Guide

Guide

Traveling can be both exciting and stressful, especially when it's a new destination. However, it's always wise to know where you're going. We have the \"guide\" for you. Find all the essential information you need to know before visiting Madagascar. Useful information, especially for those who have never been there.

Madagascar

The island of Madagascar is a country in the Indian Ocean off southeast Africa, divided into six autonomous provinces. The majority of the population follows traditional faiths, with a Muslim or Christian minority. The island is home to thousands of endemic animal species such as lemurs, as well as tropical forests, beaches, and coral reefs.

Description

Tourism in Madagascar

Tourism is one of the most important economic activities for Madagascar, particularly Nosy Be. It is one of the country's primary sources of foreign currency. It focuses on the country's natural parks. Madagascar's flora and fauna are indeed the best preserved in the world. The Big Island is home to numerous endemic species, the most famous of which is the lemur, and along the coast, the marine fauna does not go unnoticed. Sports tourism is also growing. Many water sports enthusiasts flock to the areas around Diego-Suarez or Nosy-Be in the north of the country to practice kitesurfing and windsurfing. The annual wind season lasts from late March to late November. It is among the longest and strongest in the world.

The 23 Regions of Madagascar:

Each of the regions of Madagascar offers its share of breathtaking landscapes, rich traditions, and fascinating stories. From the northern tip to the southern reaches, each region offers a unique experience that is sure to seduce you. They are: Diégo/Suarez, Sambava, Itasy, Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, Bongolava, Sofia, Boeny, Betsiboka, Melaky, Alaotra, Mangoro, Atsinanana, Analanjorofo, Amoron’iMania, Haute Matsiatra, Vatovavy Fitovinany, Androy, Atsimo Atsinanana, Ihorombe, Menabe, Atsimo Andrefana, Tôlagnaro.

The 18 Ethnic Groups of Madagascar:

Madagascar has several ethnic groups: Merina, Betsileo, Betsimisaraka, Sakalava, Antaisaka, Antandroy, Mahafaly, Vezo, Bara, Antakarana, Antemoro, Antaifasy, Masikoro, Antambahoaka, Tsimihety, Tanala, Bezanozano, and Sihanaka.

History, Culture, and Customs:

The culture of Madagascar primarily refers to the cultural practices of its vast population. This culture reflects the different waves of settlement over the centuries. Nevertheless, all these Malagasy people, with their diverse cultures, observe the same gesture of respect when they meet: they bow. This country of approximately 32.7 million inhabitants is therefore very culturally diverse. It is home to 18 distinct ethnic groups, speaking the same language but different dialects. It is not surprising to learn that each ethnic group has different taboos and prohibitions (fady) that are passed down from generation to generation. Here, people do not wear the color red during heavy rain when there is thunder and lightning. Circumcision is a real tradition throughout the island; it involves cutting a little boy's foreskin in order to be truly considered a man. Madagascar is the only country where "FAMADIHANA" or turning of the dead is practiced. In the Highlands, although it is becoming less common due to its cost, the famadihana season runs from June to September.

Customs

Madagascan culture originates largely from other continents. The belief in vintana—destiny—may derive from Islamic cosmology, while the religious symbolism and status conferred on cattle recall African heritage. The main Malagasy customs concern ancestor worship, which designates both ancestors and the respect accorded them. It consists of a complex system of fady and funeral rites. The fady corresponds to a system of local taboos intended to appease the ancestors. For example, a fady might prohibit whistling on a beach near a village, or walking in front of a sacred tree. There are thousands of such superstitions, many of which do not extend beyond the confines of a village. The zebu is a sign of wealth and therefore very important. Along with rice, it is one of the two symbols of the country. These cattle, whose meat is consumed in abundance, are almost as numerous as the human population.

Malagasy Cuisine:

Rice is the staple of the Malagasy diet, grown on the island. Malagasy cuisine brings together all the varied culinary traditions of the Indian Ocean and Creole cuisine: hearty and spicy dishes. The main dishes are: meat stewed with garlic and ginger, pounded cassava leaves mixed with coconut milk, and zebu steak, fish, or shrimp. Zebu broth with greens, free-range chicken stewed with garlic, fried fish, not to mention local pastries and various types of fritters.

Means of Transportation:

There are various means of transportation in Madagascar: The bush taxi is the most commonly used means of transportation on the island, along with planes, car rentals, trains, canoes, dhows, ferries, and cars.

Madagascar's Festivals and Festivities:

January-February-March: The first three months of the year mark the beginning of the cyclone season in the Indian Ocean, which extends until March. Cyclones primarily affect the coasts. The rainy season has now begun throughout the country, with varying intensity depending on the region. It is accompanied by intense heat during the day. January marks the beginning of the "lean season": the previous year's rice stocks are exhausted and the new plants have not yet been harvested. This critical time of year lasts until March.

March (March 8): International Women's Day is celebrated with numerous events in cities across the country. Mother's Day and Father's Day are also important on the island. Uprising Day: Every March 29, the country commemorates the rebellion against the French in 1947.

April (Santabary): The Santabary Festival celebrates the first rice harvest of the year, in April and May. This is a time of abundance in the countryside, with bustling markets.

June (June 26): This day, marked by official and festive celebrations, is also a key date for political demands. June signals the start of numerous circumcision festivals across the island.

July: In the countryside, this is the beginning of the "kabary period," or "palaver period." Until September, this is the time of year when money from the rice harvest is spent, and preparations for festivals, weddings, and famadihana are made. Vanilla: The SAVA triangle (Sambava, Antalaha, Vohémar, Andapa) lives between July and early August to the rhythm of the vanilla harvest, whose glistening pods dry in the sun and fill the towns with their scent.

August: The Somarôho Festival is the grand annual carnival that lights up Nosy Be in early August. This iconic event plays a crucial role in promoting tourism in Nosy Be. Somarôho is the largest festival in the Indian Ocean. Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover the soul of Nosy Be and enjoy an unforgettable experience at the heart of the Somarôho Festival!

September: Great travelers, humpback whales migrate every year from Antarctica to tropical regions where they can mate and give birth. They are found around Sainte-Marie Island and Nosy Be, where they put on a truly spectacular show.

October: It's mango season. Tasty and available in a dozen varieties, they are appearing on tables and in markets. Another gift of nature: the jacaranda trees are in bloom.

November: The month of lychee harvest. Madagascar's lychees are particularly juicy and delicious... The rainy season begins, preventing traffic on some seasonal roads. Some years, clouds wait patiently until December.

December: This is the time of abundance on the lush east coast, with the harvest of numerous fruits.