Madagascar might look like it’s floating in the middle of nowhere, but it’s actually just off the southeastern coast of Africa, separated by the Mozambique Channel.
It’s the fourth-largest island in the world, but what really sets it apart is how wildly different it is from anywhere else on Earth.
Nearly 90% of its plant and animal species are found only here.
The island’s human history is just as unusual.
Instead of being settled by nearby Africans, Madagascar was first populated by Austronesian people from Southeast Asia, likely from Borneo, who arrived by boat around 1,500 years ago.
African and Arab traders followed, creating a mix of cultures, languages, and traditions that make modern Malagasy culture incredibly diverse.
France colonized the island in the late 1800s, and Madagascar didn’t regain independence until 1960.
You’ll still hear French spoken in cities and see colonial architecture in places like Antananarivo.
Tourists don’t come to Madagascar for five-star luxury.
They come for the sense of discovery.
Think rainforest hikes in Andasibe-Mantadia, limestone spires in Tsingy de Bemaraha, and white-sand beaches in Nosy Be.
Wildlife lovers, adventurers, and photographers are especially drawn to it.
Infrastructure is basic in many areas, but the tradeoff is an experience that feels raw, real, and often totally surreal.
It’s still under the radar for most travelers, with just around 310,000 visitors in 2024, but that’s part of its appeal.
Warnings & Dangers in Madagascar
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
The risk here is medium, and the safety concerns shouldn't be taken lightly. However, we'll discuss the places to avoid and the top guidance for having a safe trip. You don't need to cancel because of it, but you definitely need to know more before making that decision.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
This is another medium risk. The roads are bad, and the driving is worse. Even U.S. government workers can't travel between cities at night. Public transportation is poorly maintained. You can't rely on schedules or safety measures. Buses can be downright dangerous. Don't use taxis that take several rides at a time; it could be a robbery risk. You'll have a hard time finding a taxi outside of?Antananarivo anyway.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
This is another medium risk, especially since areas known to have a lot of tourists are top targets. Thieves are mostly looking for jewelry, purses, and mobile devices. Leave your valuables at home.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Madagascar comes with a medium risk, due to cyclones from December to April, especially along the east coast. Flooding and landslides are common during heavy rains, while the south often faces severe drought. Wildfires occasionally occur in dry regions. Earthquakes and volcanoes aren’t a concern.
MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
This is another medium risk. I'd recommend reading the travel advisories because you can take steps to avoid common robbery locations, like buses. The risk is just as much for people walking around as it is for those driving.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
While terrorism isn't one of the reasons for the elevated risks, if an armed gang approaches you in a national park, that feels like terrorism, right? These risks are real across the country. Treat this as another medium risk and keep your guard up.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
Yet another medium risk here, with scammers and crooks looking for any way to get you away from your money. It doesn't help that the tourism industry isn't regulated well. Always vet any tour company in advance through your embassy.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Madagascar isn't a place you want to go walking around alone. This is a medium risk of harassment or violence. It's best to stay with large, organized groups.
TAP WATER RISK: MEDIUM
Tap water in Madagascar is unsafe to drink or use for brushing teeth, even in cities. Bottled or properly filtered water is essential, and ice or raw produce should be avoided unless prepared with treated water.
Safest Places to Visit in Madagascar
Looking at the official tourism website, masafascar-tourismme.com, it’s hard to tell there’s a hint of safety issues here.
However, this site is the one you should trust as the National Tourism Office of Madagascar publishes it.
One of the country’s most photographed spots?is the Avenue of the Baobabs, a striking stretch of massive trees near Morondava.
For wildlife, Andasibe-Mantadia National Park is your best chance to see lemurs up close, especially the vocal indri.
Ranomafana National Park is another standout, with misty forests, thermal springs, and rare species you won’t find outside this island.
The Tsingy de Bemaraha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers jagged limestone formations and hanging bridges that are both surreal and unforgettable. It’s not easy to get to, but worth the trek.
Another UNESCO site is the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, once home to Merina royalty and still an important spiritual and cultural site for many Malagasy people.
In the capital, Antananarivo, visit the Piratenmuseum and the Palace of the Queen, both giving insight into the island’s colonial and pre-colonial past.
If beaches are more your speed, head to Nosy Be or ?le Sainte-Marie, where you’ll find laid-back resorts, whale watching, and diving.
