Toamasina

Toamasina (Masc. “like salt”), often known as Tamatave, is a city (commune urbaine) in Madagascar.

Transport

Communication network in the country is poorly developed. The total length of all roads in 2003 was 65 663 km (11.2-density rate km/100 km Q). The surface of most major roads are heavily damaged (inhospitable climate, erosion). Unpaved road surface are impassable in rainy season – their length is 58 046 km. Despite this there is a very extensive network of bus with dozens of associations of carriers offering courses in najodleglejsze corners of the country.

There are two railway lines open between Toamasina and Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa and Manakarą between the first plays an important role in transportation of goods between the main port of the island (Toamasina), and the capital of the country. The second line operates primarily as a tourist attraction. The total length of railway lines in 2006 was 854 km. The entire railway network has a 1,000 mm gauge, designed for rail wąskotorowych.

Buy

The Malagasy currency, the Ariary. 10,000 Ariary correspond approximately 3,90 Euro, or 6.46 Swiss Francs. 1 euro or approximately 2,550 Ariary and 1 Swiss Francs or approximately 1,550 ariary (November 2007). As a further currency in Madagascar may be the euro, which many traders will be accepted. But mostly you get for less than its euro ariary and gets his change in ariary, therefore, recommended that the money bills. A redemption of euro at Ariary recently officially possible, but at a comparatively low price.

Exchange of money should not be on the black market, but only in authorized exchange offices. The exchange certificates should be repealed, possibly because of the departure is required thereafter. Mostly you get official offices in a very fair price.

Ariary really should not be executed, but the rules are not as strict as in the past.

ATMs are the last state of knowledge (May 2006) only in the capital and also there exists only in a bank. On these machines can be used with VISA Card money separate. This works normally without problems. Who money with Traveler’s checks apart, should its purchase receipts from the same store, because otherwise the banks do not accept traveler’s checks. In smaller towns, the withdrawals of money – even with VISA or Amex card – may be difficult, so you should always be a larger amount of cash (preferably in Euros) to have it Swap. Other currencies (including dollars or Swiss Francs) are often not accepted.

On the local markets (especially in the souvenir purchase) is acting normal, but it should not be exaggerated. The goods are normally already relatively cheap and you have the population does not yet anyway addition to the already meager wages bring. Quite to the action but refrain is not good, because otherwise the prices might soon could explode.

Analamanga

Analamanga is a region in Madagascar.

Analamanga means “blue forest”. It’s also an older name for Antananarivo.

• Capital: Antananarivo-Renivohitra.
• Area: 17,445 km²
• Population: 2,650,000
• Population density: 138/km²
• Chief: Pierre Manganirina Randrianarisoa

The region extends mainly into the North of the capital. It is bordered by Betsiboka (North), Bongolava and Itasy (West), Alaotra Mangoro (East) and Vakinankaratra (South).

Geography

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.

Towards the east, a steep escarpment leads from the central highlands down into a ribbon of rain forest with a narrow coastal further east. The Canal des Pangalanes is a chain of natural and man-made lakes connected by canals that runs parallel to the east coast for some 460 km (about two-thirds of the island). The descent from the central highlands toward the west is more gradual, with remnants of deciduous forest and savanna-like plains (which in the south and southwest, are quite dry and host spiny desert and baobabs). On the west coast are many protected harbours, but silting is a major problem caused by sediment from the high levels of erosion inland.

Along the crest of this ridge lie the central highlands, a plateau region ranging in altitude from 2,450 to 4,400 ft (750 to 1350m) above sea level. The central highlands are characterised by terraced, rice-growing valleys lying between barren hills. Here, the red laterite soil that covers much of the island has been exposed by erosion, showing clearly why the country is often referred to as the “Red Island”.

The island’s highest peak, Maromokotro, at 2,876 m (9,436 ft), is found in the Tsaratanana Massif, located in the far north of the country. The Ankaratra Massif is in the central area south of the capital Antananarivo and hosts the third highest mountain on the island, Tsiafajavona, with an altitude of 2,642 m (8,668 ft). On very rare occasions, this region experiences snow in winter due to its high altitude. Further south is the Andringitra massif which has several peaks over 2400 m (about 8,000 ft) including the second and fourth highest peaks, Pic Boby (8,720 ft, 2,658 m) and Pic Bory (8,626 ft, 2,630 m). Other peaks in the massif include Pic Soaindra (8,594 ft, 2,620 m) and Pic Ivangomena (8,385 ft, 2,556 m). This massif also contains the Andringitra Reserve.

There are two seasons: a hot, rainy season from November to April, and a cooler, dry season from May to October. South-eastern trade winds predominate, and the island occasionally experiences cyclones.

When to Go

The island’s west and southwest get searingly hot during summer (November to March), which can make moving around a struggle, particularly if you’re travelling by taxi-brousse (bush taxi). By contrast, the winter months in these regions are pleasant, with blue skies, cooler temperatures and essentially no rain. In the east and northeast, be prepared for rain and overcast skies at any time, although rain showers don’t usually last long during the winter months. Between July and September the sea is too dangerous to travel by cargo boat.

Hotels, popular tourist attractions and all forms of transport, including planes and buses, fill up during European holiday periods, ie July to August, Christmas and Easter. Prices also go up at these times. The period between June and October is vanilla season on the east coast, so flights between towns such as Maroantsetra, Mananara and Antalaha often fill up far in advance.

Avoid January to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas of the country makes many roads muddy and impassable, limits outdoor activities and the risk of cyclones (particularly in the east and northeast of the country) is high.

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French name Tananarive or the colonial shorthand form Tana.

The larger urban area surrounding the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra (”Antananarivo-Capital”), is the capital of the Analamanga region and of the Antananarivo autonomous province.

Madagascar

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. Endemic species include the lemur infraorder of primates, the carnivorous fossa, three bird families and six baobab species.