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Combining the author's unparalleled knowledge of the country - the product of almost 30 visits in as many years - with contributions from nearly 50 experts and countless travellers, this is the guide to Madagascar. Close to 60 maps (all completely revised and updated for this edition), 15 illustrations and 24 pages of colour photographs bring Madagascar to life on the page. Those who are planning a trip will find this an invaluable companion; and those who aren't will soon find themselves wanting to visit this intriguing and unique island.
The leading guide to Madagascar for over two decades
The latest boutique hotels and private beaches
New national parks and protected areas in detail
Unparalleled coverage of the island's unique wildlife
Insiders' information on the major towns, including Fort Dauphin
An 18th-century Frenchman described this island as 'truly the naturalist's promised land... at each step one encounters the most strange and marvellous forms'. Madagascar continues to draw not only naturalists but anthropologists fascinated by the exhumation practices of the Malagasy people, holiday-makers looking for the perfect tropical beach, and independent travellers who enjoy being among some of the warmest, friendliest people on earth.
Capital City: Antananarivo (usually shortened to "Tana")
Currency: The Franc Malgache (FMG) has been replaced by the Ariary (MGA). 1 Ariary is equal to 5 FMG.
Language: Malagasy and French; some English spoken
International Telephone Code: +261
ISBN-10: 1841621978
ISBN-13: 9781841621975
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Reviews
“Indispensable”
The Sunday Telegraph
Reader Reviews
'The only one worth its weight in a backpack.'
J.B. Gardner - UK
"The Madagascar 9th edition is far better than any other guidebook to Madagascar."
Peter Long - Bath
"We feel that no other travel guide has ever contained so much varied and quality information. This guide is a benchmark by which all others should be judged!" J & V Middleton, UK
"The Bradt guide to Madagascar is one of the best guides I've seen to any destination. It far outstrips its Madagascar competitors."
Professor Christopher Inman - Germany
“Perceptive, well-written and precise! Our trip would surely not have been as enjoyable, informative and impressive without your tips.” Milo Mayr, Germany
“Invaluable both before and during our holiday. As well as being stuffed full of practical factual information it is a really good read as well as the background to the country, people and views of previous visitors, tourists etc.” Ann & Phil Bloor, Dorset, UK
“From Antsiranana to Nosy Be, Mahajanga to Antananarivo, and all the way to Anakao it was a treasured reference.” Joe Radoccia, USA
"Your guide to Madagascar is and was FANTASTIC! Not only was it more thorough and correct that any other guide on the market, but it survived a cyclone! "
Jackie Vasquez, Houston, TX, USA
"Well written text with delightful anecdotes."
Hazel Smith, York
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part One: General Information
The Country
Geography,
Climate,
A brief history,
Government and politics,
Economy
People and Culture
Origins,
Beliefs and customs,
Malagasy society,
Ethnic groups,
Language
Natural History
Introduction,
Geology,
Flora,
Fauna,
Madagascar's ecosystems,
Conservation,
Protected areas
Practical Information
When to visit,
Ways and means,
Highlights and itineraries,
Tour operators,
Red tape,
Getting there,
What to take,
Money,
Getting around,
Accommodation,
Eating and drinking,
Public holidays,
Shopping,
Arts and entertainment,
Media and communication,
Business hours
Health and Safety
Before you go,
Some travellers' diseases,
Medical kit,
Travel clinics and health information,
Safety
Madagascar and You
Your carbon footprint,
Responsible tourism,
How you can help
Part Two: The Guide
