Direction du Tourisme de Madagascar

Ministry of Tourism, BP 610, Tsimbazaza, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

Tel: (2) 26298. Fax: (2) 26710.

Consulate of the Republic of Madagascar

16 Lanark Mansions, Pennard Road, London W12 8DT

Tel: (0181) 746 0133. Fax: (0181) 746 0134. Opening hours: 0930-1300 Monday to Friday.

British Embassy

BP 167, Première Etage, Immeuble 'Ny Havana', Cité de 67 Ha, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

Tel: (2) 27749 or 27370 or 33765. Fax: (2) 26690. Telex: 22459 (a/b PRODRO MG).

Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar

2374 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008

Tel: (202) 265 5525/6. Fax: (202) 483 7603.

Embassy of the United States of America

BP 620, Antsahavola, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

Tel: (2) 21257 or 20089 or 20718. Fax: (2) 34539. Telex: 22202.

Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar

649 Blair Road, Gloucester, Ottawa, Ontario K1J 7M4

Tel: (613) 744 7995. Fax: (613) 744 2530.

The Canadian Embassy in Dar-es-Salaam deals with enquiries relating to Madagascar (see Tanzania).

Canadian Consulate

c/o QIT - Madagascar Minerals, BP 4003, Villa Paula Androhibe, Lot II - J- 169, Villa 3H, Ivandry, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

AREA: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).

POPULATION: 12,092,157 (1993 estimate).

POPULATION DENSITY: 20.6 per sq km.

CAPITAL: Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive). Population: 662,585 (1985 estimate).

GEOGRAPHY: Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique. It includes several much smaller islands. A central chain of high mountains, the Hauts Plateaux, occupies more than half of the main island and is responsible for the marked differences - ethnically, climatically and scenically - between the east and west coasts. The narrow strip of lowlands on the east coast, settled from the 6th century by Polynesian seafarers, is largely covered by dense rainforests, whereas the broader west coast landscape, once covered by dry deciduous forests, is now mostly savannah. The east coast receives the monsoon and, on both coasts, the climate is wetter towards the north. The southern tip of the island is semi-desert, with great forests of cactus-like plants. The capital, Antananarivo, is high up in the Hauts Plateaux near the island's centre. Much of Madagascar's flora and fauna is unique to the island. There are 3000 endemic species of butterfly; the many endemic species of lemurs fill the niches occupied elsewhere by animals as varied as racoons, monkeys, marmots, bush babies, sloths and even (though this variant is now extinct) bears; there is a similar diversity of reptiles, amphibians and birds (especially ducks), and also at all levels of plant life.

LANGUAGE: The official languages are Malagasy (which is related to Indonesian) and French. Local dialects are also spoken. Very little English is spoken.

Religion: 51% follow Animist beliefs, about 43% Christian; remainder Muslim.

TIME: GMT + 3.

ELECTRICITY: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally 2-pin.

COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone: IDD is available to major towns. Country code: 261. Outgoing international code: 16. Telex/telegram: Telex services are available at the telecommunications centre and the Colbert and Hilton hotels in the capital. The main post office (PTT) in Antananarivo offers a 24-hour telegram transmission service. Post: The Poste Restante facilities at main post offices are the most reliable option. Airmail to Europe takes at least seven days and surface mail three to four months. Press: There are no English-language newspapers; five dailies are published in French and/or Malagasy.

BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. See the contents for more information.

Regulations and requirements many be subject to change at short notice, and you are advised to contact the appropriate diplomat or consular authority before finalising travel arrangements. Details of these may be found at the head of the countryÌs entry. Any numbers in the chart refer to the footnotes below.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all.

Note: Passports issued by the Palestinian government are not recognised.

VISAS: Required by all.

Types of visa: Business and Tourist. A Transit visa is not required by those who continue their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours, provided that tickets and documents are held for their onward journey and they do not leave the airport. Business visas cost £50 (2 entries - £60). Tourist visas cost £35 (2 entries - £45).

Validity: Visas are issued for the duration of 90 days (no difference in cost) and are valid for 6 months from date of issue.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). For addresses, see top of entry.

