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Madagascar
is the forth largest island in the world and one of the last unspoiled
countries. Fish are in abundance and coral sweeps up from the
ocean floor slicing into the crystal clear water. Madagascar has
some outstanding diving and snorkeling locations but the best
opportunities are around the islands and islets surrounding Nosy
Be (see map) on the north and west coasts. Main diving centres
are Nossi Bé with its neighbouring islands Tanikely, Nossi
Mitsio and Nossi Radama), Nossi Lava, Toliara and Ile Ste-Marie
(Nossi Boraha).
Above water, Madagascar's forests are abounding with a wide and
exotic myriad of flora and fauna, lemurs, chameleons, periwinkles
and baobabs, aloes, geckoes, sifakas and octopus trees can easily
be any nature enthusiast’s dream answered. Madagascar has preserved
oddities and developed specializations found nowhere else on earth
in their accessible national parks. With fascinating tribal cultures
and ceremonies and an intriguing assortment of fady (local taboos)
that are quite perplexing to visitors, Madagascar is a unique
destination...
Madagascar has a hot and subtropical climate, but is colder in
the mountains. Rainy season: November to March. Dry season: April
to October. The south and west regions are hot and dry. Monsoons
bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December
to March. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and
thundery from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest
of the year. |
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Dive
Services
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Marine
Safaris
Tel: +27 (0) 12 991 7885
Fax 1: +27 (0) 86 671 9834
Fax 2: +27 (0) 83 118 654 1367
Cell: +27 (0) 83 654 1367
E-Mail: info@marinesafaris.co.za
Website: www.marinesafaris.co.za
Marine Safaris is a highly professional, service orientated Tour
Operator, based in South Africa, specializing in inbound and outbound
travel on the East Coast of Africa. We offer both land and sea
based packages for scuba diving, fly-fishing and game viewing. |
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Traveler
Tips
| General
Information |
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Area:
587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).
Population: 14,260,000 (1998).
Population Density: 24.3 per sq km.
Capital: Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive). Population:
2,000,000 (1998).
Geography: Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the
world, lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique.
It includes several much smaller islands. A central chain
of high mountains, the Hauts Plateaux, occupies more than
half of the main island and is responsible for the marked
differences - ethnically, climatically and scenically -
between the east and west coasts. The narrow strip of lowlands
on the east coast, settled from the sixth century by Polynesian
seafarers, is largely covered by dense rainforests, whereas
the broader west-coast landscape, once covered by dry deciduous
forests, is now mostly savannah. The east coast receives
the monsoon and, on both coasts, the climate is wetter towards
the north. The southern tip of the island is semi-desert,
with great forests of cactus-like plants. The capital, Antananarivo,
is high up in the Hauts Plateaux near the island's centre.
Much of Madagascar's flora and fauna is unique to the island.
There are 3000 endemic species of butterfly; the many endemic
species of lemurs fill the niches occupied elsewhere by
animals as varied as racoons, monkeys, marmots, bushbabies,
sloths and even (though this variant is now extinct) bears;
there is a similar diversity of reptiles, amphibians and
birds (especially ducks), and also at all levels of plant
life.
Government: Republic since 1992. Gained independence from
France in 1960. Head of State: President Didier Ratsiraka
since 1997. Head of Government: Prime Minister René
Tantely Andrianarivo since 1998.
Language: The official languages are Malagasy (which is
related to Indonesian) and French. Local dialects are also
spoken. Very little English is spoken.
Religion: 51 per cent follow Animist beliefs, about 43 per
cent Christian; remainder Muslim.
Time: GMT + 3.
Electricity: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally
2-pin.
Communications:
Telephone: IDD is available to major towns. Country code:
261, followed by two-digit number for access provider: 20
for TELMA (the most reliable), 30 for Telecel, 31 for Sacel,
32 for SRR and 33 for Madacom. (A standard dialling code
is expected to be introduced soon.) After the international
and access codes, numbers should be 7 digits including 2
initial digits for geographical area. Outgoing international
code: 16.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network in use. Madacom is the
main network provider; coverage reaches major cities and
main roads.
Internet/E-mail: Public Internet access exists in large
cities; there is one cybercafé in Antananarivo.
Telegram: The main post office (PTT) in Antananarivo offers
a 24-hour telegram transmission service.
Postal: Facilities at main post offices are the most reliable
option. Airmail to USA or Europe takes at least seven to
ten days and surface mail three to four months.
Press: There are no English-language newspapers; six dailies
are published in French and/or Malagasy. |
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| Travel |
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AIR:
Madagascar's national airline is Air Madagascar (MD).
