Antananarivo, Madagascar Report of what it's like to live there - 07/16/20
Personal Experiences from Antananarivo, Madagascar
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
No, fifth post in Africa.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Long hard expensive flights to US, 30 hours travel time to get to East Coast via Paris
3. How long have you lived here?
Four years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
UN.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Nice house with garden. Horrible traffic. 5km can take 1 hour.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Good supply, wide range of products imported from France.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Had everything we needed.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Fairly good selection of restaurants with low prices but did not frequent them as did not want to deal with traffic.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
No.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
Forget mail service. Packages do not arrive. DHL available but expensive.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Easily available but important to verify with references. Had a very bad experience (a lot of money stolen), followed by very good experience.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Tennis, riding, not expensive.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes.
5. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
French is needed. Malagasy appreciated but not needed.
6. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Expats do not use public transport.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Need a robust car, lots of potholes.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
No problem.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Good service with Vet Clinic.
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What volunteer opportunities are available locally?
Orphanages.
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Relatively safe.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
Health care only ok for basic stuff.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Horrible air quality from terrible traffic and seasonal burning of fields.
4. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
The daily grinding poverty can be depressing in my opinion.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Nice climate, comfortable temperatures, cold nights during the winter months (it can drop to 8 degrees Celsius). Not humid.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
Very happy with ASA, very nice new facility, engaged staff.
2. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Very few opportunities. I found a great piano teacher and painting teacher who came to the house. Tennis can be organized.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Relatively large expat community. Lots of French. Mixed morale.
2. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Week-end get togethers in each other’s gardens.
3. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
For single people no. For families ok if you are ok with spending a lot of time at home.
4. Is it easy to make friends with locals here? Are there any prejudices or any ethnic groups who might feel uncomfortable here?
Malagasy tend to be reserved.
5. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
There is a very elite upper class contrasted by masses of poor people.
6. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Seeing the lemurs, Île St Marie.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Visit to lemur parks.
8. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Comfortable climate, apart from rent the cost of living is low.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
How very poor it is, how polluted it is, how bad traffic is, how long and expensive flights are to Europe and US, how corrupt it is, how difficult it is to achieve development results.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
No, I found Madagascar incredibly depressing.
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Illusions about coming to an Indian Ocean Island on par with Mauritius, Seychelles or Reunion.
4. But don't forget your:
Air pollution monitor and how you will cope with daily images of depressing poverty (families living next to trash dumps) and starving homeless dogs.
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
Read about the very particular culture to help you understand the Malagasy mentality better and why the country remains as poor as it is.
6. Do you have any other comments?
Be prepared for coming to one of the poorest countries in the world with a system of governance that in my opinion serves the country’s elite.