Antananarivo and Area
History,
Ivato Airport,
Antananarivo (Tana) today,
Getting around,
Where to stay,
Where to eat,
Nightlife,
What to see and do,
Shopping,
Media and communication,
Medical,
Miscellaneous,
Excursions from Antananarivo
The Highlands South of Tana
From Tana to Antsirabe,
Antsirabe,
Continuing south on RN7,
Ambositra,
Places of interest near Ambositra,
South from Ambositra on RN7,
Fianarantsoa,
Ranomafana,
Continuing south on RN7,
Ambalavao,
Ambohimahasina,
Andringitra Mountains,
Beyond Ambalavao on RN7
The South
Background information,
Ihosy,
From Ihosy to Farafangana,
From Ihosy to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin),
From Ihosy to Toliara (Tuléar),
Ranohira and Isalo National Park,
Ilakaka,
Continuing south,
Toliara (Tuléar),
Resorts north of Toliara: Ifaty and Mangily,
Madiorano,
North to Morombe and Morondava,
The Onilahy region,
Beach resorts south of Toliara,
Anakao and region,
Namakia,
Beheloka,
Lake Tsimanampetsotsa National Park,
Continuing south,
Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve,
The road to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin),
The far south,
From Cap Sainte Marie to Itampalo,
Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin),
The wildlife reserves
Tana to Toamasina
RN2: from Tana to Moramanga,
Moramanga,
Heading north or south,
Lake Alaotra,
Continuing east on RN2,
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park/Association Mitsinjo,
Torotorofotsy,
Maromizaha,
Vohimana,
Beforona,
From Andasibe to Toamasina,
Manambato
South of Toamasina
Pangalanes,
Lake Ampitabe,
The southeast coast,
Mananjary and Manakara,
Continuing south
Toamasina and the Northeast
Background information,
Toamasina (Tamatave),
Parc Ivoloina,
The route north,
Continuing north (if you dare!),
Manompana to Maroantsetra,
Maroantsetra and the Masoala Peninsula,
Antalaha and beyond,
Sambava,
Andapa and area,
Protected areas
Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha)
Background information,
Ambodifotatra,
Beach hotels,
What to see and do,
Ile aux Nattes (Nosy Nato)
The North
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez),
Excursions from Antsiranana,
Montagne d'Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park,
Red Tsingy,
Analamera Special Reserve,
Ankarana Special Reserve,
From Antsiranana to Iharana (Vohemar) by road,
Overland from Antsiranana to Ambanja and Nosy Be,
Bays and inlets accessible to yachts
Nosy Be
History,
Getting there and away,
Getting around the island,
Activities,
Hell-Ville (Andoany),
Beach hotels,
Excursions,
Other islands in the Nosy Be archipelago
The West
History,
Getting around,
Mahajanga (Majunga),
Ankarafantsika National Park,
Northeast of Mahajanga,
Conservation areas to the southwest of Mahajanga,
Soalala and beyond,
Baie de Baly National Park,
Tsingy de Namoroka National Park,
Beyond Mahajanga,
The route north,
From Antsohihy ro Mandritsara,
Bealanana,
Maintirano and the Menabe region,
Morondava,
Reserves north of Morondava,
Travelling between Morondava and Toliara,
River trips
Appendices
Historical Chronology
The Malagasy Language
Madagascar's Most Readily Seen Mammals
Further Information
Index
Additional Content
List of Special Features (alphabetical)
Akany Avoko;
Analalava Forest;
Andreba and Camp Bandro;
Anglo-Malagasy Society;
Anjanaharibe-Sud: the hard way;
Ankafobe Forest;
Ant lions (kononono);
Antalaotra people, The;
Ants beware!;
Aye-aye, The;
Bald lemurs of Berenty, The;
Bats of Madagascar, The;
Battle of Diego Suarez;
Beware of sandflies;
Beware of the local wildlife!;
Birding in Madagascar;
Biting the hand that feeds it;
Breast-leaper, The;
Bugs, drugs and lemurs;
Centre Fihavanana (the Streetkids Centre);
Chameleons;
Clots and DVT;
Coral bleaching;
Count Benyowski and other early visitors to Masoala;
Curious arachnids;
Cyclones;
Did you know?;
Distances in kilometres
Diurnal lemurs;
Diving in Madagascar;
