Country Profile - MADAGASCAR

General Information

Area: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).

Population: 15,085,000 (official estimate 2000).

Population Density: 25.7 per sq km.

Capital: Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive). Population: 1,103,304 (1993).

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 6th 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 and sloths. There is a similar diversity of reptiles, amphibians and birds (especially ducks), and also all levels of plant life.

Government: Republic since 1992. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Mark Ravalomanana since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Jacques Rasolondraibe since 2002.

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 two-pin.

Communications:

Telephone: IDD is available to major towns. Country code: 261, followed by a two-digit number for an 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 seven digits including two initial digits for the geographical area. Outgoing international code: 16.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network in use. Main network providers include Antaris and Madacom. Coverage reaches major cities and main roads.

Internet: Public Internet access exists in large cities; there are a few Internet cafes in Antananarivo.

Telegram: The main post office (PTT) in Antananarivo offers a 24-hour telegram transmission service.

Post: The Poste Restante facilities at main post offices are the most reliable option. Airmail to Europe takes at least 7 days and surface mail 3 to 4 months.

Press: There are no English-language newspapers; six dailies are published in French and/or Malagasy. The main papers include L’Express de Madagascar, Madagascar Tribune and Midi Madagasikara.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Passport/Visa

Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required?
British Yes Yes Yes
Australian Yes Yes Yes
Canadian Yes Yes Yes
USA Yes Yes Yes
OtherEU Yes Yes Yes
Japanese Yes Yes Yes

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.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £40 (single-entry); £50 (multiple-entry). Business: £55 (single-entry); £65 (multiple-entry).

Validity: Visas are issued for stays of up to 90 days and are valid for 6 months from date of issue.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). Some nationalities are able to get a visa at Antananarivo airport on arrival. Contact the embassy for further information prior to departure.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) One application form. (c) Four passport-size photos. (d) Return ticket or confirmation of booking from travel agent. (e) Fee payable by cheque or cash. (f) Additional £1.50 for recorded postage if applying by post. (g) For business visas, a letter of recommendation and confirmation of employment on company-headed notepaper with details about the applicant’s business activity.

Working days required: Same day (personal applications); up to 5 days (postal applications).

Temporary residence: Enquire at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy).

Money

Currency: Malagasy Franc (Mgfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Mgfr25,000, 10,000, 5000, 2500 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of Mgfr250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Currency exchange: Malagasy Francs can be bought only at banks and official bureaux de change in hotels and at the airport in Antananarivo. Hotels have a less favourable exchange rate. A few ATMs have now been installed in Antananarivo.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at the capital’s Colbert and Hilton hotels. These and other cards have limited use elsewhere in the country. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: These can be exchanged in banks and major hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros or US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is limited to Mgfr5000. The export of local currency is prohibited to non-residents. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration.

Exchange rate indicators: The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Malagasy Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04
£1.00= 9657.91 10062.90 10466.4 15003.2
$1.00= 6054.80 5930.00 5750.00 8400.00

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1500.

Duty Free

Duty-Free: The following goods can be imported into Madagascar without incurring customs duty by persons 21 years of age and over:

500 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage.

Note: All perfume is subject to duty. All vegetables must be declared. Animals need a detailed veterinary certificate. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits, which should be obtained at time of purchase. Tourists should be aware that many items on sale may have been manufactured illegally and may not be taken out of the country, with or without a permit.

Public Holidays

Public Holidays: Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 29 Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 26 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Sep 27 St Vincent de Paul’s Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 30 Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar. Jan 1 2005 New Year’s Day. Mar 25 Good Friday. Mar 28 Easter Monday. Mar 29 Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 26 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Sep 27 St Vincent de Paul’s Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 30 Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar.

Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required?
Yellow Fever Yes 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from, or having passed through, within 6 days an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy.

2: A cholera vaccination certificate is recommended for travellers arriving from, or having passed through, an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy. See the Health appendix for more information.

3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often recommended.

4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country and is highest in coastal areas. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water; swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A, B, and E are endemic and precautions are advised. Dysenteries and diarrhoeal diseases are common. Many viral diseases including severe haemorrhagic fevers have been reported. Natural foci of plague occur.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Health insurance is strongly recommended; it should include cover for emergency repatriation. Private and public healthcare is available, but public facilities can be very limited. It is highly recommended that visitors bring medication for stomach upsets.

Travel – International

AIR: Madagascar’s national airline is Air Madagascar (MD).

Approximate flight times: From Antananarivo to London is 13 hours 50 minutes (including connection in Paris). There are regular flights from Madagascar to the Comoro Islands, Kenya, Mauritius, Réunion, the Seychelles and Tanzania.
International airports: Antananarivo (TNR), is 17km (11 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include restaurant and bureau de change. 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 Arivonimamo (international standby airport), which is 45km (28 miles) from the capital, Mahajanga (links to East Africa and the Comoro Islands), Nossi Bé (links to the Seychelles) and Toamasina (links to Mauritius and Réunion islands).

