eSIM for Madagascar

Viasimo's Madagascar eSIM starts at $10.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on Telma with 4G LTE where available. Plans last 7 to 30 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.

Works everywhere in Madagascar

Alaotra Mangoro
Amoron'i Mania
Analamanga
Analanjirofo
Androy
Anosy
Atsimo-Andrefana

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1 GB · 7 Days$10.99

1 GB · 7 Days ×1

$10.99

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Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.

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Network

Which networks does the Madagascar eSIM use?

Host networks: Telma

Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.

Data: 1 GB – 10 GB
Validity: 7–30 days
Speed: 4G LTE
Hotspot / tethering: Supported on most devices
Activation: Starts when you first connect in your destination
Speed management: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
Top-ups: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
Text messages (SMS): Data only: use an app for verification codes
Connects via: Netherlands
Unused validity: 180 days before it must be installed

Setting up Buy, scan the QR code we email you, and switch on the travel line when you land. How it works

Choosing a plan

How much data do you need?

The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.

Recommended data allowances matched to the plans sold for this destination
You are	Plan for	Cheapest plan that covers it
LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup	About 1 GB a week	$10.991 GB, 7 days
TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing	About 3 to 7 GB a week	$42.005 GB, 30 days
HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads	10 GB a week or more	$81.9910 GB, 30 days

Work it out from your own habits

What a week abroad costs

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Charged per day

Your carrier roaming

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A SIM at the airport

$10.99

Viasimo, one bundle

Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.

About this eSIM

Distances on a Madagascar map have very little to do with hours on a Madagascar road, and the same gap applies to connectivity: what looks like a well-served island is really a handful of connected towns separated by a great deal of nothing. Getting online in Antananarivo is straightforward. Staying online down the RN7, out in the baobab country west of Morondava or inside a rainforest park is not. The realistic plan treats the eSIM as your connection in towns and assumes everything between them is offline.

Getting online when you land

Ivato airport sits outside the capital and a lot of flights arrive late in the evening, which is not the moment to be sorting out a local SIM at a counter. Have the eSIM installed and tested before you leave home, so that the phone connects while you are still in the arrivals queue and you can message whoever is collecting you.

Turn on data roaming for the travel line, keep your usual number active for calls and codes, then check that your driver or lodge contact has come through. Transfers here are usually arranged in advance and confirmed by message rather than by app, so a working connection at the airport is worth more than it would be somewhere with taxi ranks and ride-hailing.

Charge everything overnight while you have reliable power. You will not always have it later.

The networks you'll be on

Telma is the operator listed for Madagascar, running 4G LTE. In the capital and the larger regional towns LTE handles messaging, maps and photo uploads without fuss. Further out you will find yourself dropping to 3G, which is fine for text and voice notes and frustrating for anything heavier.

Two things temper the picture honestly. First, network quality tracks population, and Madagascar's population is concentrated in a few places separated by very large empty ones. Second, power supply is not consistent across the country, and masts are affected by that the same way everything else is; an outage in a regional town can take the local signal with it. Neither is a reason to skip a data plan, but both are reasons to download rather than stream, and to send the important message when you have bars rather than waiting until later.

Where coverage holds, and where it thins

You can expect a usable connection in Antananarivo and its suburbs, in Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Toamasina, Mahajanga and Toliara, in the resort areas of Nosy Be, and in the town of Morondava. Larger settlements along the main routes generally have something, even if it is slow.

It disappears in the places you have probably come to see. The rainforest parks are the clearest example: Ranomafana, Andasibe's trails, Masoala and Marojejy are all effectively offline once you leave the entrance area. The Tsingy de Bemaraha and the long unsealed tracks that lead there have nothing at all. The spiny forest of the deep south, the Isalo canyons, the coastal pirogue routes and much of the RN7 between towns will leave you without a signal for hours at a stretch.

Long drives are the norm here, so build the trip around that rather than fighting it. Load your route, your accommodation details and anything you need to read before you leave a town, not after.

