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Location
Madagascar is situated to the East of Mozambique and is the fourth Largest Island in the world. It is approximately twice the size of Britain and is characterised by 6 different Microclimates making Madagascar one of the most fascinating countries in the world to visit. Tourism is still in its infancy in Madagascar due to its location and poor infrastructure but in recent times Madagascar has begun to open up to the rest of the world, and what a fascinating country it is!
Fauna and flora
Each Microclimate and area has its own ecosystem with Madagascar on the whole having 5% of the worlds Fauna and Flora, of which 80% is unique to Madagascar. From Lemurs to Giant Chameleons Madagascar is a botanical and zoological wonderland. You will get to see plants and animals that you would never have seen before, this combined with the sheer beauty of Madagascar makes for a wonderfully memorable visit.
Industry
The Main Industry of Madagascar is Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry, however with the opening up of Madagascar to tourism it will not be long before sustainable tourism comes to the fore. Deforestation has been a major problem in Madagascar with a slash and burn technique been widely used. Sustainable tourism in Madagascar will go a long way in curbing these long standing policies.
People and Culture
The population of Madagascar are predominantly of SE Asia, Pacific Islander and African Descent with a recent European addition. Malagasy is the language of the country but French is widely spoken. 50% of the population still practise their own traditional religion. 43% are Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) and 7% Islamic. On the whole tourism is a new phenomenon for the people of Madagascar and more and more of them are realising the potential of this source of income which has resulted in a really positive attitude towards tourists.
Climate:
The climate of Madagascar is generally subtropical with November to April been hot and rainy. The period May to October is generally speaking cool and dry and is a great time to travel. However the climate of Madagascar is strongly affected by altitude and geographical position and there are distinct micro climates unique to certain regions.
Google Map of Madagascar
Use the Google map to explore Madagascar. Feel free to Print the Street Map when you're ready.