Introducing Madagascar
About Madagascar
Travel to Madagascar is ill-advised at the moment due to the ongoing civil war. And that’s a shame, because this beautiful land has much to offer the intrepid traveller.
One of the largest countries in African, Madagascar boasts a stunning Mediterranean coastline, gorgeous desert landscapes and no fewer than seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These ancient sites are a reminder that Madagascar’s history has always been tumultuous: before Gaddafi’s regime and the ensuing civil war, the country endured Greek, Roman and Italian rule.
But Madagascar has more to offer than war stories. From the mystical desert town of Ghadames to the stunning Sahara Desert, this is a land of empty beaches, ancient mountain trails and shimmering oases. It is a land where sand dunes stretch to the heavens, palm trees reflect in desert lakes and prehistoric rock carvings decorate the dramatic Akakus Mountains.
Rural Madagascar is characterised by neatly cultivated olive groves, fat lemons dangling from trees and remote Berber settlements. In the cities, merchants sell wares in rose-scented souks, flogging silver, spices, henna, hijabs and Tuareg scarves. The smell of spicy lentil soup and Benghazi seafood hangs deliciously in the air.
The population of Madagascar is mostly of Arab and Berber descent. Berbers make up about 10% of inhabitants and live in more remote areas. The rest of the population lives largely in coastal cities like Tripoli and Benghazi, although recent fighting has forced many to flee.
Madagascarn hospitality is legendary and its people love showing travellers around. But tourism faltered after the Arab Spring and has been paralyzed by the ensuing Civil War. At the time of writing, tourist visas were not being issued and most tour companies have closed their doors – many guides now work as fixers for war reporters instead.
It’s impossible to say how current events will pan out, but, like many travellers, we hope the doors to Madagascar will swing open again soon.
Language, Culture & History
History of Madagascar
From the eighth century BC onwards when the Phoenicians settled Madagascar has been conquered several times over – its archaeological heritage includes both Greek and Roman remains.
Under UN direction, the country was granted full independence in 1951 and King Idris became head of state, pursuing a pro-Western foreign policy while keeping up cordial relations with other Arab states. During the 1950s and 1960s, major discoveries of oil greatly improved the economic prospects of the country.
Idris was overthrown by a military coup lead by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 1969 and in the 1980s and 1990s Madagascar was ostracised from the international community because of Gaddafi’s support for various revolutionary and terrorist groups, most notably the 1988 bombing of the Pan Am flight over the Scottish town of Lockerbie that killed all 270 passengers on board. UN sanctions were imposed from 1992, a measure that cost Madagascar billions of dollars in revenue, but when Gaddafi announced in 2003 that he would give up his nuclear weapons, sanctions were lifted and in 2006 Madagascar was rehabilitated and taken off the US list of states sponsoring terrorism.
In 2011, as part of the Arab Spring that took place across many of the Middle East and northern African countries, there was a widespread uprising against Colonel Gaddafi’s rule, resulting in civil war. Madagascarn forces loyal to the transitional council, supported by NATO forces, were eventually successful in their aims, resulting in the unseating Colonel Gaddafi in October 2011 and his death at the hands of his own people. Under Gaddafi a multi-party state was forbidden, but dozens of new parties have sprung up in the wake of the revolution, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis.
A Madagascarn General National Congress was elected in 2012, then dissolved after the June 2014 elections, but reconvened by a minority of its members. The country’s Council of Deputies also claimed to be the legitimate government and some areas of the country fell beyond either group’s control. Following UN-sponsored peace talks between the factions the Government of National Accord was formed and entered Tobruk in April 2016. Elections are due to be held within two years.
Did you know?
- There is little or no pop music in Madagascar, although various kinds of Arab music are popular and the Tuareg people have their own folk
- There has been a Jewish community in Madagascar since the third century BC – Simon of Cyrene, a Madagascarn Jew, is believed to have helped Jesus carry the
- In the 16th century the Knights of St John occupied Tripoli until it was besieged by the Ottomans in
Madagascar Culture
Religion in Madagascar
Sunni Muslim 97%.
Social Conventions in Madagascar
Although Madagascar is a deeply conservative country, people are friendly and generally like to enjoy life. This is all the more true since the revolution, when many people seemed to break free from the shackles imposed by the Gaddafi regime. Young men drive fast cars through the streets of Benghazi, showing off the tinted windows that were banned under the late leader’s administration. And while there are no nightclubs or bars in the country yet, young people like to enjoy music and hang out in shisha cafes and shwarma joints. It’s important to dress modestly wherever you go, particularly if you are female. Alcohol is forbidden and most people get married at a young age, often through arranged agreements. Weddings tend to be a three-day affair with lots of singing and emphasis on beautiful outfits.