What you'll actually use data for here

Coordination, above all. Most itineraries involve a driver, a guide, park entry arrangements and a chain of lodges, and almost all of that is handled by messaging apps rather than booking platforms. Domestic flight times change, so checking and reconfirming is a recurring task, and it is much easier from a phone than from a hotel desk.

The rest is practical: finding a bank or a working cash machine in a regional town, translating between French and Malagasy signage, checking weather during cyclone season on the east coast, looking up park regulations and guide requirements, and uploading the lemur photographs when you finally get back into range. Offline navigation matters more than online navigation, because the moment you need directions is usually the moment you do not have a signal.

Music, podcasts and reading material downloaded in advance are not a luxury on a route where a single day's drive can run most of the daylight hours.

Before you fly

Install and activate the eSIM at home, screenshot the QR code, and confirm your phone is unlocked. Then download an offline map covering the entire country rather than just your first stop, since your itinerary will almost certainly change on the road.

Save every driver, guide and lodge number with the full international dialling code, because half-saved contacts do not work when you are roaming. Pack a power bank and a car charger, expect messaging apps to be the default channel for everything, and take screenshots of your flight confirmations, park bookings and transfer times so they are readable with no bars at all.

Before you buy

Important to know

This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
The eSIM selects a host network automatically. You cannot pick or switch between them.

Looking for more information?

Frequently asked questions

Does an eSIM work in Madagascar?

Yes. Your Madagascar eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are Telma. Coverage runs on 4G LTE. There is no 5G on our host network in Madagascar yet.

Do I get 5G in Madagascar?

No. Telma do not yet offer 5G to visitors in Madagascar, so your eSIM connects over 4G LTE or slower. Anyone claiming 5G for this destination is quoting a spec sheet, not the network you will actually get.

What number do I call for an emergency in Madagascar from a mobile?

From a mobile, dial 117 for police or ambulance, 118 for fire, and 119 to reach the local police station. Landline numbers are the two-digit versions: 17, 18 and 19. Those are the numbers listed by the UK government. Help can take a long time to reach rural areas, so tell your guide or lodge your plans.

Is it safe to travel in Madagascar after the 2025 protests?

The UK government still allows travel but advises avoiding large gatherings and demonstrations, which can turn violent and close roads. Protests over power and water cuts began in September 2025, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina became interim president in October. A transitional government was formally set up on 17 October 2025. Check the latest advice before you go.

Should I take a taxi-brousse in Madagascar?

The UK government advises against it. It warns of robbery risk on the shared minibuses and frequent road deaths involving them, and of armed robberies on main roads, especially at night. It recommends pre-booked taxis, hotel transport, driving in convoy or a recognised tour operator. Avoid road travel after dark.

When is cyclone season in Madagascar?

Usually November to April. Coastal areas are most exposed, and the UK government warns storms can cut off remote areas and contaminate water supplies. In those months, check forecasts daily, keep offline maps and booking details on your phone, and leave a spare day before international flights out of Antananarivo.

How much data do I need for 7 days in Madagascar?

For 7 days in Madagascar, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $10.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.

Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →

Know before you go

Madagascar: what to know before you land

In Madagascar your eSIM uses Orange or Airtel on 4G/LTE. Emergency numbers differ by phone: from a mobile, dial 117 for police or ambulance and 118 for fire. Antananarivo has had power cuts of up to 12 hours, which helped spark the protests of late 2025, so keep a power bank charged for when masts and hotels lose electricity.

Emergency: 117 police/ambulance, 118 fire, 119 police station (from mobiles)
Plugs: CDEJK 220V
Currency: Malagasy ariary (MGA)

Main airports

TNR Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo
NOS Fascene Airport, Nosy Be

Apps worth having WhatsAppFacebookOrange MoneyAirtel Moneymaps.me

Antananarivo's power cuts and the 2025 political transition

In the months before September 2025, Antananarivo regularly had power and water cuts lasting up to 12 hours, blamed on Jirama, the state electricity and water utility. That anger led to protests from 25 September 2025, which spread nationwide with looting and arson. The UN reported 22 deaths, a figure the government disputed. On 11 October an army unit, CAPSAT, sided with the protesters. President Rajoelina left the country, the National Assembly voted to impeach him, and Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as interim president. The UK government notes that a transitional government was formally set up on 17 October 2025.

