The Best of Madagascar: A Biodiversity Hotspot

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A signed liability waiver is required before travel by the program provider (EXPLORE, Inc.); this form is found at the back of the first informational mailing.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

Madagascar

• Your passport must have 3 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it may be obtained upon arrival.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: A tourist visa can be obtained upon arrival at the Antananarivo airport. For stays of up to 15 days in length, the visa cost is $35 (or €30). For stays of 16-30 days, the visa is $41 (or €35). Tourist visa charges can be paid upon arrival at the Antananarivo airport in USD cash, euros cash or Visa / MasterCard. There is also an e-visa option if you’d prefer to apply in advance; the visa site to use is: https://evisamada-mg.com. If your intended stay in Madagascar is 15 days, we recommend paying for the month-long visa (at $41 / €35) instead of doing the shorter visa, to avoid the bureaucratic hassle of trying to extend your visa should there be any plane delays at the end of your trip.

South Africa

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it may be obtained upon arrival.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: South Africa does not require a visa for American or Canadian citizens, however you must have two blank visa pages in your passport, plus one blank visa page each for every other country visited on the trip, to gain entry to South Africa. South Africa requires a customs/declaration form to be filled out online within 24 hours of departure for South Africa. Your airline should provide the link when you check in, otherwise you can find the form online here: https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/. You do NOT need to make an account/register in order to fill out this form, it is a simple customs form asking for your mode of travel/arrival into South Africa, passport information and where you are staying - you can simply put the name of the hotel and city where you are staying when first in the country, you do not need the full address. Only fields marked with an asterisk need to be filled out. We suggest choosing “no goods to declare” when filling out the form.

Madagascar has a healthy climate and there is no yellow fever, nor many other tropical diseases. Those who have traveled to or through any yellow fever infected area within a week of coming to Madagascar are required to carry certification of yellow fever vaccination. Precautions against cholera are recommended (eating only cooked vegetables and well heated food, and washing hands before eating). Malaria does occur in Madagascar. It is essential that you consult your health care professional as to which medications are recommended against malaria. S/he will probably suggest a prophylactic course of one of the anti-malarial drugs, which may need to be started two weeks prior to departure. For this reason, you should consult with your health professional well in advance of your departure. Tell your physician that you will spend 13 days in malarial areas. Since there are a few long boat transfers and drives during this program, some of which are on bumpy roads, pack motion sickness medication if you are sensitive. If you have any unusual prescriptions, carry a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug. Make sure your medication supply will be sufficient to last the entire trip. Avoiding scented bath products will deter bugs, but if you are allergic to bee stings or other insect bites be sure to bring a sufficient supply of antidote. The sun in Madagascar can be strong. Please bring sunscreen (25 SPF or better), as well as a soft, wide-brim hat with tie. Also make sure to bring protection against mosquitoes. A repellent should contain at least 30% DEET. During the hikes and walks in the national parks, bathroom stops are "au natural." For women who find squatting uncomfortable, there is a “female urinal” product that allows women to go while standing up. There are various styles available that can be found on-line or in travel stores. Contact EXPLORE, Inc. with questions or concerns.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on November 2, 2027

Meet the group at City Lodge O.R. Tambo Hotel in Johannesburg

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in; dinner taken on individual basis as desired.

Getting to the site: The first night of the program is in Johannesburg, South Africa. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the international terminal at the airport, so no vehicle transfer is required. For travelers arriving on the correct program start date, a Road Scholar representative will greet arriving participants in the international arrivals hall and escort them to the hotel lobby for check-in. If you have booked your own international flights, please send full flight details to EXPLORE, Inc for coordination purposes; email them to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com.

Your trip ends on: Monday, November 15, 2027 in Antananarivo at Relais des Plateaux

End of Trip: 5:00 p.m. at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, after arrival of flight from Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Getting to the airport: Group transfer from the last location in Antananarivo to the Ivato Airport (Madagascar) is included for everyone. The flight from Madagascar to Johannesburg is also included in the program price for all participants. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you connect to international departures; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. Program Provider (EXPLORE, Inc) can help with ongoing travel arrangements if needed. If you have booked your own international flights, please send full flight details to EXPLORE, Inc for coordination purposes; email them to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: The first night of the program is at a hotel adjacent to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo Airport. No vehicle transfer is required, the hotel lobby is accessed by a 5-minute walk from the international arrivals hall. For participants arriving on the correct program start date, a Road Scholar representative will be on hand to greet travelers in the arrivals hall and escort them on the walk to the hotel lobby; this applies to Program Only Participants as well. If you are arriving early to the program, the Program Provider can provide directions on how to find the hotel on your own. If you have chosen the Program Only Option (POP option), please be sure to send flight details to the Program Provider (EXPLORE, Inc) so that appropriate airport transfers can be arranged; email flight information to roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com. Please note the correct start and end dates in Johannesburg when booking your international flights. Contact EXPLORE with any questions. For departure, independent travelers do not need to arrange any separate transfers from the group. The group is transferred from your final lodge to the Ivato Airport in Antananarivo. The flight from Antananarivo to Johannesburg is also included for everyone in the program price. Once in Johannesburg, you will connect to international flights home; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. EXPLORE can help with extra travel arrangements if interested.