Madagascar offers many options in terms of travel destinations, for every type of traveler-- whether your plan is to explore as many national parks and reserves as possible, head straight to the coast for scuba-diving adventures on the coral reefs, or just lie on a nice empty beach and soak up the sun, there's always something for you to do or some new place to go check out.
Madagascar is cheap. If you travel fairly comfortably, stay in mid-priced hotels or bungalows and eat at mid-priced restaurants, you can expect to spend less than $15 a day. Due to its former French colonial status, most people, except for those who live in very rural areas, speak French. So if you thought all the vocabulary you learned those years in French classes were useless except in France, think again. And if you don't speak any French, you'll do all right. A French dictionary & phrasebook is a must, and will be very helpful, but never underestimate the value of a smile and a simple "Bon jour." Also be sure to pick up a Malagasy dictionary/phrasebook. The Malagasy are very polite and always appreciative of any foreigner who at leasts attempts a few words of their native language. Even if your pronunciation garners a few chuckles, its all in good fun and you are sure to make new friends.
Another bonus of being a former French colony is the food! All of the restaurants who cater to tourists serve predominantly French cuisine of very good quality, with a few Malagasy and even Chinese dishes on the menu as well. A typical dinner, including appetizers, salad, entree, dessert, and drinks won't cost more than $5-7 per per person. Also found widely are french-style "patiserrie" or bakery-shops where you can load up on pastries, croissants, baguettes and brie to take on the go. There is an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables available as well-- mangos, papayas, passionfruit, coconut, avocados, tomatos, and lychees are all easily found in markets. In the restaurants and hotels on the coasts, incredible seafood dishes abound -- lobster, crab, prawns, calamari, and fish grilled or served as a carpaccio are all typical fare and are priced far below what you would pay in the US or Europe. And don't forget about drinks-- besides the ubiquitous Three Horses Beer, a very good Pilsner available almost everywhere, you'll soon become infatuated with punch coco, a delicious concoction made from fermented coconut milk, and be sure to try some rhum arrange, which is homemade rum distilled from sugarcane and infused with various flavors such as orange, mint, or other spices (be warned: rhum arrange usually has an alcohol content high enough to blow your socks off-- sip very slowly.)
The astounding variety of activities and food in Madagascar ensures that not even the pickiest traveler will ever get bored (or go hungry.) |
