P a g e |1

TreyRatcliff'sMadagascarSafari2019

P a g e |2

P a g e |3

TreyRatcliff'sMadagascarSafari2019

Johannesburg-Antananarivo-KirindyPrivateReserve-Morondava-PerinetSpecialReserve12Days/11Nights

14PersonsDateofIssue:29January2019

28September2019-09October2019

ClickheretoviewyourDigitalItinerary

P a g e |4

IntroductionAnexclusivetourofSoweto,SouthAfricaandMadagascar.Highlightsinclude:

-TourofSoweto

-Lemurs

-AvenueofBaobabs

KeyHB:HalfBoardB&B:BedandBreakfastFB:Dinner,Bed,BreakfastandLunch

ExcludedAllflights

Day1:Saturday,28SeptemberPeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace,Johannesburg

JohannesburgJohannesburgisoneofAfrica’sbiggestandmostvibrantcities.ItistheeconomiccapitalofAfricaandthegatewaytoSouthernAfrica.AlthoughnotasfamousasotherSouthAfricandestinations,thereisplentytodoinJohannesburgandnearbyPretoria.Theoldcityisamulti-culturalmixtureoftraditionalmedicineshops,Chineserestaurants,taxi

Accommodation Destination Start End Basis RoomType Duration

PeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace

Johannesburg 28Sep 30Sep

B&B 7xTwinRoom

2Nights

RelaisdesPlateaux Antananarivo 30Sep 1Oct B&B 7xTwinRoom

1Night

LeCampAmoureux KirindyPrivateReserve

1Oct 3Oct FB 7xTwinRoom

2Nights

PalissandreCôteOuest Morondava 3Oct 4Oct HB 7xTwinRoom

1Night

PalissandreHotel&Spa Antananarivo 4Oct 5Oct HB 7xTwinRoom

1Night

AndasibeHotel PerinetSpecialReserve

5Oct 8Oct HB 7xTwinRoom

3Nights

PalissandreHotel&Spa Antananarivo 8Oct 9Oct HB 7xTwinRoom

1Night

P a g e |5

ranksandultra-modernskyscrapers.Thereareexcellentmuseums,artgalleriesandorganisedtoursofhistoricalandpoliticalinterest.TheshoppingisSouthernAfrica’sbestandthemanyrestaurantscaterforalltastes.ThenearbytownshipofSowetoisJohannesburg’smostpopulartouristattraction.

Overnight:PeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace ViewiBrochureDiscoveruntoldluxuryandregalcomfort...the5-starPeermontD'orealeGrandehotelatEmperorsPalaceisconvenientlylocatednexttoO.R.TamboInternationalAirportinJohannesburg.Thehotelfeatures182beautifullydesignedandimpeccablyappointedroomsandsuitesthatarefittedwithplush,state-of-the-artindulgences.Thehotel’scomfortlevelsareenhancedbysuperiorlevelsofserviceandguestrelations,aswellasinternationallanguageandcultureproficiencies,whiletheClubFloorandLoungeoffersafullbouquetofpersonalandconciergeservicesdedicatedtothediscerningbusinesstraveller.Acomplimentaryshuttleservicetoandfromtheairportisavailable.Dineinthenewly-styledAurelia’srestaurant,indulgeyoursensesatOctavia’sSensoriumDaySpaorsipacocktailwhilewatchingtheAfricansunsetatNeptune’sPoolBaratthespectacularpoolterracewithitsRomanwaterfountaincascadingintoclearwaters.

BasisBed&Breakfast

Day2:Sunday,29SeptemberPeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace,Johannesburg

Activities

SowetoDayTourASowetoDayTourstakesinthehighlightsofthisiconictownshipincludingNelsonMandela’sformerhomeandtheHectorPietersonmuseum(hewasoneoftheschoolchildrenwhowasshotinthe1976SowetoUprising).

YouwillgetclosetoSowetoCulture,meetingthepeople,tryinglocalfoodsandmaybeevensomeOmqombothi(ourtraditionalbeer)atashebeen.

Thistourisoneofakind,thesmellofpavementcookedmealsandthebuzzinthestreetsofpeoplegoingabouttheirdailychores.Comeandexperiencetownshiplife,thehumanity,hospitalityandwarmthofthepeople,the"Ubuntu"asitisknowninSouthAfrica.