Departure tax: None.

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 Europe and the USA. Toamasina is the main port.

Travel – Internal

AIR: Most of Madagascar can be reached by air (there are more than 200 airfields), the exceptions being a few towns in the central highlands. Air Madagascar flies to 51 towns and localities in the island and they offer an Air Tourist Pass which allows unlimited travel for certain periods.

SEA/RIVER/CANAL: Madagascar has a strong maritime tradition and there are many coastal transport services. Rapids render many of the rivers unnavigable; local tour operators can organise small-boat safaris on the Betsiboka and the Tsiribihina. The Pangalanes Canal runs for almost 600km (370 miles) along the east coast. Much of it is currently too clogged with silt for commercial traffic; the Tourist Board can arrange sailing holidays.

RAIL: The only regular passenger rail service runs from Antananarivo to Moramanga and Lake Alaotra. Services leave every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, returning on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Fianarantsoa-Manakara line passes through spectacular rainforests. First-class carriages are air-conditioned. Light refreshments are sometimes available. The rail service is intermittent in that trains arrive on one day and return on the following day. Children under 4 years old travel free. Children aged 4 to 6 years old pay half fare.

ROAD: The road network is in need of repair. Tarred roads of varying quality link the main towns in the central highlands and continue to the most populous parts of the east and northwest coasts. There are three main routes, from Antananarivo to Mahajanga (RN4), to Toamasina (RN2) and to Tuléar (RN7). There are isolated sections of tarred road elsewhere, but dirt tracks are more common. Many roads are impassable in the rainy season (November to March). In 1988, the World Bank approved a US$140-million loan to rehabilitate the network. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: A flat fare is charged, irrespective of the distance travelled. Services can be unreliable and buses tend to be crowded. Taxi: Flat fares apply except in Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa, where fare is calculated according to whether the ride is confined to the ‘lower town’ or goes on to the ‘upper town’. There are two types of taxi: the taxi-be, which is quick and comfortable, and the taxi-brousse (bush taxi), which is cheaper, slower, makes more stops and generally operates on cross-country routes. Fares should be agreed in advance and tipping is unnecessary. Rickshaw: The pousse-pousse (rickshaw) takes passengers except where traffic or gradient makes it impractical. Prices are not controlled and vary according to distance. Stagecoach: A few covered wagons continue to take passengers in Antananarivo. Car hire: This is not widespread and car hire agencies can only be found in the main tourist towns. It is advisable to make enquiries in advance about insurance requirements for car hire. Motorbike hire: Available from several companies in Madagascar. Documentation: A national driving licence is sufficient.

Accommodation

ACCOMMODATION: Since hotel development is in its early stages, some areas are better served than others, notably the capital Antananarivo, Nossi Bé and Toamasina. However, recent projects aimed at increasing the number of international-standard establishments have led to the opening of national tourism centres where good- to medium-standard accommodation is now available at moderate prices. As well as classified or classifiable accommodation, group and youth lodging is available. European-style accommodation is scarce outside the larger towns, and those visiting remote areas should travel with an open mind. Enquiries should be addressed to the Tourism Office in Antananarivo or Air Madagascar agencies. The Guide to Madagascar by Hilary Bradt provides excellent information on hotels and is available through the Madagascan Consulate in the UK or through bookshops. Grading: Hotels are classified from 1 to 5 stars (5-star being equivalent to an international standard of about 3 stars); a secondary system of ravinala (travellers’ palms) is used for more ‘rustic’ accommodation. More information is available from the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).

Sport & Activities

Watersports: Many towns have municipal pools. Sea-bathing along the east coast is not advised due to sharks. The main diving centres are Nossi Bé (with its neighbouring islands Nossi Mitsio, Nossi Radama and Tanikely), Nossi Lava, Toliara and Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha). Scuba-diving centres are located on the north and west coasts. Water-skiing and sailing centres are located at Ambohibao (Lake Mantasoa), Antsiralse (on Andraikiba Lake) and Ramona. River-rafting: can be done in season on the Manambole, from Ankavandra in the west to Bekupaca.

Trekking: Local tour operators can organise a variety of trekking and hiking trips in many different parts of the country. They are generally designed to cater for specific interest groups – speleologists, mineralogists, ethnologists, ornithologists, those who wish to see rare orchids or lemurs, etc. Pony-trekking is also possible.

Other: For golf there are facilities at Tana. There are numerous football pitches and during the dry season it has been known for rice fields to be used as pitches. Basketball and volleyball are very popular and covered stadia have been built.