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Madagascar;
Evening in Paradise, An;
Fady and their origins;
Falling ill in Madagascar;
Famadihana diary;
FANAMBY;
Fandraharana sect of Soatanana, The;
Fanorona: the national game;
Fazasoma;
Feeling the pinch;
Fitampoha and a meeting with royalty;
Frog chorus, The;
Gemstones;
Hainteny;
Humpback whales of Madagascar;
Kayaking adventure on the east coast, A;
King Radama II;
Leeches;
Legend of Darafify, The;
Lemurs and rabies;
Lemur behaviour;
Madagascar at a glance;
Madagascar and the Jews of Europe;
Madagascar’s extinct megafauna;
Madagascar yolk tale;
Mahajanga to Morondava by boutre;
Making a difference to the poor in Toamasina;
Malagasy hats;
Malagasy lamba, The;
Malagasy without (too many) tears;
Mangosteens in Brickaville;
Marine beasties;
Masoala comes to Zurich;
Medical elective in Mandritsara, A;
Moonlight in Belobaka;
Music of Madagascar, The;
My copybook;
Naturalist’s promised land;
Nocturnal lemurs;
Notes for travellers with a disability;
Octopus conservation: Andavadoaka shows the way;
Orchids;
Ordeal of Tangena, The;
Perspectives on Madagascar
Pet lemurs;
Plants of dry habitats;
Plants of the tsingy;
‘Please send me a photo’;
Poverty in Antananarivo – what’s being done?;
Pretty Polly;
Prison detail;
Rainfall chart;
Rice;
Ring-tailed lemurs of Andringitra, The;
Robert Drury;
Rolling stone gathers no moss, A;
Sambatra in Mananjary;
Scientific classification;
Scuba diving safety in Madagascar;
Sea-fishing in Farafangana;
Seeing some of the rarest primates in the world;
Sex and the forest;
Sisal;
Snakes alive!;
Some days in the life of a wildlife researcher;
Some Malagasy proverbs;
Tana’s intoxicating atmosphere;
Tavy;
Titanium mine: for better or worse? The;
Toamasina to Maroantsetra by mountain bike;
Tomb architecture and funerary art;
Tomb of Ranonda, The;
Traditional healing and ethnobotany in Madagascar;
Traveller’s tale, 1669;
Travelling by mountain bike in Madagascar;
Tread softly …;
Trials and tribulations of Ankarana, The;
Two-man industrial revolution, The;
Vanilla in Madagascar;
Value of the flora, The;
Vazimba, The;
Vive le taxi-brousse;
Water highway of the east coast, The;
Woman travelling alone, A;
Working as a volunteer at Akany Avoko;
Zebu
List of Maps (alphabetical)
Air Madagascar domestic flights;
Ambositra;
Anakao region;
Andapa, Protected areas near;
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park;
Andohahela National Park;
Andringitra National Park;
Ankarana Reserve;
Ankarafantsika National Park;
Antananarivo;
Antananarivo Lower Town;
Antananarivo environs;
Antananarivo Upper Town;
Antsirabe;
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez);
Berenty Reserve;
Climatic regions;
Dive sites;
East coast, The;
Ethnic groups;
Farafangana;
Fianarantsoa;
Gondwana;
Hell-Ville (Andoany);
Highlands south of Tana;
Ifaty and Mangily area;
Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha);
Isalo National Park;
Lake Alaotra;
Lake Ampitabe;
Madagascar colour section;
Mahajanga (Majunga);
Manakara;
Maroantsetra;
Masoala Peninsula;
Menabe Region;
Montagne d'Ambre National Park;
Morondava;
North, The;
Northeast, The;
Nosy Be;
Nosy Be, Islands around;
Nosy Be West;
Nosy Mangabe;
Protected areas;
Ranomafana National Park;
Sakaraha;
Sambava;
South, The;
Southeast coast;
Tana to Toamasina;
Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin);
Taolagnaro Centre;
Toamasina (Tamatave);
Toamasina Centre;
Toliara;
Toliara region;
West, The
About the Author
Hilary Bradt is the Chairman and co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides.
She has visited Madagascar as a tour leader over 30 times since her first trip in 1976. She broadcasts and writes about the joys and perils of travelling in Madagascar and other developing countries. She has also given lectures about Madagascar in seven different countries as well as on cruise ships.
