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Exercise a high degree of caution in Madagascar due to the threat of crime and risk of natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

Madagascar

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Local emergency contacts

Police - responsible for security within cities.

Call 117 or visit the nearest police station.

National gendarmerie - responsible for security outside cities

Fire and rescue services, medical emergencies.

Call 117 or go direct to a hospital.

Advice levels

Exercise a high degree of caution in Madagascar.

Exercise a high degree of caution  in Madagascar due to the threat of crime and risk of natural disasters and disease outbreaks.

  • Crime, including violent crime, is widespread in Madagascar. Crimes include armed robberies, muggings, theft, carjacking and kidnappings. Avoid travelling alone and at night and seek local security advice before travelling to regional areas, particularly in the south.
  • Civil unrest including demonstrations and protests is common. They can turn violent quickly, and security forces may respond with force. Avoid demonstrations and large public gatherings. Monitor local media and follow instructions from local authorities.
  • The cyclone season is from November to April, but severe weather events can still occur at other times. Heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, landslides and rough seas may occur. Coastal areas are particularly affected. Expect disruptions to essential services, transport options and medical services. Monitor weather alerts and follow instructions from local authorities, know your accommodation or cruise ship's evacuation plans.
  • Madagascar can experience tsunamis. Know the warning signs and move immediately to high ground. Don't wait for official alerts. Follow the advice of local authorities and monitor media for updates. 

Full travel advice: Safety

  • Medical facilities in Madagascar are limited. Private clinics require up-front payments. You're likely to need medical evacuation if you're ill or injured.
  • Bubonic plague, pneumonic plague and HIV/AIDS are widespread, and measles outbreaks can occur. If you have flu-like symptoms, visit a doctor right away. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date and take precautions if you're taking part in high-risk activities.
  • Insect-borne diseases (including malaria, dengue and chikungunya) are common. Ensure your accommodation is insect-proof and use insect repellent.
  • Foodborne, waterborne and other infectious diseases (including cholera, hepatitis and schistosomiasis) are common. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food. Don't swim in freshwater.

Full travel advice: Health

  • Don't use or carry illegal drugs. Penalties are severe and include prison sentences.
  • Always carry original photo identification. Police may ask you for it, especially if you're out late at night.
  • Know and follow local laws. It's illegal to take photos of military installations or wear military-style clothing. There are strict laws around exporting protected plants or animals, gemstones and vanilla.
  • Same-sex relationships are legal, but not widely accepted in Malagasy society. The age of consent for same-sex relations is 21. Avoid public displays of affection.

Full travel advice: Local laws

  • You'll need a visa to enter Madagascar. If you're a tourist, this can be completed on arrival at the airport. If you're not a tourist, you'll need to apply for a visa before arriving.
  • If you’ve come from a country affected by cholera, you will be subject to additional sanitation measures and asked to take an antibiotic (Doxycycline) or other medication. 
  • You may need to provide a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate if you have arrived from a country where yellow fever is widespread.

Full travel advice: Travel

Local contacts

  • The  Consular Services Charter  details what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
  • Australia has a consulate in Antananarivo, Madagascar. It provides limited consular and passport services. The consulate is open to the public via appointment only. See ' Consular Contacts '.
  • For full consular assistance, contact the  Australian Embassy in Mauritius .
  • Follow the Embassy’s social media accounts to stay up to date with local information. See ' Consular Contacts '.

Full travel advice: Local contacts

Full advice

Crime, including violent crime, is a serious issue in Madagascar. Crime rates are significantly higher than in Australia.

Crime in Madagascar includes:

  • armed robbery , mugging and theft
  • home invasions

Foreigners have been the target of armed robberies, muggings and theft. 

Petty crimes, such as bag-snatching, pick-pocketing and other crimes, happen across the country.

To protect yourself:

  • be vigilant in tourist and transport locations
  • don't go out alone after dark especially on foot
  • don't leave luggage and valuables unattended
  • don't display cash or valuables
  • always keep your vehicle and accommodation locked
  • always use authorised adn experienced guides and tour operators

If you're attacked or robbed, don't resist. Criminals are often armed, and you can be seriously injured or killed. Stay calm and consider surrendering a small sum of money.

Avoid actions that might antagonise security personnel, such as taking photos of them. They could respond with excessive force. Some individuals have been known to falsely claim they are from the police. If you're stopped by the police, stay calm and show respect. Ask for identification to confirm who they are without antagonising them. 

Police resources are stretched, and you may not get the level of service you would in Australia, especially for less serious petty crimes.

Regional crime

There have been reports of violent clashes and crimes, resulting in deaths, across all regions of Madagascar. Some regions include:

  • Northern Madagascar: in the beach and crowded areas of Nosy Be, Ankify Port and Ambanja
  • Western Madagascar: on National Routes around Besalampy, Morombe, Tsiroanomandidy and Maintirano
  • Southern Madagascar: in the Southern triangle between Ihosy, Toliara and Fort-Dauphin

Seek local security advice before travelling to regional areas.

Don't visit national parks alone. Be alert to your surroundings and circumstances.

'Smash and grab' thefts from vehicles and carjacking are common. This includes taxi bes (urban minibuses), taxi brousses (rural minibuses), and river ferries. This is particularly prevalent: 

  • on national routes
  • at major intersections
  • during traffic congestion

To prevent theft when travelling by car:

  • keep doors locked and windows up, even when driving
  • keep valuables out of sight
  • avoid driving after dark

Kidnapping for ransom is a risk in Madagascar. This includes foreign nationals and expatriates working for international companies. Monitor the local news. If risks elevate, take extra precautions. Maintain a high level of vigilance. Watch for suspicious or unusual activity.

The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers.

More information:

Cyber security

You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth. 

Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media. 

More information:   

  • Cyber security when travelling overseas  

Civil unrest and political tension

Civil unrest, including demonstrations and protests, is common in Madagascar. 

Politically motivated protests and events, especially those that attract large numbers of people, can turn violent with little or no warning. Security forces may respond with force. Deaths have occurred at previous protests.

Avoid large gatherings and political demonstrations. Roads may be closed. Monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Violent incidents have been reported in the capital Antananarivo, around government buildings, the national stadium, historical monuments, and military installations.

To stay safe during periods of unrest:

  • avoid demonstrations and other large public gatherings
  • watch for planned and possible civil unrest
  • avoid affected areas 
  • monitor local news 
  • follow the instructions of local authorities. 
  • Demonstrations and civil unrest

Bombs and grenades

Small bombs and grenades have been found in Antananarivo, with reported deaths and injuries.

Climate and natural disasters

Madagascar experiences natural disasters and severe weather , including:

  • cyclones and storms

Consider weather conditions when planning your travel and stay up-to-date on weather forecasts, natural disaster watches and warnings before and during your stay. Monitor local and regional weather and disaster sites and plan accordingly. 

If a natural disaster occurs:

  • secure your passport in a safe, waterproof place
  • monitor local weather and news reports
  • follow the advice of local authorities
  • keep friends and family up to date on your safety
  • Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies  (Tropical Cyclones)
  • World Meteorological Organization Severe Weather Information Centre
  • Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

Cyclones and storms

The cyclone season is from November to April. However, storms and cyclones may occur at other times. Storms and cyclones can cause:

  • Flash flooding
  • Torrential rain
  • Storm surges
  • Winds up to 300km/h

The direction and strength of cyclones can change without warning.

Cyclones have caused significant flooding, landslides/mudslides, and damage to buildings, roads, bridges and communication services across Madagascar. This includes the capital Antananarivo in the Analamanga region.

If there's a cyclone or other severe weather event:

  • you may get stuck where you are
  • flights could be delayed, suspended or may fill quickly
  • the storm may affect access to seaports
  • safe shelter may not be available
  • medical facilities may not be available

To prepare for a cyclone or storm:

  • know the evacuation plan for your hotel, cruise ship, or other accommodation
  • identify your local shelter
  • follow the instructions of local authorities

Tsunamis can occur in Madagascar. These are caused by an undersea earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption.

A tsunami can arrive within minutes of a nearby tremor or earthquake. It can also occur if no earthquake is felt.

Register with the  Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System  to receive tsunami alerts.

