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Useful informations

To go to Madagascar an entry and stay visa is required . The visa can be directly delivered at Antananarivo-Ivato airport upon arrival . Nevertheless , to avoid the long wait unpleasantness at the airport , we recommend to apply for it before your departure at the nearest consulate or Madagascar embassy to your domicile. For each application , it is necessary to supply 4 identity photographies and a passport which validity has to be 6 months posterior to the day of return
It is possible to extend your visa when in Madagascar : - For an extension inferior to 3 month:contact the Ministry of the Interior located in Anosy-Antananarivo. - For an extension superior to 3 month: contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also located in Anosy. Outside Antananarivo , contact local competent authorities. For extension application , supply : 3 identity photographies , a photocopy of your currencies declaration (decalaration made upon arrival) , an accommodation certificate or attestation of your hotel, a written demand explaining the reasons of the application .
Before your departure, contact your family doctor to update all vaccinations. That can always be useful. No vaccine required for the entry to Madagascar . However , all persons having recently stayed in a country where the yellow fever rages have to inevitably present a document certifying the vaccination against this sickness. As a precaution , the World Health Organization (O.M.S.) recommends to all travellers the following vaccinations :Whooping cough - Diphteria - updated DTPOLIO - Yellow Fever - Hepatitis A& B - Meningitis - Poliomyelitis - Rage - Tetanus -Typhoïd. As in most tropical country , the malaria exists in Madagascar. Sickness is transmitted by mosquitoes female that sting between the sunset and the sunrise , it is more present in the rainy and humid oriental part than in the western part of the island. The malaria provokes bout of fever accompanied by shivers, headaches and digestive disorders. The attack of malaria is always more serious with the child . If it is not treated the malaria can be mortal . Vaccine against the malaria does not exist , but one can protect efficiently : To protect against mosquitoes stings , it is necessary to wear covering clothes , using anti - mosquitoes products and mosquito net that can be impregnated with insecticide for more efficiency. Take daily Paludrine + Nivaquine. The medication must be taken before your departure and has to stop only some days after your return. Your family doctor will prescribe you the posology adapted to you. Contact rapidly a physician in case of suspicious signs.
If you follow a particular treatment, it is more prudent to take with you your own medicines. Nevertheless you will find in most cities pharmacies or well supplied medicines depositories . Before your departure, ask if possible to your pharmacist if he has no out of date medicines that you can take and distribute during your stay. It is a current practice and that helps a lot of countryside physicians whose patients are on the average very poor .
When entering and exiting the Malagasy territory , bank notes or titles of payment of an amount superior to 8500 EURO, or the equivalents for the other currencies must be declared and controlled inevitably at the Customs. Generaly , the currencies declaration is no more obligatory . Change is now free and one can exchange foreign currencies against the "Ariary " the new Malagasy currency almost everywhere. However It is strongly recommended, for your security ,to make your change only by banks or authorized offices. If you plan to leave the great cities during some days, for weekend or holidays , it is wiser to make changes beforehand . Exchange only the amount that you will need because once converted into Ariary , your money will be no more converted again into foreign currencies. The Malagasy currency amount is available under two forms : the " Malagasy Frank or MGF" and the "ARIARY" : 1 ariary = 5 MGF. To avoid all misunderstanding and bad surprises , familiarize rapidly yourself with bank notes as soon as you arrive . If you see 5.000 on the bank note , be not too hurry to conclude that it is a bank note of 5.000 MGF. It can concern a 5.000 Ariary (that means 25.000 MGF). You will find hereafter the list of currencies in circulation : Coins :1 MGF - 2 MGF - 5 MGF - 10 MGF - 50 MGF - 100 MGF ( coins are in general no longer used ) Bank notes : 500 MGF - 1,000 MGF - 2.500 MGF - 5.000 MGF - 10.000 MGF - 25.000 MG - 50.000 MGF The credit card usage is very often limited to the great establishments (hotels , Banks, hypermarket ) situated in great cities . Should you not able to take cash , rather prefer traveller checks . Banks opening : 08h to 16h from Monday to Friday. Changes of traveller checks and cash can be made easily enough. The Euro is the most practical. Credit cards have limited acceptance in the great hotels and hypermarket of the capital. Credit card can be changed only at the bank BFV-SG. There are few or no cah points outside the capital. The export of the Malagasy frank is prohibited.
Concerning the TELEPHONE , all plug-in installations are managed by TELECOM MALAGASY (TELMA) in Madagascar . Except in some cities where telephone equipment have not yet been renovated, calls function very well . In mobile telephony, there are two major operators in Madagascar : ORANGE (subsidary of France Telecom) and MADACOM (subsidary of DISTACOM) . The two operators exploit the GSM band (900 MHZ) and propose the prepaid cards formula . Although the MADACOM system is less extensive than that ORANGE, in return it is the less expensive. INTERNET: Madagascar is also into the new technology age . The main internet access suppliers are :DTS or Data Telecom Service , subsidiary of France+Telecom , BLUELINE , SIMICRO. Because of the still high prices of the internet, most of the subscribers , Individuals as well enterprises have to make do with a connection to 56Kbps. Most of hotels have a Business center and propose paying internet access . In city you will also find cybercafés opened only the day .
Time difference between Madagascar and Greenwhich Meridian Time (G.M.T) : + 3 H : 18h in Madagascar corresponds to 15H GMT Time difference between Madagascar and France : - 22 December to 20 Mars : + 2 H : 8H in France corresponds to 10H in Madagascar - 21Mars to 21 December : + 1 H : 8H in France,corresponds to 9H in Madagascar
