Madagascar

Madagascar is located in the Indian Ocean 250 miles off the eastern coast of Africa across the Mozambique Channel, just south of the equator.

Over 1000 miles (1580 km) long and 350 miles (570 km) wide, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island.

The most prominent feature is the steep mountain range paralleling the entire eastern coast.

A nature-lover's paradise, this sparsely-populated land occupies an area more than twice the size of Great Britain, and has six different micro-climates!

Madagascar's highest mountain, Mt. Maromokofro, is an impressive 9450 feet (2876 m)high and overlooks the island's northernmost regions.

The eastern slopes of Mt. Maromokofro and neighbouring mountains slope down to a narrow coastal plain.

There, you will find large rivers,breathtaking waterfalls, and the remains of an ancient rainforest.

Although Madagascar is an island it is filled with so much diversity in life and in geography that it is like no other island anywhere on Earth .

You will find deciduous forests, lakes, massive caverns, and savanna grassland on the broad western plains, and the southern tip of the island is covered with a magnificent desert.

Indeed, every expedition into the mountains, rain forests, river valleys, coastal plains, grasslands, caverns, and deserts leads to the discovery of some new plant or animal species.

It is no exaggeration to claim that this micro-continent, as some have called it, offers limitless opportunities for exploration.

Madagascar is connected to Mauritius by air. Air Mauritius operates regular flights. Flying time is just under 2 hours.

Climate

Madagascar's climate is tropical, with two seasons.

During the rainy season (December-April), the island receives between 12 and 340 inches (30-355 cm) of rainfall annually.

During the dry season (May-November), average midday temperatures range from 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in the highlands and 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) on the coast.

Along the Eastern coastal plains, high humidity is tempered by almost-constant ocean breezes.

Madagascar boasts of 30 national parks and protected areas; however, due to the extremely limited infrastructure, only a handful are reasonably accessible and offer acceptable accommodations.

Capital of of Madagascar is Antananarivo- aka Tananarive or "Tana."
TNR Airport, Ivato, is 17 miles from the city. opulation: 1,500,000

madmap_6regions Language

The main language is Malagasy There are six languages spoken in Madagascar: Comorian, French, Malagasy, Antankarana, Southern Malagasy, and Tsimehety

Population

The population is approximately 18million and the ethnic composition is very complex. 98% of the Malagasy people are made up of 18 groups of mixed African, Arab, and Indonesian origin, speaking Malagasy, which is related to Indonesian.

Passport- Visa and Health requirments

Valid passport for 6 months is required and visa. All foreign visitors require an entry visa which can be obtained at Embassies or consulates of the Republic of Madagscar

Vaccinations: There are no required vaccinations unless you are coming from an infected area. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended,

Currency : The Malagasy ariary is the official currency of Madagascar. The ISO code for the Malagasy ariary is MGA.

The ariary is only one of two circulating currencies in the world with division units not based on a power of ten, but instead each ariary consists of five iraimbilanja.

On January 1, 2005 the ariary replaced the previous currency, the Malagasy franc:

What to See

The North (tropical)

Scarcely populated with a rich mix or ethnic groups: Antakarana, Sakalava, Tsimihety, Betsimisaraka and Antandroy, this region is isolated from the rest of the country by the rugged Tsaratanana mountain range.

In spite of being closest to the equator, its particularly long dry season of seven months, followed by intense rainfall from December to April, gives this northern area of Madagascar an identity unto itself.

Secluded coves, tranquil lagoons, windswept promontories, expansive grasslands and altitude rainforest offer an infinitely varied and broad palette of sceneries, people, fauna and flora.

Nosy Be, just off the northwest tip of Madagascar, Nosy Be means Big Island. It boasts 12 months of sunshine, beautiful beaches, the warm waters of the Mozambique Chanel, exuberant tropical vegetation, an ever-growing number of hotels, and aspires to be Madagascar's Riviera.

The Western Dry Forest

west Home of the Sakalava people, a large ethnic group with African beliefs and customs such as possession of spirits, the tromba and cult of royal relics, the West is a vast region with only remnants of the dry, deciduous forest which once covered the entire domain.

It is a region of spectacular vistas with majestic baobabs and "forest" of karst pinnacles of the World Heritage Site of the Tsingy of Bemaraha.

It is hot and dry year-round and its two major towns, Majunga (Mahajunga) and Morondava are the major towns and Malagasy favorites for a beach holiday.

The High Plateau

terrescentrales_fianarantso The scenic countryside of terraced rice fields between from Antananarivo to Fianarantsoa attest to the Asian ancestry of the Merina and Betsileo people, Madagascar's political and intellectual elite.

Outside of the two main cities of AntananarivoAntsirabe (once a resort/spa town and now an industrial center), the primary vocation is agricultural due to a temperate climate year-round and fertile soil where every possible crop can grow, except the cherry tree. (Madagascar's capital)

The East

The Betsimisaraka, second largest ethnic group in Madagascar, are friendly, fun loving and laid back. Cash crops such as coffee, cloves, vanilla and all tropical fruits thrive on the East Coast, making the local populations in general more affluent than in any other region of Madagascar.

With the exception of Ile Ste. Marie, once a pirate's haven and now a sought-after destination for beach lovers, the East Coast, and in particular the Masoala Peninsula with its exceptional concentration of unique fauna and flora, is largely undiscovered and a must for serious nature lovers.

(Maroantsetra is included in both the North and East regions as it is considered by many to be the last remaining tract of pristine rain forest on the east coast of Madagascar.)

The Southern Rainforest

While the southeastern area of Madagascar receives abundant rainfall, the extreme southwestern area hardly has any rain at all.

It is known as the "Grand Sud" and is one of Madagascar's most appealing regions: lush virgin rain forests, majestic granite rock formations, as well as exotic flora and fauna on the eastern side, and beautiful vistas, endless beaches of immaculate sand dunes, and strange exotic plants on the western side.

The South is noted for its vegetation of unique interest where tropical moist forest meets southern dry forest, and its southern rain forests include Ranomafana National Park and the newly developed Andringitra.

The Southern Dry Forest

fortdauphin While the extreme southestern tip of Madagascar surrounding Ft. Dauphin receives abundant rainfall, the extreme southwestern tip hardly has any rain at all.

It is one of Madagascar's most appealing regions: remote, harsh, desolate with excruciatingly beautiful vistas, endless beaches of immaculate sand dunes, and strange exotic plants.

The South is noted for its vegetation of unique interest where tropical moist forest meets southern dry forest, and is the gateway to the renowned Berenty Reserve, Andohela National Park, Beza Mahafaly, the Isalo National Park, and the boom town of Ilakaka, where sapphires of exceptional quality are being mined today. This vast and diverse area is home to the Antandroy "people of the thorns" on the coast, to the nomadic Vezo fishermen, and to the Mahafaly renowned for their funerary art.

National Parks

Madagascar

boasts of 30 national parks and protected areas; however, LEMURORANGE