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Home > Usefull Informations

1° ) visa

The tourist visa is easy to obtain on arrival at the airport. it is valid for three months, it can be multiple entries, and it cost about 30 euros (can change without prior notice).

2°) money

.The local currency is the ariary, and the average current changing cost is
2 400 ariary = 1 euro. it is no convertible.

.Traveller's checks in usd or euros are recommenced for the security they give. however, take care to bring only small notes, much easier to use, and also the buying bill that can be ask by some banks.

.Credit cards : visa and mastercard only. useful in the main cities only. be aware that any payment with credit card will be surcharged of 6% to 9%.

.Cash dispensers are now available in any main city of the country, but unsing only visa card. note that any withdrawal is limited to a maximum of 400 000 ariary (about 160 euros)

3°) daily life cost

.Meal in a local restaurant : ± 2€

.Meal in a tourist restaurant : ±7,50€

.A bottle of water : ± 0,35 €

.A local beer cost : ± 0,70 €

.City public transportation ride : ±0,55€

.City taxi ride : ± 4€

.Postcard : ± 1€

.Postal stamp for europe : ±0,90 €

4°) health

.no mandatory vaccination

however, it is highly recommended to have all the standard vaccinations up to date. for those who are doing expeditions in remote area, we advice to get the typhoid fever, hepatitis and tetanus vaccination before coming.

.malaria does exist in madagascar.

any visitor should take an adapted prophylactic treatment. see your doctor.

.no yellow fever

.advice for a personal first aid bag
In case of personal treatment, it is important to bring enough of your usual medicine. a large range of medicines is available at chemist stores in madagascar, but not all of the ones sold in europe.

moreover, bring mosquito repellent, anti-malaria treatment, an anti diarrhoeic, a water cleaner (micropur), sun cream.

5° )insurance

According to the local law, tamàna tour operator has a business civil responsibility insurance in a local insurance company (aro).
however, it is advised to take adequate insurance cover as we accept no responsibility for any personal illness, injury, delays loss or damages from any cause whatsoever. we and our agents act only as agents of the passenger in all matters relating to tours.

6°) language

The official language is the malagasy. however, as madagascar is a former french colony, french is widely spoken.

English is spoken by most of the professional in the tourism area.

7°) religion

Most of the population is christian (70% protestant and 30% catholic). only a few people are muslins (mainly in the north west).

No special dress code.

8°) time

Madagascar time is gmt + 3h.

No time change during the year.

9°) electricity

220 volt /same plugs as in france.

As soon as you leave the main cities, electricity is often produced by a generator; as a consequence, electricity is only available a few hours a day.

Charge all the needed batteries accordingly.

10)° communication

.Telephone :

to call to madagascar, dial : 261 + local operator code* + the phone number of 5 key numbers

*national company telma 2o / orange mobile phone : 32 / celtel mobile phone 33

to call from madagascar, dial :

00 + country code + city code + phone number

pre-paid formula are available in madagascar (orange, celtel and telma) and quite cheap. the phone number with about 10 minutes of credit (local calls) cost about 5 euros. the mobile phone network is good, covering a large part of the country by being available in most of the cities.

however remote places are not operating any phone network. only satellite phone works then. we do have such phones on our expeditions.

.Internet :

it is available in all the big cities of madagascar. many cybercafés are at your disposal for an accessible cost (from 0,15€/min).

no wi-fi in madagascar yet. some hotels have a connexion to internet that you can use for an affordable cost.

11 °) non working days

12° ) weather conditions

Madagascar's climate is quite diverse depending on the different areas.

. the east coast : this area has rain all year round, more or less. but excepted for november to march, rains are nocturnal. the temperature is warm in july / august (20°c) to hot the rest of the year (up to 30°c)

. the highlands : situated in altitude on the centre of the island, we have here a raining season (november to march) and a dry season the rest of the year. from june to august, temperatures are quite fresh, particularly at night (down to 10°c).

. the south : dry most of the year and hot (up to 30°c)

. the west : the raining season here is shorter (december to february) and the temperatures are high all year round (average of 28°c).

13 °) best moment to visit madagascar

The very best months to visit the country are april, may and june, then september till early december.

However it is possible to visit our country having good conditions anytime excepted january to march included : it rains a lot, and we can have hurricane alerts too.

14° ) what to bring along ?

. a light raincoat

. a pull over

. walking shoes and adapted socks

. reef sandals

. t-shirts, long sleeves shirt, trousers & shorts easily washable and quickly dried

. a hat

. day back bag

. an expedition back bag for itinerant trekking

. a head torch

. a personal water bottle (1,5l)

. a bush knife

. sunglasses

.swimming t-shirt for snorkelling and bathing

. a quickly drying towel