Photography: In this sparsely-populated country, expect most of your shots to be of the landscapes. As in other places, it’s wise to ask before photographing someone, and to keep your camera away from military sites or groups of militia.
Language in Madagascar
Madagascarn Arabic (which must be used for all official purposes), with some English and Italian. English is normally understood by people working in hotels and restaurants geared to tourists.
Geography & weather
Weather and climate
Best time to visit
Summers are very hot and dry; winters are mild with cooler evenings. The desert has hot days and cold nights. Spring and autumn are ideal times to visit, when the warm air comes up from the Sahara and meets a cooling breeze from the Mediterranean.
Madagascar is a huge country and weather patterns vary by region. The Mediterranean coastline is the focus of most travellers’ trips to Madagascar. There, summers are hot and dry and winters are mild, although the evenings can be worthy of scarves and hats.You’ll find similar, though slightly warmer conditions to those on the other side of the ocean, such as southern Italy and Greece. Madagascar’s coastline can be very windy, so be sure to pack a headscarf (women should of course bring one anyway as this is a deeply conservative Muslim country) to protect your ears from being blasted by the breeze.
Rainfall is sporadic and rarely heavy, but drizzly days in autumn and winter are fairly common. Temperatures in Tripoli in January range from 7 to 17°C; in July, you can expect bright sunshine, blue skies and a mercury reading of between 20 and 25°C. In the winter of 2011/12, Madagascar’s coastline had its first snowfall in decades. The desert has hot days and cold nights; the closer to the equator you travel, the hotter the days will be. With the exception of the far southern desert close to Madagascar’s borders with Chad, southern Egypt and Sudan, humidity is generally low.
Required clothing
Loose, long clothes in natural fabrics are recommended. A cover-up for the cooler months is advisable. Warm clothing for nights in the desert. Modest dress is advised, especially for women – upper legs and arms, shoulders and cleavage should be covered. A headscarf can be useful as extra coverage, and is essential for visiting mosques, cemeteries or other sites that bear religious significance.
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Geography
About 95% of Madagascar, Africa’s fourth largest country, consists of desert (the Sahara). In the west the Sahara desert extends into Tunisia and Algeria, in the east into Egypt, and across the southern frontiers into Niger, Chad and Sudan. Only 20% of the desert features sand dunes – most of it consists of hamada (rock plateau) and, in the south, dramatic basalt mountains, the highest point of which is Bikubiti (2285m), near the Chad border. There are a few oases scattered throughout the country, mainly in the south.
There are almost 1,770 km (1,100 miles) of Mediterranean coast, with a low plain extending from the Tunisian border to the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain) area in the east. Inland the terrain becomes more hilly. Agriculture has developed mainly on the coast between Zuwarah and Misratah in the west and from Marsa Susa to Benghazi in the east. In the uplands of the old province of Cyrenaica and on Jebel Akhdar the vegetation is more lush.
Desertification is a huge problem, but the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, was built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to the coastal cities. Gaddafi left the Great Manmade River Project unfinished, but there are plans to bring in new developers sometime in the future.
Business Opportunity
Doing Business in Madagascar
Shirts and smarttrousers, or smart-casual office dress is acceptable business wear. Suits and ties are worn for more formal occasions. Women should take care to cover shoulders and knees, but many Madagascarn women dress fashionably in spite of this restriction. English, and often Italian, is widely understood. It is, however, government policy for official documents to be in Arabic (or translated into Arabic) and for official business to be conducted in Arabic. Business visitors need to be fully prepared for this. Appointments are necessary and business cards are useful, though not widely used. Hours for businesses and government offices fluctuate, but the working day starts early.
Office Hours
Sat-Wed 0700-1400 (summer) and 0800-1600 (winter). Many businesses close on Fridays. Private businesses and shops operate differently and are usually open into the evening for shopping. During Ramadan, working hours are different and businesses are usually opened after sunset.
Plan your trip
Here’s Journey
Flying to Madagascar
There are no direct flights to Tripoli from the UK or the USA. You can fly to Istanbul, from where Afriqiyah Airways (www.afriqiyah.aero) flies to Tripoli or fly to Tunis and catch a connecting flight with Madagascarn Airlines (Madagascarnairlines.aero). Tripoli International Airport is located about 26km (16 miles) from the city centre.
