Madagascar: Tourist & Vacation Guide

Country's codes

International phone code for Madagascar: +261

Standard ISO 3166-1:

3 letters: MDG

2 letters (internet domain): .MG

Digital country code: 450

Standard EAN-13 (country barcode): 649

Olympic country code: MAD

FIFA code: MAD

🇲🇬 Madagascar Travel Guide

🇲🇬 Madagascar is a world of extraordinary biodiversity and otherworldly landscapes. From the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs to pristine coral reefs, this island continent offers unmatched wildlife encounters and untouched wilderness.

🌍 RegionEast Africa (Indian Ocean island)

⭐ Famous forLemurs, baobabs, unique wildlife & rainforests

📅 Best time to visitApril – November (dry season)

💰 CurrencyMalagasy Ariary (MGA)

    ✨ Why visit Madagascar?

    Madagascar is like nowhere else on Earth — over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on the planet. Roam ancient rainforests where ring-tailed lemurs leap overhead, marvel at surreal tsingy stone forests, relax on deserted white-sand beaches, and witness a culture that blends African, Asian, and European heritage into something completely unique.

Top Attractions in Madagascar

🌳 Avenue of the Baobabs, Morondava

A breathtaking dirt road flanked by giant baobab trees up to 800 years old — one of Africa's most iconic landscapes, especially at sunset.

🦎 Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles, hanging bridges, and endemic wildlife found nowhere else on Earth.

🐒 Ranomafana National Park

A dense highland rainforest, home to rare golden bamboo lemurs, chameleons, and a spectacular network of hiking trails.

🏝️ Nosy Be Island

Madagascar's premier island getaway with turquoise waters, whale shark encounters, ylang-ylang plantations, and luxury beach resorts.

Best Places to Visit

🏙️ Antananarivo – The vibrant hilltop capital with royal palaces, colourful markets, and a lively arts scene.
🌳 Morondava – Gateway to the Avenue of the Baobabs and the wild western dry forests.
🦜 Andasibe-Mantadia – Easily accessible rainforest famous for the haunting call of the indri lemur.
🏖️ Île Sainte-Marie – A slender island paradise renowned for humpback whale watching from July to September.
🗿 Isalo National Park – Dramatic sandstone canyons, natural swimming pools, and ring-tailed lemur encounters.

      💡 Travel Tip: Madagascar's distances are vast and roads can be rough — internal flights with Air Madagascar or private charter are often the most practical way to travel between regions.
    

Things to Do in Madagascar

Trek through Andasibe-Mantadia to hear and see the indri — the world's largest living lemur.
Snorkel or dive the coral reefs of Nosy Be and the surrounding Radama Archipelago.
Watch humpback whales breach off Île Sainte-Marie during the July–September migration season.
Hike the lunar tsingy formations of Bemaraha with a local guide through hanging rope bridges.
Sample Malagasy cuisine: romazava (beef and greens stew), ravitoto (cassava leaves with pork), and fresh tropical fruits.

🍽️ Local Experience: Malagasy food centres on rice (vary) eaten three times a day. Try brochettes grillées at roadside stalls, wash it down with local Three Horses Beer (THB), and finish with fresh lychees or jackfruit from a market vendor.

Travel Tips for Visitors

☀️ The dry season (April–November) is best for wildlife and road travel; the wet season brings lush scenery but muddy tracks.
🚗 4WD vehicles are essential outside major towns — many roads are unpaved and impassable in the rainy season.
💳 Cash is king — carry Malagasy Ariary for rural areas; ATMs are available in major cities but unreliable in remote regions.
🦟 Take malaria prophylaxis and use insect repellent, especially in coastal and lowland areas.

📌 Useful Country Information

Quick Facts

Total area: 226,658 sq mi (587,041 sq km)

Population (2023 est.): ~29.6 million

Capital: Antananarivo (~3.7 million)

Antananarivo – Capital City of Madagascar

🇲🇬 Antananarivo: Capital City Profile

Other major cities: Toamasina, Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga

Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA)

1 Ariary (MGA) is equal to 5 Malagasy Francs (MGF)

CurrencyRate

National name: Repoblikan'i Madagasikara

Language: Malagasy and French (both official)

Ethnicity/race: Merina 26%, Betsimisaraka 15%, Betsileo 12%, Tsimihety 6%, Sakalava 6%, other Malagasy groups 32%, other 3%

Religions: Christian 83.1% (Protestant 38.1%, Catholic 22.8%, other 22.2%), traditional beliefs 8.9%, Muslim 2.9%, other 5.1%

National Holiday: June 26, Madagascar Independence Day.

Background

🇲🇬 Madagascar is the world's fourth-largest island, separated from mainland Africa some 88 million years ago. Its long isolation has produced one of the richest concentrations of endemic species on Earth, earning it the nickname "the eighth continent."

🌿 The island was settled by Austronesian seafarers from Borneo around 2,000 years ago, followed by Bantu migrants from East Africa. This unique dual heritage shaped a culture and language found nowhere else on Earth — Malagasy is related to Malay, not African languages.

🕊️ France colonised Madagascar in 1896, and the country gained independence on June 26, 1960. Since then it has experienced political turbulence alongside remarkable conservation achievements, including the establishment of extensive national parks and UNESCO sites.

🌍 Madagascar faces significant environmental challenges — deforestation, habitat loss, and climate vulnerability — making responsible eco-tourism an important part of sustainable travel to the island.