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FOOD & DINING IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR DINING GUIDE

Madagascar Info — Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:06 am

Author: Madagascar Info

Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:06 am

FOOD & DINING IN MADAGASCAR

GENERAL

In Madagascar, eating well means eating a lot. Malagasy cooking is based on a large serving of rice with a dressing of sauces, meat, vegetables and seasoning. The people of Madagascar enjoy very hot food and often serve dishes with hot peppers. Local restaurants are often referred to as hotely.

The choice of beverages is limited. The national wine is acceptable.

National specialties

• Ro (a mixture of herbs and leaves with rice).

• Beef and pork marinated in vinegar, water and oil, then cooked with leaves, onion, pickles and other vegetables and seasoned with pimento.

• Ravitoto (meat and leaves cooked together).

• Ramazava (leaves and pieces of beef and pork browned in oil).

• Vary amid ’anana (rice, leaves or herbs, meat and sometimes shrimps), often eaten with kitoza (long slices of smoked, cured or fried meat).

National drinks

• Litchel (an aperitif made from lychees).

• Betsa (fermented alcohol).

• Toaka gasy (distilled from cane sugar and rice).

• Three Horses lager.

• Non-alcoholic drinks include ranon ’apango or rano vda (made from burnt rice) and local mineral waters.

Tipping: Not customary, although waiters expect 10 per cent of the bill. In European-style hotels and restaurants, the French system of tipping is followed. One should also tip in Chinese and Vietnamese establishments.

PLACES TO DINE

Le Restaurant
Quartier de Beharirika,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2228267

Tatao
22 Avenue General Ramanantsoa Isoraka,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2231927
Fax: +261 20 2235323

Mariette
11, Rue George-V,
Faravohitra,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2221602

Saka Manga
Rue A. Ratianarivo,
Tsaralalana,
Antananarivo
Phone: +261 20 2235809

NIGHTLIFE IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Madagascar Info — Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:00 am

Author: Madagascar Info

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 11:00 am

NIGHTLIFE IN MADAGASCAR

There are a few discos, sometimes with bands and solo musicians. Casinos can be found at Antananarivo, Toamasina and on Nossi Bé. Most main towns have cinemas and theatres, and touring theatre groups perform local plays throughout the country. Traditional dance troupes can also be seen.

Base yourself in the capital at Hotel Colbert, a colonial gem. Its two funky bars are where "old colonial hands" mix with modern business people and locals. There's even a resort island (Nosy Be) with restaurants and nightspots.

However, the nightlife is not what Madagascar is famous for. What will draw you is an interest in Malagasy culture (the music has topped world charts) and a desire to walk into rain forest on a misty dawn to hear the eerie, wailing calls from troops of indri lemurs.

SHOPPING IN MADAGASCAR / MADAGASCAR SHOPPING GUIDE

Madagascar Info — Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:40 am

Author: Madagascar Info

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 9:40 am

SHOPPING IN MADAGASCAR

Handicrafts include lamba (traditional squares of cloth in various designs and woven materials); zafimaniny marquetry, which is applied to furniture, chessboards and boxes; silverwork such as mahafaly crosses and vangavanga bracelets; jewellery made from shells and precious stones; items woven from reeds, raffia and straw; antemore paper decorated with dried flowers; and embroidery. All products incorporating Malagasy flora or fauna (including dried flowers) often require export permits.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1400-1600.

Currency

The pre-colonial Ariary (MGA) has been reintroduced to replace the Malagasy Franc (MGF). Notes are in denominations of MGA10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200 and 100. Coins are in denominations of MGA 50, 20, 10 and 5. Malagasy Francs are no longer legal tender but can be exchanged at banks until 2009.

Currency exchange

Malagasy Francs can be bought only at banks and official bureaux de change in hotels and at the airport in Antananarivo. Hotels have a less favorable exchange rate. A few ATMs have now been installed in Antananarivo. The Ariary is a non-convertible currency and cannot be exchanged back into tradable currency. Therefore it is a good idea to exchange currency as required.

Credit & debit cards

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at top-end hotels in Tana and the provincial capitals. These and other cards have limited use elsewhere in the country. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

These can be exchanged in banks and major hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros or US Dollars.

Currency restrictions

The import of local currency is limited to MGA1000. The export of local currency is prohibited to non-residents. The import and export of foreign currency is unlimited, subject to declaration.