INDIAN OCEAN
Fly to Madagascar
from 805 €
Accès rapide
Practical information
Documents required:
- A passport valid for 6 months from the date of return.
- An Entry and Residence VISA for stays of less than three months.
- A printed copy of your e-ticket. Failure to produce this document will result in your being turned back by the Malagasy authorities.
- A return or onward ticket.
- An accommodation address (hotel name, rental address, etc.).
Since 1 January 2016, a tourist tax of €10 must be paid by all foreigners entering Madagascar.
Information on customs and police formalities is provided for guidance only. Under no circumstances will Corsair be held responsible if you are not in good standing with the authorities.
To prepare your trip, we recommend that you consult the website of the Madagascar Tourist Office.
Good to know
There are no compulsory vaccinations for travelling to Madagascar, except for yellow fever for travellers from infected countries. In this case, the vaccination must be done at least 10 days before departure.
On site
Shop opening hours
The shops are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.
Transports
You can get around by car, but be aware that distances between cities are important and only 20% of the roads are paved. In the major tourist towns you can hire a car, usually with a driver-guide.
The bush taxi is still the most common and cheapest way to get around the island.
Safety and security
The social, political and economic situation of the country can sometimes lead to safety concerns. However, there are certain rules that must be followed to ensure a smooth trip.
- Avoid showing off your wealth,
- Do not take all your savings with you when travelling,
- If you have to travel at night, take a taxi, even for a short trip. Avoid walking in the evening or at night.
- Given the mosquitoes and the risk of malaria and chikungunya, remember to take a preventive and repellent treatment and cover your arms and legs.
We also recommend that you visit the France Diplomatie website for more information.
Services
Banks and administrative services are open from Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 11.00 and 14.00 and 16.00.
Celebrations and public holidays
1st January: New Year
29th March: Feast of the Uprising
1st May: Labour Day
25th May: Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Day
26th June: Independence Day
15th August: Assumption
1st November: All Saints' Day
25th December: Christmas
Not to be missed
Arriving in Antananarivo, you will be struck by the dynamism and vastness of this city perched on 18 hills. Immerse yourself in the Upper Town and discover its traditional architecture, the old districts of Faravohitra or Andohla, while enjoying the breathtaking views.
The Zoma market is also a meeting place where everything is sold: fruit, vegetables, meat, spices, clothes, fabrics...
Parks and gardens
In the heart of the city, you will find the Ambohijatovo Garden, a true green lung of the city, and the Tsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Park, which covers 27 hectares and is a true testimony of the fauna and flora of Madagascar. The park also houses a zoo with an arboretum, a museum of palaeontology and another of ethnology... You can admire a reconstructed skeleton of an elephant bird over 3 metres high!
Monuments
The Queen's Palace is a must-see in the city with its precious wooden palaces, royal tombs and temple. Located at the top of the largest hill, it offers a magnificent panoramic view.
On the heights of the capital you will find old colonial houses in all the colours of the rainbow.
The essentials
Museum
Created in 2013, the Museum of Photography of Madagascar is a true witness of the past, with the aim of digitising the photographs taken on the island between 1860 and 1960, thus enhancing the Malagasy photographic heritage and promoting the Malagasy people's appropriation of their history.
Madagascar's four corners
The emblematic trees of the red island, they can reach 30 metres in height and 5 metres in diameter. You can admire them on the Avenue of the Baobabs in the Menabe region. More than 800 years old, these trees are called "renala", which means "mother of the forest" in Malagasy.
Looking for heavenly beaches? Head for the island of Nosy Be, which enjoys a tropical climate. Diving enthusiasts will have a blast, while others can soak up the sun on a sandy beach. On the east coast, the island of Sainte-Marie is the perfect spot to watch humpback whales taking advantage of the calm waters to give birth.
In the centre of the island is a farming village called Ambositra. You can see zebu and buy souvenirs made by local artisans.
Gastronomy
Between land and sea
Madagascar's cuisine is a perfect blend of land and sea. Spices and vanilla have made the island famous.
Local specialties
Romazava, a national dish made with zebu meat and mafana bredes, a kind of spicy spinach.
Ravitoto, the other emblematic dish, is made with crushed manioc leaves and pork.
As in the neighbouring islands of Réunion and Mauritius, the Malagasy love achard, a traditional sauce made from fruit and vegetables in vinegar brine.
And of course there is plenty of rice, an essential part of the Malagasy meal.
Drinks
Soursop, passion fruit, mango, lychee and tamarind juices are plentiful on the island. The more adventurous can try ranon'ampango, a typical drink made from water and the bottom of a pot in which rice has been cooked.
Culture
Music and dance
The whole country seems to be singing and dancing: from birth to death, all life (and beyond) is made up of songs, rhythms and chants. It is through music and dance that we connect with the spirits of our ancestors.
"Mora-Mora, the present time is king"
This proverb defines the Malagasy philosophy, which is a way of life that must be respected by all.
Taboos and prohibitions
Called "fady", they are part of the Malagasy culture. It is a socio-cultural concept related to ancestors.
Climate
Two main seasons
There are 2 seasons on the island: the dry season, which lasts from April to October, and the rainy season, which lasts from November to March. During the dry season, temperatures can reach 30°C.
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