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Madagascar
General Information
Area: 587,041 sq km (226,658 sq miles).
Population: 14,579,000 (1999).
Population Density: 24.8 per sq km.
Capital: Antananarivo (formerly Tananarive). Population: 4,031,103 (1993).
GEOGRAPHY: Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world, lies in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique. It includes several much smaller islands. A central chain of high mountains, the Hauts Plateaux, occupies more than half of the main island and is responsible for the marked differences – ethnically, climatically and scenically – between the east and west coasts. The narrow strip of lowlands on the east coast, settled from the sixth century by Polynesian seafarers, is largely covered by dense rainforests, whereas the broader west-coast landscape, once covered by dry deciduous forests, is now mostly savannah. The east coast receives the monsoon and, on both coasts, the climate is wetter towards the north. The southern tip of the island is semi-desert, with great forests of cactus-like plants. The capital, Antananarivo, is high up in the Hauts Plateaux near the island’s centre. Much of Madagascar’s flora and fauna is unique to the island. There are 3000 endemic species of butterfly; the many endemic species of lemurs fill the niches occupied elsewhere by animals as varied as racoons, monkeys, marmots, bushbabies, sloths and even (though this variant is now extinct) bears. There is a similar diversity of reptiles, amphibians and birds (especially ducks), and also all levels of plant life.
Government: Republic since 1992. Gained independence from France in 1960. Head of State: President Mark Ravalomanana since 2002. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jacques Sylla since 2002.
Language: The official languages are Malagasy (which is related to Indonesian) and French. Local dialects are also spoken. Very little English is spoken.
Religion: Fifty-one per cent follow Animist beliefs, about 43 per cent Christian; remainder Muslim.
Time: GMT + 3.
Electricity: Mostly 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are generally two-pin.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available to major towns. Country code: 261, followed by two-digit number for access provider: 20 for TELMA (the most reliable), 30 for Telecel, 31 for Sacel, 32 for SRR and 33 for Madacom. (A standard dialling code is expected to be introduced soon.) After the international and access codes, numbers should be seven digits including two initial digits for the geographical area. Outgoing international code: 16.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network in use. Main network providers include Madacom and Antaris. Coverage reaches major cities and main roads.
Internet
Public Internet access exists in large cities; there are a few Internet cafes in Antananarivo.
Telegram
The main post office (PTT) in Antananarivo offers a 24-hour telegram transmission service.
Post
The Poste Restante facilities at main post offices are the most reliable option. Airmail to Europe takes at least seven days and surface mail three to four months.
Press
There are no English-language newspapers; six dailies are published in French and/or Malagasy. The main papers include Midi Madagasikara, Madagascar Tribune and L'Express de Madagascar.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Australian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | Yes | Yes | | USA | Yes | Yes | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Restricted entry: Madagascar does not recognise passports issued by the Palestinian Government.
Passports: Passports valid for six months after date of entry required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except:
Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft within 24 hours provided holding onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £40 (single-entry); £50 (multiple-entry). Business: £55 (single-entry); £65 (multiple-entry).
Validity: Visas are issued for stays of up to 90 days and are valid for six months from date of issue.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). Some nationalities are able to get a visa at Antananarivo airport on arrival. Contact the embassy for further information prior to departure.
Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) One application form. (c) Four passport-size photos. (d) Return ticket or confirmation of booking from travel agent. (e) Fee payable by cheque or cash. (f) Additional £1.50 for recorded postage if applying by post. (g) For business visas, a letter of recommendation and confirmation of employment on company-headed notepaper with details about the applicant’s business activity.
Working days required: Same day (personal applications); up to five days (postal applications).
Temporary residence: Enquire at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy).
Money
Currency: Malagasy Franc (Mgfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of Mgfr25,000, 10,000, 5000, 2500 and 1000. Coins are in denominations of Mgfr250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.
Currency exchange: Malagasy Francs can be bought only at banks and official bureaux de change in hotels and at the airport in Antananarivo. Hotels have a less favourable exchange rate. A few ATMs have now been installed in Antananarivo.