SowetoDayTour

P a g e |6

BasisBed&Breakfast

Day3:Monday,30SeptemberRelaisdesPlateaux,Antananarivo

AntananarivoAntananarivo,alsoknownasTana,isMadagascar’scapitalcity.Itisperchedat1400metresabovesealevelcrowningaspectacularmountainrange.Foundedin1625,Antananarivoboastsarichhistoricalheritagethatiscomplementedbysceniclandscapescoveredinalargenetworkofpopularhikingroutes.Thecityservesasagreatbasefromwhichtoexplorethemagnificentsurroundingarea,whichhostsseveralnaturereserves,includingtheTsingydeBemarahaNationalPark,withitsfantasticlimestonekarsts.Knownforitsvibrantnightlife,Antananarivofeatureslocallivemusicatavarietyofclubsandbars.VisitorscanlookforwardtoexploringtheremnantsoftheFrenchcolonialeraintheoldheartofthecity,aswellasdiscoveringancientMalagasypalacesinterspersedbetweenthefadedgrandeurofthesecolonialrelics.

DayItineraryOnarrivalyouaremetbyourgroundhandlerwhowillassistyouwithyourprivatetransfertoRelaisdesPlateauxwhereyouspendonenightinstandardroomsonbedandbreakfastbasis.Ourgroundhandlerwillassistyouwithchangingmoneyattheairportandluggageetc.

FlightInformation

Transfers

Date Flight Airline DepartureAirport Time ArrivalAirport Time Class Ref

30Sep Scheduled ORTamboInternationalAirport[JNB]

IvatoInternationalAirport[TNR]

Date Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

30Sep PeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace

ORTamboInternationalAirport[JNB]

Transfer

30Sep IvatoInternationalAirport[TNR] RelaisdesPlateaux Transfer

P a g e |7

Overnight:RelaisdesPlateaux RelaisdesPlateauxisahotelandrestaurantsituatedtenminutesfromtheairportinawoodedpark.Jacarandas,avocadotrees,palmtreesandbougainvilleasmakeforatranquilandattractiveenvironment.Thehotelboastsalargeswimmingpoolandsmallkiddiesplayground.TherestauranthasagoodreputationfordelicioustraditionalspecialitiesaswellasexquisiteZebumeatdishes.Accommodationisprovidedincomfortableroomswithspaciousbathrooms,televisionwithsatellitechannels,minibarandairconditioning.Thehotelalsoassistswithcitytoursandexcursions.

BasisBed&Breakfast

Day4:Tuesday,1OctoberLeCampAmoureux,KirindyPrivateReserve

KirindyPrivateReserveWiththeMozambiqueChanneltoitswestandencircledbylushnaturallandscapes,theKirindyPrivateReserveliesonMadagascar'sbeautifulwesterncoast.Thisprivatelymanagedreserveprovidesasanctuaryforahostofendangeredecosystemsnamelydrydeciduousforests,andacollectionofwildlifewhichincludesthegiantjumpingrat,sevenendemiclemurspeciesandanarrayofbirdspeciesthatinhabitthisswatheofuniquevegetation.Knownforitsextremeseasonalchanges,thisreserveismostpopularaftertherainyseasonwhenverdantlandscapesexplodeintoexistence.Visitorscanlookforwardtonighthikes,spottingthegiantumbrella-branchedbaobabtree,catchingaglimpseofavarietyofnocturnalmammals,reptiles,andinsectsfillingthespectacularnightskies.

DayItineraryCheckoutofthehotelafterbreakfast,andourrepresentativewilltransferyoutoTanaairportintimetocheck-infortheflighttoMorondava.OnarrivalinMorondava,ourrepresentativewillbewaitingtomeetandtransferyoutoMarofandiliawhichisclosetoKirindy.CheckintoCampAmoureuxwhereyouspendthenexttwonightsonfullboardbasis.EnroutestopatAlléedesBaobabstophotographthefamousBaobabtrees.Afterdinner,takeawalknearCampAmoureuxtoseesuchnight-speciesastheFork-MarkedLemurs,Mme.Berthe’smouse-lemurwhichisarguablythesmallestmammalintheworld,justtonameafew.

