Madagascar

Press Reviews:

Introduction
Part One General Information
The Country
Geography; Climate; A brief history; Government and politics; Economy
People and Culture
Origins; Beliefs and customs; Malagasy society; Ethnic groups; Language
Natural History
Introduction; Geology; Flora; Fauna; Madagascar’s ecosystems; Conservation; Protected areas
Practical Information
When to visit; Choosing a trip to suit you; Highlights and itineraries; Tour operators; Red tape; Getting there; What to take; Money; Getting around; Accommodation; Eating and drinking; Public holidays; Shopping; Arts and entertainment; Communications; Business hours
Health and Safety
Before you go; Some travellers’ diseases; Medical kit; Travel clinics and health information; Safety
Madagascar and You
Your carbon footprint; Responsible tourism; How you can help
Part Two The Guide
Antananarivo and Area
History; Ivato Airport; Getting there and away by road; Getting around; Antananarivo (Tana) today; Where to stay; Where to eat; Nightlife; Shopping; Money; Communications; Transport and trip planning; Emergencies; What to see and do; Day excursions from Antananarivo; Overnight excursions
The Highlands South of Tana
From Tana to Antsirabe; Antsirabe; Continuing south on RN7; Ambositra; Places of interest near Ambositra; Ambositra to Fianarantsoa; Fianarantsoa; Ranomafana; Continuing south: Fianarantsoa to Ihosy; Ambalavao; Ambohimahamasina; Andringitra Mountains; Beyond Ambalavao on RN7
The South
Background information; Ihosy; From Ihosy to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin); From Ihosy towards Toliara (Tulear); Ranohira; Isalo National Park; Ilakaka; Continuing south to Toliara; Toliara (Tulear); Ifaty; Madiorano; North to Morombe and Morondava; The Onilahy region; Anakao; Beheloka and Ambola; Lake Tsimanampetsotsa National Park; Continuing south; Beza-Mahafaly Special Reserve; The road to Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin); The far south; Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin); Day trips from Taolagnaro; Multi-day trips; Berenty; Mandena Conservation Zone; Andohahela National Park; Ifotaka Community Forest (ICF)
Tana to Toamasina
Antananarivo–Côte Est Railway; Tana to Moramanga; Moramanga; Heading north or south; Lake Alaotra; Zahamena National Park; Continuing east on RN2: Moramanga to Andasibe; Andasibe-Mantadia National Park/Association Mitsinjo; Other protected areas nearby; Andasibe to Toamasina
South of Toamasina
Pangalanes; The southeast coast; Mananjary and Manakara; Continuing south
Toamasina and the Northeast
History; Getting around; Toamasina (Tamatave); Parc Ivoloina; The route north; Continuing north (if you dare!); Manompana to Maroantsetra; Maroantsetra and the Masoala Peninsula; Antalaha and beyond; Sambava; Andapa and area; Protected areas
Ile Sainte Marie (Nosy Boraha)
History; Getting there and away; Getting around the island; Ambodifotatra; Beach hotels; What to see and do; Ile aux Nattes (Nosy Nato)
The North
Antsiranana (Diego Suarez); Ramena and the east coast; Excursions west from Antsiranana; Montagne d’Ambre (Amber Mountain) National Park; Excursions south from Antsiranana; Ankarana National Park; From Antsiranana to Iharana (Vohemar) by road; Ambilobe to Ambanja (and on to Nosy Be); Bays and inlets accessible to yachts
Nosy Be
History; Getting there and away; Getting around the island; Activities; Hell-Ville (Andoany); Ambatoloaka; Beach hotels and other accommodation; Excursions; Islands around Nosy Be; Mitsio Islands (northeast of Nosy Be); Islands southwest of Nosy Be
The West
History; Mahajanga (Majunga); Ankarafantsika National Park; Fly-in beach resorts northeast of Mahajanga; Conservation areas to the southwest of Mahajanga; Soalala and beyond; Baie de Baly National Park; Tsingy de Namoroka National Park; The route north; Mandritsara; Bealanana; Maintirano; Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park; Belo-sur-Tsiribihina; Kirindy Reserve; Morondava; Excursions from Morondava; Morondava to Toliara; Miandrivazo; River trips
Appendices
Historical Chronology
The Malagasy Language
Further Information
Index

Hilary Bradt is the founder of Bradt Travel Guides. She broadcasts and writes about the joys and perils of travelling in Madagascar and other developing countries. Hilary is patron of the British charity Money for Madagascar, and in 2008 received an MBE for her contribution to the tourism industry and to charity.