Credit & debit cards: Visa, American Express, MasterCard and Diners Club are accepted at the capital’s Colbert and Hilton hotels. These and other cards have limited use elsewhere in the country. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: These can be exchanged in banks and major hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Euros.
Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is limited to Mgfr5000. The export of local currency is prohibited to non-residents. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Malagasy Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 9589.03 | 10144.40 | 10215.8 | 9426.12 | | $1.00= | 6580.00 | 6670.00 | 6460.00 | 5920.00 |
Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1500.
Duty Free
The following goods can be imported into Madagascar without incurring customs duty by persons 21 years of age and over:
500 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 500g of tobacco; 1 bottle of alcoholic beverage.
Note: All perfume is subject to duty. All vegetables must be declared. Animals need a detailed veterinary certificate. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits, which should be obtained at time of purchase. Tourists should be aware that many items on sale may have been manufactured illegally and may not be taken out of the country, with or without a permit.
Public Holidays
Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 30 Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 29 Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 26 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Sep 27 St Vincent de Paul’s Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 30 Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 29 Commemoration of the 1947 Rebellion. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 26 Independence Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Sep 27 St Vincent de Paul’s Day. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 30 Anniversary of the Republic of Madagascar.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | Yes | 1 | | Cholera | Yes | 2 | | Typhoid and Polio | 3 | N/A | | Malaria | 4 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from, or having passed through, an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy.
2: A cholera vaccination certificate is recommended for travellers arriving from, or having passed through, an area considered by the Malagasy authorities to be infected; enquire at Embassy. See the Health appendix for more information.
3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often recommended.
4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country and is highest in coastal areas. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported.
Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Hepatitis A, B, and E are endemic and precautions are advised. Dysenteries, diarrhoeal diseases are common. Many viral diseases including severe haemorrhagic fevers have been reported. Natural foci of plague occur.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Health insurance is strongly recommended; it should include cover for emergency repatriation. Private and public healthcare is available, but public facilities can be very limited. It is highly recommended that visitors bring medication for stomach upsets.
Travel - International
AIR: Madagascar’s national airline is Air Madagascar (MD).
Approximate flight times: From Antananarivo to London is 13 hours 50 minutes (including connection in Paris). There are regular flights from Madagascar to Réunion, Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, the Comoro Islands and the Seychelles.
International airports: Antananarivo (TNR), 17km (11 miles) from the city. Airport facilities include restaurant and bureau de change (open during arrivals and departures of international flights). It is linked by a regular bus service to the Air Madagascar office and the Hilton Hotel (the centre for Madagascar Airtours). Taxis asking special higher rates are also available at the airport.
Further airports are at Nossi Bé (links to the Seychelles); Mahajanga (links to East Africa and the Comoro Islands); Toamasina (links to Mauritius and Réunion islands); and Arivonimamo (international standby airport), which is 45km (28 miles) from the capital.
Departure tax: None.
SEA: International tour operators promote Madagascar as a stopping place on extended cruises of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. Expensive private cruises can be arranged from the USA and Europe. Toamasina is the main port.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Most of Madagascar can be reached by air (there are more than 200 airfields), the exceptions being a few towns in the central highlands. Air Madagascar flies to 51 towns and localities in the island and they offer an ‘Air Tourist Pass’ which allows unlimited travel for certain periods.
SEA/RIVER/CANAL: Madagascar has a strong maritime tradition and there are many coastal transport services. Rapids render many of the rivers unnavigable; local tour operators can organise small-boat safaris on the Betsiboka and the Tsiribihina. The Pangalanes Canal runs for almost 600km (370 miles) along the east coast. Much of it is currently too clogged with silt for commercial traffic; the Tourist Board can arrange sailing holidays.
RAIL: The only regular passenger rail service runs from Antanarivo to Moramanga and Lake Alaotra. Services leave every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, returning on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Fianarantsoa-Manakara line passes through spectacular rainforests but is not yet completely finished. First-class carriages are air-conditioned. Light refreshments are sometimes available. The rail service is intermittent in that trains arrive on one day and return on the following day. Children under four years old travel free. Children aged four to six years old pay half fare.
