Complete Guide to Madagascar 2025: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts
Madagascar — the Red Island, the 8th continent, the planet’s biodiversity hotspot — is having its strongest tourism and mining decade ever. With a brand-new 90-day visa-on-arrival for all nationalities, world-leading nickel & ilmenite projects, and eight natural UNESCO-classified wonders, 2025 is the year to visit or invest. This is the deepest publicly available guide covering every practical detail, security map, and multi-billion-dollar project under President Andry Rajoelina.
Avenue of the Baobabs & Tsingy de Bemaraha – Madagascar’s signature landscapes
Political & Economic Snapshot 2025
President: Andry Rajoelina (TGV) – re-elected Nov 2023
GDP growth 2025: 5.2% (World Bank)
Tourism arrivals: 420,000+ (2024) → 600,000 target 2025
Key reforms: 90-day free visa-on-arrival (2024), new mining code incentives, Nosy Be & Taolagnaro free-trade zones.
Visa 2025 – One of the World’s Most Generous
- 90 days FREE visa-on-arrival for ALL nationalities at Ivato & Fascene airports and major seaports
- Fee: 35 EUR (or equivalent in USD/MGA) – payable in cash or card
- Extension possible up to 180 days at Immigration in Antananarivo
Top 20 Must-See Destinations 2025
- Avenue of the Baobabs (sunset & night photography)
- Tsingy de Bemaraha UNESCO (karst limestone needles)
- Andasibe-Mantadia (indri lemurs)
- Ranomafana National Park (golden bamboo lemur)
- Isalo National Park (canyons & natural pools)
- Nosy Be archipelago (beaches & diving)
- Île Sainte-Marie (whale watching July–Sept)
- Masoala National Park (rainforest & marine)
- Anja Community Reserve (ring-tailed lemurs)
- Kirindy Forest (fossa & nocturnal species)
- Ambohimanga Royal Hill UNESCO
- Antsirabe thermal springs & rickshaws
Mega Mining & Energy Projects 2025–2030
| Project | Commodity | Value | Status 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambatovy (Sherritt) | Nickel & Cobalt | US$8B | Full production |
| Base Toliara (Base Resources) | Ilmenite & Zircon | US$1.4B | Construction start 2025 |
| QMM (Rio Tinto) | Ilmenite | US$1.2B | Expansion |
| Toliara Sands (World Titanium) | Ilmenite | US$520M | Pre-construction |
Vanilla & Agriculture
Madagascar produces 80% of the world’s natural vanilla. 2025 export forecast: 2,200 tons (US$800M+).
Safety Map 2025
- Very safe: Nosy Be, Île Sainte-Marie, RN7 corridor (Tana → Tuléar), Morondava, Antsirabe
- Caution: Petty theft in Antananarivo at night
- Avoid: Remote south-east coast (risk of cyclone damage)
Practical Tips 2025
- Currency: Malagasy Ariary (MGA) – EUR widely accepted in tourist areas
- SIM: Telma, Orange or Airtel (airport & city)
- Best time: April–November
- Internal flights: Tsarair & Madagasikara Airways
Conclusion
Madagascar in 2025 offers the rarest combination on Earth: 90% endemic wildlife, cinematic landscapes, and the easiest long-stay visa policy in Africa. Whether you come for lemurs and baobabs or to invest in the next nickel/ilmenite giant, this is the moment. For private charters to Nosy Be, Morondava, or Fort Dauphin and full ground handling, contact KiliFlying Air at +255 744 303 141.