FlightInformationDate Flight Airline DepartureAirport Time ArrivalAirport Time Class Ref

1Oct Scheduled IvatoInternational LeCamp

P a g e |8

Transfers

Overnight:LeCampAmoureux LocatedclosetothefamousAvenueofBaobabs,44kmsnorthofMorondavaandclosetoKirindy,LeCampAmoureuxisasimple,butwelllookedaftercamp.Therearesevententedbungalows,eachofwhichhasen-suitetoiletandshower.Thetentsaresetonasolidwoodenplatformandareperfectlycomfortableforashortstay.Thecampalsohasarestaurantofferinglocalfood,witharealfavouritebeingthecoconutchicken.Itisintheperfectlocationfromwhichtoexploretheareaandwildlifeviewingisgenerallyverygoodclosetocamp.

BasisFullBoard

Day5:Wednesday,2OctoberLeCampAmoureux,KirindyPrivateReserve

DayItineraryTodayyouwillexploreKirindyForestwhichholdsanastonishingarrayofthedenizensofMadagascar’swesterndeciduousforestlikethewhiteVerreauxSifaka,thered-frontedBrownLemurs,somegeckoesandbirds

ThisforesthaswonderfulherpetofaunaincludingthemassiveOustalet’schameleon,Labord’schameleon,CollaredIguanidandGianthog-nosedsnake.Thefloraisremarkablewhereyoucanfindoutmanytreespecieswhichhavemedicinalproperties.IfyouareextremelyluckyyoumayseeaFossa.

BasisFullBoard

Day6:Thursday,3OctoberPalissandreCôteOuest,Morondava

Airport[TNR] Amoureux

Date Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

1Oct RelaisdesPlateaux IvatoInternationalAirport[TNR]

Transfer

P a g e |9

MorondavaTheseasidetownofMorondovaissituatedonthewestcoastofMadagascar.Thetownservesasagatewaytothearea’sclaimtofameandmainattraction:theworld-renowned‘AvenueoftheBaobabs’.Thesemassive,ancientBaobabtreestowerovertheterrainandcreatemagicalotherworldlysilhouettesatsunriseandsunset.Otherplacestoexploreinthesurroundingareainclude:KirindyForest,hometoahostofendemiclemurs;andthemagnificentTsingydeBemarahaNationalParktothenorth,featuringunique,spinyrockformations.Don’tmisstheopportunitytobrowseMorondava’slocalmarketforaselectionoflocallymadetextilesandothersought-afterMadagascanhandicrafts.

DayItineraryAfterafinalforestwalkthismorning,youwillbetransferredbacktoMorondava,onceagainstoppingatAlléedesBaobabsforsomephotoopportunitiesinthelateafternoonlight.CheckintoPalissandreCoteOuestforonenightincludingdinnertonightandbreakfasttomorrowmorning.

Transfers

Overnight:PalissandreCôteOuest LocatedatNosyKelyonthebeachofMorondava,just30minutesfromthemythicalBoababsAlley,PalissandreCôteOuestoffersguestaccommodationin30bungalowsbuiltwithlocalmaterials,allwithprivateterracesofferingoceanviews.

Localandinternationaldishesareservedattheonsiterestaurant,andthebaroffersagoodrangeofalcoholicbeverages.Otherfacilitiesincludeanoutdoorswimmingpoolandaspaofferingmassagesandholistictreatments.

BasisHalfBoard

Day7:Friday,4OctoberPalissandreHotel&Spa,Antananarivo

AntananarivoSeeAbove

Date Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

3Oct LeCampAmoureux PalissandreCôteOuest Transfer

P a g e |10

DayItineraryCheckoutofthehotelandourrepresentativewilltransferyoubacktoMorondavaAirportforyourflighttoTana.OnarrivalinTana,ourrepresentativewillmeetyouandassistyouwithyourprivatetransfertoPalissandreHotel&Spawhereyouspendonenight.Afterfresheningup,makeyourwaytotherestaurantandenjoytheviewsoverTana.Dinnerisincludedattherestaurant..

FlightInformation

Overnight:PalissandreHotel&Spa PalissandreHotel&SpaislocatedindowntownAntananarivo.Itfeaturesanoutdoorpool,aspaandarestaurantwithterraceofferingpanoramiccityviews.FreeWiFiaccessisavailable.

