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Safety in Madagascar

Is Madagascar Safe? That’s a question often asked online. And with good reason. African countries often don’t have the best reputation regarding safety, but luckily the safety in Madagascar does not quite compare.

Compared to other African countries, Madagascar is very safe. Compared to Northern European countries it’s not. As it often is with keeping safe while traveling, it is a matter of research. You need to know what to be aware of, how the culture differs from yours, and what to do in a bad situation. Furthermore, you need to understand the systems, the people, and the areas to ensure your safety in Madagascar.

Most of Madagascar is very safe for tourists, but you need to take extra care when traveling in some places. Poverty is extreme in Madagascar, but the climate is generous in many regions. When nature can feed people, they’re less likely to sort to criminality. Unfortunately, not all Malagasys can live off nature, so in some places, you need to keep an eye out for desperate people trying to survive.

The large cities in Madagascar are some. Take Antananarivo as an example. It’s the largest city in Madagascar, and as such it is home to many people from different levels of society. Few people living in Antananarivo are able to live off farming, and as such you need to keep an eye out for pickpockets and make sure not to leave your things unattended.

Another area where you should take extra caution is the South. The Southern parts of Madagascar have a rough climate all year round, and thus survival is tough. Keep an eye out for petty thefts, and travel with an experienced driver to avoid highway robbers.

Worse crimes than theft and robbery are seldom heard of by tourists in Madagascar.