The country of Madagascar sits in the Indian Ocean just to the southwest of Africa. It’s the fourth-largest island in the world and has a population of about 21 million people. The
largest city and capital is Antananarivo. Madagascar was a former French colony from 1890 until 1960, when it gained independence. There’s still a large French influence and French is
one of the nations’ official languages, along with English and Malagasy.
It’s believed the island was originally inhabited around 500-200 AD by people from the Indonesian
archipelago. Years later, East African and Arab migrants settled on the island. Most of the residents speak Malagasy, but also know a little English and/or French. If you love nature
and flora and fauna, you’ll be thrilled to know that five per cent of earth’s animal and plant species are at home in Madagascar, with many of them being unique to the country.
The land is separated into six provinces and 22 regions with some of the most popular cities being Antananarivo, Andoany, Toamasina, Morondava, Toliara, Taolagnaro, Antsirabe,
Ambositra, and Vatomandry.
The island’s filled with rain forests, lakes, canals, deciduous forest, dry plains, deserts, valleys, and mountains. There are two basic seasons in Madagascar, which
are rainy and hot between November and April and a dry, cooler season between May and October.
If you’d like to enjoy the outdoors and check out the plants and animals there are several national parks to visit, including Masoala National Park, Tsingy de
Bemaraha Reserve, Andringitra National Park, and Isalo National Park.
Tsingy de Bemaraha is the largest reserve and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s home to all types of rare birds and plants and is located about 100 miles north
of Morondava. Another popular site is the Avenue of the Baobabs as it’s filled with huge baobab trees. This is situated on the west coast about 45 miles north of Morondava in the
Menabe Region. If you’d like to take in some outdoor activities, camping, hiking, kite surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, and deep sea fishing are popular.
Several airlines fly into Madagascar with most service being from Europe, Africa, and Asia. There are also several airports for domestic flights. There are a few
railway lines in operation and these are a good way to view the amazing countryside, especially between Fianarantsoa and Manakara. You can also take in the sights by car, but the
roads aren’t really up to North American and European standards. Taxis are pretty popular though as are vans and buses. Another great way to explore the area is to charter a yacht or
even explore the small villages and towns by bike.
When it comes to food, the locals love rice and you’ll find it comes with most of their meals. There are also several other types of favourite dishes including pork,
seafood, eggs, beans, breads, crayfish, cinnamon apples, oranges, bananas, sambos, zebu sausages, and tropical desserts. Herbal teas, coffee, and alcohol are produced locally and are
pretty popular.
The country also has a rich and distinctive musical heritage with unique instruments such as bamboo tubes known as valihas to play traditional Malagasy music. You’ll
also notice a strong African influence in the music and singing styles as well as other instruments such as accordions, guitars, pianos, violins, clarinets, and trumpets.
There are plenty of accommodations in Madagascar and you should be able to find them without a problem in the larger cities. However, many people like to stay in
smaller villages and in hostels, bed and breakfast, etc. Either way, you should be able to find a good place for any type of budget.
Madagascar is a wonderful place to visit if you’re a nature lover and enjoy a diverse mix of cultures, events, and foods, etc. It’s ideal for the more adventurous
types.
About Madagascar