TheroomsatPalissandreHotel&Spacontainwoodenfurniture.EachroomisequippedwithaTV,telephone,minibarandairconditioning.Featuringabathorshower,thebathroomsalsocomeswithahairdryerandbathrobes.Youcanenjoycityandpoolviewsfromtheroom.

TherestaurantserveslocalandFrenchcuisine.Thehotel'sbarisequippedwithsofasandoverlooksthegarden.Guestscanenjoydrinks,cocktailsandsnacks.Otherfacilitiesatthehotelincludeafitnesscenter,a24-hourfrontdesk,aconciergeserviceandmeetingfacilities.Thepropertyoffersfreeon-siteparking.

BasisHalfBoard

Day8:Saturday,5OctoberAndasibeHotel,PerinetSpecialReserve

PerinetSpecialReserveComprising810hectaresofpristinerainforestandmontaneforest,thePerinetorAndasibeSpecialReserveconstitutesthesouthernsectionoftheAndasibe-MantadiaNationalPark.Amongthekaleidoscopeofwildlifefoundinthereserve,itisthebestplacetoseetheIndriIndri,thelargestofthelemurfamily,whichstandsroughlythreefeethighandhasbig,teddy-bear-likeears.Endemictothispartoftheworld,theIndriiscriticallyendangered,withonlyhundredsleft–however,mostvisitorstoPerinetseeIndris,andifyoudon’tseethem,youwillcertainlyhear

Date Flight Airline DepartureAirport Time ArrivalAirport Time Class Ref

4Oct Scheduled PalissandreCôteOuest

PalissandreHotel&Spa

P a g e |11

theirdistinctivecalls.Discovertheelevenotherspeciesoflemurinthepark,spotavarietyofbirds,findhiddenrareorchidsandtrytocatchaglimpseoftheincrediblyunusualsatanicleaf-tailedgecko.

DayItineraryCheckoutofthehotelafterbreakfastandenjoyascenicfourhourdrivetotherainforestparkofAndasibe-MantadiaNationalParkwiththesameprivateguideandadriver.Traversingthehighland-landscapesdominatedbythesubsistencefarmingmainlythericecultivationonsmall-scale,brickworksandsomelocaladobehamletsnottomentionmanyroadsidefood-markets.OnarrivalcheckintoAndasibeHotelwhereyouspendthenextthreenightsonhalfboardmealbasis.Intheafternoon,youwillbetakenonanintroductorywalkintoAnalamazaotraspecialreserveakathePerinetReserve.

Transfers

Overnight:AndasibeHotel SurroundedbyforestjustoutsidethesmalltownofAndasibe,withtheAndasibeNationalParknearby,theAndasibeHoteloffersthree-staraccommodationin20spaciousbungalowssetinsmallprivategardens,eachwithaterrace,lounge,andprivatebathroomwithhotwater.In-roomcomfortsincludeheating,satelliteTV,aminibar,andin-roomsafe.

Theonsiterestaurantservesadelightfulvarietyofexoticcuisinesandguestscanenjoycocktailsattherefreshmentbar.Otherfacilitiesincludemassagerooms,aswimmingpool,billiards,pétanque,boardgames,andaplaygroundwithatrampolineandswings.

BasisHalfBoard

Day9:Sunday,6OctoberAndasibeHotel,PerinetSpecialReserve

DayItineraryEarlybreakfastandthentimetoexploreAndasibeNationalParkwithyourlocalguide.Toseethemostwildlife(especiallyIndrisandbirds)beintherainforestasclosetodaybreakaspossibleasthisiswhentheanimalsaremostactive.ThetrailsarenotdifficulttomanageandmostforestguidesspeakgoodEnglish.YoushouldalsoencounterthelikesofGreyBambooLemur,Red-frontedBrownLemur;birdslikethelovelyBlueCoua;Sunbird-Asityand

