Madagascar Island Travel
Madagascar Overview
Madagascar, the fourth largest island in the world, lies in the tropical east coast of Africa. It’s a must-see place with all the contrasts. Anytime of the year is fine for a scheduled trip aside from the months of January to March when heavy rains may end up making many areas impassable.
Madagascar Main Attractions
Once you get there, it’s a must that you pay a visit to the Ankarana Reserve as it is considered to be Madagascar’s most rewarding hike. It’s a fortress of limestone pinnacles and sharp ridges, patches of dense tropical jungle, deep caves and rushing rivers found south of the town of Antsiranana. Due to its seclusion, the reserve has not been affected by any deforestation, providing shelter for plenty of wildlife. You’re likely to come across massive land snails, millipedes, lemurs and even chameleons. The trails are often winding, making Ankarana an adventure. It’s not all fun and games though as temperatures can get high in the area even if you visit at the perfect season of April to November, so make sure to bring plenty of water. Once you’ve arranged for a trip, bring all that you need because there’s not much else in the way of facilities apart from the campsite at the entrance of the reserve.
There are also other reserves and beaches to see all around Madagascar, including Reserve Forestiere d'Ampijoroa, where it’s considered the best place to see lemurs; the Masoala Peninsula Reserve, which protects much of Madagascar’s unspoilt vegetation; Masoala National Park, which covers 2300 square kilometers of rainforest and three marine parks; and Nosy Be Island, which is a great place to relax with its many beaches.
Madagascar Activities
Given the types of attractions to visit in Madagascar, the number one thing to do is to go for a nature hike. But if walking through the jungles isn’t your thing, you can always bum around on the beaches.
Madagascar Accommodation & Dining
A lot of the hotels in Madgascar that are recommended can only be found in the big cities or by the beaches. As far as cuisine goes, Madagascar has a lot of French restaurants due to the country being a French colony. However, if you’re looking for a cheap bite while indulging in the local cuisine, there’s nothing better than getting some food at a “hotely”. For a little less than a dollar, you can buy a plate of rice, laoka, the word for a side dish to accompany rice, like chicken, beans or pork, and rice water. For a few cents extra, you can even get yourself some homemade yogurt. Madagascar street food is also everywhere. Hundreds of varieties of bananas, rice cakes and sweet coffee are the usual fare.
Madagascar Shopping & Nightlife
Madagascar is also famous for its spices, making it the best thing to shop for in the country. Roadside drink stands, stores and bars are plentiful. However, it’s not really advised to stay out at night so there’s really not much of a night life.
Getting To & Around Madagascar
If you’re sold on the idea of travelling to Madagascar, it’s fairly easy and travel options are plentiful. Any traveller of any nationality can travel to the country without a visa. While there are no direct flights to the country, from Europe, the best connections are with Air Madagascar, Air France or Cosair. Travellers from Asia can usually get some flights on Air Mauritius but Air Madagascar now has flights from Bangkok to the city of Antananarivo.
Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
