Do's and Don'ts
Don’t insist that Madagascar is an African country, as the Malagasy do not accept this concept. They will point out the Southeast Asian roots of most of the people, and they take pride in the plant and animal life, which developed separately from Africa’s.
Do be careful with your belongings in crowded areas of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, especially on Fridays (market day).
Don’t touch an aloalo,(a wood carving representing ancestral acts), as they are considered sacred.
Do ask whether a beach area is safe from sharks before jumping in the water; many are not.
Don't hand an egg directly to a person, the proper protocol is to put it on the ground first.
Don’t expect anything to be open on Saturday or Sunday.