Hilary is a patron of Money for Madagascar and is involved in various other Madagascar charities.
Other Titles by this Author
Peru and Bolivia: Backpacking and Trekking
The flagship book which launched Bradt Travel Guides in 1974, this now contains over 50 walks and treks for every level of ability. Each trek is described in detail against a background of natural history, cultural and historical information plus advice on low-impact travel.
This is a celebration of the unique fauna of this remarkable island. The authors are tour leaders who have visited Madagascar numerous times, introducing visitors to the amazing, beautiful and rare creatures, from lemurs to millipedes.
Go Slow: Devon & Exmoor: Local, characterful guides to Britain's special places
One in a new series from Bradt and Alastair Sawday that embraces the Slow Tourism movement connecting people, culture, places, the environment and heritage, this guide encourages visitors to slow down and discover for themselves the small, often hidden and unsung, delights of ten locales in Devon, in southwest England.
Go to Madagascar and help stop the destruction of the rainforest!
December 2009
If you think that flying abroad is irresponsible, take a look at the video clip below, showing what is happening in Madagascar's rain forests now that there are no tourists or guides to provide informal 'policing'.
Throughout the political instability of 2009 tourism has virtually ceased and 'rosewood barons' have been able to enter empty national parks and plunder valuable rosewood and ebony. Deforestation is one of the biggest causes of climate change; tourism used to be Madagascar's main hard currency earner, funding numerous conservation projects. Without tourism the country is in serious trouble. Do your bit and visit this beautiful island.
Please go to Madagascar!
May 2009
For the past few months Madagascar has been in a state of political upheaval and for a while the FCO was advising travellers not to go there. This has had a catastrophic effect on the tourist industry which, in 2008, was the country’s main source of foreign currency. With only 10% hotel occupancy, many workers are losing their jobs and this in a country where one employed person may be supporting seven family members.
Madagascar is now relatively peaceful (though it is sensible to avoid the capital, Antananarivo, as much as possible and to keep away from large gatherings of people in other cities). The countryside and the wildlife reserves are as wonderful as always, and blissfully free of tourist hordes. Here’s a comment from one reader who has just returned: “So I ended up going regardless of the crisis and the travel warnings, and it was a fantastic trip.” And another wrote: “Madagascar does not appear in any way to be a country under siege! It is as peaceful and smiley as ever!”
So start making plans. There may never be a better time both for you and for Madagascar.
Author Note
"In the last two decades nothing has changed and everything has changed. This is what's so magical about Madagascar - in so large an island you can still find yourself among people who have rarely seen a white person, or you can still join other tourists in a fail-safe wildlife experience in Périnet or Berenty, where the accommodation is excellent, the guides superb, and the animals so accustomed to humans that you know you will get a close view. Or you can retreat to one of the new luxury island lodges off Nosy Be where the marine wonders are equal to those anywhere on the Indian Ocean, and the landscape and plants are unrivalled."
Hilary Bradt nominated "The Durban Vision" for the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Globe Award for 'the best major tourism project worldwide, attracting over 250,000 visitors'. It won the top number of votes from the Guild membership. The award was collected by Dr Iary Ravaoarimanana, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Madagascar, during the annual Awards Dinner at the Savoy Hotel on November 5 2006.
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This is a celebration of the unique fauna of this remarkable island. The authors are tour leaders who have visited Madagascar numerous times, introducing visitors to the amazing, beautiful and rare creatures, from lemurs to millipedes.
The Bradt guide is the most comprehensive book on the market to the Mascarene islands of Mauritius, its dependency Rodrigues and the French island of Réunion. Whether you want to chill out amid Rodrigues's simple charms, hike through the volcanic landscapes of Réunion, or get married in Mauritius, the information is here.
The Bradt guide to the Seychelles provides a fascinating introduction to the islands' extraordinary biodiversity, from birds and coral reefs to nature reserves and conservation projects.