ROAD: The road network is in need of repair. Tarred roads of varying quality link the main towns in the central highlands and continue to the most populous parts of the east and northwest coasts. There are three main routes, from Antananarivo to Mahajanga (RN4), to Toamasina (RN2) and to Tuléar (RN7). There are isolated sections of tarred road elsewhere, but dirt tracks are more common. Many roads are impassable in the rainy season (November to March). In 1988, the World Bank approved a US$140-million loan to rehabilitate the network. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: A flat fare is charged, irrespective of the distance travelled. Services can be unreliable and buses tend to be crowded. Taxi: Flat fares apply except in Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa, where fare is calculated according to whether the ride is confined to the ‘lower town’ or goes on to the ‘upper town’. There are two types of taxi: the Taxi-be, which is quick and comfortable, and the Taxi-brousse (bush taxi), which is cheaper, slower, makes more stops and generally operates on cross-country routes. Fares should be agreed in advance and tipping is unnecessary. Rickshaw: The pousse-pousse (rickshaw) takes passengers except where traffic or gradient makes it impractical. Prices are not controlled and vary according to distance. Stagecoach: A few covered wagons continue to take passengers in Antananarivo. Car hire: This is not widespread and car-hire agencies can only be found in the main tourist towns. It is advisable to make enquiries in advance about insurance requirements for car hire. Motorbike hire: Available from several companies in Madagascar. Documentation: A national driving licence is sufficient.
Accommodation
Since hotel development is in its early stages, some areas are better served than others, notably the capital Antananarivo, Nossi Bé and Toamasina. However, recent projects aimed at increasing the number of international-standard establishments have led to the opening of national tourism centres where good- to medium-standard accommodation is now available at moderate prices. As well as classified or classifiable accommodation, group and youth lodging is available. European-style accommodation is scarce outside the larger towns, and those visiting remote areas should travel with an open mind. Enquiries should be addressed to the Tourism Office in Antananarivo or Air Madagascar agencies. The ‘Guide to Madagascar’ by Hilary Bradt provides excellent information on hotels and is available through the Madagascan Consulate in the UK or through bookshops. Grading: Hotels are classified from 1 to 5 stars (5-star being equivalent to an international standard of about 3 stars); a secondary system of ravinala (travellers’ palms) is used for more ‘rustic’ accommodation. More information is available from the Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section).
Introduction
The Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section) offers a wide range of tours, some lasting as long as a month.
Note: Those who intend to make their own arrangements should be aware that bandits operate in certain highland regions and that the terrain and climate make surface travel exceedingly difficult (and often impossible) throughout much of the country for much of the year.
The Central Highlands
The capital and several other important towns are situated in the central section of the Hauts Plateaux, the chain of rugged, ravine-riven mountains that run from north to south down the centre of Madagascar.
ANTANANARIVO: Antananarivo, often abbreviated to Tana, has a distinctively French flavour and atmosphere: French is widely spoken, and road as well as shop signs are mostly in French. The city is built on three levels. Dominating the city is the Queen’s Palace and associated Royal Village or Rova. Now a national monument (opening hours: 0900-1200 and 1400-1700), it was once the residency of the Merina Dynasty which, in the 19th century, united all Madagascar for the first time. On the lowest level is the market of Analakely. The Zuma Market, claimed to be the second-largest in the world and certainly worth a visit, is busiest on Fridays. The Tsimbazaza Zoological and Botanical Garden is open Thursday, Sunday and holidays 0800-1100 and 1400-1700. The Tourist Information Office is nearby. It is wise not to wander too far after dark.
AMBOHIMANGA: The birthplace of the Malagasy state, Ambohimanga is 20km (12 miles) from the capital. Known variously as ‘the blue city’, ‘the holy city’ and ‘the forbidden city’, it is surrounded by forests. The citadel was an important Merina stronghold and retains several structures associated with their ceremonies. Its main gate is an enormous stone disc; 40 men were needed to roll it into position.
