Preparing for your trip

Visa

You can get a 30-day tourist visa upon arrival at Ivato Airport. It costs around EUR 31.

If you wish to obtain the visa prior to departure, you can apply for one at the following Malagasy embassies:

In Paris:
4 Avenue Raphaël 75016 Paris, +33 (0) 9 83 32 45 15
Email: infoambamadparis@yahoo.fr; website: https://ambassade-madagascar.com/

In Geneva:
Avenue Riant-Parc, 32, 1209 Geneva, +41 (0) 22 740 1650
Email: secretariat@ambassade-madagascar.ch; website : https://www.ambassade-madagascar.ch/

The Consulate General of Madagascar in Stockholm - +46 (0) 8 611 90 32 - can provide you information but as far as we know, they do not issue visa. 

Passport validity: your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months after the date of your return, and it should have at least two blank pages.

A new tourist tax is charged to international visitors on arrival. The tax is EUR 10. This means that if you don't have a visa when arriving in Antananarivo, be sure to have with you approximately EUR 45 in cash for the visa and tourist tax. 

Money

The currency is the Ariary (MGA). EUR 1 = MGA 3'400. You may check your currency here: https://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/

ATMs: You can find ATMs in the major cities as well as in smaller ones but there they often run out of cash. There are additional charges and the withdrawal limit per day is around EUR 110 so plan accordingly, especially when in rural areas.

Moneychangers: All banks will exchange euros and some banks in major cities will accept to exchange US dollars, British pounds, Swiss francs. The biggest bank note is MGA 10’000, which means that when changing EUR 300 you will end up with a pile of more than a hundred notes.

Credit cards: Cash is the most common form of payment and you may only pay with a credit card in the biggest hotels and restaurants, where the place will charge you an additional commission (3 to 7%).

Tipping: Set aside a small amount of money for porters, guides and drivers (if renting a car) and leave spare change or round up the bill at restaurants. Considering the low wages that most service workers are typically paid, a little generosity will be appreciated.

Many Malagasy people still refer to the old currency « Francs Malgaches » or FMG, which can be very confusing for tourists. 1 Ariary (MGA) = 5 Francs (FMG). For example, if a taxi driver tells you that the ride will cost “50’000”, he probably talks in FMG so you should pay him with a 10’000-Ariary note. Be vigilant when negotiating prices and don’t close a deal without making sure you are speaking about the same currency.

 

Travel health insurance

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance covering emergency repatriation, and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Vaccinations and health

No vaccination is mandatory, except if you are arriving from an infected zone (yellow fever for example). To be on the safe side, especially if you travel with young children, we recommend that you visit a doctor or a travel medicine centre ("Service de médecine tropicale et des voyages", "Vaccination och resemedicin").

Malaria being a risk throughout the year in Madagascar, your doctor will probably advise to take a malaria prophylaxis like Mefloquine or Malarone. Also, bring an effective mosquito repellent and don’t forget to sleep under a mosquito net. 

Water: Only drink boiled, filtered or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks - or make sure they are made from filtered water. All water used during our wedding weekend will be safe to drink.

Emergency medical assistance: If you ever need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 17 (117 from mobile phone) or +261 20 22 357 53 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Healthcare centre/Hospital in Tana (emergency and non-emergency)
We recommend Espace Médical: +261 20 22 625 66, +261 34 02 088 16, +261 34 02 009 11
https://www.espacemedical.mg/

Pharmacies in Tana

  • Ambanidia Pharmacy, Lot VC 44 bis, Ambanidia, +26120 22 255 50
  • Metropole Pharmacy, 7, rue Ratsimilaho, Antaninarenina, + 261 20 22 200 25
  • Principale Pharmacy, Route des Hydrocarbures, Ivandry, +261 20 22 533 93

Electricity

The standard is 220 Volts delivered by both C and E-type plugs. If you come from France or Sweden, you normally don't need to bring a travel adapter with you.

Don’t forget

  • Mosquito repellent and for evenings or treks in some of the national parks: a pair of long sleeve T-shirt and trousers, to avoid mosquito bites.
  • A warm pullover or a jacket, for the cold evenings in the highlands.
  • Sunscreen and a hat: it is winter, but the sun will still be shining!
  • A torch or better, a solar light – for the power blackouts. The Luci model is great: www.mpowerd.com