Travel tips to properly prepare your stay in Madagascar

Madagascar is accessible through several international and regional airlines, connecting the Great Island to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean. The main gateway remains the International Airport of Antananarivo (Ivato).

Among the companies regularly connecting Madagascar, we find in particular Air France, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Austral, Air Mauritius and Turkish Airlines, according to available periods and routes.

Depending on your point of departure, it is possible to reach Madagascar either by direct flight or with a stopover via international hubs such as Paris, Reunion Island, Mauritius, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dubai or Istanbul. This diversity of access now makes it relatively easy to organise a trip to Madagascar.

Once there, the national company Madagascar Airlines provides most of the domestic connections, connecting Antananarivo to the main destinations of the island such as Nosy Be, Sainte-Marie, Tuléar, Majunga, Diego-Suarez, Tamatave, Morondava or Fort-Dauphin.

For the majority of travellers, a tourist visa is required to enter Madagascar.

It can be obtained online before departure via the official platform ofe-visa, or directly on arrival at the airport, which leaves a certain flexibility for travellers.

To travel serenely, it is advisable to anticipate this formality and to check before departure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your arrival. As conditions may change, it is always preferable to consult the official information before your trip.

No vaccine is mandatory to enter Madagascar, except for the yellow fever vaccine if you arrive from a risk area.

However, it is recommended to be up to date on conventional vaccines and to inquire about vaccines such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B or typhoid, depending on your type of trip.

With regard to malaria, prevention is mainly based on protection against mosquitoes and, if necessary, appropriate treatment after medical advice.

Before your departure, the most prudent thing is to ask a health professional for advice, in order to adapt the recommendations to your situation and your itinerary.

To travel to Madagascar, your passport must be valid at least 6 months after your arrival.

We strongly advise you to provide several copies of your passport: a digital version (e-mail or cloud) and a paper copy kept separately. In the event of loss or an identity check, these copies greatly facilitate the process.

In Madagascar, it is also possible to have a photocopy legalised at the town hall, which allows, in some cases, to avoid moving with the original.

In Madagascar, it is preferable to provide a sufficient share of cash payment, because even if the credit card is accepted in some hotels, restaurants or establishments, it cannot be considered a universal means of payment.

To travel more serenely, the most prudent is to combine cash, credit card and possibly an emergency solution, in order to avoid any difficulty in the event of an unavailable ATM or payment refused.

You should also know that in Madagascar, payments via mobile phone are now widespread and particularly practical on a daily basis. This system allows you to have money credited to your phone, useable for certain payments or transfers. The two most common solutions are Orange Money and Mvola, which are widely used in the country.

It is also advisable to change your money only in reliable places, such as banks or identified exchange offices, and to always keep a small reserve separate from the rest of your means of payment.

Finally, you should know that in Madagascar, certain amounts can still be expressed in Malagasy francs in everyday language, while the official currency is the ariary. In case of doubt, it is therefore always preferable to request confirmation of the amount announced.

The issue of security in Madagascar often comes up with travellers. It is important to answer them in a clear, realistic and non-exaggeration way.

In general, Madagascar is not a country in a situation of generalised violence. The country is experiencing no armed conflict or major instability affecting travellers, and it is even ranked among the relatively stable countries on the continent on certain international indicators.

In practice, the situations encountered are mainly petty crime, such as pickpocketing, snatching or opportunities related to inattention, especially in urban or busy areas.

More serious incidents exist, but remain less frequent and generally localised, often related to night travel or isolated areas.

It is therefore more correct to say that Madagascar requires normal vigilance, comparable to that adopted in many major cities around the world.

As such, and contrary to some popular belief, many residents consider that the level of daily crime is often lower than that of some major European cities, especially in terms of urban violence.

As everywhere, a few simple reflexes allow you to travel serenely:

• Avoid exposing valuables,
• Favour organised trips or by identified taxi,
• Limit walking at night in little-known areas,
• Keep your personal belongings under surveillance.

In large cities such as Antananarivo, the situations encountered by travellers are most often opportunistic acts without violence, and can be largely avoided with a minimum of precautions.

Finally, as with any destination, it is recommended to keep informed of the local situation and to seek advice from your accommodation or professionals on site, in order to adapt your travel according to the context of the moment.

In Antananarivo, safety is based above all on simple vigilance reflexes, as in most large cities.

In practice, situations involving travellers are mainly an opportunistic petty crime, especially pickpockets and non-violent theft. These incidents occur most often in busy areas, especially in Analakely, more precisely on Avenue de l'indépendance, or in local public transport called taxi-be, where crowding facilitates this type of inconvenience.

These are not situations of generalised violence, but rather rapid acts related to inattention, as can exist in many major cities around the world. With some basic precautions, these risks can be greatly limited.

To travel serenely, it is recommended to:

• Keep your valuables discreet and well secured,
• Avoid taking out your phone or wallet in busy areas,
• Favour organised trips or by identified taxi,
• Stay attentive in markets, lively centres and public transport.

In the vast majority of cases, stays in Antananarivo take place without particular difficulty, provided that these few common sense reflexes are adopted.

In Antananarivo, several structures allow you to be treated in good conditions, depending on the type of need.