Move immediately to high ground if advised by local or regional authorities or if you:

  • feel a strong earthquake that makes it hard to stand up
  • feel a weak, rolling earthquake that lasts a minute or more
  • see a sudden rise or fall in sea level
  • hear loud and unusual noises from the sea

Don't wait for official warnings. Once you get to high ground, monitor local media.

Tours and adventure activities

Tour operators don't always follow safety and maintenance standards. If you plan to do a tour or adventure activity:

  • check if your travel insurance policy covers it
  • ask about and insist on minimum safety requirements
  • always use available safety gear, such as life jackets or seatbelts

If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.

Terrorism is a threat worldwide.

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. 

Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.

If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.

  • what activities and care your policy covers
  • your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away (including if stopovers on the way to your destination are covered)

Physical and mental health

Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.

See your doctor or travel clinic to:

  • have a basic health check-up
  • ask if your travel plans may affect your health
  • plan any vaccinations you need

Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.

If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Australia on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your  nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate  to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.

  • General health advice
  • Healthy holiday tips  (HealthDirect Australia)

Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Madagascar. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:

  • what the medication is
  • your required dosage
  • that it's for personal use

Health risks

Insect-borne diseases.

Bubonic plague  is widespread in Madagascar. It is caused by the bite of an infected flea. You're most at risk in the wet season from October to February. The Bubonic plague can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but it is crucial to seek medical treatment immediately if you experience any plague signs or symptoms.

Malaria  is widespread in Madagascar. Deaths due to malaria have been recorded in Madagascar.

Dengue  is a risk in the northeast of Madagascar, around Antalaha and Sambava.

Serious outbreaks of other insect-borne diseases have occurred, including:

  • Chikungunya
  • Rift Valley Fever

To protect yourself from insect-borne diseases:

  • make sure your accommodation is insect-proof
  • use insect repellent
  • wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
  • talk to your doctor about vaccinations and medications

If you have a fever, muscle pain, a rash or a bad headache, seek medical advice.

  • Infectious diseases

The risk of polio still exists in Madagascar.

Check your vaccination status for  polio . Do this at least 8 weeks before you travel.

If you aren't vaccinated, complete the full course of vaccinations before you leave. If you've been vaccinated in the past, get a booster dose if needed.

  • Australian Immunisation Handbook (Department of Health and Aged Care)

HIV/AIDS is widespread.

Take precautions if you engage in activities that expose you to the risk of infection.

Measles outbreaks can occur in Madagascar.

Make sure your vaccinations are up to date before you travel.

Other health risks

Outbreaks of waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases occur. These include:

  • schistosomiasis
  • tuberculosis

To protect yourself from illness:

  • wash and sanitise your hands regularly
  • drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
  • avoid ice cubes
  • avoid raw and undercooked food, such as salads
  • don't swim in fresh water
  • avoid contact with dogs and other mammals

If you're bitten or scratched by an animal, get medical help straight away.

Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.

  • WHO Madagascar  (French)

Medical care

Madagascar's standard of medical facilities is basic, with only routine medical operations possible. Facilities are limited in Antananarivo and extremely limited in rural areas.

Only some doctors will speak English.

Most travellers attend private clinics, which can be expensive. Most will require an upfront payment before admitting you.

Regular outbreaks of insect-borne diseases, plagues and natural disasters impact healthcare services and hospital capacity, including ambulance services and accident and emergency care.

You'll need to be evacuated if you become seriously ill or injured. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.

There's no shared healthcare agreement between Australia and Madagascar. Check your insurance covers hospital stays and evacuation.

There are no decompression chambers in Madagascar. If you're scuba diving:

  • dive within safety limits
  • check your insurance policy covers diving and medical evacuation

You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.

If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter . But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

  • Arrested or jailed

Penalties for drug offences are severe and include prison sentences.

  • Carrying or using drugs

You must always carry an original photo ID, such as a passport or driver's licence. Police may ask you for it, especially if you're out late at night.

In Madagascar, it's illegal to:

  • take photos of military installations or airports
  • wear military-style clothing
  • export protected plants or animals without approval
  • export gemstones or vanilla for a commercial purpose without a permit

Same-sex relationships are legal but are not widely accepted in Madagascar. Avoid public displays of affection.

The age of consent for same-sex couples is 21. Same-sex marriage isn't recognised.

There are no anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQIA+ travellers.

  • Advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers

Australian laws

Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.

  • Staying within the law and respecting customs

Dual citizenship

Madagascar recognises dual nationality.

  • Dual nationals

Visas and border measures

Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering. 

You need a visa to enter Madagascar.

If you're a tourist, you can get a 30 or 60-day visa for single entry to Madagascar on arrival at the airport. Fees are payable in euros, US dollars or Malagasy ariary. Visa fees are not applicable if you stay for less than 15 days, but you'll have to pay a 10 euro administrative fee for border control formalities. You must have proof of onward travel. Tourist visas can be extended up to 90 days.

In other situations, you'll need to apply for a visa at the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Madagascar before you travel.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. You should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Madagascar for the latest details.

  • Ministry of Tourism in Madagascar  (English, French)
  • Embassy or Consulate of Madagascar

Border measures

If you’re arriving from a country affected by cholera, you'll need to undertake additional sanitary controls and asked to take an antibiotic (Doxycycline).

You may be offered alternative medication if you:

  • are pregnant 
  • are under 8 years old  
  • have a pre existing medical condition.

You may also need to provide contact details so health authorities can follow up for 3 – 5 days.

If you arrive from a country where yellow fever is widespread, you may need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Madagascar. Some airlines may want to see one when you leave.

Find out about returning to Australia  after exposure to yellow fever .

  • Yellow Fever
  • Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 152KB)

Other formalities

Minors travelling alone or with only one parent may need to show proof the other parent has approved the travel. Carry a signed letter or custody order showing both parents approve the travel.

  • Advice for people travelling with children

Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.

Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.

You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.

The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport .

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.

Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:

  • In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service
  • If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate

Passport with ‘X’ gender identifier 

Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest  embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination  before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers. 

  • LGBTQIA+ travellers  

The local currency is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA).

Some hotels and restaurants accept euros.

Some stores, hotels and banks in Antananarivo and in other major cities accept traveller's cheques.

Credit cards aren't widely used. Ask your bank if your cards will work in Madagascar.

Local travel

Driving permit.

You can drive in Madagascar with either:

  • a valid Australian driver's licence, or
  • an International Driving Permit (IDP)

You must get your IDP before leaving Australia. If you're staying in Madagascar for a long time, you can use your IDP to apply for a local licence at the Ministry of Interior. You have a period of one year to convert your licence to a local one from the moment you obtain a resident permit.

The minimum driving age is 18 years old.

If you plan on driving in Madagascar:

  • carry photo identity and vehicle registration documents, as you may be stopped by police
  • check you have enough insurance cover before driving
  • check local traffic laws and practices before driving
  • drive carefully and legally
  • be aware of potential dangers on the roads
  • avoid remote roads, particularly at night
  • don't drink and drive

Road travel

You're more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident in Madagascar than in Australia.

Common hazards include:

  • poorly maintained roads and vehicles
  • poor or insufficient street lighting
  • people and animals roaming on roads

Carjacking, armed robberies and other crimes are a high risk when travelling by road. Be especially vigilant when travelling on National Routes at night. See Safety

Motorcycles

Check if your travel insurance policy covers you for riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.

Always wear a helmet.

  • Driving or riding

Only use hire cars and limousines from providers with a good reputation.

Avoid taxis, as these are regularly attacked by armed bandits. This is especially the case for taxi bes (urban minibuses) and taxi brousses (rural minibuses).

Public transport

Avoid public transport due to the lack of safety and crime risk.

Public buses are not well-maintained, and serious accidents have occurred.

Protect your belongings, especially when travelling overnight.

  • Transport and getting around safe

Boat travel

Boat travel may be dangerous.

Piracy  occurs in the coastal areas of northern Madagascar. Reduce the risk of piracy by adjusting your route if required, and monitoring piracy reports from the  International Maritime Bureau .

Several ferries and rivercraft operate in Madagascar. These may be overloaded, poorly maintained and lack life-saving equipment. A lack of navigation skills and unexpected storms have contributed to boating accidents. 