The UK's current advice is to avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, which can turn violent and close roads at short notice. Use your data to follow local news, and keep in touch with your driver or tour operator about routes into and out of the capital.

Power cuts matter for your phone, too. A mast on battery backup can go quiet during a long outage. Charge your phone and a power bank whenever the electricity is on, and don't wait until evening to download your next day's route or tickets.

Taxi-brousse, armed robbery and night driving on national routes

Most overland trips in Madagascar mean long days on the RN roads. The UK government reports frequent armed robberies on main roads, particularly at night and outside the major towns, and recommends travelling in convoy or with a recognised tour operator. It also advises not driving after dark, because many vehicles have no lights and few roads are lit.

It warns against the shared taxi-brousse minibuses because of the robbery risk and the frequent fatal crashes involving them. It suggests pre-booked taxis or hotel transport instead. In Antananarivo, ask your hotel to arrange a car rather than flagging one in the street.

You will lose signal for hours on these roads, so share your planned route and expected arrival time with someone before you leave a town, and send a check-in when you reach the next one. Save your driver's number and your lodge's WhatsApp contact so you can reach them as soon as you're back in coverage. If you're delayed, message the next lodge as soon as you have signal.

Cyclone season and calling 117, 118 or 119 from a mobile

Madagascar's cyclone season normally runs from November to April, and the UK government says coastal areas are most at risk. That includes the east coast around Toamasina and the Masoala peninsula, and the north including Nosy Be. Storms can cut road access to remote areas for days and contaminate water supplies. If you're travelling in those months, check forecasts every day while you have signal and plan a buffer day before any domestic flight home.

The emergency numbers depend on what you're calling from. The UK government lists:

117 from a mobile (17 from a landline) for ambulance or police
119 from a mobile (19 from a landline) for the local police station
118 from a mobile (18 from a landline) for fire

Dial the three-digit mobile version from your phone. Your eSIM is data only, so calls go out on your home SIM while roaming. Keep that line switched on, and write the numbers down in case your phone battery runs out somewhere remote.

Researched October 2026 · 4 sources

gov.uk Madagascar travel advice - GOV.UK
gov.uk Madagascar travel advice: safety and security - GOV.UK
gov.uk Madagascar travel advice: getting help - GOV.UK
en.wikipedia.org 2025 Malagasy protests - Wikipedia

7-day itinerary

Seven days in Madagascar: Andasibe's rainforest and the baobabs of Morondava

A realistic first week that avoids long night drives: two nights in the eastern rainforest at Andasibe for indri lemurs, then a domestic flight west to Morondava for the Avenue of the Baobabs and Kirindy Forest, with the royal hill of Ambohimanga at the end. Best with a recognised tour operator and driver.

Length: 7 days
Bases: 4

When to go April to November is the dry season and the best time for both regions, with September to November good for lemur babies; November to April is cyclone season, when the west coast roads and the Morondava tracks can become impassable.

Day 1 Antananarivo

Arrive in Antananarivo

Ivato airport is about 30–60 minutes from central Antananarivo depending on traffic.

Arrive at Ivato airport and transfer with your hotel or operator's driver rather than a street taxi. If you land in time, visit the Rova, the restored royal palace complex on the highest of the capital's hills, for the view over the rice paddies and Lake Anosy. Keep the evening quiet, and avoid any gatherings or demonstrations in the centre.

Signal Orange and Airtel 4G cover the capital and the airport well, but masts can drop out during power cuts; keep a power bank charged.
Day 2 Andasibe

East to Andasibe

About 3.5–4 hours by road from Antananarivo on the RN2; travel in daylight only.