For a consultation or routine care, Ambodivona Medical Centre can be a practical and quick solution.

In the event of a more complex need, especially for an emergency, medical assistance, care coordination or medical evacuation, Assistance Plus Antananarivo is one of the reference actors in Madagascar, with care available 24/7.

Depending on the situation, other institutions such as the Ilafy Polyclinic or some hospitals in the capital may also be requested.

In all cases, it is recommended to travel with health insurance / assistance, as care is usually paid on site.

In Madagascar, the two main operators are Orange Madagascar and Yas Madagascar (formerly Telma). They both offer local SIM cards, mobile and internet packages, as well as very practical services for travellers.

Their network covers a large part of the country, including major cities, major roads and most tourist areas. Buying a local SIM on arrival usually allows you to stay connected easily throughout your stay.

These operators also offer mobile payment solutions widely used in Madagascar: Orange Money for Orange and MVola for Yas. This system allows you to have money directly credited to your phone, which is particularly practical on a daily basis.

To consult their offers, you can visit the website of Orange Madagascar and that of Yas Madagascar (formerly Telma).

In Madagascar, journeys between cities are mainly made by bush taxi, the most used means of public transport to connect Antananarivo to the rest of the country.

You should know that Tana does not have a single central bus station, but several stations, depending on the destination and the road axis used. The starting point therefore depends directly on the city or region you want to reach.

Main bus stations in Antananarivo

• Fasan'ny Karana (South Station / South-West)

This is the main station to reach the south of Madagascar via the RN7:

Antsirabe, Ambositra, Fianarantsoa, Ranohira / Isalo, Tuléar, Fort-Dauphin.

• Axis RN2 - direction Tamatave (Toamasina)

Departures to Tamatave are made from different embarcation points in the east of the capital, depending on the companies.

• RN4 axis - direction Majunga (Mahajanga)

Departures to Majunga are made from north / northwest areas, variable depending on the company.

• Ampasapito

This station serves several destinations in the east and interior of the country, often on regional routes.

• Antohomadinika

It serves various destinations, sometimes more local or less touristy.

• Ambodivona

It is an important starting point for many private companies, often popular with travellers.

The taxi-be is one of the most used means of urban transport in Madagascar, especially in Antananarivo. These are collective minibuses running on numbered fixed lines, widely used by the local population.

You get on the way, you pay a very affordable rate, and you get off near your destination. It is an economical, local and authentic solution to get around the city.

However, taxi-be can be a little confusing for visitors: there is not always a clear map, vehicles are often very busy, and comfort remains limited, especially with luggage.

It is therefore especially suitable for short journeys, people already familiar with the city, or those who want to live a local experience. For a first stay or for more simplicity, the private taxi generally remains more comfortable and more practical.

How to use a taxi-be in Antananarivo?

Using a taxi-be in Antananarivo requires above all a little observation and common sense.

Here are the essential principles:

• Locate the line or ask for confirmation before boarding,
• Check the main destination of the vehicle,
• Keep your personal belongings close to you,
• Provide change, because payments are usually made in cash,
• And avoid this mode of transport with large luggage.

The taxi-be remains a very lively and very popular means of transport, but it must be considered as a daily local transport, and not as a service designed primarily for tourists.

Our advice

If you want to experience a little immersion in Malagasy daily life, the taxi-be can be an interesting experience.

On the other hand, for more comfort, simplicity and tranquillity, especially on arrival or during your first trips in the capital, the classic taxi often remains the most practical solution.

In Madagascar, it is strongly recommended to provide cash and change part of your money on arrival or at the beginning of the stay. The local currency is the ariary (MGA), and even if some hotels, restaurants or establishments accept credit cards, cash payment remains very widely used in daily life. Recent traveller advice also reminds us that Madagascar remains an economy largely based on cash.

The easiest way for a traveller is usually to change euros or US dollars at official exchange offices, at Ivato airport, in some banks or in identified offices in the city. Several practical guides confirm that it is quite possible to change your money on arrival in Antananarivo, as well as in the main urban areas.

On the other hand, it is better to avoid street changers or informal solutions, even if they can sometimes seem faster or more favourable. For a traveller, the best solution always remains an official and clearly identified exchange point, in order to avoid any problems with rates, counterfeit notes or incomplete amounts remitted. Several travel sources emphasise this point.

Another very important tip: in Madagascar, it is often better not to change too much money all at once. The ariary being a currency that can be difficult to exchange abroad, it is generally more prudent to change gradually, according to your real needs during the stay. Travelling sources also point out that the conversion of the ariary to a foreign currency can be complicated.

Finally, you should know that in Madagascar, some prices can still be expressed orally in the Malagasy franc in everyday language, while the official currency is indeed the ariary. In case of doubt, it is therefore always recommended to have the amount announced specified before paying.

Practical advice

To change your money more serenely, we recommend that you:

• Favour official exchange offices or banks,
• Avoid changing too large amounts at once,
• Keep some of your money separately,
• Always count the banknotes at the time of delivery,
• And keep in mind that cash is often essential in Madagascar.

Upon arrival, many travellers choose to change an amount first to Ivato, then to supplement according to their needs. Recent traveller feedback indicates that this is often the easiest solution to start the stay.