Date Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

5Oct PalissandreHotel&Spa AndasibeHotel Transfer

P a g e |12

NuthatchVanga,aswellasimpressivereptilesliketheMalagasyTreeBoaandParson’sChameleon.Orchidsandotherepiphytesfestoonthetrees.MantadiaNationalPark(Mantadiameaningrawpath),thisnewly-created16,000ha-largegameparkprovestobemorechallengingterraincharacterizedbynon-developedandsteeppathsinplaces,butyoucandoasmuchasyoufeelcomfortablewith.TheprimaryrainforesthereisspectacularandwildlifeincludesDiademedSifaka,blackandwhiteruffedlemurs,lesserbamboolemurs,red-belliedlemurs.Hereattractiverareendemicbirds,suchasbrownMesite,pitta-likeandscalyground-rollers,red-frontedCoua,orelselesserVasaparrotsorFrancis/Madagascarsparrowhawkarefound,whichhasmadethisparkbecomeoneofthetop10spotsforkeenbirdwatchers.Atthetopofthesteephill,you’llrestunderashedwhichisusedasanobservationaswell.Quiteafantasticviewofthepristinerainforesthere,whilehearingthesoundsofwaterfallfromthebottomoftheclifforhigh-pitchedcallslaunchedbywildindriindrigroupsfromamileaway.DinnerandovernightAndasibeHotel

BasisHalfBoard

Day10:Monday,7OctoberAndasibeHotel,PerinetSpecialReserve

DayItineraryToday,wehaveadaysetasideforthevisitofthepristineprimaryrainforestofMantadiawheretoseetheDiademedGoldenSifaka,BlackandWhiteRuffedLemursandwithlucktheskittishGrey-BambooLemurs.Theindigenousfloraisoutofthisworldincludingmanycreepers,lichens,fernsandorchids.DinnerandovernightatAndasibeHotel

BasisHalfBoard

Day11:Tuesday,8OctoberPalissandreHotel&Spa,Antananarivo

AntananarivoSeeAbove

DayItineraryAfterafinalrainforestwalkandavisittotheLemurislandyouwillbetransferredbacktoAntananarivothisafternoon.CheckintothePalissandreHotel&Spawhereyouspendyourlastnighteatingdinnerthehotel.

NightatPalissandrebasedonDinnerandbreakfast

TransfersDate Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

P a g e |13

Overnight:PalissandreHotel&Spa PalissandreHotel&SpaislocatedindowntownAntananarivo.Itfeaturesanoutdoorpool,aspaandarestaurantwithterraceofferingpanoramiccityviews.FreeWiFiaccessisavailable.

TheroomsatPalissandreHotel&Spacontainwoodenfurniture.EachroomisequippedwithaTV,telephone,minibarandairconditioning.Featuringabathorshower,thebathroomsalsocomeswithahairdryerandbathrobes.Youcanenjoycityandpoolviewsfromtheroom.

TherestaurantserveslocalandFrenchcuisine.Thehotel'sbarisequippedwithsofasandoverlooksthegarden.Guestscanenjoydrinks,cocktailsandsnacks.Otherfacilitiesatthehotelincludeafitnesscenter,a24-hourfrontdesk,aconciergeserviceandmeetingfacilities.Thepropertyoffersfreeon-siteparking.

BasisHalfBoard

Day12:Wednesday,9OctoberEndofItinerary

DayItineraryAfterbreakfastandfarewells,ourrepresentativewilltransferyoubacktoTanaairportintimetocheck-inforyouroutboundflight.OwnflightarrangementsfromMadagascar.

Transfers

BasisBed&Breakfast

UrgentContactNumbers

8Oct AndasibeHotel PalissandreHotel&Spa Transfer

Date Company PickUp DropOff Time Vehicle

9Oct PalissandreHotel&Spa

IvatoInternationalAirport[TNR]

Transfer

CompanyName Telephone EmailAddress ContactPerson

P a g e |14

ServiceProviderDirectory

ExperientialTravel +61418325812 neville@experiential.travel NevilleJones

ServiceProvider Ref.Number Telephone Address

AndasibeHotel +261341432627 PerinetIIAndasibe,514,Madagascar

PalissandreCôteOuest +261209552022 Morondava,Madagascar

PalissandreHotel&Spa +261202260560 Hotel&SpaPalissandre13,RueAndriandahifotsyFaravohitra101Antananarivo

