General Information
| Languages : | French (official), Malagasy (official) |
| Currency : | Malagasy ariary (MGA) |
| Time Zone : | East Africa Time (+8hrs EST) |
| Capital City : | Antananarivo |
| Population : | 19.4 Million |
| Government : | Republic |
| Total Area : | 226,657 mi² |
| Climate : | Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south |
| National Holidays: | Independence Day, 26 June |
| Additional Info: | The oldest island in the world, isolated for at least 65 million years has resulted in a unique mix of plants and animals, many found nowhere else in the world; some ecologists refer to Madagascar as the "eighth continent”. |
Destination Activities
Activity Details
Ecotourism
Madagascar is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern coast of Africa. It has a brilliant blend of fauna, flora, mountains, rainforests, heavenly beaches and deserts. Visit the renowned Berenty, Perinet and Ranomafana Reserves which are home to the incredible, yet endangered lemurs where you can listen to the morning call of the Indri and watch the acrobatics and cheeky behavior of the Sifakas and ring tailed Lemurs. Best months to visit: the summer rainy season (December to March) is the most rewarding, but access and conditions can be difficult. Otherwise the periods either side of the main rains: April to November.
Berenty Reserve is a small private reserve of gallery forest along the Mandrare river, set in the semi-arid spiny forest ecoregion of the far south of Madagascar. The reserve is also a favorite for visitors who want to see some of Madagascar's endemic bird species, which include Owls and Couas.
Ranomafana National Park is located in the Fianarantsoa Province in the southeastern part of Madagascar, about 10 hours drive from Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. Rano is Malgache for water; mafana is Malgache for hot. It is extremely mountainous, with elevations ranging from 1,950ft to 5,000ft.
Isalo National Park is a National Park in the Toliara Province of Madagascar. The park is known for its wide variety of terrain, including sandstone formations, deep canyons, palm-lined oases, and grassland. The closest city is Toliara. Isalo's landscape consists of eroded ruiniform sandstone formations dating to the Jurassic period, deep canyons with riparian forests, palm-lined oases, fire-resistant tapia forests, and open grasslands.
Photography
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