Travel tips

Last update: 26th October 2025 Is it currently safe to travel to Madagascar? First things first: Travelling in Madagascar is currently possible without disruption. No protests or unrest are currently expected. There are no curfews or other travel restrictions in place. There is currently no travel warning from the Foreign Office for Madagascar. Since the former president fled Madagascar in …

Madagascar is an island with many faces and also with the climate this saying is more than true. Madagascar’s climate is dominated by the Indian Ocean, which sends trade winds throughout the year. These meet in Madagascar with different cave locations, protective mountain ranges, and unprotected offshore islands, which create very different climates. The dry and rainy season The climatic …

Madagascar has the perfect travel time for everyone, but it is not the same time of year for everyone. Because it all depends on what you want to see! If you want to see Madagascar’s mascot, the lemurs, you should come to Madagascar at the end of the dry season. The best time to observe lemurs is September and October. …

Tipping is usual among travelers in Madagascar although a topic that has caused anxiety, too. This mainly concerns the payment of guides in national parks and reserves, but also drivers. Luggage carriers in hotels or parking lot attendants are also happy about a small tip – many of them earn their daily salary solely through it. On day trips, in …

Hectic, stress and urgent appointments: In Madagascar you can leave all this behind you. Time is of no use here outside the cities. “Mora mora” is often the first thing you hear as a traveller in Madagascar – often at the visa counter. It means “slow, slow” or “take it easy” and reflects briefly and concisely the attitude to life …

Dos Respect the local fadys. They are extremely important to Madagascans and it would be very rude to hurt them. Try to speak or learn a few words of Madagascan. Salama as an omnipresent greeting (in the north: Mbola tsara, on the islands of the east coast Akoriaby) is always welcome, and also Azafady (please, excuse me) and Misaotra (thank …

The electricity grid in Madagascar is poorly developed. Only larger cities have electricity connections. The major suppliers are JIRAMA, HydElec, HFF (Henri Fraise fils & Cie) and QMM (Rio Tinto QMM), the latter two being only available in Antananarivo and Tolagnaro (Fort Daupin). There are also smaller suppliers that operate small waterworks or individual solar panels, for example. JIRAMA is …

Currency Since 2002 you pay in Madagascar in Ariary (MGA) and no longer in Franc Malgache (FMG). Similar to how a few people in Germany still convert to Deutsche Mark, some Madagascans still write FMG on their price boards – the conversion works as follows: 5 FMG = 1 MGA. If a price on the street seems unrealistically high, it …

Telephone and mobile networks The telephone network in Madagascar is increasingly being expanded but is still inadequate in many places. The international prefix for Madagascar is 00 261, followed by a two-digit access code, depending on which landline network you want to call. This is followed by the two-digit regional area code and the actual five-digit landline number. The fixed …