To stay safe on the water:

  • check safety standards are in place
  • check there is enough safety equipment for everyone
  • wear your like jacket
  • avoid travelling after dark
  • don't get on overcrowded boats
  • Travelling by boat
  • Going on a cruise

DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths. 

Check Madagascar's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

  • family and friends
  • travel agent
  • insurance provider

Call 18 or 118.

Call 117 or go directly to a hospital.

Call 17 or 117 (mobile phone) or 020 22 220 17 (landline) or visit the nearest police station.

Gendarmerie – responsible for security outside cities

Call 19 or 119 (mobile phone) or 020 22 223 02 (landline).

Emergency phone lines may not have English-speaking operators.

Response times may be longer than in Australia.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

Read the  Consular Services Charter  for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.

Australia's consulate in Madagascar provides limited consular services and can receive passport applications. The consulate in Antananarivo is open to the public via appointment only (see contact details below).

For full consular and passport services while in Madagascar, contact the Australian Embassy (based in Mauritius) via email (see contact details below).

Australian Consulate, Antananarivo

Building C1 (AMCHAM Office), Explorer Business Park Ankorondrano, Antananarivo, Madagascar Phone: (+261) 32 05 596 01; (+261) 32 05 596 02; (+261) 34 10 863 41 Email:  [email protected]

Australian Embassy, Mauritius

2nd Floor, Rogers House 5 President John Kennedy Street Port Louis, Mauritius Phone: +230 202 0160 General enquiries email:  [email protected] Consular enquiries email: [email protected]

Passport enquiries:  [email protected]

Website:  mauritius.highcommission.gov.au Facebook:  Australia in Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros Twitter:  @AusHC_MU

The website will provide details about opening hours, any temporary closures to the public, and services offered.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact the embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

  • +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
  • 1300 555 135 in Australia

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how to travel to madagascar from australia

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  • Countries & Parks
  • Madagascar Travel Guide
  • Getting There

Madagascar

Madagascar Travel Guide Madagascar

  • Parks & Reserves
  • Best Time To Visit
  • Weather & Climate
  • Popular Routes
  • Malaria & Vaccinations

​Getting There – Madagascar

Philip Briggs

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Insight guide to Madagascar.

Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.

Philip is the author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.

Map of Madagascar

Madagascar's main airport is Ivato International Airport (TNR), located 12km/7mi north of Antananarivo (Tana). The second international airport is located in the north of the country, offshore on Nosy Be, the island’s most popular beach destination. This airport is mainly used for all-inclusive beach packages.

Road travel is possible, but due to the size of the island and the bad condition of the roads, most tours incorporate at least one domestic flight.

In most cases your local tour operator will arrange pickup at the airport and organize further transportation as part of your travel package.

36 Madagascar Tours

Flights & Airlines to Madagascar

  • www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Airlines & Flights in Madagascar

Madagascar Airlines offers scheduled domestic flights to many cities in the country. Their flights are, however, often delayed or canceled at short notice, therefore the use of charter flights is recommended.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

  • A passport is required for all foreign visitors and must be valid for at least six months.
  • Passports must have at least two clean visa pages.
  • A scan of your return ticket is required.
  • Citizens of all countries require a visa.
  • Single-entry tourist visas of up to three months are available on arrival.
  • Visas can also be obtained in advance from Madagascan embassies.
  • When arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country in Africa or the Americas, a yellow-fever vaccination certificate is required.

how to travel to madagascar from australia

Want To Visit Madagascar?

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Safari Tours to Madagascar

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12-Day Classic Madagascar Tour

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24-Day Tsingy - Baobab - Andasibe - Ranomafana - Nosy Be

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Madagascar: Shared tour (max 60 people per vehicle) Mid-range Hotel & Bungalow

You Visit: Antananarivo (Start) , Antsirabe (City) , Morondava (Town) , Kirindy Forest, Bekopaka (Town) , Bemaraha NP, Ranomafana NP, Andasibe-Mantadia NP, Palmarium Reserve, Nosy Be, Nosy Komba, Nosy Iranja, Ivato Airport (Antananarivo) , Antananarivo (End)

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5-Day Andasibe Mid-Range Tour

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Madagascar: Private tour Budget Hotel

You Visit: Antananarivo (Start) , Andasibe-Mantadia NP, Antananarivo (End)

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How to Travel Around Madagascar

scenic view of Route Nationale 7 (RN7) in Madagascar, with Cardinal's hat, a huge granite mountain, in the background

Madagascar . It’s more than an inaccurate (but fun) DreamWorks movie.

Located off the eastern coast of Africa, this island, nearly the size of France and the third-largest in the world, has a population over 26 million but sees less than 300,000 tourists a year.

I spent two weeks here with Intrepid Travel and was surprised by how few tourists there were as well as by just how difficult the country was to travel around. (The roads are so bad it can take up to eight hours to go 250 kilometers (155 miles)!)

There’s many reasons why more people don’t visit: getting to the country is expensive, there’s very little information about it online, few organized activities, and only a couple hostels, tourism information centers, helpful signs, or anything that would be considered a “tourist infrastructure” (and sadly, very little infrastructure at all).

Madagascar’s tourism caters to older Europeans who visit expensive beach resorts or take organized tours and move around the country in a little bubble. Nary a backpacker did I see on my trip.

Moreover, it’s a country ravaged by poverty, corruption, and natural disaster . Travelers unwilling to get off the beaten path (which is most people) usually don’t end up here.

Yet Madagascar is a raw and beautiful destination that blew me away in so many ways. It’s cheap once you get there, and your tourist dollars can create a really positive impact. There are few crowds, and instead the country is filled with many cute lemurs and majestic landscapes , which you get virtually to yourself!  

How to Get to Madagascar

A wide avenue with large baobab trees In Madagascar

Additionally, most of these destinations only offer a limited amount of flights per week.

When I went, I jumped on a flight deal to Johannesburg, thinking it’d be cheaper to hop over to Madagascar from there. That ended up being a stupid thing to do because, given the high price of flights from Johannesburg to Madagascar (I paid $800 USD round-trip), it ended costing me more than just booking a direct ticket from New York to Madagascar.

For a round-trip flight to Madagascar, you can generally expect to pay:

  • U.S. (East Coast): $1,450-$1,750 USD
  • Canada (East Coast): $1,100 USD-$1,400 USD
  • Western Europe: $900 USD-$1,350 USD
  • Johannesburg, South Africa: $500-700 USD

However, it’s not all bad news. If you’ve got points and miles to spend , with some planning, you can find a reward flight. Both Air France and United have decent award availability.

It takes some work to get there, but if you can string together some flight deals as well as mile opportunities, you can lower the cost to an affordable(ish) level. Here are some websites you can use to find cheap flight deals:

  • Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights)
  • The Flight Deal
  • Holiday Pirates

How to Get Around Madagascar

Matt standing next to a yellow bus on side of the road

I think that many younger travelers stay away because getting to the country or booking a tour is so expensive. Plus, there’s just not much free information available on Madagascar.

But let’s change that and talk about how to visit the country.

Organized Tours A 14-day tour costs around $2,200–3,600 USD. You’ll stay in mid-range hotels (private bathrooms, hot water, breakfast, and maybe even a pool) and have your own bus with a driver and local guide. You’ll also get private guides at each park who will explain what you’re seeing, help spot animals, and give some added context on the destination.

Most of the tours follow the same route, hitting all the big parks and destinations in the center of the country, with added paid add-ons to other parts of the country.

I went with Intrepid Travel on their Experience Madagascar tour as part of my former partnership with them. Our guide Patrick was a phenomenal resource, answering all my questions, providing advice, and giving tips on what to see and do in this country that lacks a lot of resources to research.

If it were up to me, I would have focused the trip’s itinerary more. I think Intrepid sometimes tries to do too much. While I liked everything we did, I wish there had been more time visiting each place and less time driving (though if Madagascar had proper infrastructure that wouldn’t have been an issue).

Nomadic Matt in Madagascar

Independent Travel Madagascar is a difficult place to visit solo. There’s little tourist infrastructure or hostels (which makes sense given how inexpensive hotels and guesthouses are here) and public buses don’t go to many cities and national parks. You’ll need to know French, too, as English is barely spoken (even though English is an official language).