PeermontD'orealeGrandeHotelatEmperorsPalace

+27119281770 64JonesRoadKemptonParkGauteng1620

P a g e |15

TravelInformation

Thisvastcountryisundoubtedlyoneofthemostculturallyandgeographicallydiverseplacesonearth.Fondlyknownbylocalsasthe'RainbowNation',SouthAfricahas11officiallanguagesanditsmulticulturalinhabitantsareinfluencedbyafascinatingmixofcultures.Discoverthegourmetrestaurants,impressiveartscene,vibrantnightlifeandbeautifulbeachesofCapeTown;enjoyalocalbraai(barbecue)intheSowetotownship;browsethebustlingIndianmarketsinDurban;orsamplesomeoftheworld’sfinestwinesatthemyriadwineestatesdottingtheCapeWinelands.SomehistoricalattractionstoexploreincludetheZululandbattlefieldsofKwaZulu-Natal,theApartheidMuseuminJohannesburgandRobbenIsland,justoffthecoastofCapeTown.Aboveallelse,itsremarkablyuntamedwildernesswithitsastonishingrangeofwildliferoamingfreelyacrossmassiveunfencedgamereservessuchastheworld-famousKrugerNationalPark.Withallofthisvarietyonoffer,itislittlewonderthatSouthAfricahasfastbecomeAfrica’smostpopulartouristdestination.

BankingandCurrencyCurrency

ThecurrencyistheRand,whichisdividedinto100cents.ThereareR200,R100,R50,R20andR10notes.CoinscomeinR5,R2,R1,50c,20c,10cand5c.

Banking

Banksarefoundinmosttowns,andaregenerallyopenfrom09h00to15h30onweekdaysand08h30to11h00onSaturdays(ClosedSundaysandPublicHolidays).Mostofthemofferforeignexchangeservices-withcash,bank&creditcardsaswellastravellerscheques.Youcanalsoobtaincashfromautomatictellermachines(ATMs).Severalinternationalbankshavebranchesinthemaincitycentres.Alwaysadviseyourbankthatyouaretravellingoutsideofthecountryastheymightblockyourpurchasesiftheyarenotinformed.

Travel,TransportandGettingAroundTravellingaroundSouthAfricaisrelativelyeasybyair,roadandrail.PrincipalairroutesareservicedbySAAandBritishAirways,operatedbyComair.Thereare2low-costcarriersonmainroutes,namelyKulula.comandMango.

FacilitatingtravelaroundSouthAfricaare10airportsmanagedbytheAirportsCompanySouthAfrica(Acsa).Inaddition,therearesome90regionalairports,includingtheKrugerMpumalangaInternationalAirportinNelspruitandtheSkukuzaAirport,offeringaccesstotheKrugerNationalPark.

AnextensivetarredroadsystemmakestravellinginSouthAfricabyvehicleconvenientandeasy.Youwillfindgravelroadsinruralareasthough.Note:

• Avalidinternationaldriver'slicenceisrequired.

P a g e |16

• Wedriveonthelefthandsideoftheroad.• Wearingseatbeltsiscompulsoryandcellphonescanonlybeused‘handsfree'.• Speedlimitsaregenerallysetat120kmonfreeways,100kmonsecondaryroadsand60kminurbanareas.• Tollfeesapplyoncertainnationalroads.• Petrolstationsarewidespread.• MostglobalcarhirefirmshavebranchesinSouthAfrica

AnothermeansofgettingaroundSouthAfricaareluxuryinter-citybusservicessuchasGreyhoundandTrans-Lux.Metrobusbusesareavailableforin-citytransport.Meteredtaxismustbeorderedbytelephone.Thereisahop-on-hop-offbusinCapeTownandJohannesburg.

Ourrailsystemincludesthelong-haul,inexpensiveShosholozaMeylMetrorailtrains.MoreluxuriousoptionsaretheBlueTrain,PremierClasseandthesteamtrainRovosRail.ThereisalsothenewGautrainrapidtransitrailwaysysteminGautengProvincewhichlinksJohannesburg,Pretoria,EkhuruleniandORTamboInternationalAirport.

Food,DrinkandCuisineAdviceStandardsofhygieneinrelationtofoodhealthandsafetyinSouthAfrica,aregenerallyhighinhotels,restaurants,pubsandnightspots.TapwaterinSouthAfricaissafetodrinkandcookwithwhentakenfromtapsinurbanareas.Notalltapwaterinruralareasissafeforconsumption,sotakeprecautionsifnecessary.