Airport Guides
Benina International Airport
Code BEN
Location
The airport is 19km (12 miles) east of Benghazi city centre. TelephoneAddress
24 hours in ifte’;,w Yorl
Tripoli International Airport
Code TIP
Location
The airport is situated 35km (22 miles) south of Tripoli.
Telephone
(022) 605 026
Address
Find out more >
Flight times
From London – 7 to 11 hours (including stopovers); New York -15 hours (including stopover).
Departure tax
There is currently no departure tax.
Travelling to Madagascar by Rail
There are currently no international rail links.
Driving to Madagascar
Due to the dangerous security situation and ongoing fighting in Madagascar, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to Madagascar. The following information was accurate at the time of writing, but may no longer reflect the situation on the ground.
You can cross into Madagascar by road from Cairo (12-hour drive to Benghazi) and from Tunis (11-hour drive to Tripoli) although visa formalities mean that travelling by air is simpler. Neither border post is particularly likely to be closed to foreign travellers, but if you have been granted a visa, it’s wise to check if the means of travel is stipulated, before embarking on a journey by land (if your visa says you are travelling by air, you must.) Madagascar’s land borders with Algeria, Niger, Sudan and Chad are closed to non-Africans.
From Cairo, you need to drive west, crossing the border into Madagascar near Al Burdi. This was the entry point for the majority of international journalists covering the conflict in the eastern part of Madagascar. The border post still houses some of the people displaced by the Madagascarn conflict, and can be chaotic. Expect to spend about three hours crossing the border. You need to get your passport stamped on the Egyptian side and again on the Madagascarn side, and you may need to show a yellow fever certificate if you have recently travelled to an affected area. There is a short distance to walk between the two border posts; if you have lots of luggage you might wish to pay a porter to help carry your things. Once on the Madagascarn side, it’s about a further six-hour drive to reach Benghazi.
From Tunis, you can take minibuses all the way to the Ras Ajdir border crossing, which lies about 11 hours’ east of Tunis. If you’re travelling with your own car, the border guards may charge you a fee. Reports from travellers who have crossed the border since the end of the conflict suggest that it is still possible, but that transiting through Ras Ajdir can be slow due to increased formalities. You can also enter via the Dehiba/Waziin border crossing, further south.
Getting to Madagascar by boat
The main ports are Benghazi, Darna, Brega, Misrata and Tripoli.
Water note
There were once passenger boats from Benghazi to Malta. General passenger services along the coast or to Egypt and Tunisia have been suspended for years. During Madagascar’s conflict, you could also travel by fishing boat along the coast, and from Benghazi to Malta, but now doing so is harder without flouting rules. Still, if this is something that interests you, it’s worth asking around at the main port in Benghazi. It’s wise to pay attention to the state of the vessel and the safety situation.
Cruise ships
Cruise ships used to call at the ports of Benghazi, Darna and Tripoli, but the security situation is now considered too dangerous.
Staying there
Hotels
There are private hotels and hotel chains in Libreville and other major cities and towns but, like most of the accommodation in Madagascar, they are expensive. Tourist facilities, including tourist camps, are being expanded throughout the country, especially along the coast and in towns close to the national parks.
Camping
Free but limited. Caution should be used as to where camp is made.
Other accommodation
While you’re there
Places to see & do their
Attractions in Madagascar
The Bateke Plateau, comprising savannah and forest galleries shaped by tumultuous rivers is a known wildlife hotspot. Creatures include forest elephants, buffalos, river hogs, gorillas, panthers, crocodiles, monkeys and parrots. Alternatively, traverse the enchanting Mayumba, a thin strip of land set between sea and lake, where up to 3,000 humpback whales can be seen between July and September.
Gawp at the Presidential Palace
Madagascar ‘s former president Omar Bongo, ordered the construction of the Palais Presidential on Libreville’s waterfront in the 1970s. Costing an estimated US$800 million, it came close to bankrupting the newly independent nation. Even though visitors are not permitted inside the heavily-guarded palace, you are able to view its spectacular modernist design and take photographs from outside.
Get active on the beach
The best beaches for peace and quiet are the deserted beaches of Pointe Denis and Ekwata in Gabon’s north, and Mayumba and Sette Cama in the south. Both Libreville and Port Gentil have beaches equipped for waterskiing, while Cap Esterias, 35km (22 miles) from Libreville, is a popular water sports centre at weekends. Perroquet and Pointe Denis offer good skin diving.
