Madagascar Good to know

As in most African countries, the biggest threat to a traveler in Madagascar is the diseases that may be acquired through different means. Thus, travelers are advised to follow protocol when touring Madagascar. Protocol includes first and foremost, carrying around mosquito and insect repellant. The place is just swarming with mosquitoes, which are the number one disease-carriers in the country. Aside from mosquitoes, there are also leeches that are such a hassle. They stick on legs and suck on a person's blood until they are stuffed. A traveler who would not want to be leech-feed must wear leech sock, a thick kind of sock with very tight garters that may prevent entry of leeches.

Second thing that travelers must beware are the stagnant water that may be seen in many areas of the country. They look like natural swimming pools and are downright enticing. However, tourists must not in anyway, swim or get water from these pools. They are filled with disease-carrying bacteria and even a dip of a toe may endanger a person's life.

A third thing in the protocol list is never feed animals. Guides and scientists will not be saying it if it cannot cause danger. Travelers are asked not feed animals for a reason. For instance, the cute lemurs of Madagascar do not really have banana in their diet, but due to the wrong notion that the animals will come closer when fed, bananas have become staple food. This is not good as it can lessen the fertility of the creatures, which may lead to a quicker extinction of the specie.