Madagascar is big and slow to cross, so most trips focus on one or two regions: the RN7 road south from Antananarivo through Ranomafana and Isalo, the rainforest of Andasibe with its indri lemurs, the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava and the Tsingy de Bemaraha in the west, or the beaches of Nosy Be and Île Sainte-Marie. Because Madagascar lies outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, a European SIM pays its operator's own roaming prices on the island.
Key facts for Madagascar
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Airtel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 117 from a mobile for the police or an ambulance; fire 118
- Embassies: in Antananarivo
Antananarivo and the political situation
Coverage is good in Antananarivo. Protests in late 2025 brought violence and looting, and a transitional government took office that October; demonstrations can still turn violent and close roads, so stay away from them. Robberies and thefts are commonplace, and foreigners are targeted by pickpockets and muggers, so keep car doors locked and windows closed in the capital, and do not walk alone after dark.
The roads and the RN7
Armed robberies happen frequently on main roads, especially at night and outside the big towns, so travel only in daylight. Road conditions are often poor, and from December to April many secondary roads can only be driven with four-wheel drive. Avoid the shared minibuses known as taxis-brousse, which are prone to robberies and fatal crashes, and travel with a reputable driver instead.
National parks, rivers and the coast
Coverage is patchy in the national parks and disappears on long stretches of road and in the Tsingy, so download maps and bookings in advance. Armed criminals have boarded boats on the Tsiribihina River, a common route towards the Tsingy, so ask your operator about other routes. Violent robberies have happened even in daytime on beaches, including on Nosy Be and around Toliara, and ferries to Île Sainte-Marie and along the west coast have had accidents, so take local advice before boarding. The cyclone season runs from November to April, and coastal areas are most at risk.
Laws to know
Drug smuggling is a serious offence, and prison conditions are harsh. It is illegal to collect, buy or export protected animals and plants, or products made from them, including rosewood. Avoid photographing security personnel. Same-sex relations are legal from the age of 21, but public displays of affection can attract negative attention.
Paying
The currency is the ariary. Outside the main cities, cash is king: top-end hotels in Antananarivo and the provincial capitals take cards, and cash machines are found mainly in the capital and larger towns, many of them taking only Visa. Bring enough cash before heading into the countryside.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed at home works from your arrival at Ivato airport in Antananarivo, and your usual SIM can stay on for texts and bank codes. An Africa plan also covers South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.
Malagasy SIM cards from Telma, Orange or Airtel are sold at the airport and in town, and registration requires your passport.
Consular protection: who to call in Madagascar
- From a mobile, dial 117 for the police or an ambulance, 118 for the fire brigade and 119 to reach a police station directly; from a landline, the numbers are 17, 18 and 19.
- Embassies are in Antananarivo. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- EU citizens with no embassy or consulate of their own country in Madagascar can turn to any other EU country's embassy, which must help them as it would its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in French, one of Madagascar's official languages, ready to show on screen.
Madagascar travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Madagascar
Will my EU plan work in Madagascar?
Only as roaming, because Madagascar is outside Roam Like at Home.
Is there signal in the national parks?
Patchy at best. Download maps before you set off and rely on lodge Wi-Fi where it exists.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Madagascar?
Airtel, with 4G where available.
What is the emergency number?
117 from a mobile for the police or an ambulance, and 118 for the fire brigade.
The short version
Get the eSIM set up before you fly, travel the roads only in daylight with a reputable driver, skip the taxis-brousse, check the cyclone forecast between November and April, and save 117.
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans