Madagascar is a nature lover's delight - envisage an uncharted Eden of luminous coral reefs, gnarled rainforests, shimmering deserts and fascinating wildlife in an area twice the size of Britain.
- High endemicity
- Biodiversity hotspot
- Unique species of primate
- Tropical rainforests
- World-class diving
- Fourth largest island in the world
|  | | Madagascar travel info | Whales, Lemurs and Birds of Madagascar |
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Madagascar travel info  Madagascar, a naturalist's paradise, lies in the Indian Ocean, and is separated from Mozambique on the African mainland by the 400 km Mozambican channel. The island is a hotspot of biological diversity - it parted from the African mainland through continental drift some 160 million years ago, with the concurrent evolution of wondrous species with often intriguing specialisations. Madagascar is one of the poorer countries in the world and as a result of its agricultural slash and burn policy, its natural resources are continually threatened. The current government is tackling this problem by backing locals in deriving their income from eco-tourism. Madagascar's environmental diversity is also reflected in its people -18 ethnic groups exist here, including Malayo-Indonesian, Africa, Arab, French, Indian, Creole and Comoran peoples who arrived on the island some 2000 years ago. This diversity is mirrored in the architecture, cuisine, traditions and festivals. Although Malagassy and French are the official languages, English is widely spoken. The capital of Madagascar is Antananarivo. The local currency is the Ariary, and traveller cheques and credit cards are accepted at major hotels. Please consult your local embassy with regard to visa requirements.
Madagascar is 3 hours ahead of GMT.
Seasons
The climate varies across the country. April to November (southern winter and fairly dry) is the best time to go. During the peak winter months (July/August) it is chilly in the highlands, but still warm along the coasts. Generally, the wet sesaon is mid November to mid March with hurricane season stretching from Dec to the beginning of Feb. The central highlands can be enjoyed during the summer months. Being made up largely of tropical rainforests, the east coast is always a bit humid, but experiences rain from June to September. August is a rainy month on St Marie Island as they have a microclimate (but there are also whales at this time!)
Precautions
Compulsory vaccine: None (unless flying via a Yellow Fever area e.g. stopover in Kenya or Tanzania)
Recommended vaccines: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Tetanus
Malaria prophylaxis: Indicated for the whole country throughout the year.
Medical information supplied by Medi-Travel International
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