What is the capital of madagascar. Madagascar island: country and its description. Phone codes of cities

Madagascar island on a map of Africa
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The state of Madagascar is located on the southeastern coast of Africa on the island of the same name with a total area of \u200b\u200b587 thousand square kilometers (in the ranking by size, it occupies the fourth line, confidently squeezing Sumatra and Great Britain). The country also owns a scattering of tiny green oasis islands in the neighborhood.

Geographical position

Madagascar is separated from the continent by the Mozambique Channel (whose width is about five hundred kilometers), and on the other three sides it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean. Almost the entire coast - not too wide lowland strip, abundantly cut by small lagoons and bays.

The closest neighbors are the same island states (but much smaller): Mauritius and Comoros.

The central part is the highlands, bounded from the south by the Ivakuani ridges, and in the north by the Tsaratanan massif (this is where the Marumukutru volcano, the highest local peak) is located. This territory is dissected by channels of sixteen rivers - flowing to the east are distinguished by special full-flowing and an abundance of rapids. In the southwest is a desert region.

The island of Madagascar is divided into several climatic zones. Tropical monsoons reign in the east, so it rains here almost all year round, except for the beginning of autumn. The thermometer shows from +30 to +15 ° C (cooling occurs in August-September).

The weather on the west coast depends on the season: from November to April there are showers, the rest of the time it is sunny and moderately warm. In the north - heat and constant wind, in the central plateau area it is much cooler, in the mountains there are frosts. Eternal drought reigns in the south: precipitation is rare, daytime temperatures range from +24 to +30 ° C.

Flora and fauna

Of all African countries, few are able to surprise with such an abundance of unique fauna. Madagascar is the only place where the Foss survived. Here you can find dwarf hippos, lemurs and wyverns, ancient bristled hedgehogs, rare bats, chameleons, geckos. Mantas and moray eels are found in coastal lagoons.

The flora world is no less diverse: on the island there are real mangroves and savannas with huge baobabs, tropical forests and shrubs - more than three and a half hundred plant species in total.

Government structure

Map of Madagascar

Madagascar is a unitary republic uniting six autonomous provinces. The executive branch is in the hands of a popularly elected president and prime minister appointed by the head of state. Legislative power is represented by a parliament consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly. There is a multi-party system in the country. The capital is Antananarivo.

Population

The population of the country over the past ten years has increased by a third and today amounts to almost 24 million people - in terms of fertility, this East African republic occupies the twentieth place in the world.

Ethnic composition - mainly Malagasy (descendants of Austronesian and African immigrants), speaking their own dialect. For business communication, French is used. In religious terms, the island of Madagascar is unique - half of the locals officially declare their commitment to the ancient faith associated with worshiping the souls of their ancestors.

Economy

The country does not belong to the prosperous, but its economy in recent years has begun to actively increase momentum (largely due to abundant foreign investment). Recently, the island discovered its own oil reserves.

Traditionally, the main part of the income is provided by agriculture (trade in coffee and cocoa, sugarcane, spices). Minerals such as nickel and coal are also exported. High prospects for the development of the tourism business.

Scientists argue about who first settled this territory: the Bantu tribes that crossed the Strait of Mozambique, or the ancient Austronesians. But it is known that in the future, the natives successfully resisted attempts at colonization. In the 17th century, when the rest of East Africa was practically divided between the European powers, island of madagascar  only got pirates.

Only at the end of the XIX century, as a result of French intervention, did a strategically attractive corner off the coast receive a permanent “master”. During the Second World War, a fierce struggle broke out over the island between the British, Japanese and Germans. Madagascar withdrew to France in 1943, but active political demarches and uprisings of the local population forced the metropolis to recognize the independence of the country after fifteen years.

sights

Madagascar gives a lot of amazing impressions to fans of ecotourism - here you can look into the mouth of a sleeping volcano, swim in the jets of a waterfall, arrange extreme rafting, observe whales and sharks. You can join the local beauties in De Ranomafana Park or in the Tsingi de Bemaraha Nature Reserve, purchase unique jewelry in Antsirabe, and do the best snorkeling in Nosy Tanikeli.

Madagascaror Republic of Madagascar  - An island state in the western Indian Ocean, located on the island of the same name and several small islands off the east coast of Africa. The island is separated from the continent by the Strait of Mozambique (400 km). The total area of \u200b\u200bthe country is 587,040 square meters. km The length of the island is about 1600 km, the maximum width is over 600 km. The capital is Antananarivo.