ELSEWHERE: Situated 80km (50 miles) from the capital, Mantasoa is a popular spot for picnics. The area was landscaped for the Merina Queens by a shipwrecked Frenchman and includes an artificial lake, pine forests and Madagascar’s first industrial park.
Ampefy, 90km (60 miles) from the capital, is a volcanic region with spectacular waterfalls and geysers. Dams are used here to catch eels. Perinet, 140km (90 miles) from the capital, is a nature reserve, home of the indri (a tail-less lemur) and many species of orchid. Also known as Andasibe. Antsirabe, 170km (110 miles) from the capital, is a thermal spa and Madagascar’s main industrial centre. The volcanic hills surrounding the town are dotted with crater lakes. Madagascar’s second-highest mountain, Tsiafajovona, may be seen to the west of the road from Antananarivo.
The North
The lush north is dominated by two great mountains. Tsarantanana, at 2880m (9450ft) the island’s highest, is covered with the giant ferns and lichens peculiar to high-altitude rainforests. Montagne d’Arbre (1500m/4900ft) is a national park and is famous for its orchids and lemurs. The monsoon falls in the north between December and March.
MAHAJANGA: A provincial capital, Mahajanga stands at the mouth of Madagascar’s largest river, the Betsiboka. The road to the capital is open between July and October. Boats depart for Nossi Bé and several other islands. The beach here is said to be free of sharks. The island’s finest grottoes are at Anjohibe, 90km (60 miles) inland. There is a nature reserve at Ankarafantsika.
NOSSI BÉ: Nossi Bé is Madagascar’s most important holiday resort. An island surrounded by smaller islands lying off the northwest coast, it is one hour by air from the capital. Exotic perfume plants such as ylang-ylang, vanilla (Madagascar is the world’s largest producer), lemon grass and patchouli are grown here. The main town is Hell-Ville. Nearby, there is a ruined 17th-century Indian village.
ANTSERANANA: Antseranana (formerly Diégo Suarez) is a cosmopolitan seaport overlooking a beautiful gulf at the northernmost tip of the island. It is a provincial capital. There are many lakes, waterfalls and grottoes in the rainforests above the port. Wildlife and flora includes lemurs, crocodiles and orchids. Permission to visit the national park at Montagne d’Arbre nearby must be obtained from the Ministère des Eaux et des Forêts, which has an office in the town. Boats may be taken to Nossi Bé. There is a good sandy beach at Ramena, but sharks may be a problem. The road southwards to the capital is only open between July and October.
ILE STE-MARIE: Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha) lies off the east coast, 150km (90 miles) north of Toamasina. Its dense vegetation and the difficulty of navigating the lagoons which surround it made it an ideal base for pirates and, later, a colony for convicts. There are many clove plantations and several historic sites, including Madagascar’s oldest Catholic church. The island is also known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and coral reefs.
THE EAST COAST: Situated on the northeast coast, Toamasina is the country’s main port and a provincial capital. It is an eight-hour drive from Antananarivo and, like the capital, it has several busy markets, including the Bazaar Be. Around 11km (7 miles) north of the town are the Ivolina Gardens, containing every kind of vegetable species from the eastern forests and many varieties of animal life. Vatomandry, further south, is a very popular beach resort even though the sharks prevent swimming.
The South
The arid south is noted for its many remarkable species of cactus- and baobab-like plants and for the highly developed funerary art of its inhabitants, past and present.
SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS: Fianarantsoa, a provincial capital, is an important centre for wine and rice production and a good base for exploring the southern highlands. Places to visit in the surrounding mountains include Amabalavao, said to be the ‘home of the departed’, where antemore paper and lamba aridrano silk are made; nearby Ambondrome and Ifandana crags, where the revered bones of exhumed ancestors may be seen (the latter was the site of a mass suicide in 1811); Ambositra and the neighbouring Zafimaniny villages, where intricate marquetry products are made; the Isalo National Park, situated in a chain of sandstone mountains (camping is possible but it can only be reached by four-wheel-drive vehicles or on foot with a guide); and Ranomafana, a thermal spa.