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS: Antananarivo (TNR), 17km (11 miles)
from the city. Airport facilities include restaurant and
bureau de change (open during arrivals and departures of
international flights). It is linked by a regular bus service
to the Air Madagascar office and the Hilton Hotel (the centre
for Madagascar Airtours). Taxis asking special higher rates
are also available at the airport.
Further airports are at Nossi Bé (links to the Seychelles);
Mahajanga (links to East Africa and the Comoro Islands);
Toamasina (links to Mauritius and Réunion islands);
and Arivonimamo (international standby airport), which is
45km (28 miles) from the capital.
DEPARTURE TAX: None; a tax of US$30 should now be included
in any ticket.
SEA: International tour operators promote Madagascar as
a stopping place on extended cruises of the Indian and western
Pacific Oceans. Expensive private cruises can be arranged
from the USA and Europe. Toamasina is the main port. |
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| Entry |
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Passport |
Visa |
Return
Ticket Required |
| Australian |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| British |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Japanese |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Other
EU |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
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Restricted
entry: Madagascar does not recognise passports issued by
the Palestinian Government.
PASSPORTS: Passports valid for 6 months after date of entry
required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except:
Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same
or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding
onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Additional Visa Information:
http://www.embassy.org/madagascar |
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| Misc.
Info. |
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SAFETY
AND SECURITY: Madagascar completed a transition to a
multi-party democracy in 1993 and held an orderly presidential
election in 1996. Travelers should nonetheless avoid political
gatherings and street demonstrations and maintain security
awareness at all times. Do not photograph airports or military
installations.
CRIME: The major concerns for visitors to Antananarivo
are street crime and theft from residences and vehicles.
Walking at night, whether alone or in a group, is not considered
safe in urban areas, including in the vicinity of western-standard
hotels. Wearing expensive jewelry or carrying other expensive
items while on foot or using public transportation is strongly
discouraged. Valuable items should never be left in an unattended
vehicle. Although crimes such as burglary do occur in areas
outside the capital, the threat of confrontational crime
is less common in rural areas. Night travel in private or
public conveyances outside Antananarivo is discouraged due
to poor lighting and road conditions.
In May 1999, there was a series of robberies at Libanona
Beach and Peak Saint Louis, in theFort Dauphin area, perpetrated
by a person representing himself as a guide. U.S. citizens
should hire only an authorized guide and be cautious when
visiting Libanona Beach, Peak Saint Louis, or other isolated
areas.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: There are a number of competent
foreign physicians in Antananarivo, representing a broad
range of specialties. The hospital infrastructure, however,
is minimal and does not meet basic sanitary norms. A Seventh
Day Adventist dental clinic offers emergency procedures
and is similar to U.S. facilities in both procedures and
cleanliness. There are also competent laboratory and X-ray
facilities. Most medications are available on the local
market and are mainly of French origin.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not
always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and
Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services
outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect
immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers
who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Check with your own insurance company to confirm whether
your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical
evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical
problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation
to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
Ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital
or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses
you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage
for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains
in the event of death.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign
country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that
differ significantly from those in the United States. The
information below concerning Madagascar is provided for
general reference only and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor to Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor
In Madagascar, one drives on the right side of the road,
yielding the right of way to vehicles coming in from the
left. Most major intersections and traffic circles have
police directing traffic. If the policeman has his back
to you at an intersection, you are required to stop. Seat
belts, child safety seats, and motorcycle helmets are not
required in Madagascar. If you are caught driving under
the influence of alcohol your car will be impounded for
a few days and you will have to pay a fine. If you are involved
in an accident involving injuries and/or deaths, there is
a mandatory court case. The losing party of the court case
must then pay all costs.
Except for Antananarivo's main streets and a few well-maintained
routes to outlying cities, most roads are in disrepair.
For those traveling by road between cities, travel at night
is not recommended. Roads tend to be narrow and winding
with many one-lane bridges and blind curves. Most vehicles
tend to drive in the center of the road unless another vehicle
is present. Local practice is to blow the horn before going
around a curve, to let others know of one's presence. Few
pedestrian crosswalks or working traffic signals exist.
Travel within Antananarivo can be difficult with poor road
signage and an abundance of one-way streets. Taxis are plentiful
and are generally reasonably priced. Expect to bargain for
the fare prior to getting into the vehicle. Most accidents
are pedestrian-related, due to narrow roads and lack of
sidewalks on many streets.
Rental cars generally come with a driver who is responsible
for maintaining the vehicle and sometimes acting as a tour
guide. Public transportation is unreliable and the vehicles
are poorly maintained. Rail services are very limited and
undependable. However, arrangements can be made for a private
train to travel to certain destinations. |
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Operators' Rates/Services Subject to Change
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