Itissafetoeatfreshfruit,vegetablesandsalads,andputiceinyourdrinks.SouthAfrica'sfish,meatandchickenareofexcellentquality,sothereisnoneedtolimityourselfwhenenjoyingthelocalcuisine.

RestaurantsaresubjecttoSouthAfrica'sfoodsafetycontrollegislation,whichisimplementedbylocalgovernment.Regulationsincludecertificationandregularinspectionsbyhealthinspectorstoensurehygienicstandardsaremaintained.

StreetfoodisnotascommoninSouthAfricaasitisinothercountries,althoughvendorssellingtraditionalsnacksandmealscanbefoundincitycentresandtownships.Foodsafetyinsuchinstancescannotalwaysbeguaranteed.

ClimateandWeatherSouthAfricantemperatures,whicharemeasuredincentigrade,averageathighsof28°Ctoaveragelowsof8°Cinthesummermonthswhilewintertemperaturesrangefrom1°Catnighttoaround18°Cintheday.Averageannualrainfallisonthelowsideatunder500mmayear,makingthecountrysomewhatdry.MuchoftherainfallsintheWesternCapeinthewinter,differingfromtherestofthecountry,whichexperiencessummerrainfall.Ontheplusside,theSouthAfricanclimateboastsmorethanitsfairshareofsunshine,recordinganaverageof8.5hoursaday.

ClothingandDressRecommendationsSummer

Bringclothesthatarecool,lightandcomfortablebecausesummertemperaturescangetwellintothe30-40degreeCelsiusrangeinsomeareas.Alsobringanumbrellaorraincoatduringsummerasthisiswhenmostofthecountrygetsitsrain,butdon'tforgetaswimmingcostume(bathingsuit).

Winter

Thewintersaregenerallymild,comparingfavourablywithEuropeansummers.Buttherearedayswhentemperaturesdive,especiallyinhigh-lyingareassuchastheDrakensberg,sobepreparedwithjerseysandjackets.CapeTowngetsitsrainduringthewinterseasonsoit’sadvisabletobringraingearalong.

P a g e |17

General

Alwaysbringahat,sunglassesandsunblockasthesuncanbestrongeveninthewintermonths.

Walkingshoesareagoodideaallyear-round,withwarmsocksinthewinter.

Ifyouaredoingbusinessinthecountry,businessattire(suitandtie)isgenerallycalledforinthecorporatesector,butmediaforexamplegenerallydressmorecasually.

Forgameviewing,acoupleofneutral-toneditemswillbeuseful,butthere'snoneedtogooverboard.Agoodpairofwalkingshoesisalsoadvisable.

Fortheevening,ifyouarediningatanupmarketrestaurantorseeingashow,smart-casualattireisrecommended.

ElectricityandPlugStandardsCurrentis220/240voltsat50cyclespersecond.Athree-pointround-pinadapterplugshouldbebroughtforyourelectricalappliances-suchadaptersarealsoavailableatmajorairports..

Evolutionhasoccurredmoreorlessinisolationonthisremoteisland–located400kilometresoffAfrica’seastcoast–withtheresultthatmuchofitsindigenouswildlifeisfoundnowhereelseonearth.Madagascar’smenagerieofweirdandwonderfulcreaturesincludestheworld’sbiggestandsmallestchameleonsandover70speciesoflemur–long-tailedprimatesendemictotheisland.TheMadagascanlandscapeisnolesscompellingthantheresidentwildlife,withterrainrangingfromlushjunglesandpalm-fringedbeachestotheknife-edgedkarsttsingysoftheTsingydeBemarahaNationalPark’s‘stoneforests’.Madagascarisanotherworldlyparadisewherevisitorsareofferedauniqueglimpseintoafantasticalone-of-a-kindworld.

BankingandCurrencyCurrency

TheofficialcurrencyofMadagascarsince2005istheMalagasyAriary(MGA),whichhasbeenreintroducedtoreplacetheMalagasyfranc.OneAriary(Ar)isdividedinto5iraimbilanja,whichturnsittooneofthetwocirculatingcurrencieswithanondecimaldivisionintheworld.

Therearebanknotesof10,000MGA,5,000MGA,2,000MGA,1,000MGA,500MGA,200MGAand100MGA.Thereareevencoinsfrom1upto50Ar.Theoneof50Arisverybeautifulandhasbaobabscarvedonit.