The central part of the island is occupied by the high plateau of Anjafi, gently sloping to the west and steeply cutting off to the lowlands of the east coast. The highest point of Madagascar is the extinct volcano Marumukutru (2,876 m), which is located in the Tsaratanan mountain range, in the northern part of the island.

Madagascar has three large lakes: Alaotra, Kinkony and Ihotry.

Although Madagascar is not far from Africa, the island's animal and plant life is unique, it contains 5% of the world's animal and plant species, 80% of which exist only in Madagascar. The most famous of them are lemurs. Most species are endemic. Because of this, Madagascar is often called the "small continent."

Climate in Madagascar

Climate of Madagascarformed by the southeast trade wind and the South Indian anticyclone. The island has three climatic zones: a tropical monsoon climate on the east coast, a temperate marine climate in the central highlands and an arid desert climate at the southern tip of the island. In different areas of the island, the climate can vary very noticeably.

The climate of the east coast is humid, tropical. Rains continue year round. They are short-term (less than an hour a day), and sometimes do not stop for several days in a row. Most of the sun happens in May and September. Average temperatures from January to February are 25 ° C; from March to April - 30 ° C; from May to July - from 20 to 25 ° C; from August to September - 15 ° C; from October to November - from 20 to 25 ° C; December - 30 ° C.

The climate of the west coast is arid, tropical. Rains are extremely rare. Average temperatures: from January to February - 25 ° C; from March to April - 30 ° C; from May to October - from 22 to 25 ° C; from November to December - from 30 to 32 ° C.

The climate in the south of the island is arid, tropical, hot. Average temperatures - January - 20 ° С; from February to May - 30 ° C; from June to September - 25 ° C; from October to December - from 28 to 32 ° C. In the southern part of Madagascar is the tropic of Capricorn.

The climate in the north of Madagascar is tropical. During the rainy season, vast areas receive plenty of moisture, including the island of Nosy Be, which explains its lush vegetation. Average temperatures from January to April are from 25 to 30 ° C; from May to July - from 20 to 25 ° C; from August to September - from 15 to 20 ° C.

Population

Madagascar population  - 22,599,098 people (2012).

The average life expectancy is 61 years for men, 65 years for women. Urban population - 29%.

Malagasy is the main ethnic group of Madagascar. The total number of about 20 million people.

Malagasyis are divided into two subgroups - highlanders and coastal residents. Mountain peoples are imerina (gelding), shihanaka and betsileu, and to the inhabitants of the coast all the rest, for example, betsimisaraka, sakalava and mahafali. The division into two subgroups is determined by the history of human migration to the island.

In the second or fifth centuries of our era, Madagascar was inhabited by immigrants from Austronesia, mainly settled on the central highlands. After some time, a second wave of migration, consisting of representatives of the Bantu tribes, came to the island from east Africa through the Mozambique Channel.

Recent studies of the mitochondrial DNA of island residents have confirmed the speculation of some scientists about the Austronesian origin of the population. It can be concluded that the blood of the Malagasy is approximately equal to the Austronesian and African genes, with a slight admixture of Arab, European and Indian.

Religion

   Approximately half of the country's population professes the cult of ancestors traditional for Austronesian immigrants, which places particular emphasis on the connection between the dead and the living. The largest number of adherents of this religion lives among the Merin people. They believe that every person after death joins the souls of their ancestors, and that all souls form a kind of hierarchy of “divinity”.

Among Merina and Betsileu, a rather strange tradition is practiced from the point of view of Europeans, known as famadikhan, which means "turning the dead." During this ritual, the remains of the deceased are taken from the crypts, wrapped in a new shroud (silk sheet) and throughout the holiday they have fun and dance next to them, sometimes even carrying the remains on their hands. At the end of the ceremony, the bodies are placed back in the crypts.

About 45% of the population profess Christianity, Catholicism or Protestantism. Most believers try to combine the cult of their ancestors with Christian traditions. So, for example, far from all Christians refuse to practice famadikhan, especially Catholics. Pastors from the Catholic Church may even come to the ceremony and bless the participants. The Protestant church has a very negative attitude to the practice of the cult of the ancestors and calls on its flock to abandon "worship of the Devil." The Christian church in Madagascar is a fairly influential political institution.