In my opinion, this makes it rather arduous to get around without any assistance.

But could you travel around on your own? Sure! But I think you’d need to be an experienced traveler, really OK being pushed out of your comfort zone, and in absolutely no rush, because getting around on a budget will take time.

Since the roads are really bad, getting from point A to B is a challenge. In a public taxi brouse (small van packed to the gills with people), you’ll move slowly. Buses go when they are full. There’s no set timetable. Sometimes they show up; more often than not, they don’t.

However, seeing the condition of the buses and how many people they cram in there, plus the number of accidents on the road, I’m not sure I’d even get in one. I wouldn’t want to spend 24 hours packed like a chicken in a van with no air conditioning (and sometimes not even windows).

Renting a car and driver costs $75 USD a day (or slightly more if you want 4WD) and is the most popular option for people looking to go on their own (and not wanting to wait for the buses). While you could drive on your own, most rental companies require that a driver accompany you.

You can also fly around the island, but there’s only one airline (Air Madagascar), and most tickets cost at least $250-300 USD, so if you’re on a budget, flying just isn’t feasible. Plus, they cancel flights often without notice.

So, What Should You Do? If you’re really looking for some rugged, old-school independent travel, Madagascar is the place to do it. If you have lots of time, are up for a real challenge, and know French then go solo! (I really can’t stress the need to know French. Outside the big towns and a few tourist areas, English is barely spoken.)

You’ll cover slightly more ground and have a lot more freedom if you rent a car and driver. There’s plenty of cheap guesthouses and restaurants around so you won’t need to look far and wide for a place to stay or a meal.

If you aren’t looking for that kind of rugged experience and would like something more organized, a tour is the best — and really only — option. I wanted a tour to help me get the lay of the land and answer all my questions about the country. I don’t speak French nor had a lot of time. A tour was a great orientation to a country that was an enigma to me. It was a wonderful way to meet people in a destination with few independent travelers.

(One thing to remember is that the clientele of the tours here is older and the tours cater to that in their itineraries, activities, and accommodation. The tours here aren’t designed for active backpackers.)

If I went back, I’d go by myself and explore with a car but I’m glad I went with a tour on my first visit.  

Is Madagascar Safe?

Sprawling views over Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar

That said, crime is rife throughout the country and not one local I knew recommended going out after dark. They don’t even do it. In fact, many hotels in the capital of Antananarivo hire escorts to take people from the hotel to bars or restaurants.

During the day and, especially in smaller villages, walking around is perfectly fine. At night, I would use a lot more caution, especially in the capital.  

What are Prices Like in Madagascar?

A zebu cow at a market next to a wooden cart in Madagascar

Even when you are eating at the hotel restaurants the tours go to, most meals aren’t more than the equivalent of a few US dollars. In regular, local restaurants, they are half that price.

Madagascar food is mostly chicken, zebu (a type of cattle), pork, stews, and rice. LOTS OF RICE. (Get the zebu in a stew. It’s better that way.) There’s also a lot of surprisingly good pizza in this country. You’ll definitely need to know French if you go into the non-international places (or travel outside of the cities).

Here are some typical prices:

  • Meals at restaurants that cater to tourists – 20,000-30,000 MGA
  • Meals at regular restaurants – 6,500-7,500 MGA
  • Street snacks – 10-200 MGA (Be sure to try nem (spring rolls). They are incredible!)
  • Accommodation – 65,000-200,000 MGA per night (you can easily find accommodation on Booking.com )
  • Car with a driver – 350,000 MGA a day
  • Grocery prices – 11,000-20,000 MGA (This would get you a kilo of rice, some zebu, and a variety of vegetables. Cooking your own food won’t really save you any money since restaurants here are so cheap.)
  • SIM Card – 3,000 MGA, or 30,000 MGA for a 30-day, 4.5 GB data package (get Orange as it has the best network overall)
  • Park entrance fees – 65,000-90,000 MGA plus 50,000-75,000 MGA for a guide
  • Local mini buses – 10,000-20,000 MGA

Madagascar is a beautiful, raw, and enchanting country. There’s no place like it on earth. Far off the tourist trail, this a destination where your inner Anthony Bourdain can be set free to explore. I’m so glad I went, and though the old traveler adage is “I can’t wait to go back,” I suspect that my visit to Madagascar will be the only one in my lifetime. I hope I’m wrong though.

Book Your Trip to Madagascar: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

  • Safety Wing (best for everyone)
  • Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
  • Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want More Information on Madagascar? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Madagascar for even more planning tips!

  Note: I went to Madagascar with Intrepid Travel as part of our partnership. They paid for the tour and my expenses during the trip. I paid for my flights to and from Madagascar.

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Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Nomadic Matt looking out over a valley in Madagascar

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Travel to Madagascar and discover an extraordinary storehouse of natural and cultural riches. Separated from Africa and Asia at the time of the dinosaurs, Madagascar's animal life has evolved in a startling myriad of forms, with endemic species found nowhere else on earth.

Madagascar travel facts

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Humans first colonized this huge island less than 2000 years ago. Before then, Madagascar was a primal Eden, inhabited only by its bizarre and marvellous zoological cornucopia. As biologists continue to discover more about this remarkable place, calling Madagascar the eighth continent barely does it justice: second planet seems more appropriate. Read our Madagascar guide for everything you need to know before you go.

  • Size: Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world. Measuring 587,040 square kilometres, it is more than double the size of Texas and nearly two-and-a-half times the size of the UK.
  • Population: At the last official estimate in 2011, Madagascar’s population was just under 21 million, with a population density of 35 per square kilometre.
  • Language: The country’s official languages are Malagasy and French, though English is increasingly important.
  • Conservation: Madagascar has more than 40 national parks and reserves, managed by Madagascar National Parks.
  • Religion: Traditional religious beliefs are still widely upheld in Madagascar, with some 4 million Roman Catholics, and 3.5 million members of the FJKM (the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar).
  • Politics: Madagascar’s independence was returned to it, from France, on June 26, 1960. After years of chaotic dictatorship, the country now has a presidential, multi-party democracy.
  • Biodiversity: Dozens of new species are discovered in Madagascar every year: more than 100 species of lemurs are now recognized and nearly 80 species of chameleons are endemic to the island.
  • Leaping ahead: While Andasibe-Mantadia National Park’s most famous resident is the lemurs, the forests are also home to at least a hundred species of frogs – a figure that makes this the most frog-rich area on earth.
  • Exports: Madagascar is associated with vanilla or rum and sugar cane, but the national crop with no equal is rice (vary in Malagasy), with the highest consumption per capita in the world – around 150kg per person (400g) or a pound of rice a day.

Madagascar has an entrancing tableaux of landscapes: dripping emerald rainforests, baobab trees like giant windmills towering over the savannah, and crazy outcroppings of limestone pinnacles, like a million wonky Gothic church spires.

The human landscapes are equally captivating. In the highlands, a thousand shades of green dazzle from the terraced rice fields, framed by dykes of red earth; water-filled nursery paddies reflect a cerulean blue sky and towering granite mountains, daubed by the pastel images of rows of multicoloured Hauts Plateaux houses.

On the east coast, you’ll find golden beaches framed by huge boulders and palm trees, lapped by the bath-warm Indian Ocean.

Out to the west and south, rolling plains of dry savannah and range lands intersperse with dense and alien spiny forest and carved by broad meandering rivers.

Here are some of the best places to visit in Madagascar :

Antananarivo

There’s no other capital in the world like Antananarivo (Tananarive to the French, “Tana” colloquially to everyone). A necklace of emerald rice paddies trails around lakes, canals and jagged hills, while a huddle of pastel-coloured houses crowds the still-partly cobbled streets of a crumpled central lattice. Even the sprawling shanties seem somehow prettier than the average urban slum: still largely built in the traditional manner, using fired-clay bricks, they blush radiantly pink in the afternoon sun, packed together between the glimmering rice fields.