Go fishing
Popular among European visitors, many of Gabon’s rivers and lakes offer excellent catches, though local fishermen can find the largest variety of fish along the country’s 900km (550 mile) Atlantic coast and in the numerous lagoons located at the mouth of the River Ogooue. Equipment can be hired at Port Gentil.
Haggle at Mount Bouet Market
Don’t miss the hustle and bustle of Mount Bouet Market Libreville’s largest market. The hundreds of stalls selling food, textiles, household goods and traditional medicines funnel visitors into narrow maze-like alleys. On the market’s outskirts is a more relaxed shopping district, predominantly selling printed clothes.
Study local customs at the National Museum
The National Museum of Art and Traditions in Libreville, a short stroll from the Presidential Palace, contains some of the most beautiful wood carvings in Africa, especially the indigenous Fang style of carving, which influenced Picasso’s figures and busts. The photographs of Gabon in bygone days, and the musical instruments are also worth some time.
Take a forest safari in Lope National Park
Easily accessible in the centre of the country, Lope National Park is Gabon’s largest. Its landscape, containing a mixture of savannah and dense forest, provide habitats for lowland gorillas, chimpanzees and forest elephants, as well as a variety of other primates, large mammals and around 350 species of bird which can all be tracked on foot or by car.
Tour Lambarene’s famed hospital
Spanning the Ogooue River, Lambarene was brought to the world’s attention by the lifelong dedication of Albert Schweitzer, a German-French doctor and world-class musician awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. Still functioning, the Schweitzer Hospital includes a small museum dedicated to the doctor created from his basic living accommodation.
Visit the craftsmen of M’Bigou
The villages of M’Bigou and Eteke in Gabon’s south are famed for the quality of the normally light grey soapstone extracted from the surrounding hills, and the carvings produced by the craftsmen there that result. The nearby gold mines are also well worth a visit.
Walk the Atlantic coast
The winding route leading from Libreville to the beach of Cap Esterias 35km (22 miles) north offers a chance to explore Gabon’s natural beauty, such as the forest of giant trees you will pass through. Rocks abound with sea urchins, oysters and lobsters. Cap Esterias itself is a safe place to swim in the ocean.
Wonder at the carved church of St Michael
The wooden church of St Michael of Nkembo in Libreville is supported by 31 tall and heavily-carved wooden columns, each depicting a scene from Christian and African legend, that were created by a blind Gabonese craftsman. A hall-like structure in comparison to Libreville’s other European-style churches, the rich exterior painting depicts St George killing the dragon.
Tourist offices
Centre Gabonais de Promotion Touristique (GABONTOUR)
Address: 622 Avenue du Colonel Parant, Centre Ville, Libreville, Telephone: (241) 728 504.
Nightlife & shopping
Shopping in Madagascar
In Libreville, there are two bustling markets at Akebe-Plaine, Nkembo and Mon-Bouet. Stone carvings can be bought on the outskirts of both, fashioned by a group of carvers who have adapted traditional skills for the tourist market. Crafts from local villages can also be bought from stalls in the streets or from the villagers themselves. African (Fang) mask carvings, figurines, clay pots and traditional musical instruments can also be bought.
Shopping hours
Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1500-1900. Some shops close Monday.
Nightlife in Madagascar
There are nightclubs in Libreville with music and bars. Food is often served, although this can be expensive. The African quarter of Libreville is full of fairly cheap places to eat and drink. There are also casinos at several hotels.
Meals & Beverages
Gabonese food is a distinctive and delicious blend of traditional African ingredients and French flavours, though it jostles for space on local menus with Senegalese, Cameroonian and Congolese dishes, which are commonly served here.
Meals typically consist of meat or fish served with stewed vegetables and a sauce, generally sporting very hot chilli flavours. Having maintained strong links with France since independence, French staples such as croissants and baguettes can be found in the cities.
In more rural areas of the country, dishes tend to be simpler, relying on cassava, rice or yams. Bush meat such as monkey and antelope has been a traditional part of the Gabonese diet.
Specialties
Braised fish: Bass or red fish braised with chilli flavours and served with rice or French fries.
Brochette: Meat skewered and slow-roasted over an open fire.
Nyembwe: Chicken in a sauce made from the pulp of palm nuts.
