Madagascar Travel Guide

• The wildlife: When you think of Madagascar, lemurs are probably the first thing that comes to mind. There are plenty of opportunities to see the country’s most famous residents, but that’s not all the island has to offer. With 300 species of birds, 260 species of reptiles and hundreds of other mammals including humpback whales and fossa, it’s a paradise for nature lovers.
• The beaches: If you’re a beach bum, you’ll be in seventh heaven here, with some of the most pristine stretches of sand in the Indian Ocean. Think unspoilt palm-lined beach, snorkelling and diving and some of the best seafood around, with no high-rise buildings in sight.
• The epic landscapes: From towering baobab trees, lush rice paddies and majestic limestone formations to the island’s own version of the Grand Canyon, Madagascar is non-stop jaw-dropping. You can go from one extreme to another in just 300km – one minute you’re in the rainforest, the next in the desert - the diversity is astonishing.
• The culture: The former French colony is a melting pot of cultures and traditions, with more than 18 different cultural groups and a fascinating blend of African, Arab and Indian influences.
• The Adventure sports: From hiking and diving to mountain biking, kitesurfing and rock climbing, Madagascar has pretty much every outdoor activity you can think of on offer.
• The opportunity to give back: Madagascar is the fifth poorest country in the world and many rewarding volunteering opportunities are available to gap-year travellers, from teaching positions to conservation.st item
• The prices: The general cost of living is very affordable for most westerners, especially if you eat like the locals, so your gap year budget will go a long way here. 

Madagascan cuisine is influenced by its many waves of migration, from France and Indonesia to the Middle East, and East Africa. Throughout almost the entire island, meals typically consist of a base of rice (vary) served with an accompaniment (laoka). Laoka may be vegetarian or meat-based and usually features a sauce flavoured with ginger, onion, garlic, tomato, curry powder and other spices. Sweet and savoury fritters are also commonly found across the island.

If you’re eating out, hotelys are local restaurants with a simple menu of staple favourites. Alternatively, street food is delicious, readily available, and very affordable. Street food offerings may include rice and sauce, brochettes of fish or meat, roasted plantains, cassava, or sweet potato, stews and vegetable fritters.

The island’s two great drink offerings are spiced, flavoured rum (rhum arrange) and THB Beer (pronounced Tay-Ash-Bay).

Madagascar has a tropical climate, meaning it’s warm all year round. November to April is the hot, wet season and May to October is the mild, dry season but there are variations by region. Typically, the highlands are cooler and less humid than coastal areas, rainfall is high in the east, and low in the southwest. Any rain is usually short-lived and comes in thunderstorms in the afternoon, with plenty of sunshine in between, meaning it’s always a good time to travel to Madagascar. 

Visa Assistance

Visas may be required depending on your nationality, travel plans, and length of stay. Below are the FCDO travel advice for British travellers. Entry rules can change at any time, so always check with the relevant embassy before travelling.

To make things easier, we’ve partnered with The Travel Visa Company, a UK-based visa specialist. Their team can guide you on requirements and, for a fee, apply for visas on your behalf.

Entry Requirements for UK Travellers

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Madagascar’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Madagascar set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Embassy of Madagascar in London. 

Passport validity requirements 

To enter Madagascar, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. It must also have at least 2 blank pages.  

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

You can visit Madagascar for up to 15 days without a visa. You must pay a 10-euro administration fee on arrival and be ready to show your onward or return tickets. 

Applying for a visa 

If you want to stay longer than 15 days, you can buy a 30- or 60-day single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the airport with US dollars, euros or Malagasy ariary.  

You can also apply in advance to the Embassy of Madagascar in London for a tourist or immigrant visa. 

You can extend either of these visas to a maximum total stay of 90 days while you are in Madagascar. If you overstay, you may be detained or deported.  

Travelling with children 

A child aged 17 or under, travelling without one or either parent must carry written authorisation from the absent parent or parents when leaving Madagascar. 

