May 21, 2022 • 6 min read
Madagascar is partially reopening to travelers this week
Sep 29, 2020 • 2 min read
Nosy Be is reopening to visitors ©Pierre-Yves Babelon/500px
After closing to international flights in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is partially reopening to foreign visitors on October 1 for the first time in more than six months. For now, travelers will only be able to visit the smaller island of Nosy Be, 31km off Madagascar’s northwestern coast.
Travel to the mainland of Madagascar is not yet allowed, though some regional airports – but not the main airport in the capital city of Antananarivo – will reopen from 29 October. Tourist sites, including museums and national parks were allowed to welcome locals back in early September.
Many of the entry requirements are similar to other countries, including presenting a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours, completing a health form and submitting to temperature checks on arrival, but additional restrictions are also in place. Travelers must have a return ticket, sign a ‘letter of commitment’ that promises to abide by the country’s COVID-19 health measures and carry a local phone card so they can be monitored. It is currently mandatory to wear a face mask in all public places, including in the street, in shops and parks, and a curfew is in place from midnight to 4am.
Tourism makes up about 15% of Madagascar’s GDP, and it’s been estimated that half-a-billion dollars in revenue has been lost from lockdown. The country is a unique haven for wildlife: 5% of all known animal and plant species are endemic here, including weird and wonderful creatures and plants such as baobab trees, lemurs and the smallest known species of chameleon. The landscapes are as diverse as they are epic, and you can travel from rainforest to desert in just 300km.
You might also like:
Costa Rica will now open its borders to residents from 21 US states from October
This US airline will offer pre-flight COVID-19 tests so passengers can travel to Hawaii
Coronavirus-sniffing dogs are putting their noses to work in airports
Explore related stories
- ActivitiesTop 12 things to do in Durham, North Carolina from lemurs to baseball gamesPhotographyTaking your drone on vacation? Here's what you need to know in 2022
Apr 28, 2022 • 6 min read
CyclingLove outdoor adventures? Find the best country to try these epic activitiesMar 10, 2022 • 7 min read
ArticlesInternational Women's Day 2022: Celebrate around the world with these eventsMar 1, 2022 • 3 min read
- Wildlife & NatureWorld Lemur Day celebrates Madagascar's incredible and endangered animal
Oct 30, 2020 • 1 min read