THE EAST COAST: Mananjary is a popular beach resort on the east coast (but not for sea-bathing because of sharks). Taolanaro (formerly Fort Dauphin), in the southeast corner of the island, is the site of the first French settlement. Parts of the 17th-century fort remain. The city and surrounding area are famous for seafood and for orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants, which can be seen at the Mandona Agricultural Centre at Sainte-Luce Bay.
THE SOUTHWEST: Western Madagascar was once covered with deciduous forests, but is now mostly savannah. The economy is based around the zebu, a species of ox introduced in the eighth century by settlers from South-East Asia. Toliara, a provincial capital on the southwest coast, has excellent bathing beaches and opportunities for skindiving, fishing, sailing and other watersports.
National Parks
Spread across 152,000 hectares, the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve is located 60-80km inland from the west coast in the northern sector of the Anstingy region of the Bemaraha Plateau, north of the Manambolo River Gorge. Undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are home to a variety of rare and endangered birds and lemurs. Rocky landscapes and limestone uplands are cut into large peaks with a mass of limestone needles. Rivers flow on the plateau and springs arise on each flank of the Tsingy making this an important water catchment area. Ancient cemeteries can also be found in the Gorge. Currently visitors are restricted to the pinnacle region to the south or to the forests in the north, both of these areas are accessible overnight with guides based at Antsalova and Bekopaka.
Sport & Activities
Watersports: Many towns have municipal pools. Sea-bathing along the east coast is not advised due to sharks. Main diving centres are Nossi Bé (with its neighbouring islands Tanikely, Nossi Mitsio and Nossi Radama), Nossi Lava, Toliara and Ile Ste-Marie (Nossi Boraha). Scuba-diving centres are located on the north and west coasts. Water-skiing and sailing centres are located at Ambohibao (Lake Mantasoa), Antsiralse (on Andraikiba Lake) and Ramona. River-rafting: can be done in season on the Manambole, from Ankavandra in the west to Bekupaca.
Trekking: Local tour operators can organise a variety of trekking and hiking trips in many different parts of the country. They are generally designed to cater for specific interest groups – speleologists, mineralogists, ethnologists, ornithologists, those who wish to see rare orchids or lemurs, etc. Pony-trekking is also possible.
Other: For golf there are facilities at Tana. There are numerous football pitches and during the dry season it has been known for rice fields to be used as pitches. Basketball and volleyball are very popular and covered stadia have been built.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: In Madagascar eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. Dishes include ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice); beef and pork marinated in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves, onion, pickles and other vegetables and seasoned with pimento; ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together); ramazava (leaves and pieces of beef and pork browned in oil); vary amid ’anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps) often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat). The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Local restaurants are often referred to as hotely.
The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable. Malagasy drinks include litchel (an aperitif made from litchis), betsa (fermented alcohol) and toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice) and ‘Three Horses’ lager. Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon ’apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.
Nightlife: There are a few discotheques, sometimes with bands and solo musicians. Casinos can be found at Antananarivo, Toamasina and on Nossi Bé. Most main towns have cinemas and theatres, and touring theatre groups perform local plays throughout the country. Traditional dance troupes can also be seen.
Shopping: Handicrafts include lamba (traditional squares of cloth in various designs and woven materials); zafimaniny marquetry, which is applied to furniture, chessboards and boxes; silverwork such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; items woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers; and embroidery. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) require export permits (see Duty Free section). Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.
Special Events: There are many customary events and celebrations (see Social Conventions below), especially in rural areas. Mphira gasy (Malagasy singers) sing and dance theatrically in groups recounting a story and presenting its moral; typically a performance lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. The following is a selection of special events taking place in 2003:
Mar Alahamady Be (New Year celebrations). May Rice Harvest, throughout the country. May-Jun Donia (traditional music festival), Nosy Be. Jun Fisemana (ritual purification ceremony of the Antakarana people). Jun-Sep Famadihana (turning of the bones festival) Oct-Nov Madajazzcar (jazz festival).