The official language is the Malagasy , French is the administrative language . Several dialects in all the island. Despite of the population diversity which is at the origine of the different dialects in all the island,ther is a common language: the Malagasy. which becomes today the official language of the country: it is the Imerina dialect (region of Antananariveo and Ambohimanga) that has been chosen as official language because of a long tradition of handwriting dating back to the first half of the XIX century. Linguistically, the Malagasy are connected to the austronesian family. The Malagasy belongs therefore to the malayo - Polynesian group of occidental type... French is a second language largely practiced, notably in professional , administrative and média sphere. It is also the unofficial language of the communication and the culture. Number of Malagasy speaks naturally to any vazaha ( white man) in French.
220 V. Provide an electric torch for nocturnal walks in parks and reserves
Light cotton clothes for the coasts and hotter clothes for the interior (mountains and high lands where it may be fresh , especially the night). According to the season and on the east coast provide a raincoat . Provide walking boots , solar cream, anti - mosquito products .
In trip , the food is source of many sicknesses . Your organisms used to consume sterilized and controlled foods are more vulnerable than these of natives . Avoid therefore to take model on them and be vigilant. Avoid to drink the tap water , consume preferably capped bottles drinks and opened ahead you , Madagascar mineral waters are elsewhere very good. The tea, the coffee and the juice of rice ( ranon'ampango or rano vola ) do not pose problems if the water is boiled. Avoid rawness, skinless and barkless fruits , seafood and shells , dairy products and unsafe ices except those proposed in hypermarkets . Consume meats, fish and vegetables well cooked . In all cases, impose yourself some simple hygienic rule by washing for example your hands before and after each meal and when exiting toilets, that will avoid you problems . If possible, wash your teeth with a drinking water. By choosing with care your drinks and foods you will avoid the risk of a severe diarrhea and to catch the Kaboulite, one of the other names given to the "Tourista" or diarrhea of the traveler . By following hygiénodiétetic rules , the diarrhea can be healed in few days without treatment . Your physician will be able to prescribe you a antidiarrheic medicine .
Madagascar has the highest network-density that serves 51 cities : possibility to buy a pass for several days. Railway systems serve the lines Antananarivo - Moramanga (east) and Ambatondrazaka (east) ; Fianarantsoa (center) - Manakara ( southeast coast). The best means to move everywhere in Madagascar are the taxi - brousse and the taxi - be (more comfortable). They are not expensive but it will be necessary to be patient and not to be a stickler for the comfort . In some regions ricksaw is the preferred means of transport to circulate in town : Antsirabé , Tamatave , Tuléar...
Take with you your equipments invoices for customs needs . Provide new batteries reserves and necessary memory stick ( minimum : 8gb ).
The hunting season is from May to October . A hunting permit is obligatory, hunting guns are in temporary admission , 200 cartridges are authorized .
The Malagasy smile is legendary and the Malagasy people are very hospitable and naturally cordial . Nevertheless , it is advised to respect customs and local traditions. Never make fun of the taboos , moke death , manifest signs of impatience . For additional informations : CLICK HERE
It is usual to leave small currency , nevertheless if the service is included in the note, tip is not necessary.
The whole country is rather calm but as everywhere in the world , tourists always constitute the thieves much sought-after target. Contrarily to what one often hears , there is less pick-pocket in Antananarivo than in Paris or London. To avoid bad surprises , take great care when you stroll with objects of value such as jewels, camera etc. Avoid to exhibit your money publicly , ask the director of your hotel to keep them for you. In countryside , the famous "dahalo" (bandits) rather attack zebus herds than tourists. Anyway , these bandits are increasingly rare these last years. To avoid them, cease to travel after 20h00.
Are subject to customs duties secondhand or new articles and equipments which are not resumed in the list of objects and effects of the travelers admitted in exemption from customs duties : Computer, Television, Equipment for commercial or domestic use, foodstuffs, Clothes, The taxation is calculated on the basis of the invoice or any taking place document . Should supporting documents of the value lack, an estimation is made by the Customs. In case of relative prohibition of the article to tax the raising of the prohibition is precondition to the customs duties payment .
To the entry and to the exit of Madagascar:
- Drugs and/or hallucinogenic substances
- Works :books, cassette, pornographic character CD

Relatively prohibited articles

The prohibition can be raised after achievement of the entry and the exit formalities of Madagascar
- Arms and ammunitions ( Authorization of the Ministry of the Interior).
- Transmitter and receiver equipments , and/or Telecommunication equipments including FAX , parabolic antenna, ... (Authorization of The OMERT).
- Mining substances and derived products (Authorization of the Mine services).
- Fauna and flora species and notably endangered species . (Control of the Waters and Forest Direction, Cites Certificate , Authorization or Permits, ...).
-Sea Products of animal origin , living animals , animal origin meats, cooked meats , cans (Control of the Veterinary Service).
- The vegetable or vegetable products (Control of the Ministry of the Agriculture, phytosanitary certificate)
- Medicines (others than for personal use ) and all product or article considered as vector of transmittable sickness or not (Service of the Health).

Temporary entry regime

For non - residents travelers , all equipments and/or article for personal use during the stay : Camera, Video, Computer, personal. Jewels .. can benefit from the the temporary entry regime in return for the subscription of an adequate form.