Vaccine requirements  

To enter Madagascar, you must have a certificates to prove you’ve had:  

• a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk
• a polio vaccine in some circumstances

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Madagascar guide. 

Health screening

Cholera

If you are entering Madagascar from a Cholera-affected country, you may be asked by airport authorities to take an anti-cholera drug (Doxcyline). Anyone who is unable to take Doxcyline should be offered an alternative medication by the health authorities.

Alternative medication will be provided to those that: 

• are pregnant 
• are under 8 years old  
• have a pre existing medical condition

You are likely to be asked to leave contact details with the health authorities and they may follow up with you after 3-5 days.

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Madagascar. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Taking food into and out of Madagascar 

Do not take in any food, including fruit, as this is illegal. 

When leaving Madagascar you may, after declaring and showing receipts, take out: 

• up to 2kg of vanilla 
• up to 1kg of pepper or cloves 

You may only export other plant and animal products if you get permission.

Taking money into Madagascar 

You can take up to 400,000 Malagasy ariary into Madagascar.  

Declare foreign cash or travellers cheques if the value is 7,500 euros or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it with you. If you do not, your money could be seized when you leave. 

In many parts of Madagascar, aspects of daily life are regulated by taboos, known as ‘fady’. These vary from one region to another and can range from forbidden foods to restrictions on clothing. If you intend to visit remote areas, seek advice either locally or from your travel adviser and respect local fady to avoid causing offence.

Due to random police checks, you should carry your passport with you at all times. Always keep a photocopy of your passport, visa and insurance details somewhere safe, and leave further copies with family or friends in the UK.

Drug smuggling is a serious offence, as is paying for sex. Punishments can be severe.

Although homosexuality is not prohibited by law, it’s important to recognise that public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK and public displays of affection may attract negative attention.

You need to be 18 or older to buy or consume alcohol in Madagascar. 

Health

Being prepared will go a long way to making sure your trip to Madagascar goes smoothly. You’ll need a yellow fever certificate (although there is no risk of the disease in Madagascar itself) and up-to-date vaccinations. We recommend that you check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website at least 8 weeks before your trip and book your vaccinations accordingly. Madagascar is classified as a high-risk country for rabies, so vaccination is advisable, especially if you intend to have contact with animals, or are likely to be 24 hours away from medical help.

The biggest health threat in Madagascar is malaria. There is no vaccine against the disease, but there are several preventative drugs that you can take to minimise risk. There can be seasonal outbreaks of plague with around 500 cases reported annually. These are mostly in rural areas, during the rainy season, and don’t usually affect international travellers. High levels of syphilis have also been recorded.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks, and if you’re travelling away from major centres, we’d recommend carrying a personal first aid kit, as well as suncream, insect repellent, a mosquito net and anti-malarial medications.

Hospitals in Antananarivo can only handle routine operations and any complex surgery requires evacuation either to Mauritius, South Africa or La Reunion. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Crime

Most visitors return home from Madagascar after a crime-free trip, but there are positive steps that you can take to keep yourself and your possessions safe. Robberies, theft, carjackings and street crime can occur, particularly in towns and cities.

Following a few common-sense safety tips will greatly decrease the risk of anything happening during your trip:

• Stay aware in markets and busy areas, especially at night
• Never leave your bags unattended
• Keep valuables out of sight when you’re out and about
• Use your accommodation’s safe for valuables and travel documents wherever possible
• Avoid walking alone in city centres after dark
• If you’re stopped by the police, ask for ID as there have been reports of individuals falsely claiming to be police
• Don’t touch any suspect packages
• Lock car doors and keep windows closed at all times, particularly in Antananarivo
• We do not recommend hiring motorbikes, scooters, ATV vehicles, quad bikes or other types of motorised vehicles whilst abroad. Safety and quality of vehicles vary considerably and the traffic conditions can be much more dangerous than what UK travellers are used to. Should you wish to go against this advice, you should ensure you are hiring from a reputable company and that your travel insurance covers you for such activities.