The rest of the population (about 7%) practices Islam, imported by Arab merchants around the X century on the island. Islam is especially widespread on the west coast of the island due to the large number of harbors that were once Arab outposts. It should be noted that thanks to Islam, the Malagasy language was first recorded in Arabic script, which, however, did not take root as the main means of writing Malagasy (now the Latin alphabet is used).

Since the 90s of the XX century Orthodoxy began to spread on the island. Some villages of Madagascar as a result of the missionary activity of the Alexandrian Patriarchate in full force adopted Orthodoxy. The mission is just beginning, but according to the current situation on the island there are now more than 10,000 Orthodox Malagasy.

Tongue

Official languages \u200b\u200b- Malagasy, French, English.

Malagasy is not associated with nearby African languages. It is the most western of the Malay-Polynesian languages \u200b\u200bbelonging to the Austronesian family. This fact was established back in the XVIII century. The Malagasy language is related to the languages \u200b\u200bof Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Closest to it are the languages \u200b\u200bspoken on the island of Borneo.

The basic vocabulary of the Malagasy language coincides 90% with the vocabulary of the Ma’anyan language in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Barito River in southern Borneo. This means that Madagascar was populated by immigrants from there. It is not known exactly why this colonization occurred. Later, Indonesian immigrants mixed with East Africans and Arabs.

In the Malagasy language, there are borrowings from the Bantu, Swahili and Arabic languages, as well as from French (in the past the language of the colonial government of Madagascar) and English (in which in the XVIII century pirates spoke whose bases were on the island).

About money

Malagasy ariari(MGA) - The monetary unit of the state of Madagascar.

One ariari is equal to 5 iraimbilanjas (iraimbilanja). Bank notes in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000 ariari are in circulation, coins: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ariari, as well as 1 and 2 irimbilanjevs.

Banks are usually open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 15:00. Currency can be exchanged at any branch of the bank, at the airport, at exchange offices and some hotels. The last option is the least profitable, since a commission is charged. It is forbidden to change money on the street.

ATMs can be found only in the capital and in large tourist centers.

To travel around the province, you will have to stock up on Malagasy Ariaries in small bills, since exchanging large bills will be almost impossible.

Communications

Phone Code: 261

Internet domain: .mg

Ambulance: 211-70, fire department: 225-66, police: 229-72

Phone codes of cities

Antananarivo - 22

How to call

To call from Russia to Madagascar, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 261 - 20 * - city code - subscriber number.

To call from Madagascar to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - city code - phone number.

  * - several operators work in the country, therefore, when dialing a number, the code of the operator company of two digits is added after the country code (20 - TELMA, 30 - Telecel, 31 - Sacel, 32 - SRR and 33 - Madacom).

Fixed communication

The communication system of Madagascar is quite outdated, but is undergoing intensive modernization. The number of pay phones on the streets is small, they are mainly concentrated near banks, hotels and large stores. International telephone service is available only in the main cities of the country.

mobile connection

Cellular communication uses the GSM-900 standard, coverage areas mainly cover only large cities and tourist areas, as well as main roads.

The local mobile operator is Orange.

the Internet

You can get regular Internet access in the Internet cafe in the capital of the country - Antananarivo and in some other large cities.

Shopping

Shops are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 17: 00-17: 30, on Saturdays from 8:00 to 13:00. Most shops are closed on Sunday. In the southern and southeastern regions of the country, most of the outlets are closed for daytime siesta from 12: 00-13: 00 to 15: 00-16: 00.

You can bargain almost everywhere, but locals themselves are usually almost no bargain. Vendors rarely cunning or overcharge when they see a foreigner, so prices are more or less adequate everywhere.

When buying emeralds, processed, faceted and polished stones, ready for jewelry purposes, it is necessary to take from the seller a certificate that will be required at customs. All products from representatives of the Malagasy flora and fauna (including dried flowers) also require export certificates for export, which must be obtained at the time of purchase.

It must be borne in mind that the vast majority of souvenirs of this kind sold in markets and in souvenir shops are made illegally and therefore do not have any certificates for export from the country, and a tourist who buys them can be subjected to a rather large fine.

Where to stay

Categories of Madagascar hotels are denoted by familiar "stars", from 1 to 5. But the rules by which these "stars" are hung are often inaccessible to the European understanding: for example, some "five-stars" in terms of the range of services offered and the level of service are almost identical to the "three stars".