Social Profile

Food & Drink: In Madagascar eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. Dishes include ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice); beef and pork marinated in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves, onion, pickles and other vegetables and seasoned with pimento; ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together); ramazava (leaves and pieces of beef and pork browned in oil); vary amid ’anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps) often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat). The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Local restaurants are often referred to as hotely.

The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable. Malagasy drinks include litchel (an aperitif made from litchis), betsa (fermented alcohol) and toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice) and ‘Three Horses’ lager. Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon ’apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.

Nightlife: There are a few discos, sometimes with bands and solo musicians. Casinos can be found at Antananarivo, Toamasina and on Nossi Bé. Most main towns have cinemas and theatres, and touring theatre groups perform local plays throughout the country. Traditional dance troupes can also be seen.

Shopping: Handicrafts include lamba (traditional squares of cloth in various designs and woven materials); zafimaniny marquetry, which is applied to furniture, chessboards and boxes; silverwork such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; items woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers; and embroidery. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits (see Duty-Free section). Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.

Special Events: There are many customary events and celebrations (see Social Conventions below), especially in rural areas. Mphira gasy (Malagasy singers) sing and dance theatrically in groups recounting a story and presenting its moral; typically a performance lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. The following is a selection of special events occurring in Madagascar in 2004:

Mar Alahamady Be (New Year celebrations). Mar-Apr Internet Festival. May Rice Harvest, throughout the country. May-Jun Donia (traditional music festival), Nosy Be. Jun Fisemana (ritual purification ceremony of the Antakarana people). Jun-Sep Famadihana (turning of the bones festival). Oct-Nov Madajazzcar (jazz festival).

Social Conventions: The Madagascans are extremely hospitable and welcoming, although their relaxed attitude to time (public forms of transport, for example, will not generally move until they are full – no matter how long it takes to fill the last seat) may be frustrating. Dress is casual, except for the very smartest hotel and restaurant functions. Visitors are advised not to wear any military-style clothing; locally it is disapproved of and could lead to detention. Entertaining is done in restaurants and bars, and a good degree of acquaintance is necessary before being invited to a family home. Gifts should be offered if staying at a local village, particularly to the village headman, although monetary contributions will be seen as an insult. Respect should be paid to the many local taboos (fady) – but as these vary from region to region this is not always easy; however, it is clear that advice should be sought before approaching tombs and graves. It remains the practice in some regions (though it is increasingly rare due to the enormous cost) to invite an ancestor to a village celebration, disinterring the body so that the ancestor may attend physically, and later re-interring the body with new shrouds; this traditional observance (known as famadihana) demonstrates the continuing hold of traditional beliefs. Visitors invited to such an occasion should consider it a great honour. Photography: Do not photograph military or police establishments. Tipping: Not customary, although waiters expect 10 per cent of the bill. In European-style hotels and restaurants the French system of tipping is followed. One should also tip in Chinese and Vietnamese establishments.

Business Profile

Economy: Madagascar’s mainly agricultural economy relies heavily on coffee production to earn foreign exchange, and this has suffered lately from a decline in world demand and prices. Vanilla, cloves, sisal, cocoa and butter beans are the island’s other important cash crops. Rice and cassava are produced primarily for domestic staple consumption. Fishing is underdeveloped thus far: the government, which still exercises extensive control over the economy, is hoping to improve its performance. The country has appreciable mineral deposits of chromium ore, bauxite and titanium ore, all of which are being exploited. The recent discovery of oil deposits is set to bring about further development as well as hopefully resolve Madagascar’s energy problems. 15 per cent of GDP derives from the manufacturing industry, mainly textiles and food processing. The service sector is relatively underdeveloped at present. The government has been looking at ways of developing the tourism industry, and has focused on the island’s abundance of exotic wildlife as a major attraction. Although the Madagascan economy has considerable potential, there are major problems to overcome. There is little that can be done about the climate; Madagascar suffers from frequent cyclones which have done severe damage to agriculture, especially in the last few years. More seriously, the political instability which has afflicted Madagascar throughout 2002 threatens to undermine the economy. In 2001, economic growth rose sharply from near zero to a healthy 6 per cent. The country continues to rely heavily on loans and grants from the EU (especially France) and the World Bank: these were among a consortium of donors which in July 2002 agreed a major aid package worth $2.3 billion over 4 years. France accounts for about 30 per cent of all Madagascar’s trade; the USA and the CIS are other important trading partners.

Business: Tropical lightweight suits are appropriate wear. If arranged far enough in advance, the Embassy can arrange interpreters for business meetings. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630.

Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Fédération des Chambres de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de Madagascar, BP 258, 101 Antananarivo (tel: (2022) 20211; fax: (2022) 20213).

Climate

Climate: Hot and subtropical climate, 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.

Required clothing: Lightweights are worn during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the