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Madagascar tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Madagascar links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel. Order Madagascar Travel Brochures - for Free. The Democratic Republic of Madagascar is the world's 4th largest island; situated 360 km east of Mozambique.
Man is said to have arrived on Madagascar more than 2,000 years ago; by canoe from Melanesia, Polynesia, Indonesia - and joined later by the Bantu from Africa and Arabian traders - to make up this unique Afro-Asian nation. The Merina and Betsileo peoples, who live in the interior of Madagascar, are the descendants of these early migrants from Indonesia. The Portuguese, English, and French all had problems in their early attempts to colonise Madagascar; although the French did manage to hang around for thirty years during the 1600s. Succeeding Merina monarchs took it in turns to befriend the English or the French, but relations were always strained. Queen Ranavalona III finally gave in to the French at the end of the 19th century, and the country became known as the Malagasy Republic. The name reverted back to Madagascar after Independence. At 1,571 km long, by 571 km wide, there are plenty of beaches and contrasts on Madagascar. A mountainous central spine separates the permanently damp east from the drier west, and sub-desert south. Air Madagascar: Madagascar Photo Essay:
Madagascar
Tourism Office: Weather in MadagascarView a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Madagascar. Antananarivo Weather, Antsirabe Weather, Fianarantsoa Weather, Mahavelona Weather, Toamasina Weather. Masoala National Park, in north-eastern Madagascar, is the country's largest and contains many animal species unique to Madagascar; including the red-ruffed lemur, Madagascar red owl, serpent eagle, and 22 species of rare butterfly. Known as Tananarive, until 1977, Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar. The capital is situated in a rice-growing region, in the central part of the island and began as a fortress of the Merina rulers, in the early 17th century. Their large palace can still be seen. The train line in Madagascar goes from the capital, Antananarivo, to Toamasina; a seaport on the Indian Ocean. Madagascar Language and Culture The official languages of Madagascar are the Merina dialect of Malagasy - of Malayo-Indonesian origin - and French. Traditional Music in MadagascarThe 22-string valiha, played at circumcisions and religious ceremonies, is the traditional instrument of Madagascar. It is often produced from an oblong wooden box and bicycle-brake cable. Madagascar Travel Guides Books
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