42% of the population are adherents of traditional beliefs, 51% are Christians (mostly Catholics and Protestants), 7% are Muslims.
Transport in Madagascar
The best way to get to Madagascar is by plane.
The main cities of the island are interconnected by a network of domestic airlines, but the most convenient way to travel around Madagascar is by bus. Comfortable buses and fixed-route taxis run on the main tourist routes. Minibus taxi is the cheapest and most popular mode of transport. They ship as they fill up.
The only regular passenger railway line operates trains between Antananarivo and Lake Alautra. You can go to the islands close to Madagascar by plane, on a tourist ship or on private cargo ships.
Inside the cities, it is best to travel by taxi. There are also fixed-route taxis in the cities, but most often they are overcrowded.
In order to rent a car, it is enough to have an international driver’s license, a credit card, be over 21 years old and have a driving experience of more than 1 year.
Plant and Animal World in Madagascar
In the east and north of Madagascar, tropical rainforests predominate, in the west – savannahs, which are replaced by semi-deserts to the south. In the rainforests grow such trees as equal, iron, rosewood and breadfruit, ylang-ylang and rubber trees. There are about 1 thousand species of orchids here. The savannahs are dominated by baobabs and palm trees, and in the south of Madagascar – by cacti.
Madagascar has been isolated from the mainland for more than 2 million years, so you can see some plants and animals only here and nowhere else in the world.
There are no large predators and snakes on the island, mongooses, dugongs, zebu, lemurs, mungos, ay-ay mittens, tenrecs, fusses, turtles, geckos, crocodiles, boa constrictors, chameleons and lizards live here. Of the birds in Madagascar, there are vangas, pigeons, ibises, green parrots, coral-billed nuthatches, eagles, guinea fowls and hawks. More than 3 thousand species of butterflies live in tropical forests, among which the largest butterfly of the planet is a comet, its wingspan is 22 cm, ants, spiders and scorpions.
Minerals in Madagascar
Madagascar has deposits of bauxite, graphite, limestone, quartz, cobalt, nickel, coal, iron ore, gold, rubies and sapphires.
Banks in Madagascar
Banks are open on weekdays from 08:00 to 15:00.
Money in Madagascar
The official currency of the country is the Malagasy ariar. 1 ariar is equal to 5 iraimbilani. In circulation there are banknotes of 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10000 ariars and coins of 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20 and 50 ariars, as well as 1 and 2 iraimbilanya. Until 2005, the official currency of Madagascar was the Malagasy franc, which has not yet been completely withdrawn from circulation. 1 Malagasy ariar is equal to 5 francs. You can find banknotes of 5000, 2500, 1000 and 500 francs and coins of 5, 2 and 1 francs. In some stores, prices are indicated in francs, so it is worth clarifying this issue.
Foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank branch, at exchange offices, at the airport and in hotels, however, the exchange rate here is the least favorable. In order to exchange currency, it is necessary to submit a customs declaration for the import of currency, in which the exchanged amount will be entered. It is very difficult to exchange old US dollar bills in Madagascar.
In major tourist centers, international credit cards and traveler’s checks are widely accepted. It is best to take traveler’s checks in euros or US dollars.
Rate: 10000 Malagasy Ariary (MGA) = 2.89 USD
Political State in Madagascar
According to politicsezine, Madagascar is a republic. The head of state is the president, who is elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. Executive power is concentrated in the hands of the Government headed by the Prime Minister. The legislative body of Madagascar is a bicameral parliament consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly.
Population in Madagascar
The original inhabitants of Madagascar are the Malagasy, who are divided into 18 ethnic groups. Malagasy belong to the mixed Mongoloid-Negroid race, because it was formed as a result of numerous migrations of Africans and immigrants from Southeast Asia. In addition, Comorians, French, Indians, Pakistanis and Chinese live on the island.
Language:
The official languages of the country are Malagasy and French. Malagasy belongs to the Malayo-Polynesian languages belonging to the Austronesian family. English is widely spoken in major tourist centers.
Cuisine in Madagascar
In the cuisine of Madagascar, there are a lot of rice dishes seasoned with hot peppers and sauces. It is worth trying the herb and spice salad with “ro” rice and the rice and spice salad with “anana” shrimp. Meat dishes are prepared mainly from the meat of the zebu antelope. Grilled zebu fillet with fragrant herbs and zebu meat in henombi ritra tomato-garlic sauce are very popular. Also worth trying are pork with crushed cassava leaves “henakiso si ravitoto”, pork with eel, tomatoes and onions “henakiso si armalona”, meat stew with tomatoes and spices “rumazava”, long strips of smoked cured or fried meat “kitoza”, meat on skewer “paus masikita”, assorted cassava beef or pork “ravitutu” stew with cassava.
For dessert, fruits are served – persimmon, mango, guava, bananas, lychees. Coconuts are popular. In addition, rice and coconut pudding “gudzugudzu”, rice flour cakes with sugar “mukari” and a variety of pies are served.
Drinks in Madagascar include fruit juices, carbonated drinks, mineral water, and coffee.
Local alcoholic drinks are represented by Dzama and Kazenev rums, Flash and Three Horses Bear beers, Dom Remi, Lasani Betsileu and Domaine de Manzmisua wines, and unrefined rum is also popular. tuaca gras, trembu coconut wine, homemade betsa beer and lichel lychee drink.
