Madagascar Country

Introduction
All things bright and beautiful and a little more besides. First, decide how to best make use of your time - each of Madagascar's fascinating corners offers something different. Is your priority bumming around on beaches? Hiking pristine rainforests in search of lemurs? Climbing bizarre rock formations or canoeing down a river? You're spoilt for choice here.

Destination Facts
Capital: Antananarivo (Tana) (pop 4,000,000)
President: Marc Ravalomanana
Prime Minister: Charles Rabemananjara
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT +3
Area: 587040
Population: 19448815
Languages: Traditional beliefs (50%), Christianity (45%), Islam (5%)
Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Country Dialing Code: 261

Getting There
The island's west and southwest get searingly hot during summer (November to March), which can make moving around a struggle, particularly if you're travelling by taxi-brousse (bush taxi). By contrast, the winter months in these regions are pleasant, with blue skies, cooler temperatures and essentially no rain. In the east and northeast, be prepared for rain and overcast skies at any time, although rain showers don't usually last long during the winter months. Between July and September the sea is too dangerous to travel by cargo boat. Hotels, popular tourist attractions and all forms of transport, including planes and buses, fill up during European holiday periods, ie July to August, Christmas and Easter. Prices also go up at these times. The period between June and October is vanilla season on the east coast, so flights between towns such as Maroantsetra, Mananara and Antalaha often fill up far in advance. Avoid January to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas of the country makes many roads muddy and impassable, limits outdoor activities and the risk of cyclones (particularly in the east and northeast of the country) is high.

Getting there and away
International and domestic flights come into Ivato airport, just north of Antananarivo. The airports in Mahajanga and Toamasina both handle flights from R é union, Mauritius and the Comoros.Air Madagascar is the national carrier of Madagascar. While occasional upsets in airline schedules still occur, service is relatively good. Air Madagascar, Air France and Corsair, all operating flights from France, fly directly to Madagascar. There are now a few flights per week from Milan to Nosy Be or Î le Sainte Marie in addition to flights from Munich or Rome to Antananarivo. The main hubs for flights to Madagascar are Johannesburg in South Africa and Nairobi in Kenya. Air Madagascar flies between Singapore and Antananarivo, with connections in Singapore to other Asian countries.The main regional airline linking Madagascar and the Comoros with the Indian Ocean region is Air Austral (working in partnership with Air France and Air Mauritius). It's possible to travel to and from Madagascar by boat, but for most destinations you will need plenty of time and determination. Travel is likely to be on cargo ships - unless you find a ride on a yacht as a crew member - so sleeping and eating conditions, combined with sometimes turbulent seas, can make for a rough trip. Bring seasickness tablets with you. Mombasa (Kenya) and the island of Zanzibar (Tanzania) are the main places to look for cargo boats to Madagascar or the Comoros. It's also sometimes possible to find passage on a yacht heading from South Africa, R é union or Mauritius - or maybe even from France to Nosy Be or Mayotte.

Getting around
It may often be just as fast to travel by bicycle as by taxi-brousse (bush taxi). A mountain bike is normally essential. Carry spare parts, although inner tubes and other basic parts are sometimes available in larger towns. The terrain varies from very sandy to muddy or rough and rocky. It's usually no problem to transport your bicycle on taxis-brousses or on the train if you want to take a break en route. Although you are able to hire mountain bikes by the day in many larger towns, including Toliara, Toamasina, Antsirabe and Ambodifotatra on Î le Sainte Marie, these are not normally in good enough condition for longer journeys. Air Madagascar, the national carrier, has an impressive network of domestic routes. While fares have leapt dramatically in recent years, tickets on 'Air Mad' flights are still relatively inexpensive, and provide a useful way of covering large distances and avoiding long road journeys. While cancellations, schedule changes and delays occur (especially during the low season, in stormy weather or on flights to more remote destinations) the airline is generally efficient.In a few parts of Madagascar (such as the route between Antananarivo and Toamasina in the east) routes in and around major cities are served by bus. These usually use the same stations as the taxis-brousses and are generally slightly less expensive. However, taxis-brousses remain the main form of public road transport in Madagascar. Madabus (tel: 32 42 089 69; www.madabus.com) has coach lines between the major cities, is a comfortable way to travel, and is less expensive than flying or hiring a private vehicle.To drive in Madagascar, you will need to have an International Driving Permit. Take note that wearing a seatbelt is now mandatory for the driver of a vehicle in Madagascar.

Visa:
All visitors require a visa. Visas are valid for up to three months from the date of entry. Visas for stays of up to three months from the date of entry do need to be organised in advance through the embassy or consulate. The same is true for multiple entry visas. Both must be used within six months of the date of issue. It's best to request a three-month visa from the start if there is any chance that you may need one, as visa extensions can be time consuming and expensive.

Weather
Because Madagascar is so large, it experiences several climates simultaneously. For example, you could be pegged out on a beach in the southwest and a few days later be rugged up against the cold in the hauts plateaux. In general, the best time to travel in most areas is April and October/November. The only time you should avoid is January to March, when heavy rain can make many roads muddy and impassable, and when there's a high risk of cyclones in the east and northeast. The coolest time to travel is during the winter months (May to October), when the Central Highlands (including Antananarivo) can get cold, wet and windy, although it can still be hot and sunny in the west and southwest. The west and southwest get searingly hot during the summer, but winter in these regions is pleasantly cool, with blue skies and little rain. Fort Dauphin can experience rain as late in the year as July. In the east and northeast be prepared for rain and overcast skies at any time; on the Masoala Peninsula and around Maroantsetra the wettest months are from July to September.

Warning
The political situation is volatile in Madagascar and travellers should exercise caution. Refer to the BBC for news updates or the Safe Travel for current government warnings.