Application requirements: (a) Passport. (b) 1 application form. (c) 4 passport-size photos. (d) Letter of recommendation on company headed notepaper if requesting Business visa. (e) Return ticket or confirmation of booking from travel agent. (f) Add £1.50 for recorded postage per passport to visa fees if applying by post.

Note: Independent travellers on a tourist visa are required to spend a minimum of FFr2000 (£250) during their stay in Madagascar, ie they must show proof that they have changed this amount at a bank.

Currency: Malagasy Franc (Mgfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Mgfr25,000, 10,000, 5000, 2500, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of Mgfr250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Credit cards: Visa, American Express, Access/Mastercard and Diners Club are accepted at the capital's Colbert and Hilton hotels. These and other cards have limited use elsewhere in the country. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: These can be exchanged in banks and major hotels.

Currency restrictions: Foreign currencies are unrestricted provided they are declared on import (amounts over FFr50,000 must be declared) and the exported amounts do not exceed the declaration. The maximum amount of local currency that may be imported is Mgfr5000. Local currency may not be exported by non-residents. Independent travellers must have proof of a minimum spending of FFr2000 while in Madagascar. These regulations are for foreign tourists; businessmen should enquire at a Malagasy Consulate.

The following goods can be imported into Madagascar without incurring customs duty:

500 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage.

Regulations and requirements may be subject to change at short notice, and you are advised to contact your doctor well in advance of your intended date of departure. Any numbers in the chart refer to the footnotes below.

Special Certificate

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from, or having passed through, an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy. Children under 1 year are exempt.

2: A cholera vaccination certificate is recommended for travellers arriving from, or having passed through, an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy. See the Health section for more information.

3: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country and is highest in coastal areas. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.

4: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten abroad seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health section.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe.

Hepatitis A, B, and E are endemic and precautions are advised. Dysenteries, diarrhoeal diseases and many viral diseases including severe haemorrhagic fevers have been reported.

AIR: Madagascar's national airline is Air Madagascar (MD).

Approximate flight time: From Antananarivo to London is 13 hours 50 minutes (including connection in Paris). There are regular flights from Madagascar to Réunion, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, the Comoro Islands and the Seychelles.

International airports: Antananarivo (TNR), 17km (11 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include restaurant and bureau de change. It is linked by a regular bus service to the Air Madagascar office and the Hilton Hotel (the centre for Madagascar Airtours). Taxis asking special higher rates are also available at the airport.

Further airports are at Nossi Bé (links with the Seychelles), Mahajanga (East Africa and the Comoro Islands), Toamasina (Mauritius and Réunion islands); and Arivonimamo (international standby airport), 45km (28 miles) from the capital.

Departure tax: FRF100 on most international flights; FRF80 for flights within the region. Transit passengers, and children under 2 years, are exempt.

AIR: Most of Madagascar can be reached by air (there are more than 200 airfields), the exceptions being a few towns in the central highlands. Air Madagascar's 'Air Tourist Pass' is available and allows unlimited travel for certain periods.

Departure tax: MGF6000 for domestic flights.

SEA/RIVER/CANAL: Madagascar has a strong maritime tradition and there are many coastal transport services. Rapids render many of the rivers unnavigable; the Maison de Tourisme can organise small-boat safaris on the Betsiboka and the Tsiribihina. The Pangalanes Canal runs for almost 600km (370 miles) along the east coast. Much of it is currently too clogged with silt for commercial traffic; the Maison de Tourisme can arrange sailing holidays.

RAIL: There are passenger rail services from the east coast port of Toamasina via Antananarivo to Antsirabe (branch line to Lake Alaotra); and from Manakara, also on the east coast, to Fianarantsoa. The northern line is to be extended. The southern line passes through spectacular rainforests. First-class carriages are air-conditioned. Light refreshments are sometimes available. One or two trains run daily on each route. Children under 4 travel free. Children aged 4-6 pay half fare.

The Maison de Tourisme (address at top of entry) offers a wide range of tours, some lasting as long as a month.