Central Madagascar

The highlands of central Madagascar stretch from north of Antananarivo far towards the south of the island, undulating wildly across dramatic granite mountain ranges, lava ridges and outcrops. While there’s very little indigenous natural forest left, the human landscape is captivatingly beautiful. Deep valleys are filled by terraced rice fields and traditionally built towns, from the busy provincial agricultural hub of Antsirabe to the historical city of Fianarantsoa. Explore towns by horse-drawn buggy and immerse yourself in cultural traditions such as Malagasy crafts and famadihana (reburial) ceremonies. Beyond these urban centres lies the Réserve Villageoise Anja, where you can hike through the home territories of delightful ring-tailed lemurs, and rugged Parc National de Ranomafana, whose rainforest conceals the rare golden bamboo lemur.

Southern Madagascar

Southern Madagascar has some of the island’s most compelling attractions, from the gaunt sandstone plateau of Parc National d’Isalo to the towering mountain fastness of Parc National d’Andringitra. Elsewhere, you’ll discover spiny forests and glorious beaches, surfing and diving in the dry southwest, and the seductive rolling landscapes and scalloped bays wrapping around the port of Fort Dauphin in the far southeast. This is also Madagascar’s poorest region, however, and more prone to lawlessness – generally manifested in cattle rustling and highway banditry – than the rest of the country.

Western Madagascar

Way off the tourist trail, the vast region of western Madagascar has some unexpected surprises for those who slog to this barely visited backcountry. Western Madagascar may not be blessed with interesting towns or picturesque beaches, but its weird and wonderful natural spectacles make up for it. Hikers can strike out among the giants at Morondava’s Allée des Baobabs, where 300-plus baobabs loom above scattered bush and farmland, some reaching heights of 20 metres. After dark, seek out the exhilarating nocturnal animal life of Kirindy Private Reserve, whose rich wildlife includes fossas. But, without a doubt, the region’s crowning glory is Tsingy de Bemaraha, an extraordinary expanse of otherworldly limestone pinnacles, cut through by winding rivers.

Northeastern Madagascar

The rainforests of northeastern Madagascar are some of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. These hilly landscapes support a riotous display of jungle trees, lianas and other flora, which shelter extraordinarily rich wildlife, from minuscule chameleons to weighty indri lemurs. While the northeast’s natural vegetation is dense forest, the majority of trees had been cut by the time of independence, and today rice paddies, sugar-cane fields and plantations of vanilla and fruit trees account for much of the more level ground. The sizeable remaining pockets of forest are major strongholds of Madagascar’s natural heritage, now flagged by UNESCO as the “Rainforests of the Atsinanana” group of World Heritage Sites in Danger.

Off the sheltered west coast lies the fabled island of Nosy Be , with smaller and even more alluring islands dotted around the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel. Madagascar is swathed in largely deciduous dry forest, interspersed with pockets of highland and lowland rainforest – a biome known as the Sambirano ecosystem. The southeast corner of Nosy Be is still shrouded by a cloak of primary rainforest sheltering a number of rare and endemic species. The majority of those who visit Madagascar make a beeline here, lured by the balmy weather and warm seas, plus regular charter flights from France and Italy. Diving and snorkelling are popular pursuits, and kite- and windsurfing are big around Diego.

Far out on the west coast, the town of Morondava has some compelling assets nearby that draw visitors from across the globe. Foremost among these is the iconic Allée des Baobabs, or Avenue of the Baobabs, just a short drive out of town. As you arrive by plane, you’ll see the big baobabs as you descend, looking like stumpy wind turbines on the flat plain among the fields of sugar, cotton and rice. Further north is the lesser-known Kirindy Private Reserve, the only place you can travel in Madagascar with the near-guarantee of seeing a fossa – a ferocious puma-sized creature that looks like a cross between a cat and a mongoose.

Ambatolampy

Ambatolampy was a traditional Merina iron-smelting and forging town, and is still associated with metalwork and crafts – and nowadays souvenirs. Clusters of craft-sellers gather along the roadside, selling basketry and raffia-ware, brightly painted metal toys, even statues of the Virgin Mary. The stalls of musical instruments are particularly appealing, with nicely made local violins, banjos and other instruments on offer for around 20,000–40,000ar. South of Ambatolampy, you can trace the meandering Onive River by car, passing picturesque rural scenes of verdant emerald-tinted rice paddies; rust-red hillsides brimming with iron oxide; and rows of colourful houses.

Up to the west of Ambatolampy, you can see the looming mountains of the Massif de l’Ankaratra. This ancient volcanic range is occasionally dusted in snow and still bubbles with a little activity in Antsirabe’s hot springs. Antsirabe was founded in 1869 by Norwegian missionaries attracted by the curative powers of its mineral-rich thermal springs, and today is Madagascar’s third-largest town – and one of its most prosperous. Relatively clean and quiet, this is a town where many Tananariviens aspire to live, and where a few have holiday pads. The thermal baths are currently closed, but there’s no shortage of good hotels, restaurants and interesting crafts and jewellery shops.

Vehicles arriving from the north plunge down the road to Ambalavao, with the valley spread out beyond and the peaks of the Massif d’Iandrambaky poking up dramatically on the horizon. The town makes a good base from which to stock up if you’re heading into the Parc National d’Andringitra. Otherwise, you don’t need to stop here for long, but the town’s crafts workshops are accessible and worthwhile, and its famous old Betsileo houses, with their ornate verandas known as lavarangana, are very photogenic.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park

The country’s most famous national park, Andasibe-Mantadia is located in the eastern rainforest and is home to twelve species of lemurs, including the largest – the wonderful, wailing indri. The otherworldly chorus of a family of indris, reverberating through the misty early-morning forest, is an unforgettable sound. Two hundred species of orchids bloom magnificently here, and the forests are also home to around 110 species of birds, over seventy species of reptiles and at least a hundred species of frogs – a figure that makes this the most frog-rich area on earth.

Isalo National Park

One of the best places to travel in southern Madagascar is Parc National d’Isalo. Midway between Fianarantsoa and Tuléar, this 810-square-kilometre sandstone plateau is a dramatic spectacle; its towering mesas and sculpted pillars creating a Monument Valley-style landscape. It is especially striking at its southern extremity, where the tarmac highway twists past the cliffs. The whole region, however, is a hiker’s mecca, cut by streams and springs into countless, forest-filled canyons, dotted with alluring natural swimming holes of crystal-clear water.

Tsingy de Bemaraha

The huge Parc National de Bemaraha and its far-flung northern extension, the Réserve Naturelle Intégrale du Tsingy de Bemaraha, are located on Madagascar’s largest plateau of tsingy (limestone) karst pinnacles. It’s a region that competes for remoteness with the most inaccessible parts of the island, incorporating a spectacularly strange landscape that is home to a host of endemic plants and animals. In recognition of its uniqueness, it was the first region in Madagascar to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sheltered on what were once mud and sand flats behind straggling stands of mangroves, the port of Tuléar (also known as Toliara or Toliary) is not the most prepossessing place to visit in Madagascar. This former slaving port has been sidelined by recent history – a fact reflected in the rebellious political stance often taken by the townspeople to matters being decided in Tana. As you wander around, look out for the town’s zebu carts, sometimes painted with bright, symbolic imagery derived from popular culture – typically music and film stars. The best attraction in Toliara is the Arboretum d’Antsokay, a 25-acre patch of spiny forest heavily planted with the flora from a lifetime’s botanical collecting by its Swiss founder, Hermann Petignat.

Discover more places in Madagascar

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  • Western Madagascar Travel Guide
  • Antananarivo and around Travel Guide

The best time to visit Madagascar depends on where you are going and your interests. A hot, wet summer, from November to March, drenches the eastern slopes and highlands in heavy rain. Ferocious cyclones hit the east coast and ravage their way inland, making travel extremely difficult. However, down in the southwestern semi-desert, rain barely spatters the parched earth. From April to October, Madagascar experiences a dry, cool season, which is overall the best time to travel to Madagascar for bright, warm days and mild nights.

However, if you’re travelling to Madagascar for the wildlife, whale-watching is best from June to September when the creatures pass the east coast during their northerly migration. November is often recommended as the best time to visit Madagascar for wildlife, with the first rains bringing out an explosion of courting, mating and spawning among amphibians, reptiles, birds and the fabulous fossa. August to October are ideal months for diving and snorkeling.

