Guide to how Madagascar works

Madagascar is one of the most unique and diverse destinations in the Indian Ocean with amazing wildlife encounters on offer, scenery like no other and some of the most exceptional beaches to be found in this part of the world. It is incredibly important to travel to Madagascar with an open mind and realistic expectations, so that you make the most of your time here and don’t come home feeling disappointed. Here we give our rundown on how to prepare and what to expect.

The best laid plans can go awry…

No matter how much planning and preparation goes into your Madagascan adventure, things won’t always go to plan. Air Madagascar which operates the majority of internal flights often changes their schedule at the last minute, so it’s best to go expecting at least one delay or cancellation – make sure you don’t forget to pack your sense of humour!

Don’t try to pack in too much…

Yes Madagascar is an island, but it’s the fourth largest island in the world (two and a half times the size of the UK) so it’s unlikely that you’re going to be able to visit absolutely everywhere in one go. Road networks are not fully developed and getting around can be arduous and time consuming. It’s often not possible to go directly from once place to another, so expect to spend a few overnights in Antananarivo getting from points A to B – it’s often best to focus on one or two regions rather than the whole country.

Standards of accommodation vary dramatically – focus on the experience rather than the luxuries…

Whilst Madagascar has some luxurious options, particularly in the case of beach properties such as Constance Tsarabanjina, Manafiafy Beach and Rainforest Lodge and Anjajavy, on the whole most of the accommodation on offer is classified as budget to mid-range. Whilst we can try and secure you the best accommodation available, sometimes the focus will be on what you are seeing in terms of wildlife, with accommodation seen as somewhere to rest your head at the end of an exciting day of adventures.

Private vehicles and guides come as standard when travelling with Imagine Africa…

All of our trips to Madagascar are entirely tailor-made with a private vehicle with driver/guide. Your driver will provide information for you about the areas that you are passing through and you will have local guides in each park and reserve, with the exception of the north where you will have the same guide throughout. Madagascar is certainly an excitingly adventurous destination to discover, and with a well-planned itinerary you are in for a treat. Go with an open mind and a sense of humour and we can guarantee that you’ll come home wanting to plan your next trip!