The capital and several other important towns are situated in the central section of the Hauts Plateaux, the chain of rugged, ravine-riven mountains that run from north to south down the centre of Madagascar.

Antananarivo, often abbreviated to Tana, is built on three levels. Dominating the city is the Queen's Palace and associated Royal Village or Rova. Now a national monument (opening: 0900-1200 and 1400-1700), it was once the residency of the Merina Dynasty which, in the 19th century, united all Madagascar for the first time. On the lowest level is the market of Analakely. The Zuma Market, claimed to be the second-largest in the world and certainly worth a visit, is busiest Friday. The Tsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Garden is open 0800-1100 and 1400-1700 Thursday, Sunday and holidays. The Tourist Information Office is nearby. It is wise not to wander too far after dark.

Ambohimanga, the birthplace of the Malagasy state, is 20km (12 miles) from the capital. Known variously as 'the blue city', 'the holy city' and 'the forbidden city', it is surrounded by forests. The citadel was an important Merina stronghold and retains several structures associated with their ceremonies. Its main gate is an enormous stone disc; 40 men were needed to roll it into position.

Mantasoa, 80km (50 miles) from the capital, is a popular spot for picnics. The area was landscaped for the Merina Queens by a shipwrecked Frenchman and includes an artificial lake, pine forests and Madagascar's first industrial park.

Ampefy, 90km (60 miles) from the capital, is a volcanic region with spectacular waterfalls and geysers. Dams are used here to catch eels.

Perinet, 140km (90 miles) from the capital, is a nature reserve, home of the indri (a tail-less lemur) and many species of orchid. Also known as Andasibe.

The lush north is dominated by two great mountains. Tsarantanana, at 2880m (9450ft) the island's highest, is covered with the giant ferns and lichens peculiar to high altitude rainforests. Montagne d'Arbre (1500m/4900ft) is a national park and is famous for its orchids and lemurs. The monsoon falls in the north between December and March.

Mahajanga, a provincial capital, stands at the mouth of Madagascar's largest river, the Betsiboka. The road to the capital is open between July and October. Boats depart for Nossi Bé and several other islands. The beach here is said to be free of sharks. The island's finest grottoes are at Anjohibe, 90km (60 miles) inland. There is a nature reserve at Ankarafantsika.

Nossi Bé is Madagascar's most important holiday resort. An island surrounded by smaller islands lying off the northwest coast, it is one hour by air from the capital. Exotic perfume plants such as ylang-ylang, vanilla (Madagascar is the world's largest producer), lemon grass and patchouli are grown here. The main town is Hell-Ville. Nearby, there is a ruined 17th-century Indian village.

Antseranana (formerly Diégo Suarez) is a cosmopolitan seaport overlooking a beautiful gulf at the northernmost tip of the island. It is a provincial capital. There are many lakes, waterfalls and grottoes in the rainforests above the port. Wildlife and flora includes lemurs, crocodiles and orchids. Permission to visit the national park at Montagne d'Arbre nearby must be obtained from the Ministñre des Eaux et ForÍts, which has an office in the town. Boats may be taken to Nossi Bé. There is a good sandy beach at Ramena, but sharks may be a problem. The road southwards to the capital is only open between July and October.

Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha) lies off the east coast, 150km (90 miles) north of Toamasina. Its dense vegetation and the difficulty of navigating the lagoons which surround it made it an ideal base for pirates and, later, a colony for convicts. There are many clove plantations and several historic sites, including Madagascar's oldest Catholic church.

Toamasina, on the northeast coast, is the country's main port and a provincial capital. It is an 8-hour drive from Antananarivo and, like the capital, it has several busy markets, including the Bazaar Be. 11km (7 miles) north of the town are the Ivolina Gardens, containing every kind of vegetable species from the eastern forests and many varieties of animal life.

The arid south is noted for its many remarkable species of cactus- and baobab-like plants and for the highly developed funerary art of its inhabitants, past and present.

