are highly recommended as long as some walks are included in your itinerary.
Keep luggage to a minimum for your own comfort and ease of transport.
Don’t forget : Mosquito repellent, Sun protection, flashlight or headlamp for night hikes.
ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDS
In Madagascar, the two-pronged plug and the European standard socket are the most used with a tension of 220 volts (but it may go down to 170 volts in some areas at peak times).
Electricity (220 volts) is available in main cities. In smaller villages or bush hotels, electricity is often generated by solar power with a back-up generator.
Anyway, bring a flashlight/headlamp with you.
PHONE
Your driver or guide can help you to get a local sim card when landing in the country. The operators in Madagascar are YAS, ORANGE, and AIRTEL. But keep in mind that some places in Madagascar still have no connectivity at all. WiFi is available in most of the hotels and some public areas, upon available connectivity (Bush hotels).