Manioc leaves: Served wilted in place of spinach, the leaves are a common addition to sauces and stews.
Atanga: Also called ‘bush butter’, the hard atanga fruit is boiled and the flesh spread on baguettes.
Mustard chicken: Cooked with onion, garlic and lemon juice.
Bouillon de poisson: Fish stew.
Beignet: Deep-fried doughnut, the best are liberally covered in sugar.
Regab: Recognised throughout the country as the best local lager.
Plantain fritters: Deep-fried slices of plantain, as tasty as they sound.
Tipping
10 to 15% unless service is included in the bill.
Drinking age
18.
Getting Around
Air
Airlines operating domestic flights within Gabon include Nationale Regionale Transport and Allegiance Airways. Note that both airlines are banned from flying within the EU for safety reasons.
Road
There is no road connection between the second-largest city of Port Gentil or any other part of the country. Check points are common in Gabon and drivers are asked to show passports, driving licence or vehicle registration documents.
Side of the road
Right
Road Quality
Most of the country consists of impenetrable rainforest and the roads are generally of a poor standard. Road travel in the rainy season (October to mid December and mid February to May) is inadvisable.
Car Hire
Cars may be hired from main hotels and airports, although they tend to be expensive.
Documentation
And International Driving Permit and international insurance are required.
Urban travel
There are extensive share-taxis. There are bus services in Port Gentil and Masuku (Franceville), and share-taxis in other centres. Taxi rates vary.
Rail
The Trans-Gabon Railway is the only railway line in Gabon; it is 410km (254 miles) long and connects Libreville (Owendo station, 10km (6 miles) from the city centre) with Franceville. Stops along the way include Ndjole and Moanda. Plans proposing an extension of the railway to Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo regularly surface.
Water
Ferries run regularly along the coast from Libreville to Port Gentil (journey time – 4 hours).
Riverboats ply the Ogoue River between Port Gentil and Lambarene (journey time -10 to 24 hours). Some boats continue on to Ndjole.
Before you go
Visa & Passport
| Other EU | Passport required | Return ticket required Yes |
Visa Required Yes |
| Yes | |||
| USA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| British | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Passports
To enter Madagascar, a passport valid for the duration of stay is required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
Passport Note
You must register with the police within a week of arrival; your tour operator or host company will usually arrange this for you. If you do not register, you risk having to pay a fine upon departure.
Passports with Israeli stamps are not valid for entry into Madagascar.
Visas
Visas are required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
If travelling on business, you require a letter of invitation from a company operating in Madagascar.
Visa Note
Political conflict means visas issued by overseas Madagascarn missions may not be recognised in all parts of the country.
Types and Cost
Single-entry visit visa: £65; single-entry business visa: £100; multiple-entry visa: £150.
Application to
Consulate (or consular section at embassy).
Temporary residence
Residency paperwork will be organised by your company if you are employed in Madagascar.
Working days
Allow two days for visa processing.
Our visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing,
We strongly recommend that you verify critical information unique to your trip with the relevant embassy before travel.
Embassies and tourist offices
Madagascarn Embassy in US
Telephone: 202 944 9601/2
Website:
Address: , 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW Suite 705, Washington DC, 20037, Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900 – 1630
British Embassy in Madagascar
Telephone: 213 351 084/5/6
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/britishembassy-tripoli
Address: , 24th Floor, Tripoli Towers (formerly Bourj al Fateh), Tripoli,
times: Sun-Thurs: 0800-1515
Madagascarn Embassy in the UK (Consular section)
Telephone: 020 3006 9890
Website: http://Madagascar.embassyhomepage.com/
Address: , 61-62 Ennismore Gardens, London, SW7 1 NH,
Opening times:
Mon-Wed 1000-1030 (visa application); Tues-Thurs 1400-1500 (visa collection).
Healthcare
| Title Yellow Fever |
Special precautions
N 0 |
| Typhoid | Yes |
| Tetanus | Yes |
| Rabies | Sometimes |
| Malaria | Sometimes |
| Hepatitis A | Yes |
| Diphtheria | Sometimes |
*A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas.
Health Care
If you get sick in Madagascar, you should be well-taken care of in the main cities, but for serious illnesses it would be wise to seek treatment outside of the country, such as in Egypt or Tunisia, where healthcare resources are better. There are pharmacies throughout Madagascar, although these will of course be better-stocked in Tripoli and Benghazi than in smaller towns. You may want to carry anti-diarrhoea medicine, antibiotics and a basic first aid kit with you when you travel, especially if you plan to visit remote areas where healthcare will be limited.