Fianarantsoa, a provincial capital, is an important centre for wine and rice production and a good base for exploring the southern highlands. Places to visit in the surrounding mountains include Amabalavao, said to be the 'home of the departed', where antemore paper and lamba aridrano silk are made; nearby Ambondrome and Ifandana crags, where the revered bones of exhumed ancestors may be seen (the latter was the site of a mass suicide in 1811); Ambositra and the neighbouring Zafimaniny villages, where intricate marquetry products are made; the Isalo National Park, situated in a chain of sandstone mountains (camping is possible but it can only be reached by 4-wheel-drive vehicle or on foot with a guide); and Ranomafana, a thermal spa.

Mananjary is a popular beach resort on the east coast (but not for sea-bathing because of sharks).

Western Madagascar was once covered with deciduous forests, but is now mostly savannah. The economy is based around the zebu, a species of ox introduced to the island in the 8th century by settlers from South-East Asia.

FOOD & DRINK: In Madagascar eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. Dishes include ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice); beef and pork marinaded in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves and vegetables, onion and pickles and seasoned with pimento; ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together); ramazava (leaves, pieces of beef and pork browned in oil); vary amid 'anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps) often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat). The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Drink: The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable. Malagasy drinks include litchel (an aperitif made from litchis), betsa (fermented alcohol) and toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice) and 'Three Horseshoes' lager. Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon 'apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.

NIGHTLIFE: There are a few discotheques, sometimes with bands and solo musicians. Casinos can be found at Antananarivo, Toamasina and on Nossi Bé. Most main towns have cinemas and theatres, and touring theatre groups perform local plays throughout the country. Traditional dance troupes can also be seen.

SHOPPING: Handicrafts include lamba (traditional squares of cloth in various designs and woven materials); zafimaniny marquetry, which is applied to furniture, chessboards and boxes; silverwork such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; items woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers; and embroidery. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits. Shoppers should make sure that they obtain this at the time of purchase; they should also be aware that many items on sale have been manufactured illegally and may not be taken out of the country, with or without a permit. Shopping hours: 0800-1200 and 1400-1800 Monday to Saturday.

SPORT: Tennis: There are courts in most main towns. Golf: Facilities at Tana. Watersports: Many towns have municipal pools. Sea-bathing along the east coast is not advised due to sharks. Main diving centres are Nossi Bé (with its neighbouring islands Tanikely, Nossi Mitsio and Nossi Radama), Nossi Lava, Toliara and Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha). Water-skiing and sailing centres are located at Ambohibao (Lake Mantasoa), Antsiralse (on Andraikiba Lake) and Ramona. Trekking: The Direction du Tourisme can organise a variety of trekking and hiking trips in many different parts of the country. They are generally designed to cater for specific interest groups - speleologists, mineralogists, ethnologists, ornithologists, those who wish to see rare orchids or lemurs, etc. Pony-trekking is also possible. Spectator sports: There are numerous football pitches and during the dry season it has been known to use rice fields as pitches. Basketball and volleyball are very popular and covered stadiums have been built.

Special Events: There are many customary events and celebrations (see Social Conventions below), especially in rural areas. Mphira gasy (Malagasy singers) sing and dance theatrically in groups recounting a story and presenting its moral; typically a performance lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. The rice harvest is celebrated in many places.

ECONOMY: Madagascar's mainly agricultural economy relies heavily on coffee production to earn foreign exchange. Vanilla, cloves, sisal, cocoa and butter beans are the island's other important cash crops exported in quantity. Rice and cassava are produced primarily for domestic staple consumption. Fishing is underdeveloped thus far: the government, which still exercises extensive control over the economy, is hoping to improve its performance. The country has appreciable mineral deposits of chromium ore and other materials, but these are scattered and fairly inaccessible. Only chromium has so far proved economically viable but plans are in progress to exploit bauxite and titnium ore deposits. About 12% of the gross national product derives from manufacturing industry, mainly textiles and food-processing. The country's single oil refinery, which processes imported oil to produce goods for export, is a valuable source of revenue; the imported oil also meets most of the country's energy requirements. Madagascar has undergone steady economic growth during the 1980s and 1990s despite setbacks such as the cyclones which inflicted much damage on agriculture. More recently, the Government has been looking at ways of exploiting Madagascar's other prominent asset: its abundance of exotic wildlife. Tourism has obvious development potential, but there is also the possibility of devising some kind of 'debt for nature' scheme analogous to the support programmes set up in South America to protect the rainforests. For the time being, Madagascar still depends on loans and aid from the EU (especially France) and the World Bank. France accounts for about 30% of all Madagascar's trade; the USA and the CIS are other important trading partners.

