General travel information for Madagascar
Continent: Africa
Geographical location: Island in the Indian Ocean, approx. 400 km east of the southeastern African continent, located in the southern hemisphere
Highest elevation: Maromokotro (2876 m above sea level)
Longest river: Mangoky (560 km) Form of
Government: Republic System of
Government: Semi-presidential system of government
Languages: Malagasy and French
Neighboring countries: Island state, approx. 400 km east of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean
Capital: Antananarivo
Area: Approx. 587 295 km²
Population: Approx. 25,600,000 people (2017)
Population density: 44 residents per km²
religions: 52% indigenous beliefs (animism, ancestor worship), 41% Christianity (23% Roman Catholic, 18% Protestants), 7% Islam
Currency: Madagascar ariary, 1 euro is approx. 4000 ariary.
Climate: tropical climate, hot in low-lying regions, cool in higher regions
Time zone: UTC + 3
Area code: +261
Country code: MG
Electricity: In Madagascar, sockets of type C, D, E, J and K are used. The mains voltage varies from region to region and is either 3 x 220V or 3 x 127 V with a 50Hz change interval. A travel plug adapter is an advantage.
- Check a2zdirectory for old history of Madagascar and agooddir for modern history of Madagascar.
Travel climate in Madagascar
Madagascar is located in the tropical climate of the South Equatorial Current. The precipitation decreases continuously from the east coast with up to 4,000 millimeters / year to partly only 500 millimeters / year on the west coast. The annual average temperature is 25 ° C, with temperatures on the coasts being higher and in the interior in the highlands can drop below freezing point. Summer and winter correspond to the tropical rainy and dry seasons. Madagascar is regularly hit by cyclones.
Cities and regions in Madagascar
Madagascar is divided into 22 regions that replace the provinces that existed before the 2009 constitutional amendment. The regions are divided into 119 districts, with the municipalities forming the lowest administrative level. In addition, the core areas of the Foko exist in districts or entire villages with self-administration.
The biggest cities in Madagascar are (2014):
Antananarivo
The capital of Madagascar has over 1.8 million residents and is the geographical, administrative and industrial center of the country. Worth seeing are the rebuilt Royal Palace Rova, the Zoma markets, where practically everything the island offers in terms of goods is traded, the Tsimbazaza zoo with an excellent insight into the animal species endemic to Madagascar and the pirate museum, which opened in 2008 and which tells the story of pirates told about Madagascar.
Toamasina
The second largest city in Madagascar with over 280,000 residents (2014) has the country’s only natural harbor on the east coast. After the city was repeatedly destroyed by hurricanes, today’s industrial cityscape is only the result of the last reconstruction at the end of the 1980s. However, the city is a popular starting point for the beaches in the vicinity and for tours to the island of Sainte Marie, which is well developed for tourists.
Antsirabe
the third largest city in the interior of Madagascar, with almost 240,000 residents, is an important center of the Betsileo. During the colonial days, Antsirabe was known for its thermal springs. Today Antsirabe is the second largest industrial center of Madagascar with the largest textile factory in the country. Antsirabe train station, which dates back to colonial times, is well worth a visit.
Mahajanga
Mahajanga has over 135,000 residents (2001) and is located on the northwest coast of Madagascar, in the Bay of Bombetoka and on the Betsiboka River. The capital of the Boeny region is the starting point for excursions to the Betsiboka estuary and the numerous beaches in the area, as well as to the Baie de Baly, Tsingy de Namoroka and Ankarafantsika national parks within a 150 km radius.
Holidays with a fixed date in Madagascar
Jan 1st New Years
March 29th Martyrs Day
May 1st Independence Day May
1st Labor Day
June 26th Independence Day
Aug 25th Assumption Day
Nov 1st All Saints Day
Dec 11th Republic Day
Dec 25th Christmas
Medical information for Madagascar
For legal reasons, we as a tour operator are not allowed to communicate any binding medical information for France and therefore refer to the information provided by the Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Robert Koch Institute and the German Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health
Travel advice for Madagascar
You can obtain current travel and safety advice, information on entering and leaving the country, as well as special criminal law advice and recommendations for your stay in Zimbabwe from the German Foreign Office.
Foreign mission in Madagascar
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Antananarivo Administrative
District / consular district: Madagascar and Mauritius (no
visas are issued)
Place: Antananarivo
Street address: 101, Rue du Pasteur Rabeony Hans (Ambodirotra), Antananarivo 101
Postal address: Ambassade de la République fédérale d’Allemagne, BP 516, Antananarivo, Madagascar
Telephone: +261 20 222 38 02, +261 20 222 38 03, +261 20 222 16 91, In the event of a consular emergency, contact the Embassy in Dar es Salaam / Tanzania
Fax: +261 20 222 66 27
E- Mail: Contact form
Website: http://www.antananarivo.diplo.de
Official languages in the host country: French
Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar in Berlin / Falkensee
Place: Falkensee
Street address: Kommandantenstrasse 80
Postal address: Seepromenade 92, 14612 Falkensee
Telephone: 03322 231 40
Fax: 0 3322 23 14 29
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http: //www.botschaft-madagaskar.de