Places to Avoid in Madagascar
While it’s an island, Madagascar is massive, and many areas are extremely remote.
That means less police coverage, rougher roads, and fewer resources if something goes sideways.
The U.S. government marks some regions as Level 3: Reconsider Travel, due to violent crime like armed banditry, carjackings, and even kidnappings.
Avoid the area in and around Tsaratanana in the Betsiboka Region, as well as the road between Tsiroanomandidy and Maintirano.
These areas have been flagged for bandit activity, and travelers have little protection or recourse if trouble starts.
Betroka in the Anosy Region also carries a high risk, along with RN34, the stretch of National Road 34 between Miandrivazo and Malaimbandy, and RN13, which connects Ihosy and Betroka.
These are remote highways that look tempting on the map but are notorious for hold-ups and poor conditions.
You should also steer clear of the Menabe Region south of Morondava, where safety incidents involving travelers have been reported, and law enforcement presence is thin.
Madagascar’s ports don’t meet U.S. anti-terrorism security standards, so ships arriving in the U.S. from there face extra entry conditions.
Mariners and passengers should be cautious when using these ports, as security protocols are considered weak.
Safety Tips for Traveling to Madagascar
- The police are under-resourced and inconsistent, especially outside major cities. For emergencies, dial 117 for police and 124 for an ambulance. That said, response times can be slow. Don’t expect the same level of assistance you’d get back home, especially in remote areas.
- If you’re heading into the countryside or national parks, do it with a licensed guide or tour company. Getting stranded or dealing with a medical emergency in a rural area isn’t something you want to deal with solo. Just read a few headlines of the roadside or rural armed gang attacks, and you’ll realize how serious this is.
- There’s no official nationwide emergency alert system like FEMA or Alert Ready. Local news and radio are your best bet. Some international embassies issue email or SMS warnings to citizens, so register with your government’s travel program before arriving. Weather-related issues like cyclones often catch travelers off guard.
- You’ll want your routine vaccines up to date, along with hepatitis A, typhoid, and rabies for longer stays. Malaria is present year-round, and dengue outbreaks pop up often. Bring mosquito repellent and consider malaria meds.
- Foreigners can drive with an International Driving Permit alongside their valid home license. However, it’s not a good idea to drive yourself around here.?Roads are rough and poorly lit. Checkpoints along roads are common. Gangs and criminals can ambush vehicles of any kind, especially at night.
- Random roadside stops are common and not always clearly marked. Drivers should carry their license, registration, passport (or a copy), and visa. Be polite but firm if you’re asked for a “fine” on the spot. Refuse to pay unofficial bribes. If things escalate, call your embassy or local contact immediately.
- Watch your stuff like a hawk at Ivato International Airport. Theft happens right in front of travelers, including thieves walking off with luggage from baggage claim. Lock your luggage, keep valuables in your carry-on, and don’t leave anything unattended—not even for a second.
- Malagasy is the national language, and French is the second most spoken. English isn’t widely used outside tourist areas. If you don’t speak either, consider learning a few Malagasy phrases or hiring a translator. Miscommunication can quickly turn a minor issue into a mess, especially with officials or drivers.
- You can’t just buy a shiny stone and hop on a plane. Madagascar has strict export laws for gems. You’ll need two documents: a certificate of authenticity and a legal export permit. No paperwork means you risk fines, confiscation, or worse at the airport. When in doubt, don’t buy.
- Same-sex relationships involving anyone under 21 are criminalized. There are no anti-discrimination laws, and cultural attitudes can be hostile. Public affection, even for straight couples, can draw attention. If you’re LGBTQ+, take extra care with privacy, especially in rural areas where views are more conservative and protections are non-existent.
So... How Safe Is Madagascar Really?
At first blush, I saw the Level 2 advisory from the United States, Canada, and Australia and figured—meh, probably just the typical safety issues tourists face.
Then I kept reading.
It’s important you don’t just skim these advisories.
To elaborate, Level 2 is the second-lowest of a four-tiered scale.
However, the regions we talked about earlier at Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
The risks aren’t just petty thieves or the standard mugging risks that would be present in any country.
Words like “armed gangs” and “banditry” are used in the travel warnings.
Even public transportation systems and buses get ambushed along their routes.
Even Reader’s Digest ranked it as one of the most dangerous countries in the world in 2024.