Read our guide on the best time to travel to Madagascar .

The only practical way to travel to Madagascar is by plane. There are no direct flights from the UK or Ireland to Madagascar, but you can fly to Nairobi or Paris and connect onwards. Similarly, visitors from the east coast of North America will have to fly via London or Paris, but from the west coast it may be cheaper to fly via Bangkok. From South Africa, there are direct flights to Madagascar from Johannesburg. There are various options for travelling to Madagascar from Australia and New Zealand, notably flying via Johannesburg or Nairobi, or hubbing through Bangkok; however, the best-value route is via Mauritius and/or Réunion.

Read more in our Madagascar travel guide .

In this section, we’ll look at how to travel around Madagascar .

When considering how to travel around Madagascar, the most important thing is to give yourself time. It’s a big country, and most of the roads (such as they are) radiate out like spokes from the capital, so getting around needs planning, you’ll probably need to include some internal flights.

Most transport, however, is by road, and the road network is steadily improving. There are various options for getting around by car, the easiest (but most expensive) of which is hiring a vehicle and driver – many of whom double up as local Madagascar guides.

Budget travellers are better off using the slow and cheap shared taxis brousse (bush taxis, or taxi-be in Malagasy). These are privately or cooperatively owned minibuses running regular services to a vague timetable. Urban transport varies from town to town, but the main options are car taxis (t axis-ville ), Bajaj motorized trishaws (tuk-tuks), cyclo-pousses (cycle rickshaws) and pousses-pousses (handcarts).

Fianar’s hilltop old town is one of Madagascar’s most picturesque, with narrow lanes and views across the modern city and its rice fields.

The best place to visit in Madagascar for lemur-watching, including troops of habituated indris. Night walks and decent hotels make this as easy diversion, just a three-hour drive from Antananarivo.

This beautifully unspoiled island is quieter than Nosy Be, with the jewel of Île aux Nattes at its southern tip.

Heaven on a plate for beach-bum natural-history buffs, with leaf-tailed geckos camouflaged obligingly on every other branch and a glorious golden beach.

The real-life version of your local rainforest experience, complete with tumbling streams, buttress-rooted forest giants and thousands of life forms.

Madagascar’s most developed concentration of tourist resorts is low-key by global standards. Get away from the beach hotels and out to the offshore reefs or up to the hilly interior.

Two of the finest places to visit in Madagascar, these are worth the special journey for the towering “tree-elephants” and the exhilarating nocturnal animal life of Kirindy, including fossas.

Hard to get to, but worth every ounce of effort for the extraordinary expanses of weirdly eroded limestone pinnacles, cut through by winding rivers.

A park of big landscapes, lush canyons and wide horizons in the dry savannah. Plus, it’s easy to access and has good hotels and camping.

  • Sainte Luce Reserve Moist coastal forest and creeks, home to lemurs and chameleons, with glorious beaches and onshore whale-watching, as well as some excellent Madagascar guides.

Our Madagasca r travel guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning our Madagascar itineraries . These routes will take you to every corner of the island – and you’ll learn plenty about the country no matter where you want to go or what you want to do. You’re unlikely to complete the list, but it will give you a flavour of how to travel around Madagascar and a deeper insight into the country’s natural and historic wonders.

Travel ideas for Madagascar, created by local experts

Wild Madagascar

Wild Madagascar

This trip is a tour of Wild Madagascar: discover dusty desert canyons, lush rainforests teeming with wildlife and trek through national parks. Explore the bustling capital Tana, then stop by the beach at Ifaty where you'll encounter forests of baobab trees and wandering tribesmen.

Dreaming of Madagascar

Dreaming of Madagascar

Tropical island beaches, lush rainforest, stunning wildlife, and the bright red clay houses of Antananarivo await you as you arrive on the beautiful island of Madagascar. Get your fill of culture in the capital Tana, snap beguiling wildlife, and revive and reboot on stunning white-sand beaches.

A Taste of Madagascar

A Taste of Madagascar

An unforgettable journey through Madagascar's enchanting landscapes and cultural treasures. From the lush rainforests of Andasibe to the vibrant streets of Antananarivo, this adventure combines wildlife encounters with rich history, creating a diverse and immersive experience.

Want some help with the travel planning? Speak to us about our Tailor-made itineraries , where a local expert can plan your route and transport for you.

Itinerary 1: The North – parks and beaches

Almost all Madagascar trips start and end in Antananarivo. Allow 3–4 weeks to cover the north by a mixture of road and air travel, or skip half these stops and do it in 10–14 days.

  • Antananarivo Give yourself a couple of days to visit the Rova palace compound and the old royal capital of Ambohimanga.

Get up early to walk into the indris’ territory and hear their extraordinary call. Then plan a night walk looking for chameleons and mouse lemurs.

Fly or ferry out to this old pirates’ hideaway, then rent a scooter and explore its jungle paths, clean beaches and limpid waters.

Organize a boat and local Madagascar guide to this fabled, forest-stacked island. You’ll discover aye-ayes, leaf-tailed geckos and a host of other species, some almost certainly still to be discovered.

The steep paths of the Masoala rainforest start at the doorstep of Nosy Mangabe, with every minute of every hike yielding wonderful sights and discoveries, from vangas to boas, from tenrecs to sportive lemurs.

Diego Suarez is the perfect rest stop between national parks, with its picturesque views and superb watersports.

Much easier to explore than the other rainforest parks, and still bursting with life, the Amber Mountain and the little town of Joffreville are worth a day and a night.

If you don’t have time to take a boat trip to the Tsingy de Bemaraha, then this fascinating eroded plateau is the next best thing. Lemurs and plenty of reptiles inhabit this rocky fortress.

Nosy Be’s beaches are beautiful, the resort trappings pretty tame and the interior well worth exploring. Don’t forget a trip to the wonderful Lokobé reserve.

Deciduous dry forest meets lakes and erosion gulleys in this enjoyable and accessible park between Majunga and Antananarivo.

Madagascar has no shortage of hotels, and on the whole they offer good value, certainly by international standards. There’s only a handful of top-end options scattered across the island, from urban city hotels to beach resort hotels through to national park lodges and tourist safari camps. The highest concentrations of luxury accommodation are in Tana and on Nosy Be and Île Sainte Marie. A good step down in standards will give you mid-range places, stretching from charming and extraordinarily good value to very ho-hum and rather overpriced. The budget accommodation in Madagascar is plentiful and typically great value; mostly consisting of a group of wooden, thatched bungalows; some en-suite, some with the option of air-conditioning.

Madagascar’s food culture is built around the country’s national staple, rice ( riz , or vary in Malagasy), and even enthusiastic rice lovers tend to tire of it eventually. Happily, there are plenty of interesting flavours to accompany it.

The main options for eating out in Madagascar are hotelys (local Malagasy restaurant with a simple menu of staple favourites); your hotel dining room; and foreign imports. These range from pizzerias and crêperies to Italian, French, Indian and Chinese specialist restaurants. Street food can be very good and very cheap, and may include rice and sauce, brochettes of beef, fish or prawns, roasted or baked plantains, bananas, cassava or sweet potato, stews and vegetable fritters.

Madagascar’s two great drink offerings are spiced and flavoured rum in an almost infinite variety of flavours, known as rhum arrangé, and THB beer pronounced “Tay-Ash-Bay” (short for Three Horses Beer).

Read our Madagascar guide to food and drink .

Though most travellers visit Madagascar for its wildlife – lemurs and chameleons in particular – the island has so much more to offer besides curious critters. If it were only for its landscapes, beaches and warm seas, the island would still be one of the world’s most alluring destinations, and there’s plenty here to please adrenalin junkies and outdoor enthusiasts. This part of our Madagascar guide will look at the best activities on offer.

Walking is the default way in which to explore the national parks dotted across the island. Multi-day park hikes, with a local Madagascar guide and porters, are not difficult to arrange, especially in the national parks of Andringitra, Marojejy and Masoala.