High-level hotels have two types of rates: one for their citizens, and the other for foreigners. In addition, payment from tourists is taken in foreign currency.

Sea and beaches

Along the entire coast of Madagascar there are quiet lagoons with beaches of white sand, surrounded by coral reefs with a colorful underwater world.

In terms of tourism, the west coast of the island is most developed, on the east coast there is a greater chance of sharks.

The most popular beach resort of Madagascar is the island of Nosy Be.

History

By archaeological standards, the settlement of Madagascar occurred relatively recently. Madagascar was settled around 200-500 AD by colonists from the Austronesian peoples who traveled there by canoe. This theory is supported by many parallels between the Austronesian culture and the culture of the inhabitants of Madagascar, for example, a special type of canoe or a special method of growing rice, as well as the close relationship between the Malagasy language and the language of the population of the southern part of the island of Kalimantan and genetic research carried out at the beginning of the 21st century. There is no evidence of colonization by the Austronesians of mainland Africa.

Around the same time or somewhat later, settlers from the Bantu tribes moved to the island through the Mozambique Channel. At the same time, new arrivals occupied mainly coastal territories, while the descendants of the Austronesians lived in the middle of the island. Genetic studies have shown that the confluence of the Austronesian and African populations began around the 10th century, as a result of which a people formed with the self-name of the Malagasy.

In the seventh century, with the arrival of Arabs on the island, written references to Madagascar begin.

The name of the island was given by the famous Venetian traveler Marco Polo, who casually mentioned in his notes about the island of countless treasures, called Madeigascar. Most modern researchers believe that in fact it was not about the island at all, but about the current capital of the state of Somalia - the port of Mogadishu. However, after marking the island on Italian maps as Madagascar, the name stuck, and has not changed since.

Despite the widespread influence of Muslim culture on the island, Islam in Madagascar did not take root. However, some signs of Arab influence, such as patriarchy and calendar names for days, months, and seasons, still exist to this day.

The first visit to Madagascar by a European occurred in 1500, when the ship of the Portuguese traveler Diogo Diaz, heading to India, deviated from the course and landed on the island. In light of the important geographical location of Madagascar for spice traders who circled all over Africa, France and Britain tried to establish their outposts on the island. However, the inhospitable climate and even less hospitable Aborigines made this task almost impossible.

In the XVII century, the important geographical location of the island and the virtual absence of colonial authorities made Madagascar what it became famous throughout Europe - a haven for pirates and slave traders. Many famous pirates such as William Kidd, Robert Drury, John Bowen and others could call Madagascar their second homeland. Merchants were also robbed in the direction of India (gold, silver, fabrics) and vice versa (spices, jewelry, silk). The natives of the island, very warlike tribes, used the latest European achievements to lead internecine warriors, and subsequently sold prisoners to slave traders. Sometimes, if the captives could not be taken, the leaders sold their own subjects.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the mountainous state of Merina, living in cultural isolation from the rest of Madagascar, made a successful attempt to expand to the entire island. In 1818, Radam I was declared king of Madagascar. His dynasty ruled the island until 1896, when the last king was overthrown by French troops who invaded Madagascar back in 1883.

In 1890, the French protectorate was recognized by Britain, in exchange for the French recognition of the British protectorate of present Tanzania (then Tanganyika and Zanzibar). In 1897, the French finally abolished the indigenous monarchy, removing King Ranavalon III from power.

After the defeat of France from Nazi Germany in 1940, the protectorate became controlled by the Vichy regime, however, after the Madagascar operation, British troops occupied the island, keeping it from the Japanese conquest. Germany had its own views on the island: it was planned to resettle 4 million Jews from Europe here (see the plan "Madagascar").

After the transfer of Madagascar to France in 1943, revolutionary unrest began on the island, which resulted in an uprising for independence in 1947. The uprising was crushed, but the French government freed the colony from its direct control in 1958.

On October 14, 1958, the Autonomous Malagasy Republic was proclaimed under the French protectorate.

On June 26, 1960, an independent Malagasy Republic was proclaimed on the island. The country was led by the Social Democratic Party, led by Filbert Tsiranana.

In May 1972, the capital of the country began unrest among students who detonated the political crisis. The president transferred power to the military, led by General Ramanantsua.

