General Tour Information
ENTERING MADAGASCAR: A valid passport with a Madagascar tourist visa and an on-going air ticket are required. Your passport, as a general rule, should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Travelers who opt to obtain an airport visa should expect delays upon arrival. Travelers may obtain the latest information and details from the Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar 2374 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 265-5525/6. The Malagasy Consulate in New York City can be reached at (212) 986-9491.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Madagascar in the University of Texas series here. Click on the map’s lower right corner to adjust size. You can review the U.S. State Department Background Notes on Madagascar here.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend taking an anti-malarial drug when traveling to Madagascar. Since chloroquine-resistant malaria has been detected in Madagascar, they currently recommend taking mefloquine (Lariam). The CDC also recommends getting a yellow fever vaccination, although it is not required for entry into Madagascar unless you are coming directly from a country where yellow fever is known to be present. The CDC further recommends the following vaccines: hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid; and as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults. You can review the latest CDC advisories here.
Please be sure to contact your physician at least six weeks in advance of departure to complete your inoculation series, if any, and to review the latest malarial and other advisories.
PACE OF THE TOUR: This tour does not present constant hardships but there are some instances where good general fitness is required: At Ranomafana, the walking is on steep to very steep (and often slippery) dirt trails, with many tree roots traversing the path; there are no flat areas in the Park. At Ifaty and Ankarafantsika, we walk on sand. There are some instances of getting in and out of boats, requiring a bit of wading in the sea. Downhill descents are steep and long, and there will be pressure on the knees for long periods. Elsewhere, we may be away from the vehicle for up to five hours although it is usually a fairly steady pace and consideration will be given for the less agile. In places like the spiny forest of the southwest, we may have to step over spiky fallen Didiereias, and other shrubs, as we search for the special endemics located in the sandy substrate. Walking on sand can be arduous, but it is carried out very early in the morning before the air becomes uncomfortably hot. The excursion is usually all over by 10 a.m., and we have a relaxing time until late afternoon.
On this tour we don’t have terribly early starts to get to the habitats, the exceptions being Mahajanga with a 5-5:30 a.m. breakfast, and Ifaty around the same time. On the extension we will want to leave to cross the Bay to Cap Masoala before the wind picks up, and so will have an early start there.
CLIMATE: The climate varies from place to place, but in September it will usually be mild to warm everywhere except in the early mornings at Perinet, Ranomafana and Antananarivo. The warmer areas are during the middle of the day at Mahajanga/Ankarafantsika, Berenty and Ifaty. In all cases it is a dry heat, however the extension to Cap Masoala is usually hot and humid during the middle of the day.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Throughout the tour, we stay in good-quality hotels or bungalows with private bathroom facilities in each room. For the Cap Masoala Extension, the first night will be spent in Maroantsetra in individual bungalows for one or two, with private bathroom facilities. The next two nights are spent in comfortable bungalows, but it may be necessary to double up, as there is limited space. There are three bungalows with clean, tiled private bathroom facilities. There is no hot water for showers, but constantly available cold running water. For the night on Nosy Mangabe, we shall be in a tent, the toilet facilities are communal, and there is no warm water but running cold water.
DRESS: Dress is informal throughout but men should wear long trousers to dinner in Antananarivo.
TRANSPORTATION: For the main part of the tour (Antananarivo to Ifaty), we use a two-wheel drive Mercedes Bus. Generally small buses and mini-buses are used when on the other tour sections. While most roads are paved and are in excellent condition, the road from Tulear to Ifaty (27 km each way) is on sand. The roads on the high plateau are tortuous with many twists and turns. If you suffer from travel sickness, please bring appropriate medication. A small seat pillow or an inflatable neck brace may be useful for those with back or neck problems.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group.
If any lodge, accommodation or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than WINGS’ policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS & SUNBIRD TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Madagascar will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Updated: October 2007