Social Conventions: The Madagascans are extremely hospitable and welcoming although their relaxed attitude to time (public forms of transport, for example, will not generally move until they are full – no matter how long it takes to fill the last seat) may be frustrating. Dress is casual, except for the very smartest hotel and restaurant functions. However, visitors are advised not to wear any military-style clothing; locally it is disapproved of and could lead to detention. Entertaining is done in restaurants and bars, and a good degree of acquaintance is necessary before being invited to a family home. Gifts should be offered if staying at a local village, particularly to the village headman, although monetary contributions will be seen as an insult. Respect should be paid to the many local taboos (fady) – but as these vary from region to region this is not always easy; however, it is clear that advice should be sought before approaching tombs and graves. It remains the practice in some regions (though it is increasingly rare due to the enormous cost) to invite an ancestor to a village celebration, disinterring the body so that the ancestor may attend physically, and later re-interring the body with new shrouds; this traditional observance (known as famadihana) demonstrates the continuing hold of traditional beliefs. Visitors invited to such an occasion should consider it a great honour. Photography: Do not photograph military or police establishments. Tipping: Not customary, although waiters expect ten per cent of the bill. In European-style hotels and restaurants the French system of tipping is followed. One should also tip in Chinese and Vietnamese establishments.
Business Profile
Economy: Madagascar’s mainly agricultural economy relies heavily on coffee production to earn foreign exchange, and this has suffered lately from a decline in world demand and prices. Vanilla, cloves, sisal, cocoa and butter beans are the island’s other important cash crops. Rice and cassava are produced primarily for domestic staple consumption. Fishing is underdeveloped thus far: the Government, which still exercises extensive control over the economy, is hoping to improve its performance. The country has appreciable mineral deposits of chromium ore, bauxite and titanium ore deposits, all of which are being exploited. The recent discovery of oil deposits is set to bring about further development as well as hopefully resolve Madagascar’s energy problems. Fifteen per cent of GDP derives from manufacturing industry, mainly textiles and food processing. The service sector is relatively underdeveloped at present. The Government has been looking at ways of developing the tourism industry, and has focused on the island’s abundance of exotic wildlife as a major attraction. Although the Madagascan economy has considerable potential, there are major problems to overcome. There is little than can be done about the climate; Madagascar suffers from frequent cyclones which have done severe damage to agriculture, especially in the last few years. More seriously, the political instability which has afflicted Madagascar throughout 2002 threatens to undermine the economy. Economic growth is around one per cent annually and the exchequer continues to rely heavily on loans and grants from the EU (especially France) and the World Bank. France accounts for about 30 per cent of all Madagascar’s trade; the USA and the CIS are other important trading partners.
Business: Tropical lightweight suits are appropriate wear. If arranged far enough in advance, the Embassy can arrange interpreters for business meetings. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Fédération des Chambres de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de Madagascar, BP 258, 101 Antananarivo (tel: (2022) 20211; fax: (2022) 20213).
Climate
Hot and subtropical climate, colder in the mountains. Rainy season: November to March. Dry season: April to October. The south and west regions are hot and dry. Monsoons bring storms and cyclones to the east and north from December to March. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and thundery from November to April and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year.
Required clothing: Lightweights are worn during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the north and south. Warmer clothes are advised during evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rainwear is advisable.
History and Government
History: According to local legend, the island was first inhabited by the Vazimba, a race of white pygmies. These people, if they existed, were displaced by successive waves of Polynesian migrants from the Malayo-Indonesian archipelago, from as early as the sixth century AD. In the ninth century, Madagascar was a major trading power in the western Indian Ocean. Moreover, ancient ruins indicate an extensive Arab presence on the island around that time. Bantu tribes from mainland Africa later settled on the west coast. The first Europeans arrived in the mid-17th century. Several French settlements were established on the south-east coast but were destroyed within 30 years.