On December 31, 1974, a group of soldiers attempted to overthrow General Ramanantsua. However, the general was soon removed from power by his associates. The new Prime Minister, Racimandrava, was killed three days later on January 27, 1975. Power passed into the hands of a military directory. In the spring of the country there were high-profile trials against the conspirators. In 1975, the country changed its name to the Democratic Republic of Madagascar, a country led by Didier Ratsiraka headed for the construction of socialism. Strengthening ties with the USSR. French troops are being withdrawn from the country.

Soviet Perestroika leads to similar processes in Madagascar. In 1990, a multi-party system was restored. In 1991, an anti-government demonstration was shot. In 1992, Albert Zafi became the new president of the country: the process of democratization and market reforms began in the country.

2009 began in Madagascar with protests. On January 31, at an anti-government rally, capital mayor Andrew Rajoelina proclaimed himself head of state. On March 9, a group of soldiers rebelled at the central military base of Suanieran in protest against the brutal crackdown on anti-government protests. On March 13, rebel tanks entered the country's capital. On March 16, rebels seized the Ambuhitsuruhitra presidential palace in the center of the capital. President Mark Ravalumanana escaped arrest by taking refuge in the Javuluh suburban residence 20 km from the city. On March 17, he transferred power to the military, and those to the opposition leader and mayor of the capital, Andrew Rajoelin. The next day, the constitutional court ruled that the transfer of power was legal and on March 22, Rajoelina took the oath of the president. A number of countries, including the United States, condemned the coup and threatened with sanctions.

When to go to Madagascar

The best season to visit the country is the local summer from April to October. July and August are traditionally the high season associated with the influx of tourists from Europe.

But, in general, the choice of a favorable time for a trip is determined by the places planned for visiting and the type of vacation - beach, eco-tourism, water sports, watching animals, visiting national parks, etc.

Helpful information

Raw or untested water on the island must not be drunk in any case. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice must be boiled.

Safe places for swimming in the ocean are lagoons and areas protected by coral reefs. Sharks are often found in other places, and dangerous reptiles are found in estuaries and mangroves.

Malagasy people are extremely hospitable and friendly to tourists, and without the usual ingratiating and humiliating begging in African countries. There are no restrictions on the form of clothing here, except for quite reasonable requirements with modesty when visiting cult places. It is not recommended to wear army-style clothing - this is not accepted and may even lead to police detention.

When visiting any Malagasy house or ceremony, it is recommended to make small offerings (usually a bottle of rum, cigarettes or some kind of food), especially when visiting necropolises (money should not be given !!). Respect should be given to many local taboos (“fadi”), but since they are different in different areas of the country, it is quite difficult. It is recommended that you follow the advice of guides and guides.

A characteristic feature of local residents is also slowness. Public transport, for example, does not move until the cabin is full - regardless of the schedule and how long it will take. An appointment or event scheduled for a specific hour is likely to start half an hour later than planned, and the order at the restaurant will be completed very late.

To visit the reserves require a pass. Any form of logging, hunting, or fishing is prohibited in the country's reserves.

How to get to Madagascar

There are no direct flights from Russia to Madagascar. You can get there through major European cities.

The easiest option is to fly with Air France flights with a connection in Paris. The duration of the flight from Moscow to Paris is 3 hours 55 minutes, from Paris to Antananarivo - 10 hours 15 minutes (taking into account the connection, the total travel time is about 15.5 hours). The approximate cost of a round-trip flight is 2000-2300 USD.

Regular flights are operated between Madagascar and Kenya, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Tanzania and South Africa.

Useful data for tourists about Madagascar, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Madagascar, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Madagascar.

Geography of Madagascar

Madagascar is a state in the western Indian Ocean, on the island of Madagascar and adjacent small islands off the east coast of Africa.

A third of the territory of Madagascar is highlands. Many extinct volcanoes, there are earthquakes. The highest point is the peak of Marumukutru (2876 m). The east coast is occupied by the coastal lowlands, the west - by low plains.

State

Government structure

Madagascar is a democratic unitary parliamentary republic. The head of state is the president. Executive power is vested in the government and the prime minister, whom the president appoints from candidates nominated by parliament. The legislature is a bicameral parliament consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate.

Tongue

Official language: Malagasy, French

The Malagasy language is the most western of the Malay-Polynesian languages \u200b\u200bbelonging to the Austronesian family. In the tourism sector, English is often used.