Banking

Banksarenormallyopenfrom08h00to12h00and14h00to15h30weekdays.

Creditcards(themostusefulcreditcardisVISACARD)areonlyacceptedinlargehotels,restaurantsandsomeshops,mainlyinAntananarivo.Intheotherbigcities,youcangetcashfromAutomaticCashMachines(ATM)only

P a g e |18

withVISACARDS.There’snowalsoanATMattheairportinAntananarivo.Don’trelyonATMmachinesonly;theyareoftenoutoforder.KeepsomecashinEuroforemergencies.

Travel,TransportandGettingAroundMadagascarisahugeplace,theroadsarebadandtraveltimeslong:ittakes24hoursofsoliddrivingfromAntananarivo(Tana)toDiegoSuarez(Antsiranana),18toTuléar(Toliara),16toMorondavaandsoon.Berealisticabouthowmuchgroundyouwanttocoveroryou’llspendeveryotherdayintheconfinesofavehicle!

Internalflightscanbehugetimesaversbuttheyareexpensiveanddonogoodtoyourcarbonfootprint.Ifyoudecidetofly,you’llhavetochoosebetweenbookingyourflightbeforesettingoff,whichismoreexpensivebutguaranteesavailability,orbookingonceinMadagascar,whichischeaperbutlessflexibleintermsoftiming.

Taxi-brousse(bushtaxi)isthemainpublictransport:slow,uncomfortable,cheapandomnipresent.Privatevehicleanddriverisagreatbutdeareralternative.

Duetotheoftendifficultdrivingconditions,mostrentalagenciesmakehiringadrivercompulsorywiththeirvehicles.DrivinginMadagascarisontheright-handside.Policecheckpointsarefrequent(mindthetrafficspikesontheground)–alwaysslowdownandmakesureyouhaveyourpassportandthevehicle’sdocumentshandy.

Food,DrinkandCuisineAdviceMadagascar’scuisineistraditionallybasedonrice,thatareservedwithsomekindofdressings,vegetables,meatandspicyseasoning.Malagasyenjoyveryspicyfood,thereforemanydishesarepreparedwithhotpeppersoranyotherspices.Thedishesareusuallyflavoredwithgarlic,ginger,onionorcurry,whereasdessertsareflavoredwithvanilla.

Drinkingtapwaterisn'trecommendedinMadagascar.Forenvironmentalreasons,trytoavoidbuyingbottledwater.Fillareusablewaterbottleorcanteenwithfilteredwater.Mosthotelshavedrinkingwateravailable.It'salsoadvisabletoavoidiceindrinksandpeelfruitandvegetablesbeforeeating.

ClimateandWeatherAnytimeofyearisfineforavisitexceptfromJanuarytoMarch,whenheavyrainfallinmanyareascanmakesomeroadsallbutimpassable,andwhenthere’sahighriskofcyclonesintheeastandnortheast.Ingeneral,thebesttimetotravelinmostareasisAprilandOctober/November.Thecoolesttimetotravelanywhereisduringthedryseason(MaytoOctober),butduringthistimethehautsplateaux(centralhighlands;whichincludeAntananarivo)cangetcoldandwindy,withfreezingshowers.

Thewestandsouthwestgetsearinglyhotduringsummer,butthewintermonthsintheseregionsarepleasant,withblueskies,coolertemperaturesandlittlerain.MostraininthenortheastfallsfromJulytoSeptember.

Averagemaximumtemperaturesvaryfromabout30°Cincoastalareas(higherinsummer)toaround25°Conthehautsplateaux.InAntananarivoandotherhighlandareas,temperaturesduringwintercandropto10°Candevenlowerduringthenight.

ClothingandDressRecommendationsTocopewiththeMadagascanclimate,lightweightsshouldbewornduringthesummeronhighcentralplateauxandthroughouttheyearinthenorthandsouth.Cottonandnaturalfibresworkbetterinthissweatyweather.Warmerclothesareadvisedforduringtheeveningsandwinterinmountainousareas.Rainwearisadvisableasaprecaution.

ElectricityandPlugStandardsInMadagascar,thetwo-prongedplugandtheEuropeanstandardsocketarethemostusedwithatensionof220volts(butitmaygodownto170voltsinsomeareasatpeaktimes)

P a g e |19