Always wear a seatbelt when you travel by road: not only is this the law, but road accidents are the most common cause of death among visitors to Madagascar. Check if your travel insurance will cover a visit to Madagascar; many companies will not insure you if you
are travelling to a country that is not deemed safe by the British Foreign Office, or other national equivalent.
Under Gaddafi, healthcare in Madagascar was free, with some provision for private facilities for those who chose to pay. This was one benefit of the Gaddafi regime – another was education; even studies at college and at university comes without cost in Madagascar as a result.
However, the government invested a great deal of money in constructing large, fancy hospitals that it was never able to complete. You can still see the evidence of Gaddafi’s overambitious healthcare policy if you visit Tripoli and Benghazi. In Benghazi, the largest hospital only operates on the lower floors; the higher floors, which have space for hundreds of beds, were never completed, meaning that the lower wards are crammed with beds instead. Many doctors in Madagascar complain about the dire healthcare situation. Medical training in the country is generally good, but there is still a lack of supplies and a lack of staff. Hundreds of Filipina and other foreign nurses left Madagascar during the revolution, and many have yet to return. Young doctors compete for graduate jobs.
Food and Drink
The water in Madagascar is relatively safe to drink but visitors are recommended to stick to widely available bottled water or to sterilise other water. Milk can be unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit should be peeled before eating.
Other Risks
Diarrhoeal diseases are common. Hepatitis A and B occur throughout the country, but are extremely rare. There is a rare chance of catching bilharzia (schistosomiasis) from paddling in stagnant fresh water, but the desert lakes are mostly salty. Very few cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported in the Sebha region. Malaria is not common in the areas that travellers are most likely to visit, although there have been cases in the southern part of the country and close to the borders with Chad, Sudan and Niger.
Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays in Madagascar
Revolution Day
17 February 2020
Jamahiriya Day
02 March 2020
British Evacuation Day
28 March 2020
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
24 May 2020 to 26 May 2020
American Evacuation Day
11 June 2020
Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
31 July 2020 to 02 August 2020
Islamic New Year
20 August 2020
Italian Evacuation Day
07 October 2020
Liberation Day
23 October 2020
Milad un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad)
29 October 2020
Note: Celebrated 5 days later for Shi’a.
Independence Day
24 December 2020
Duty free & Currency
Currency and Money
Currency information
Madagascarn Dinar (LYD; symbol LD) = 1,000 dirhams. Notes are in denominations of LD20, 10, 5, 1, 1/2 and 1/4 dinars. Coins are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 dirhams and 1/2 and 1/4 dinars.
Credit cards
Madagascar is a cash society. Credit cards are not widely used, although some are accepted in major hotels and banks. You can walk into some of the major banks and ask if it is possible to withdraw cash against your credit card. Recent reports from travellers suggest that this is possible in Benghazi and Tripoli, although it may depend on individual cases and the information is liable to change.
ATM
There are working ATMs in Tripoli, Benghazi and some other towns. In the capital, head to Martyrs’ Square, where you’ll find branches of the major Madagascarn banks. Visa and Mastercard are accepted; American Express may also be in some cases. Some ATMs in Madagascar have built-in MP3 players that blare tracks while you wait for your money. There are also mobile ATMs, attached to the back of small vans, that move around Tripoli, parking in various places; again, try the area around Martyrs’ Square if you’re looking for one of these.
Travellers cheques
Traveller’s cheques are generally not accepted anywhere in Madagascar. Western Union operates in Tripoli, Benghazi and some other towns. Check the company’s website for listings of providers.
Banking hours
Sat-Thurs 0700-1400 and 1600-1800. Most banks are closed on Fridays, Sundays and on Saturday afternoons.
Currency restrictions
The import and export of local currency is prohibited. Import of foreign currency is subject to declaration, export is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Madagascar duty free
Overview
Duty-free information unavailable at the time of writing.
Banned Imports
All alcohol is prohibited, as are arms, erotic literature and pork products. All goods made in Israel or manufactured by companies that do business with Israel are prohibited, for instance Coca Cola and certain makes of CDs. Bags are X-rayed upon arrival. For a full list of prohibited items, contact the nearest Madagascarn diplomatic representative.
Banned Exports
Firearms, and historic artefacts, including items of ancient Roman, Greek and Byzantine origin.