Rock climbing

With its many sheer granite and sandstone rock walls, Madagascar is full of excellent climbing opportunities. Standout areas include the Montagne des Français near Diego Suarez, and the Isalo and Andringitra national parks.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is only allowed in some areas of the national parks but cycling can be a great way to get around remoter areas where the rewards combine a mixture of culture, nature and landscape, rather than providing a more purely wildlife experience. Many hotels also have a few mountain bikes to loan or rent for short trips, but for something longer, check out Rando Raid , based in Antsirabe who also offer horse riding, or VTT Madagascar who organize bike tours in remote parts of southeast Madagascar.

Snorkelling and diving

If you’re travelling to Madagascar for underwater adventures, the easiest diving and snorkelling is around Nosy Be. The best options are less from the main island itself, and more from some of its smaller neighbours – Nosy Tanikely, Nosy Mitsio and Nosy Radames are particularly good. The reefs of southwest Madagascar, between Andavadoaka and Anakao, are also spectacular, and the waters around Diego Suarez have numerous wrecks to explore.

Watersports

Most larger beach hotels around Madagascar can offer windsurfing, or organize it for you. Surfing tends to be a speciality of the south, notably the areas around Tuléar and Fort Dauphin. The other key spot for kitesurfing is the Mer d’Émeraude, near Diego Suarez. Kayaking and rafting can be pursued on larger rivers such as the Namorona, Tsiribihina and Manambolo.

Spectator sports

Several traditional sports are still popular with visitors to Madagascar. Moraingy, a bare-fisted combination of boxing and kick-fighting, comes from the Sakalava country of western Madagascar and can be seen on weekends in the dry season.

Travel advice for Madagascar

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Madagascar

  • Eating and drinking in Madagascar
  • Getting around Madagascar: Transportation Tips
  • National Parks in Madagascar
  • Travel Tips Madagascar for planning and on the go

For visitors to Madagascar, staying healthy should not be a big issue. You need to be aware of malaria but generally, so long as you take sensible precautions, you should have no problems beyond the occasional stomach upset.

Despite warnings from some official government travel advisories, most people visit Madagascar without incident. However, you should certainly heed warnings about night-time travel and avoid it if you can, particularly the lonely dirt roads in the south, which are prone to banditry. Also be aware of pickpocketing, muggings and hotel thefts (especially your hotel has no safe), avoiding late arrivals in towns or taking a taxi.

Lastly, if you’re travelling Madagascar during cyclone season (December to March) and a storm is forecast, cancel any boat trips, get yourself as far inland as possible and take shelter on the ground floor of a solid building.

A few items to avoid when shopping are timber products, which often have a dubious source, and anything with a wildlife origin, which is likely to get you in trouble when leaving Madagascar. Other items on the banned exports list are all items connected to the country’s many funerary customs, including grave posts.

Read more advice and tips to make your Madagascar trip stress-free and safe.

This section will look at travel requirements for Madagascar. Visas are required by all nationalities. Non-immigrant visas are currently granted free on arrival for most nationalities at Ivato airport for stays of up to thirty days, and it’s generally easier to get one there than in advance (which usually requires photos and possibly a processing fee). If you want to stay longer, the fees are €55 for up to 60 days or €77 for up to 90 days. Longer than that, you’ll need to leave the country in order to re-enter (Réunion is the cheapest place to fly to and an overseas French département so part of the EU and the Eurozone). The only health requirement is a yellow fever certificate if you’ve been visiting a country in the yellow fever transmission zone.

Top image © Ava Peattie/Shutterstock

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updated 26.04.2021

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Travelmath

The distance from Sydney, New South Wales to the middle of Madagascar is:

6,232 miles / 10 030 km flying, map of distance from sydney, australia to madagascar, more trip calculations.

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Distance from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar

The total straight line flight distance from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar is 6,232 miles .

This is equivalent to 10 030 kilometers or 5,416 nautical miles .

Your trip begins in Sydney, Australia. It ends in Madagascar.

Your flight direction from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar is Southwest (-114 degrees from North).

The distance calculator helps you figure out how far it is to get from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar. It does this by computing the straight line flying distance ("as the crow flies") and the driving distance if the route is drivable. It uses all this data to compute the total travel mileage.

Sydney, New South Wales

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Travelmath helps you find distances based on actual road trip directions, or the straight line flight distance. You can get the distance between cities, airports, states, countries, or zip codes to figure out the best route to travel to your destination. Compare the results to the straight line distance to determine whether it's better to drive or fly. The database uses the latitude and longitude of each location to calculate distance using the great circle distance formula. The calculation is done using the Vincenty algorithm and the WGS84 ellipsoid model of the Earth, which is the same one used by most GPS receivers. This gives you the flying distance "as the crow flies." Find your flight distances quickly to estimate the number of frequent flyer miles you'll accumulate. Or ask how far is it between cities to solve your homework problems. You can lookup U.S. cities, or expand your search to get the world distance for international trips. You can also print out pages with a travel map.

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Distance from Australia to Madagascar

Distance from Australia to Madagascar is 8,845 kilometers . This air travel distance is equal to 5,496 miles.

The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Australia and Madagascar is 8,845 km= 5,496 miles.

If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Australia to Madagascar, It takes 9.81 hours to arrive.

Australia Distances to Countries

Madagascar distances to countries, map of australia.

Map of Madagascar

Madagascar Tours & Holidays

Aerial view of a misty golden sunrise at the famous Avenue de Baobabs in western Madagascar

Madagascar showcases the very best of our wild, weird but oh so wonderful world.

With biodiversity to rival the Galapagos Islands, towns of historical significance, beautiful beaches of golden sand and a remarkable culture influenced by Europe, Africa and the East, Madagascar's rare riches are well worth discovering. Venture into national parks to experience profound moments in nature, mellow out on idyllic islands, stroll through heritage towns and spot quirky wildlife not found anywhere else on this earth.

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Galapagos or Madagascar? Which unique destination should be at the top of your travel list?

The top 8 destinations for travel in June 2024

8 reasons why your next adventure should be in Madagascar

9 alternative travel spots for 2018

Wellness Travel in Madagascar. It’s now a thing

Madagascar at a glance

Capital city.

Antananarivo (3.8 million)

29.9 million

French, Malagasy

(GMT+03:00) Nairobi

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type C (European 2-pin) Type D (Old British 3-pin) Type E (French 2-pin, female earth) Type J (Swiss 3-pin) Type K (Danish 3-pin)

Learn more about Madagascar

Best time to visit.

With such a unique ecosystem and environment, going on holiday to Madagascar at different times of the year offers a variety of challenges and benefits. September to November is considered one of the best times to visit, as these months sit right in between the cool, dry winter and the hot, rainy season. This time is also considered the best time to view birdlife.

July to August offers cooler temperatures and the best chances for whale watching on the coast.

January to March is cyclone season, but this is also the best time to see flowering orchids.

Learn more about the best time to visit Madagascar.

Culture and customs

Madagascar is a relatively young country with inhabitants only traced back 1,300 years. Throughout its history, multiple nations and peoples have influenced the culture and customs of modern-day Madagascar. While some of this history can only be speculated, it's known that much of it has come from Indonesian origins, alongside neighbouring African and Arab cultures.

The official languages of Madagascar are Malagasy and French. French is still widely spoken across the country due to the nation being a former French colony.

Today, about 90% of the population identifies as Malagasy, further split into 20 ethnic groups. The largest of these groups is known as the Merina, who lived on the plateau. The country's religious practices are split between Christian and the traditional beliefs of the Malagasy people.

Geography and environment

This iconic island nation sitting off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean is home to one of the most precious and unique natural environments in the world. Its isolated location means that a distinct variety of animal and plant species have been able to thrive without outside genetic influences.

Possessing extinct volcanoes, hidden waterfalls, cool highlands, grassy plains, pristine beaches and islands, Madagascar was once completely covered in forest - but due to high levels of deforestation, most forest cover has been lost. Some tracts of rainforest do endure today, but it's estimated that the current level of forest cover is only 1-2 percent of what it once was. Despite this loss, hundreds of species of plants and trees thrive all over the island, from huge, ancient baobab trees to thorny cacti and resplendent ferns.

Eating and drinking

Malagasy cuisine is highlighted by its fresh and tasty homegrown exotic produce alongside its unique local livestock, such as the zebu (a species of cow) and a variety of seafood. Many cultures across the world have contributed to the Malagasy cuisine of today including French, Indonesian, Indian and nearby African nations.

