Tips for travelers to Madagascar

Travel tips

• The official languages of Madagascar are the Merina dialect of Malagasy, Malayo of Indonesian origin, and French.
• The official time of Madagascar is GMT/UTC +3 hours.
• The Electric supply of the region is 110 to 220V.
• The International Dialing Code of the island is 261.
• The business hours of Madagascar are from 8.00 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. Banks open from 8.00 to 15.00 Monday to Friday, whereas shops are open from 0800 to 1200 and 1400 to 1800 Monday to Friday.
• The required clothing are Lightweights during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the north and south, and warmer clothes during evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rainwear is advisable.

Climate

Madagascar experiences a wide climatic variation. It has a hot and subtropical climate and is colder in the mountains.

The southern winter is from April to October, while the summer is during November & March, which is also known as the hurricane season. The south and west regions are hot and dry. Monsoons bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December to March.

The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year.