Safety in Madagascar and Antananarivo: our advice

01 · ANTANANARIVO

Safety in Antananarivo: enjoying your visit to Tana

During the day: explore on foot and stay alert

Antananarivo, also known as Tananarive or Tana, is a city of neighbourhoods, stairways, markets and viewpoints. On your first visit, plan your walks during daylight and ask your accommodation for advice. Our walking routes in Antananarivo can give you ideas.

Be particularly alert to pickpockets in Analakely, especially in markets and busy places. Keep your bag closed and in front of you, and keep your phone out of easily accessible pockets. These precautions also matter elsewhere in the capital: Analakely is not the only area where theft or assault can occur.

When stopping at a café, keep your bag close rather than leaving it on a distant chair or at the edge of the terrace. Carry only the cash you need for your outing and avoid displaying valuables.

In the evening: take a taxi or motorcycle taxi

From Hotel Niaouly, you can walk down to the taxi rank about 120 metres from the hotel, or wait outside the hotel and hail a passing taxi. You can also hail a motorcycle taxi. These options let you reach your restaurant or evening destination without walking across the city after dark.

To return to the hotel after dinner, wait outside the restaurant. Ask the security guard to find you a taxi, or hail one as it passes. Tell the driver you would like to go back up to Hotel Niaouly. Arrange your return directly from where you are: the hotel does not send taxis to collect guests from restaurants.

Agree on the fare with the driver before leaving. If you choose a motorcycle taxi, wear a properly fastened helmet.

PIQLA: booking a ride in Antananarivo

PIQLA is a transport app in Antananarivo that works on a similar principle to Uber. Enter your pickup point and destination, check an estimated fare and request a ride, subject to driver availability. For your return, enter Hotel Niaouly as your destination. Find the different options on our page about getting around Antananarivo and Madagascar.

02 · MADAGASCAR

Safety outside the capital: prepare your trip and enjoy meeting people

Courtesy, respect and looking after your belongings

Travelling in Madagascar means taking time to discover landscapes and ways of life. A greeting, a calm attitude, respect for local customs and asking before photographing someone all help make encounters more enjoyable. Courtesy supports good relationships but does not replace ordinary precautions.

Some thefts happen during a brief lapse of attention: an unattended bag on a café terrace, a phone near the edge of a table or belongings within reach through an open car window. Keep your personal belongings with you and leave no valuables on view in a vehicle.

Choose a route suited to the region and the time of your visit

Safety outside the capital varies with the place and circumstances. Assaults, including armed attacks, are reported in some areas, so it would be misleading to promise the same level of safety throughout the country. Check with your accommodation and a local professional before an excursion, particularly to a remote location.

Plan road journeys during daylight and choose a recommended driver or guide. Before visiting an isolated beach, a park or an area away from usual tourist routes, check access conditions and whether a guide is advised. Avoid demonstrations and crowds as well.

To organise your stay, read our Madagascar travel tips and our page about drivers and guides. The aim is simple: prepare your journeys so you can spend more time enjoying your discoveries.