Food to try in Madagascar

This national dish is made of cubed zebu meat (a local type of cow) and served with a light broth, tomato sauce and rice. With all the bright colours, it resembles the Malagasy flag.

2. Henakisoa sy Ravitoto

This dish is made up of braised pork and pounded cassava leaves with an assortment of spices.

3. Malagasy chocolate

Because of the unique environment it's created in, Madagascan chocolate has a unique fruity, citrusy and even forest flavour profile.

4.Henakisoa sy Amalona

One of the seven royal dishes, this traditional meal is made of pork and eel. While an unusual duo to most, this dish is a delicacy in Madagascar.

5.Tsaramaso Malagasy

A slow-cooked white bean and tomato dish cooked with zebu or pork as a stew.

Top things to do in Madagascar

Avenue of the baobabs.

Arguably one of Madagascar's most famous icons is the baobab tree. Walk under the towering trunks of the Adansonia Grandidieri variety, the tallest of the species, at the Avenue of the Baobabs found near the coastal town of Morondava.

Take a sunset stroll under these magnificent trees on our 11 days Madagascar Baobabs & Beyond tour.

Andasibe National Park

If you were hoping to see lemurs in Madagascar, Andasibe National Park is the place to be. Home to 11 species of lemur alongside many other native birds, reptiles and frogs, the park feels alive with activity.

Enjoy Andasibe National Park by day and night on our 14 day Madagascar Adventure

The Small Tsingy and Great Tsingy

Come across the forest of rocks known as the Tsingys, roughly translated to ‘place where one cannot walk barefoot,' and you can definitely see why. Found in the Bemaraha National Park, these spiky natural limestone formations jut out from the ground. But don't worry; there are rope bridges to get you through.

Trek through and wander over the Big and Small Tsingy on our 24 day Madagascar in Depth adventure

Ranomafana National Park

A government-protected park, the Ranomafana is home to a huge variety of wildlife, from the world's smallest chameleon and striped civet to the famous golden bamboo lemur. Alongside the rare species, walk among stunning forestry and even some carnivorous plants.

Explore the Anja Community Reserve, Ranomafana and Andasibe National Parks on a 14 day Madagascar Wildlife Adventure

Stop by the country's arts and crafts capital to see the beautiful creations handmade by the local people. See a woodcarver demonstration when you stop by a workshop to learn more about the region's crafts.

Meet the people and learn about their incredible craft during an Ambositra village visit when on our 24 day Madagascar in Depth tour

Chocolate making demonstration

Learn the secrets to the famous Madagascan chocolate during a hands-on demonstration class led by a local chef in Antananarivo.

What a perfect way to finish off your 14 day Madagascar Adventure than with a chocolate class.

Festivals and events

Public holidays that may impact travel:.

Martyrs' Day

Ascension Day

Whit Sunday

Whit Monday

Independence Day

Assumption Day

All Saints' Day

Please note  Madagascar public holidays may vary.

Madagascar is popular around the world for its specialty produce items such as coffee, chocolate and vanilla, but there are many other unique souvenirs to find while on the Great Red Island.

It's also a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Things to buy in Madagascar

Vanilla is arguably one of the most famous exports to come out of Madagascar. Shop around for vanilla beans, paste, essence and more.

Silk shawls (lambas)

Silk weaving is an important part of culture, especially in certain parts of Madagascar. In Sandrandahy villages, generations of mothers have passed the craft of making lambas to their daughters.

Wood carvings

Madagascan wood carvers are known for their woodwork. Find artwork, chess sets, wooden figures and more.

Madagascan chocolate is shipped all over the world due to its rich and flavourful profile.

Just like chocolate, Madagascan coffee is world-famous and highly sought after.

Further reading

Similar destinations.

Thinking about a Madagascan adventure but still looking at other destinations? See below some of our wildlife-filled African destination tours .

Botswana Tours

Comoros Islands

Comoros Island Tours

  • Tanzania Tours
  • Galapagos or Madagascar?

Madagascar travel FAQs

Do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Do I need a visa to travel to Madagascar?

If you are visiting Madagascar as a tourist for over 15 days, you will need to purchase a visa. A 30 or 60 day tourist visa can be purchased at the Antananarivo airport on arrival. You may also be able to apply in advance at your nearest Madagascan Embassy.

You may be asked to provide evidence of onward travel or a return ticket.

If you are visiting Madagascar for less than 15 days, you may not need to purchase a visa, however, you will still need to pay a border control administration fee. If you wish to extend your tourist visa, you can apply to the immigration service to extend it for up to 90 days.

  • 15 days or less: approximately 10 Euros (48,299 MGA)
  • 30 day traveller visa: approximately 35 Euros (169,043 MGA)
  • 60 day traveller visa: approximately 40 Euros (193,192 MGA)

The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 06/11/2023

Is tipping customary in Madagascar?

Tipping isn’t mandatory, but a little generosity will be received positively especially when considering the low wages that most service workers are typically paid. Setting aside a small amount for porters, guides and drivers is wise, as is leaving spare change or rounding up the bill at restaurants.

What is the internet access like in Madagascar?

Cyber cafes are found in some of the larger cities like Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa and Antananarivo. Smaller towns and remote areas will have far less access, so prepare to disconnect when travelling out of urban centres.

Can I use my mobile phone while in Madagascar?

Mobile phone coverage is generally good in Madagascar's large cities and towns, but less so in rural areas and on remote islands. Ensure you have global roaming activated before leaving home if you wish to use your mobile phone.

What are the toilets like in Madagascar?

Squat/pit toilets are the standard in Madagascar except for western-style flushable toilets that are sometimes available in large hotels and other modern buildings. Carry your own supply of soap and toilet paper, as this is rarely provided.

Can I drink the water in Madagascar?

Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Madagascar. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found, some hotels we stay in may have drinking water available. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

Are credit cards accepted widely in Madagascar?

Major credit cards like Visa are usually accepted by large hotels and western-style restaurants in the capital but not by smaller vendors. Ensure you have adequate cash to cover purchases not able to be made on credit.

What is ATM access like in Madagascar?

ATMs that accept foreign cards can be found in large cities and the airport, although they're often unreliable or out of service. Be sure to carry a back-up method of payment in case ATM access becomes difficult.

Madagascar safe destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

Discretion is advised for LGBTQIA+ travellers in Madagascar. While same-sex relationships are legal, public attitudes in Madagascar are not widely accepting of LGBTQIA+ people. The age of consent for same-sex relations is 21. Same-sex marriage is not recognised. It is advised to be discreet and avoid public displays of affection.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.

If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

How do I stay safe and healthy while travelling?

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before travelling?

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

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COMMENTS

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    Road travel is possible, but due to the size of the island and the bad condition of the roads, most tours incorporate at least one domestic flight. In most cases your local tour operator will arrange pickup at the airport and organize further transportation as part of your travel package. 31 Madagascar Tours. Flights & Airlines to Madagascar

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    The total straight line flight distance from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar is 6,232 miles. This is equivalent to 10 030 kilometers or 5,416 nautical miles. Your trip begins in Sydney, Australia. It ends in Madagascar. Your flight direction from Sydney, Australia to Madagascar is Southwest (-114 degrees from North).

  21. Distance from Australia to Madagascar

    The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Australia and Madagascar is 8,845 km= 5,496 miles. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Australia to Madagascar, It takes 9.81 hours to arrive. Facebook Twitter.

  22. Best Madagascar Tours & Holidays 2024/2025

    Intrepid's Madagascar Adventure delivered a thrilling experience. We explored stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and learned about Malagasy culture from our knowledgeable guide, Patrick. Despite challenging roads, our driver navigated expertly. This first-time adventure exceeded expectations, thanks to Intrepid's planning and small group size.

  23. Distance Madagascar > Australia

    The initial bearing on the course from Madagascar to Australia is 93.52° and the compass direction is E. The geographic midpoint between Madagascar and Australia is in 2,762.49 mi (4,445.80 km) distance between both points in a bearing of 93.52°. The shortest distance (air line) between Madagascar and Australia is 5,524.99 mi (8,891.61 km).