Madagascar is a very unique place. 165 million years ago it split away from Africa allowing its flora and fauna to develop independently of the mainland giving the island its uniqueness. Animals such as Lemurs and plants such as the Baobab tree are recognizable worldwide and are endemic to the island. Although Madagascar is a unique island it has some quite common hazards visitors should beware of.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Madagascar must have a valid passport. Tourists traveling to Madagascar for short periods of up to 90 days regardless of their nationality can obtain a visa upon arrival on the airport in Antananarivo. Tourists who choose to drive in Madagascar must have their domestic driving license. An international driving permit is not required but may come in handy. Although the domestic driving permit is the only document required by law to carry whilst driving, the police officers at random checkpoints across the country will usually ask for a passport as well.

Traveling hazards

Road conditions in Madagascar are generally poor. Major roads leading out of Antananarivo are paved but mostly poorly maintained and riddled with potholes. Almost all other roads are either gravel or cobblestone roads. Driving in rural areas may be dangerous due to animals wandering onto the roads, especially livestock. human-drawn carts are common on the roads both at night and day time. Driving in Antananarivo may be very difficult, road signage and markings are scarce which makes navigation around the city a nightmare. Taxis and other forms of public transport around the city are common at accommodating prices however if taking a taxi it is best to negotiate the fare. When driving on rural roads it is best to hire a 4×4. During the wet season, rains will often flood roads making them impassible. If renting a car at a vehicle rental it will generally come with a driver who also serves as a tour guide.

Environmental hazards

The only large creature to inhabit Madagascar which is dangerous for humans in the Nile crocodile. It inhabits the freshwaters of the western part of the island. Its range on the island was greatly reduced by poachers. There are several species of a black widow in Madagascar however none of these are capable of piercing human skin in order to inject venom making them not dangerous. There are venomous scorpions however none of these have venom potent enough to kill humans however a sting is quite painful. It is advised to shake out clothes before wearing them. Swimming in Madagascar is generally safe. Shark attacks are very rare with the last fatal attack being recorded in 1955. For safety, however, it is advised to avoid swimming after dusk due to increased activity of sharks. It is also advised to avoid ponds, lakes and murky waters on the western part of the island due to crocodile presence.
Madagascar lies within the hurricane alley on the south Pacific ocean. The hurricane season begins in December and lasts till mid-May. During that time tropical cyclones may devastate the islands infrastructure and urban areas as well as impede any sort of tourism. During the wet season, Madagascar often suffers from severe floods.

Health hazards

Although there is no risk of yellow fever in Madagascar, all visitors traveling from countries with a risk of yellow fever must present proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival. There are several other vaccinations which are not required but are recommended. These are the routine vaccines, typhoid, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. The bubonic plague occurs almost yearly in Madagascar. There is no available vaccination against the bubonic plague however it is mostly spread through infected bug bites and contact with the infected therefore using bug repellants and avoiding contact with the infected is the only way to prevent catching the disease, this also applies to malaria however there is also medicine on prescription against malaria. Healthcare standard in Madagascar is quite poor and still unavailable to many of its citizens. Almost 40% of the population does not have immediate access due to poor infrastructure creating difficulties in reaching villages across the country. Private healthcare in the country provides better quality service however it is fairly expensive.
In case of an emergency dial 117.

Crime

There has been an increase in both petty and violent crime. Most of the violent crime takes place at night. Armed robbers operate in cities victimizing lone tourists and on highways far from towns blocking the roads with rubble and forcing cars to stop in order to steal from their victims. The “bush taxis” that operate in Madagascar have been reported for robbing their passengers. Petty crime is common, car break-ins, bag snatching, and pickpocketing are common especially in around the tourist areas. To decrease the chance of becoming a crime victim it is advised to avoid wandering around at night. Victims are also picked on the basis of their wealth, wearing flashy jewelry and exposing signs of wealth increases the chances of falling a victim. Wearing a money belt helps to greatly reduce the chances of being pickpocketed. Drug laws in Madagascar are very strict. Possession of any kind or amount of narcotics is illegal and heavily punishable.

Summary

Madagascar is truly one of the most unique places on earth. The island boasts features no other place on earth can provide. It is definitely a place to visit. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visas)
http://www.madagascar-consulate.org/visainfo.html
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/madagascar
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/plague-madagascar