They cited poverty, civil unrest (especially around elections), and violent highway robberies as the reasons why.
While calling it one of the most dangerous might be a little overexaggerating, you also shouldn’t find comfort in that it’s one of the safest African countries.
That’s more due to Africa not having a great safety record overall.
There are just the levels of confidence, experience, and bravery required to enjoy the beauty of Madagascar.
You’ll need street smarts, survival skills, and common sense.
How Does Madagascar Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Madagascar | 49 |
| Djibouti | 38 |
| Croatia | 83 |
| Mexico | 65 |
| France | 64 |
| Puerto Rico | 34 |
| Somalia | 16 |
| United Kingdom | 77 |
| Peru | 50 |
Useful Information
Visas
Travelers to Madagascar need a valid passport (minimum 6 months validity and blank pages). For stays up to 15 days, you can get a visa on arrival. Longer stays require an embassy-issued visa, or you can apply online via eVisa before departure.
Currency
Madagascar uses the Malagasy ariary (ISO MGA, symbol Ar), a non-decimal currency divided into 5 iraimbilanja. Banknotes range from 100 to 20,000 Ar, and coins from 1 Ar upward. Credit cards aren't widely accepted. Plan to use cash for all transactions. ATMs are hard to find outside major cities.
Weather
The climate is tropical and maritime, with a hot, rainy season from November to April and a cooler, dry season from May to October. Conditions vary significantly by region—the East Coast is wet, the Southwest is arid, and the highlands are temperate.
Airports
The primary gateway is Ivato International Airport (TNR) near Antananarivo. Only two smaller international airports (Nosy Be and Mahajanga) receive regular foreign flights; the rest are domestic airfields, often requiring transfers by domestic carriers.
Travel Insurance
Strongly recommended: policies should cover medical emergencies, evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage delays. Madagascar’s healthcare services are limited, especially outside cities.
Madagascar Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C |
27 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
| Low °C |
17 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 |
| High °F |
81 | 81 | 79 | 77 | 73 | 70 | 68 | 70 | 75 | 79 | 79 | 81 |
| Low °F |
63 | 63 | 61 | 57 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 59 | 61 |
General feedback
No, there aren’t such a thing like two different currencies in Madagascar. It is just a change of name from the former (francs) to the latter (ariary) although some banknotes in ariary used to be printed with the equivalent in francs.
Note that is used (still?) to be used to scam tourists to announce prices in francs instead of ariary since 1ariary = 5 francs at the time of changement of denomination.
About general safety, a word about animals: although being tropical and subtropical country, there is almost no dangerous (lethal) specie for the human apart from mosquitoes spreading diseases and stonefish or shark by the seaside.
You might want to stay away from some streetfood as hygienic standards tend to be non existent. Locals have to take care about foreign spoliation and pedophiles predators.
Amazing landscapes, lovely country, i wish them all the best.
Be careful and you will have a good time
Madagascar is a beautiful country where, unfortunately, many people barely have enough to live on. That’s why there are so many scammers, thieves and pickpockets around. Most just need money and other goods for their survival. Does this mean this is just like the wild west? No, but you do need to be extra careful when you’re exploring this country. There’s petty theft in most areas, whether we’re talking about cities or even even in more secluded ones. In crowded places, pickpockets are always present so watch out. Keep your goods closeby and pay attention to shady people.
Some taxi drivers can be thieves in disguise. Try to only use reputed companies as much as possible. Muggings happen all the time here, mostly in some areas but they can also happen in nature reserves or on beaches. Just keep an eye out for people that look or act suspicious and don’t travel at night as much as possible.
Some of the many beautiful places one can visit while in Madagascar are Lake Itasy (with many wonderful geysers, waterfalls), the Queen’s Palace (originally built in 1839), Antsirabe (take a tour of the artisanal workshops found here – these people are very, very talented) or the Sahambavy Estate (take a tour and drink some drink green or black tea which is produced here).
If you’re into something more horror or macabre, then head over to Ambalavao. Here, back in 1811, there was a mass suicide and many bones can be found in the area. Macabre enough for you? Or go to the Spiny Forest which is very inhospitable and has a certain weirdness to it. If you’re into strange things then research this place and visit it.
There are many more places to visit in Madagascar. These are just some of the ones I experienced. Do your research before coming here and choose your own points of interest.