Customer Reviews:

'Informative, accurate and up-to-date with enough photos to be useful but without unnecessary excess.  Our guides of choice!'
Mrs A. Toyne

Your guide to Madagascar was indispensible. We planned our holiday from it and its accuracy was amazing. Thanks for helping to make a great visit so enjoyable.

“Congratulations to both of you on a superb book .... it is definitely one of the best and most comprehensive guidebooks I have ever used so well done and keep up the good work!”
Katy Howard

'Excellent'

Excellent coverage, and delicious detail that helped us decide how to spend our time. We've just returned from a 3 week trip and are determined to visit other parts of the country - our curiosity piqued by dipping into the book and reading about places we couldn't visit this time around.

'We love the Bradt guides because they are personal, innovative and in-depth. We used this guide along with 2 other well-known guides, but the Bradt guide was without any doubt the best of the three. If you like to get off the beaten track (without necessarily missing out on the highlights), this is the guide you're looking for!'

'From Antsiranana to Nosy Be, Mahajanga to Antananarivo, and all the way to Anakao it was a treasured reference.'

'The Bradt guide to Madagascar is one of the best guides I've seen to any destination. It far outstrips its Madagascar competitors.'

'I found your guide to be by far the most useful I have ever used – and I’ve used too many to count!'

'Thank goodness for your little language section. I read it regularly and it gave me my initial inspiration to overcome my shyness and start communicating. What a difference! I too now reap the rewards of smiling – what joy as faces light up!'

'Perceptive, well-written and precise! Our trip would surely not have been as enjoyable, informative and impressive without your tips.'

'We feel that no other travel guide has ever contained so much varied and quality information. This guide is a benchmark by which all others should be judged!'

'Invaluable both before and during our holiday. As well as being stuffed full of practical factual information it is a really good read as well as the background to the country, people and views of previous visitors, tourists etc.'

'Well written text with delightful anecdotes.'

'Your guide to Madagascar is and was FANTASTIC! Not only was it more thorough and correct that any other guide on the market, but it survived a cyclone!'

'I had an amazing trip in Madagascar with the constant aid of your book. Your guide inspired me to open a travel company in Israel for backpackers seeking trips off the beaten track. Thank you for giving me the courage to do what I love.'

'The Madagascar 9th edition is far better than any other guidebook to Madagascar.'

'We were very glad to have the Bradt Guide with us! Mainly for the east coast and Fort Dauphin the book is more informative than any other!'

'It is the new edition of the best Travel Guide ever published for Madagascar.'

'Your travel guide on Madagascar is excellent. Streets above all the rest! I've just returned from a recce-ing trip with my French/Dutch tour manager who was equipped with every French guide imaginable, but the only one we used for the entirety was yours! Very honest, reliable and above all easy to use. Comprehensive too.'

'It never left my side during my month-long adventure through the country. Excellent information on the natural and cultural diversity of the island, plus accurate logistical information on where to eat, sleep, etc. Great sidebars from recent and experienced travelers.'

'Thank goodness for the Bradt guide, which became our travel bible, in a bizarre twist that meant that WE were providing our local guides with knowledge of the places, animals & history!'

'I am generally an LP guide book fan but bought their new Madagascar version before my trip recently and was bitterly disappointed. I found the Bradt guide indispensable.'

'I really enjoyed your guide. I like the interesting style of it, the personal stories and extras instead of just dry information. I also bought the Lonely Planet guide, but I left it at home because it was boring.'

'I would like to say that your guidebook was indispensable. We used it for almost everything. It was simply a godsend. I found it incredibly detailed, fascinating and a pleasure to read.'

'The only one worth its weight in a backpack.'