Religion

52% of the population are adherents of traditional beliefs (animalism, fetishism, the cult of ancestors, the forces of nature, etc.), 41% profess Christianity (approximately equal number of Catholics and Protestants), 7% are Sunni Muslims from among immigrants from Comoros and Pakistan.

Currency

International name: MGA

Ariari is equal to 5 irimbilanas. Bank notes in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000 ariari are in circulation, coins: 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ariari, as well as 1 and 2 irimbilanjevs.

Popular Attractions

Madagascar Tourism

Popular hotels

Tip

Although tips are not practiced in many establishments, it is better to give them in local currency and at any opportunity, since the level of salaries of service workers is extremely low. In restaurants and hotels in the capital, tips make up 10% of the total order value and are automatically added to the account.

Purchases

Bargaining is accepted almost everywhere, but the Malagasy themselves usually do not bargain. Sellers rarely cunning or cheating when they see a foreigner, so prices are more or less weighted everywhere, and the discount is formed based on the seller’s personal inclination towards this type of trade.

When buying emeralds, processed, faceted and polished stones, ready for jewelry purposes, it is necessary to take from the seller a certificate that will be required at customs. All products from representatives of the Malagasy flora and fauna (including dried flowers) also require export certificates for export, which must be obtained at the time of purchase. It must be borne in mind that the vast majority of souvenirs of this kind sold in markets and in souvenir shops are made illegally and therefore do not have any certificates for export from the country, and a tourist who buys them can be subjected to a rather large fine.

The medicine

The main dangers are schistomatosis (it is recommended to avoid swimming in freshwater), hepatitis A, B and C, dysentery and diarrhea. A number of viral diseases, including hemorrhagic fever, are common in many inland areas. There are also natural centers of plague, cholera, typhoid and rabies. The risk of contracting malaria exists year-round throughout the country and is highest in coastal areas.

Security

Swim in the ocean without risk is possible only in the lagoons and in areas protected by coral reefs. In other places, sharks are constantly found, and dangerous reptiles are found in estuaries and mangroves.

All water should be considered as potentially hazardous to health. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice must be boiled.

Emergency phones

Ambulance (Ambatumen Medical Center) - 211-70.
  Military hospital - 403-41.
  Municipal Hygiene Department (Antananarivo) - 274-04.
  Befalatan Hospital - 223-84.
  Fire Department of Antananarivo - 225-66.
  Police - 229-72

Madagascar - an island in the west of the Indian Ocean, takes the 4th place in the world in area - after Kalimantan in the Malay archipelago, New Guinea and Greenland; sometimes called the “mini-continent." Madagascar is separated from Africa by the Mozambique Channel, the longest on the planet, but the distance from the island to the eastern coast of the continent can be different: the width of the channel is from 422 to 925 km.

Where is?

In connection with the name of the island of Madagascar, Marco Polo is often mentioned. It is believed that he gave the name to him; but the famous Italian was there in the 13th century, and the first mention of Madagascar dates back to the 7th century A.D. They also say that the island was named by the French, after the name of one of its areas - Matakassi. Another hypothesis is related to the local language: "madagasy Kara" - "Rock Malgash". This is what the inhabitants of Madagascar call themselves - in other countries they are called Malagasy.

If on the western side of the island of Madagascar, through the strait, is Africa, then from the east, north and south - only the Indian Ocean. Although the continent is not far away, the climate of Madagascar differs from the African one. There are tropics, arid regions and “temperate” regions; in the central regions it is not hot - about 18 ° C, and in the northwest the temperature can rise to 34 ° C. There are frosts in the mountains, and cyclones are frequent on the coasts. However, there are many regions with a temperature of 24-27 ° C on the island, and in fact there is no “continuous” rainy season - there are enough opportunities for recreation and tourism in Madagascar.

About 20 million people live on the island of Madagascar, and the majority are Malagasy. They say that they do not resemble Africans at all, but are more like Malays and Polynesians. Madagascar is also called the "island of mysteries"; there are many unusual plants and animals. The island has species found in different parts of the world - from Africa and India to Australia and South America, but 3/4 of all local species are endemic - they can not be found anywhere else.

Underdeveloped tourism

Although they say that tourism is for the country - the Democratic Republic of Madagascar, the most important sector of the economy, it is still developing poorly: the political situation is in the way. As experience shows, the president in this country can simply be kicked out, and then the military, his former supporters, can easily raise uprisings, and different ethnic groups do not always know how to agree among themselves. The situation is exacerbated by Western intervention, although no one wants to make long-term investments.