Business: Tropical lightweight suits are appropriate wear. If arranged far enough in advance, the Embassy can arrange interpreters for business meetings.

History: According to local legend, the island was first inhabited by the Vazimba, a race of white pygmies. These people, if they existed, were displaced by successive waves of Polynesian migrants from the Malayo-Indonesian archipelago, which began as early as the 6th century AD. The settlers brought with them the zebu (a humped ox) and South-East Asian crops and methods of cultivation: parts of Madagascar, especially in the south, still retain a strong South-East Asian flavour. In the 9th century, Madagascar was an important trading power in the western Indian Ocean. Bantu tribes from mainland Africa later settled on the west coast. The island was unified under one ruler for the first time in the early 19th century. The Merina Dynasty, which established the modern capital, ruled until 1896, when it was overthrown by a French military force. The French introduced cash crops to their new colony. In 1948 the Malagasy people sought to re-establish their independence through armed insurrection. They were unsuccessful, but the uprising paved the way for independence, which came in 1960. Philibert Tsirana's PSD Party ruled with the support of France and the people of the coastal regions until 1972, when highland agitation against French influence prompted the Army Chief of Staff, Major-General Ramanantsoa, to assume executive power for the purpose of pursuing a more nationalistic policy. Three years later the military government resigned after selecting Lt-Commander Didier Ratsiraka as head of state. A gradual civilianisation of the Government culminated in 1977 in elections to the National People's Assembly, which were won by the sole legal party, Avant-garde de la Révolution Malgache (AREMA). A left-wing splinter party, the Mouvement National pour l'Indépendence de Madagascar (MONIMA) was allowed to contest the 1983 presidential elections, but President Ratsiraka was re-elected. Elections scheduled for 1988 were postponed. In February 1989, General Rakotoarijaona resigned after ten years as Prime Minister. His controversial replacement was Colonel Ramahatra, a highlander who claims descent from the Merina Queens. His appointment has re-opened a long-standing rift between the highland and lowland (coastal) clans and allowed disparate lowland opposition groups - ranging from Christian Democrats to old-style Maoists - to put aside their feuds and unite against highland/Merina factions in the Government. However, President Ratsiraka is allied to neither camp and has generally enjoyed the consistent support of the French since they managed to persuade him to drop his initial attachment to Marxism in the 1970s. At elections held in May 1989, Ratsiraka's AREMA party took 120 of the 137 seats in the National Assembly. In the latter part of 1991, however, the Government was seriously threatened by widespread civil unrest. The army, which had killed hundreds of protestors, was divided, but an influential section of it, supported by the French, wanted Ratsiraka out. After at first resisting the entreaties of the opposition leadership - a collection of churchmen and retired military figures - Ratsiraka reached agreement with them at the end of October 1991 on the installation of an 18-month transitional administration led by himself. As this period came to an end, presidential elections were held in two rounds in November 1992 and February 1993. In the second round run-off, Ratsiraka was defeated by a professor of medicine, Albert Zafy, representing the Comité des Forces Vives (CFV). Zafy now also leads the High State Authority for Transition to the Third Republic, which will govern the country until parliamentary elections are held. Legislative elections followed in which an alliance known as Cartel HVR and other parties supporting the new president won a majority in the National Assembly. In the last three years, the government has been buffeted by two powerful international forces - mining companies which want to exploit the country's mineral reserves, and the international environemental lobby which is concerned about threats to the island's unique ecology. Neither are likely in the short term to relieve the desperate and growing poverty of the country's inhabitants.

Hot and subtropical climate, colder in the mountains. Rainy season: November to March. Dry season: April to October. The south and west regions are hot and dry. Monsoons bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December to March. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and thundery from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year.