Rice is a staple of the local diet, often served with something such as chicken, zebu meat, pork, seafood, vegetables or beans. Notable Malagasy dishes include romazara (a ginger-flavoured meat and vegetable stew) and ravitoto (ground leaves of cassava mixed with pork meat). Chicken or fish with coconut are also on the menu at all local restaurants called “Hotely”. Tourist hotels tend to offer French, Chinese and Italian-style cuisines. A few small vineyards produce Malagasy wine, though it often comes with a pretty fiery aftertaste. Imported wines can be found in cities and all hotels.

The famous “Rhum arrangé”, a home made local rum with flavourings that vary from region to region are found in all restaurants and bars and are not to be missed.

Bottled mineral water is widely available at every shop, restaurant etc. and it is highly recommended that this be your only drinking water during the trip. Your empty plastic water bottles are also useful to the local people, who reuse them for a variety of purposes, so they will not go to waste.