As a result, although the nature of Madagascar is unique and inimitable, and for the development of a beach holiday in Madagascar there are all the prerequisites, the infrastructure is poorly developed. This impedes a normal, modern vacation, but its active species - in particular, ecotourism - are well developed, and prices are low. Cheapness attracts not only Russian, but also Western tourists: so, if you focus on modest food, you can spend about $ 3 on food a day, and the most expensive products can cost $ 10. Even normal housing can be rented for $ 5-10 per day, however, there are other sides.

According to some reviews, high-quality service here costs a lot - almost as much as in developed countries, but the probability of violations is quite high: you can’t always get the promised money for your money - it is not surprising that the development of tourism in Madagascar as a whole is “slowing down” ".

Features of rest on the island

So what is there to see and where to relax in Madagascar?

The most popular Nosy Be

Beach tourism in Madagascar as a whole is not very prosperous, but the infrastructure of the West Bank is considered quite developed and suitable for recreation. The island of Nosy Be is the most popular: the local beaches are well-maintained, clean and calm. The most visited beach is Andilana, with a diving center and canoe excursions.

On Nosy Be you can see amazing black lemurs: with a length of about 40 cm they weigh only 1.8-2 kg, and their tails are long and fluffy.

Resort Madagascar Tuliara

Tuliara is also a popular resort in Madagascar. Clean beaches are surrounded by baobabs, and tourists ride on painted pies; on some beaches they show the shell of the eggs of giant extinct birds - epiornis, whose growth reached 3 m.On the coast of Tuliara there is a huge coral reef: it stretches for 250 km and is considered the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier - divers love this place. Diving is generally considered the best entertainment here: the water is very clear - visibility is up to 30 m, and there are many unique fish and marine animals. In the area of \u200b\u200bAmbotoloaka there is a marine park: in it, at an 18-meter depth, you can spend hours watching exotic fish, shellfish and turtles.

Ecotourism and excursions

There is a lot of talk about ecotourism on the island of Madagascar: the government plans to develop it, and there are already some successes - hiking trails are created in nature reserves and parks, and local residents are taught guides. There are more than 100 species of lemurs in Madagascar, and biologists using ecotourism are trying to save them from extinction - unfortunately, due to the destruction of forests, these unique animals can disappear.

There is also such a type of vacation in Madagascar as excursions - it is represented quite widely. Tourists are offered special sightseeing tours, but you can go on an excursion, having already arrived in the country of your choice. Vacationers are given the opportunity to spend the night in hotels in different cities and in campsites, visiting national parks and attractions.

Madagascar Attractions

Attractions on the island of Madagascar missing.

Only in the capital of Madagascar - Antananarivo, there are dozens of sights: parks, terraces, museums, palaces, but the most striking composition is Ruva Ambuhimanga - an entire ensemble that includes not only beautiful palaces, but also the tombs of the rulers of Madagascar.

Madagascar Landmark - Hira-Gashi Theater

The Hira-Gashi Theater is another local miracle of Madagascar. This is the oldest form of local theater - musical; they say that it is typically Madagascar, and the inhabitants of the island believe that tourists should see its performances necessarily. I must say that it is really popular: about 1 million people visit it during the year, but the Malagasy themselves also enter this number. The theater consists of amateur groups that seem to compete with each other, trying to win the love of the audience: artists sing and dance, play musical instruments, read poetry, demonstrate colorful costumes - performances are given at stadiums, markets and other public places.

Hira-gashi appeared in the late XVIII - early XIX centuries, when the government was actively engaged in clearing the area for agriculture. In order to cheer up people, kings ordered singers and dancers to perform right at the places of work - that's when artistic groups began to compete and hone their skills in every possible way. It is interesting that viewers can also take part in certain performances, although most of the performances are played according to worked-out scenarios.

What are the prices for vacation?

It is recommended to go on a vacation to Madagascar in the dry season, from May to October - you can get more impressions. Prices for tours depend on their duration: for example, a week can rest for 160 thousand rubles, and 2 weeks for 380 thousand, but the popularity of the places visited is also an important pricing factor. Colorful festivals and lush holidays are held here in late autumn, winter, and March, and the prices for flights and accommodation are slightly reduced.