Madagascar
Madagascar has been isolated for so long that most of its wildlife exists nowhere else: more than 100 kinds of lemur, chameleons small enough to sit on a fingertip, and baobabs lining red-earth roads. Journeys between rainforest, limestone tsingy and white beaches are long and slow, so pick fewer places, hire a good driver and use internal flights.
Overview
The world's fourth-largest island feels more like a small continent, with rainforest in the east, spiny forest and semi-desert in the south-west and dry deciduous forest in the west. A first trip usually follows Route Nationale 7 south from Antananarivo through the highlands to Antsirabe, Ranomafana's rainforest, the Isalo canyons and the coast at Ifaty, with a detour east to Andasibe for the indri. A second loop flies or drives west to Morondava for the baobabs and the Tsingy de Bemaraha, and many trips end with beach time on Nosy Be.
Distances look modest on the map but take far longer on the ground, and most visitors hire a car with a driver-guide rather than squeezing into taxi-brousses. Park fees and compulsory local guides add up, but rooms and food are cheap, so mid-range travel is good value. Domestic flights are useful, though schedules change often. The wildlife is the reward: lemurs leaping through the canopy, leaf-tailed geckos camouflaged on bark and humpback whales off Île Sainte-Marie from July to September. It suits patient travellers who care more about nature than nightlife.
Map of Madagascar
Top 5 highlights
- 1Wildlife
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
The most accessible rainforest from the capital, three to four hours by road, and home of the indri, the largest living lemur, whose eerie song carries across the forest each morning. Night walks reveal chameleons and mouse lemurs.
- 2Nature
Avenue of the Baobabs
A short stretch of dirt road near Morondava lined with Grandidier's baobabs up to 30 metres tall, some thought to be several hundred years old. Come at sunset or sunrise, when the light turns the trunks orange.
- 3Adventure
Tsingy de Bemaraha
A UNESCO-listed labyrinth of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles in western Madagascar, explored with harnesses, ladders and rope bridges. The access tracks are usually passable only in the dry season, roughly May to November.
- 4Nature
Isalo National Park
A sandstone massif in the south carved into canyons, palm-fringed natural pools and grassy plateaux. Day hikes lead to the Piscine Naturelle and the Canyon des Makis, where ring-tailed lemurs and sifakas live.
- 5Beach
Nosy Be
The main beach island off the north-west coast, scented by ylang-ylang plantations. Use it as a base for snorkelling at Nosy Tanikely, black lemurs in Lokobe and boat trips to quieter islands nearby.
Biggest cities
Antananarivo
The hilly, congested capital is mostly a transit stop, but the restored Rova (Queen's Palace) on the summit and the Lemurs' Park outside town fill a day before heading out.
Toamasina
Madagascar's main port is a humid east-coast town with broad, palm-lined boulevards; most travellers pass through on the way to the Pangalanes canal or Île Sainte-Marie.
Antsirabe
A cool highland spa town founded by Norwegian missionaries, known for its pousse-pousse rickshaws, gem workshops and zebu-horn crafts; the usual first overnight stop on the RN7.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Madagascar
Best time: Apr–Nov.
Average climate in Antananarivo
Festivals & events
- May–JunDonia
Nosy Be's Indian Ocean music festival brings bands from Madagascar and neighbouring islands to the island for several days around the Pentecost weekend.
- JunIndependence Day
Celebrated on 26 June with parades and fireworks, while children carry paper lanterns (arendrina) through the streets the evening before.
- Jul–SepFamadihana
In the highlands, families exhume their ancestors, rewrap them in fresh silk shrouds and dance with them to brass bands; attend only if invited, usually through a guide.
How much does Madagascar cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Romazava
The national dish: a light beef broth with brèdes mafana, a leafy green that tingles on the tongue, ladled over a generous plate of rice.
Ravitoto
Cassava leaves pounded to a dark-green paste and slow-cooked with fatty pork, sometimes with coconut; rich, earthy and always served with rice.
Mofo gasy
Slightly sweet rice-flour cakes cooked in round moulds over charcoal, sold at street stalls at dawn with a cup of coffee.
Getting around
Most visitors hire a car with a driver-guide, which makes slow roads comfortable and solves rural logistics. Taxi-brousses (shared minibuses) cover the whole country cheaply but are cramped and slow. Madagascar Airlines flies to Nosy Be, Morondava, Toliara, Fort Dauphin and Diego Suarez, saving days, but timetables change at short notice. The Fianarantsoa–Manakara railway is an adventure rather than dependable transport.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CDEJK220V — bring a UK-to-C/D/E/J/K adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Ambulance or police emergency: Telephone: 17
- Mobile: 117
- To contact the police station directly, call 19, or 119 from a mobile phone.
- Fire: Telephone: 18
- Mobile: 118
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +261
- Time zone
- UTC+3 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Tip national park guides, drivers and porters at the end of a trip, in ariary; in restaurants 5–10% is appreciated but not expected.
- Etiquette
- Respect fady, local taboos that vary from village to village and site to site; ask your guide. Don't point directly at tombs, and always ask before photographing people.
- Main airports
- Ivato International Airport (TNR), Antananarivo; Fascene Airport (NOS), Nosy Be
Visas & entry for Madagascar
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
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.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanusTyphoid
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- ChikungunyaDengueHepatitis BMeaslesPolioRabiesTuberculosis
- Yellow fever certificate
- A yellow fever certificate is only required if you arrive from (or transit through) a country with yellow fever risk — not if you fly direct from the UK.
- Malaria
- High risk of malaria
- There is a high risk of malaria in Madagascar: antimalarial tablets recommended.
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Madagascar
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Fri 11 Dec 2026 | Republic Day |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Women's Day |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday · Martyrs' Day |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | Labour Day |
| Thu 6 May 2027 | Ascension Day |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Pentecost |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Pentecost Monday |
| Sun 30 May 2027 | Mother's Day |
| Sun 20 Jun 2027 | Father's Day |
| Sat 26 Jun 2027 | Independence Day |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Malagasy
| English | Malagasy | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Manao ahoana | ma-now AHN |
| Thank you | Misaotra | mee-SOW-tra |
| Please | Azafady | a-za-FAHD |
| Excuse me | Miala tsiny | mee-AH-la TSEEN |
| How much is this? | Ohatrinona ity? | oo-a-TREEN-oon EE-tee |
Know before you go
- Leave a spare day before your international flight home: domestic flights are often rescheduled or cancelled at short notice.
- Bring euros in cash to change at banks or bureaux; ATMs are found only in larger towns and mainly take Visa, and cards are rarely accepted outside upmarket hotels.
- Book a reputable driver-guide early for July, August and October, the busiest months, and agree in writing whether fuel, park fees and the driver's meals are included.
Madagascar travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Madagascar?
The best time to visit Madagascar is generally Apr–Nov. Average highs in Antananarivo range from 20°C to 27°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Madagascar cost per day?
Roughly £30 a day on a tight budget, £90 mid-range and £220+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Madagascar?
Malagasy ariary (MGA).
What plug type does Madagascar use?
Type C, D, E, J and K sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Madagascar?
Traffic drives on the right in Madagascar, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Madagascar?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Madagascar?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Madagascar for up to 15 days without a visa. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Madagascar before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/madagascar/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Madagascar?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid for most travellers, with Chikungunya, Dengue, Hepatitis B, Measles, Polio and Rabies sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
