The +261 Daily: Dating in Antananarivo 101

The +261 Daily: Life and Living in Madagascar

Introducing our latest series "The +261 Daily", a space for all the random musings and everyday quirks that make living in Madagascar interesting and wild. Tag along MadaLiving's column features on unique daily life explorations of the Madagascar lifestyle. Have your own +261 Daily idea that you would like to submit? Email madaliving@outlook.com.

I’m gonna preface this by saying that dating anywhere in the world at the present moment is ghetto!

Coupled with an ongoing global pandemic, touch and emotional-intimacy starved individuals, and collective relationship trauma, I think I can confidently say that dating in 2022 is terrible and not recommended.

However, we’re forever hopeless romantics and are always up for new experiences or at least great horrible first-date stories to recount to friends over mojitos.

Here are some tips and tricks to maneuver the dating minefield in Madagascar:

The Apps

Dating applications have revolutionized how the world does romance. Just like how the World Wide Web has made the big world smaller, dating apps have made the dating pool more accessible and easily available, whether that’s a good or bad thing. There's Badoo, Grindr, and Adopteunmec, but I think Tinder is one of the more recognized dating apps available in Madagascar.

Review: 3/5

Having heard testimonials from girlfriends, Tinder is mainly viewed as a hook-up app geared towards expats and more adventurous Malagasy folks looking for what’s out there. My girlfriends have stated that they have seen guy friends and acquaintances with wives/girlfriends on the app actively matching with others, so you can take that how you like. However, we give it a 3/5 because countless people have found their future spouse through such dating apps, so goood for them!!!!!

‍The casual

You’ll meet this one at Irish Pub, at parties, heck maybe even in line at Jumbo Score. My advice is shoot your shot, strike up some conversation, and maybe exchange numbers. The worst is that they may ghost you, the best case is that you may date or earn a new friend in Mada.

Review: 5/5

Cute, fun, and low stakes. Just don’t be creepy and keep it light and flirty.

Work Bae

Not recommended hooking up with a co-worker and based on your workplace rules, we just don’t advise it at all. Not to mention the power dynamic and possible imbalance of power, there are plenty of fish in the sea than your cubicle-mate who you are forced to spend 40+ hours a week with. If you do find the hots for a co-worker, proceed with caution.

Review: 1/5

*In Tyra banks America’s Next Top Model Voice*: "It was so bad, I want to give you a zero, but that's not possible, so I give you a one." No advice here other than, girl don’t do it.

The Expat

Just by nature, expats are pretty transient due to whether they are in Mada for work, travel, or just visiting. Traveling and finding romance is pretty hot and exciting bringing with it a load of emotions and fun. But when you come down from the honeymoon phase and evaluate the reality for what it is, it isn’t always too sweet.

As a veteran expat with a history of 3 long-distance relationships stemming from traveling for work and studies, I can say that these types of relationships are intense, transformational, and also heart-wrenching. In my own personal views now based on experience from these relationships, if you have the personality and savings account for romantic relationships with/as an expat, go into it forthright with honesty stating boundaries and the important things that will meet both you and your partner's needs.

May the dating odds be forever in your favor and good luck out there!

How do you maneuver the dating scene in Madagascar and around the world? Let’s continue the conversation! Comment your thoughts on our social media platforms Instagram and Facebook or email us at madaliving@outlook.com!