Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar gained independence from France on June 26, 1960. It is an island in the Indian Ocean near the southeastern coast of Africa and separates it from Mozambique on the African continent the Mozambique Canal with a warm current - Mozambique Current.

This island is the fourth largest in the world and holds 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which 80% can only be found on the island. The main attractions are lemurs and hishnik foss. The west coast of Madagascar is flat and dry, and in the central part of the island is a hill and plateau. Along the east coast of Madagascar stretches a mountain range and it stops the clouds from the Indian Ocean and therefore this coast is wet and there are more forests here. On the east coast there are also many small bays and the Pangalan Canal, which stretches south from the city of Toamasin along the ocean. The most tourist and beach places are 2 small islands located near the main island of Madagascar, this is Nozi Be in the north-western part and Sante Mari in the east. On these islands there are many lodges and hotels offering beach holidays, diving and diving, excursion cruises and whale watching in the season from July to September.

The local population is a mixture of Afro-Asians and Africans, as well as some Arab, Hindu and European blood. The country is also densely populated and has 18 different tribes.

Territory: 587,041 square meters. km
  
Capital: Antananarivo

Largest cities: Antananarivo, Toamasina, Fianarantsoa, ​​Taolanaro, Toliar, Diego Suarez, Antsirabe, Mahadjanka, Morondava

Languages: Official languages ​​- Malagasy, French (state languages ​​- Malagasy and French)

Population: 21,000,000 people, mainly the people of Merina (3 million), Wetsimisakar (1.6 million), Tsemikhet (0.9 million) and Sakalava (0.8 million)

Monetary unit: Malagasy Ariary, bank notes of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 and 20000

The main gross domestic product: Agricultural products (in particular many flowers and oils for the perfume industry), mining, textile industry, seafood, tourism

Exports: Coffee, cocoa, vanilla, polymetals, sapphires, rice, fish, lobsters, shrimps and other seafood

Climate: Tropical and subtropical, humid on the coast. Two seasons: hot and rainy from November to April and cool and dry from May to October. Average temperature: in the summer from November to April 25-34 and in the winter from May to October 22-29 degrees. Southeast winds dominate and cyclones are possible.

Time Zone: Moscow time

Visa Requirements: To enter Madagascar you need an entry visa for Russian, Kazakh and Ukrainian tourists. You can get it at the border at the entrance to the country. Currently, a visa costs 25 Euros for a trip of up to 30 days.

Credit Cards: VISA and MASTER CARD are accepted for payment only in hotels and major stores.

Currency Exchange: In the country you can pay in foreign currency. Here they prefer the Euro, but it is better to change the currency to Ariary - it would be more cost effective.

Tips: In Madagascar, it is customary to pay tips. In a restaurant: about 5-10% of the total order value (including drinks). Porter service: about 0.5 Euro per piece of luggage. Driver Guide: 2-3 Euro per person per day for work.
Voltage: 230-240 volts with a double (European type) socket.

Drinking water: It is not recommended to drink water from the tap in Madagascar.

Rent a car: Cars can be rented only in Antananarivo. If you rent a 4 x 4 car, then you will have to take it with the driver. Driving on the right side of the road. The roads are constantly improving in Madagascar, but in the outback and far from Antananarivo they are still in very poor condition.