At the time, Madagascar supported several kingdoms along its coastline and, in the central highlands, the kingdom of the Merina, which was the dominant ethnic group. From their fortress city of Antananarivo, the 19th-century kings gradually conquered the coastal kingdoms and by 1830 most of the island was under unified Merina control. The success of the Merina was partly due to a well-worked strategy of playing off rival European colonists against each other, in particular the British and the French. However, the UK – with copious commitments elsewhere – was content by the end of the 19th century to leave the southern Indian Ocean to the French. Without a counter-balancing power, Madagascar was vulnerable to French takeover, which duly occurred in 1896 when the Merina kingdom was overthrown by a French military force.
The French introduced cash crops to their new colony. In 1948 the Malagasy people sought to re-establish their independence through armed insurrection. They were unsuccessful, but the uprising paved the way for independence, which came in 1960. Philibert Tsirana's PSD Party ruled with the support of France and the people of the coastal regions until 1972, when highland agitation against French influence prompted the Army Chief of Staff, Major-General Ramanantsoa, to assume executive power for the purpose of pursuing a more nationalistic policy. Three years later the military government resigned after selecting Lt-Commander Didier Ratsiraka as head of state.
A gradual civilianisation of the Government culminated in 1977 in elections to the National People's Assembly, which were won by the sole legal party, Avant-garde de la Révolution Malgache (AREMA). Other political groupings have since emerged, but an equally important factor in the island's politics is the historic rivalry between the highland and lowland (coastal) clans. This was illustrated by the 1989 dispute over a new appointment to the post of prime minister. When a highlander and ethnic Merina, Colonel Ramahatra, was announced, the lowland opposition groups – ranging from Christian Democrats to old-style Maoists – put aside their differences to campaign, albeit unsuccessfully, against the appointment. President Ratsiraka, who was re-elected in 1983, was allied to neither camp. He had enjoyed the consistent support of the French since they managed to persuade him to drop his initial attachment to Marxism in the 1970s. Ratsiraka remained in power, amid occasional bouts of civil unrest, for the next ten years.
In 1992, under intense domestic and international pressure, Ratsiraka conceded the introduction of a genuinely democratic constitution. The first presidential poll under the new system was held in 1993; Ratsiraka was defeated by a professor of medicine, Albert Zafy, representing the Comité des Forces Vives (CFV). Zafy’s term of office was marred by unconstitutional practices and severe economic problems, but he only narrowly lost the November 1996 election to Ratsiraka.
The old highland/lowland rivalry which dominated the country’s politics had by now been transformed into an urban/rural split. This emerged at the 2001 election. This time, Ratsiraka's opponent was a businessman, Marc Ravalomanana. The ballot ended in an acrimonious dispute over whether Ravalomanana, who undoubtedly led the poll, had reached the 50 per cent threshold required to win on the first ballot. Ravalomanana and his supporters were convinced that he had and organised mass demonstrations in the urban areas from which he drew his main support. Ratsiraka, meanwhile, was equally certain that he was still the legitimate incumbent and mobilised his extensive rural support. A bizarre but increasingly violent stand-off followed: the capital was effectively cut off from the rest of the country; roads and bridges were destroyed and suppliers of food and essential goods were unable or unwilling to sell their goods in the capital.
With both sides spurning mediation, the impasse could only be resolved by a trial of strength which in turn depended upon which side the army decided to back. Most senior officers sided with Ravalomanana and by July 2002, he had secured control over the whole country. The crisis left Madagascar in a desperate economic state and a fragile political condition for the new government to alleviate.
Government: Under the terms of a new constitution adopted by popular referendum in August 1992, legislative power resides in a bicameral legislature, comprising a partially-elected Senate and fully-elected National Assembly, each of which has a four-year term. A Council of Ministers is appointed by the Prime Minister. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President from a list of candidates nominated by the National Assembly. Executive power rests with the prime minister.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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