Madagascar

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Revision as of 02:21, 10 April 2015

Madagascar Cruising Guide

An online cruising guide for yachts sailing around Madagascar.

Madagascar
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Flag
Capital:	Antananarivo 18°55′S, 47°31′E
Language:	Malagasy, French. English also spoken.
Currency:	Malagasy Ariary (MGA)
Timezone:	UTC+3 (No DST)
More notes about the country
Latest News
Content - news items, etc.

Madagascar, or Republic of Madagascar (older name Malagasy Republic), is an island nation in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. The main island, also called Madagascar, is the fourth-largest island in the world, and is home to 5% of the world's plant and animal species, of which more than 80% are endemic to Madagascar. They include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species. At 587,041 km² (226,657.8 sq mi), Madagascar is the world's 46th-largest country and the fourth largest island. It is slightly larger than France and it also is one of 11 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.

Madagascar's varied fauna and flora are endangered by human activity, as a third of its native vegetation has disappeared since the 1970s, and only 18% remains intact.

The eastern, or windward side of the island is home to tropical rainforests, while the western and southern sides, which lie in the rain shadow of the central highlands, are home to tropical dry forests, thorn forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands. Madagascar's dry deciduous rain forest have been preserved generally better than the eastern rainforests or the high central plateau, presumably due to historically low population density and scarce water supplies.

Climate & Weather

The Madagascar climate is tropical. The rainy season spans from November to March. The Southeast trade winds (which can be fairly strong at times) prevail until the end of October and thunderstorms can occur at this time. The cyclone "season" is from December to March on the east coast.

Sources of weather forecasting here.

Charts

British Admirlty charts that cover Madagascar are

BA4701 - Maputo to Muqdisho

BA758 - Northern approach

BA3873 - Nosy Be to Iharana

BA3872 Nosy Be to Bembatoke

BA3871 - Bembatoke to Cap St Andre

BA3868 - Cap Kimby to Cap St Andre

BA3855 - Cap Kimby to Morombe

BA760 - South coast of Madagascar

BA1064 - Plans on the north east coast

BA1116 - Baie Diego Suarez

BA1002 - Detail Baie Diego Suarez

BA2871 - Nosy Be southern anchorages

BA706 - Ile De Mitsio

BA704 - Moramba

BA701 - Baie de Bembatoke

BA2461 - Plans in the north west islands

BA692 (Tulear

Note: Some of these charts may now be out of print or have changed numbers.

Approaches and Navigation

Any navigation notes here. If this section does not apply remove it.

Local Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Arrival/Departure procedures

Arrival

Initial entry into Madagascar must be made at a point of entry which are:

• Diego Suarez in the north
• Hell-ville
• Majunga
• Toliara (Tulear).

Hell-ville on Nosy Be is probably the best port to arrive at if arriving from the north, and Toliara (Tulear) if arriving from the south. If possible, have a prior Madagascan visa before arriving. However, a visa can be acquired on arrival. On clearing customs and immigration, have plenty of copies of boat and crew papers. One must leave your ship's papers, or preferrably a copy, at customs, immigration as well as the harbour master, although the situation may vary from place to place and time to time.

On arrival at a port of entry you must visit the Port Captain, Police, Immigration, Customs and Health offices for clearance into the country. The following is required:

• Detailed crew list
• Passports
• Port of call authorization - issued by nearest offfice of the Service de la Marine Marchande
• Itinerary
• Dates of entry and expected exit from Madagascar territorial waters
• Point of departure

Departure

Details?

Customs and Immigration

Customs

LEMUR. Photo: David Dennis

• Firearms and ammunition MUST be declared on arrival and these may be held in custody until your departure.
• PETS: Animals are NOT allowed ashore.

Immigration

Madagascar requires visas by all nationalities. These are best obtained in advance from Malagasy embassies or diplomatic offices (see the official website for their locations). A 90 day visa is usually granted. If sailing to Madagascar from neighbouring countries, there are consolutes in the Seychelles, Mauritius, Reunion and Tanzania. Visas can be extended for up to two months by timeous application to the Ministry of Interior at a charge of 1500 MFr per month (July'08). You can download the visa application form HERE

Fees and Charges

• 3 month multiple-entry visa = US$80 (July 2008).

Restrictions

Health and Security

Health

• While the AIDS epidemic has not reached the devastating level found in many southern African countries, it is widely assumed that the incidence of AIDS is underestimated and rising. You should take no risks and avoid unprotected sex in all cases.
• If arriving from continental Africa, valid yellow fever and cholera vaccination certificates are required.
• High risk of Malaria - Resistance to chloroquine is reported - Mefloquine prophylaxis is recommended.
• Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is recommended.
• Hepatitis A, B, and E are endemic.
• Boil all water before use for any purpose.

Security

Details?

Berthing Options

Ports

• Diego Suarez (Antseranana) (Port of entry)
• Majunga (Port of entry)
• Nosy Be
  • Hell-ville (Port of entry)
• Russian Bay
• Toliara (Tulear) (Port of entry)
• Toamasina (Port of entry)
• Taolanaro (formerly Port Dauphin)
• Nosy Boraha
  • St Marie (Port of entry)

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Use this section only if there are marinas not covered in the pages under Ports. Remove if not applicable.

Anchorages

List anchorages except the ones covered under Offshore Islands below. If there is more than two paragraphs for a given anchorage, create a dedicated page for it (Port/Stop Template).

Offshore Islands

Also see the Mozambique Channel

• Nosy Be
• Nosy Boraha (St Marie)

Yacht Services and Repairs

List services. If no services are available on the island write "None" and remove all the subsections (Marine Stores, & Repairs/Yards, & Fuel, Water, & Electricity.

If services are included in specific port pages, the following line is appropriate, otherwise remove it.

Also see each Port.

Marine Stores

Submit addresses and contact details of marine related businesses that are of interest to cruisers.

Repairs/Yards

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

Give details on fuel

Water

Give details on water

Electricity

Give details on electricity

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

List places of interest, tours, etc.

Grocery & Supply Stores

Eateries

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Garbage Disposal

?

Transportation

List transportation to other countries, or islands.

Routes/Passages To/From

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Cruiser's Friends

Submit details/contacts of cruiser's "friends" that can be contacted in advance or on arrival - who can offer information and assistance to our cruising "family".

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

• Madagascar Sailing and Cruising Discussions on Cruisers Forum

External Links

• Madagascar at the Wikipedia

References & Publications

• East Africa Pilot by Delwyn McPhun. (Imray - ISBN 0 85288 251 3). Available new and used from Cruising Connections

Personal Notes

Personal experiences?

Last Visited & Details Checked (and updated here)

Date of member's visit to this Port/Stop & this page's details validated:

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Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse