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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.
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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| 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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