Leave early on the RN2 east through the highlands, stopping at the Peyrieras reptile reserve at Marozevo to see chameleons, leaf-tailed geckos and frogs up close. Reach Andasibe in the afternoon and, after dark, join a guided night walk along the road at the edge of the park to look for mouse lemurs, chameleons and frogs with a torch.

Signal Coverage is decent in the towns along the RN2, such as Moramanga, but there are gaps in the hills; Andasibe village has a usable but slow signal.
Day 3 Andasibe

Indri in Analamazaotra and Mitsinjo

The park entrance is a few minutes from Andasibe village.

Spend the morning with a local guide in the Analamazaotra section of Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, listening for the wailing song of the indri, the largest living lemur, and tracking a family through the forest. Look for diademed sifakas and common brown lemurs too. In the afternoon visit the community-run Mitsinjo reserve next door for more forest walks and birds.

Signal There is little or no signal on the forest trails; your guide is your contact, so arrange pick-up times before you set off.
Day 4 Morondava

Back to Tana and fly to Morondava

About 3.5–4 hours by road to Ivato, then a domestic flight of roughly 1 hour to Morondava; the Avenue is about 30 minutes north of town.

Drive back to Antananarivo early and catch a domestic flight west to Morondava. In the late afternoon drive out to the Avenue of the Baobabs, the dirt road lined with tall Grandidier's baobabs, and stay for sunset, when the trees stand in silhouette. Check that your flight is still running the day before, as domestic schedules change often.

Signal Morondava town has 4G; signal weakens on the RN8 towards the Avenue of the Baobabs and is weak at the Avenue itself.
Day 5 Kirindy

Kirindy Forest

About 1.5–2 hours by four-wheel drive from Morondava on an unpaved road.

Head north on the sandy RN8 to Kirindy Forest, a dry deciduous forest reserve managed with local communities. Walk with a guide to look for the fossa, Madagascar's largest predator, as well as Verreaux's sifaka, red-fronted brown lemurs and, on a night walk, the tiny Madame Berthe's mouse lemur. Stop again at the Avenue of the Baobabs and the twisted Baobab Amoureux on the way.

Signal There is no reliable signal at Kirindy; tell your lodge and family you will be offline overnight.
Day 6 Antananarivo

Morondava's coast and fly back

About 1.5–2 hours back to Morondava, then the domestic flight to Antananarivo; leave a buffer in case of delays.

Return to Morondava in the morning and take a pirogue across the lagoon to Betania, a Vezo fishing village where life revolves around the boats and the beach. Walk along the shore and the mangroves, then fly back to Antananarivo in the afternoon.

Signal 4G in Morondava and Betania is usable for messages; the capital is well covered again on arrival.
Day 7 Antananarivo

Ambohimanga and departure

Ambohimanga is about 1 hour north of central Antananarivo by road; Ivato airport is on the same side of the city.

Drive north to the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga, the UNESCO-listed former royal city and sacred site of the Merina kings, to see the wooden royal house, the gateways sealed with stone discs and the views over the highlands. Return to Antananarivo for a last walk around the Analakely market area with your guide before your international flight from Ivato.

Signal Good 4G at Ambohimanga and on the road back to the airport.

Staying connected on this route

Share your route and expected arrival time before each long road day and send a check-in when you arrive; the RN2 and RN8 have long gaps.
Carry a charged power bank, since power cuts can take masts and hotel Wi-Fi offline.
Download offline maps of Andasibe and the Morondava–Kirindy area while you still have a signal in Antananarivo.
Save 117 (police and ambulance from a mobile) and 118 (fire) and your operator's numbers; calls go out on your home SIM.

Itinerary sources · 4

gov.uk GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Madagascar, regional risks
gov.uk GOV.UK foreign travel advice: Madagascar
whc.unesco.org UNESCO World Heritage: Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
madagascar-tourisme.com Madagascar National Tourism Office

Where this comes from

Information and verification

Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.

Prices and plans: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.; Verified October 30, 2026
Host networks: The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM.; Verified October 30, 2026