Best time to visit Madagascar

Visiting Madagascar in February

In February, the conditions become a little hotter and wetter, and there is still a risk of cyclones. Any time spent in Madagascar should be focused around the southwest, as in January, or in modern cities where rainy days can be spent in museums and cosy cafes. Dry days will be hot and sunny – perfect beach conditions.  

Visiting Madagascar in March

Still a hot time of year with regular rain, March is the last off-season month in Madagascar. There are fewer cyclones throughout this time, and sunny days are becoming a little more frequent. Time in Madagascar is still best spent in the southwest.

Visiting Madagascar in April

April is a welcome shoulder month, arriving before the official end of the rainy season. Any rain you experience is likely to be heavy but short lived, meaning it is easily possible to work your holiday plans around any unexpected storms. This can be a great time to explore the capital of Antananarivo when there will be few other tourists. Enjoy people watching in local neighbourhoods and visit tourist-free attractions such as the ostentatious Rova palaces and the enlightening Museum of Art and Archaeology. Visit Analakely Market and spot endemic bird species at nearby Lake Alarobia.

Visiting Madagascar in May

The rains are becoming less frequent, though this is still a shoulder month with fewer tourists and lower prices. This can be a great month to witness the quite side of Nosy Be, a glorious island just off Madagascar’s coast, where the country’s most aromatic crops are produced. Enjoy brilliant beaches and warm shallow waters. You will also find world-class diving destinations just offshore, as well as wonderful wildlife watching throughout the island.

Donia Festival is when the island is at its most lively. Enjoy fantastic music performances as well as fantastic food and fun activities.

Visiting Madagascar in June

June is a month when nature lovers can sight all the country’s most iconic animals. At this time of year, the bulk of seasonal tourists have yet to arrive, leaving empty national parks crawling with intriguing creatures. The climate is still cooling down from the warm rainy season, meaning the reptiles and small mammals have yet to go into hibernation. Isalo National Park in the centre of the country is ideal for nature walks and safaris. 

Visiting Madagascar in July

By July, the dry season has officially begun. With cooler weather and little to no rain, this can be a great month to travel around the country, getting the best out of each destination. Visit beaches, rainforests and islands, and witness authentic culture in the bigger cities. Another attraction of July is the whale watching. In this month, pods of humpback whale can be sighted as they may their way north up from the Antarctic. Enthusiastic whale watchers should head to Fort Dauphin, where there are many superb beaches and nearby natural attractions to discover.  

Visiting Madagascar in August

August is a good month for exploring the great outdoors in Madagascar. Choose one of the wildlife-abundant rainforest locales such as Amber Mountain National Park for nature walks through the eerie lianas with an expert guide. Learn about the delicate balance of the tropical rainforest and how even the smallest lizards and insects can often have the biggest impact on the biodiversity. Spot the local species of lemur, admire the agility of the ferocious fossa, and tick off the country’s many endemic birds.

Visiting Madagascar in September

In September, the climate is likely to be warm and dry, making this a good month to experience all the attractions of Madagascar. Andasibe National Park is a wonderful destination for sighting the country’s weirdest and most wonderful species such as terrestrial crabs, leaf-tailed geckos and the iconic indri, the largest species of lemur. The park is situated towards the east of the country where it is possible to reach the capital of Antananarivo and the beaches of the east coast, perhaps catching the tail-end of the whale-watching seasoning.

Visiting Madagascar in October

October is a great month to head to Ifotaka Forest, one of the most diverse destinations in the country. Throughout your time here, you may visit the unique spiny forest habitat, a fascinating ecological phenomenon and home of the giant-striped mongoose, spider tortoise and a staggering amount of endemic plants. Head into the verdant parts of the rainforest in search of the baby lemurs beginning to emerge at this time. You will also learn the story of the Antandroy tribe who have survived these tough conditions for centuries.

Visiting Madagascar in November

Another month for observing the new generation of lemurs as they find their feet, November is a magnificent wildlife-watching month. Masoala National Park contains some of the largest rainforest in the country and is a fantastic destination for spotting some of the rarest species of lemur such as the aye-aye and red-ruffed lemur. Here, you will also find three protected coral reefs where diving adventures will bring you face to face with the fascinating fish and marine creatures these reefs protect.

Visiting Madagascar in December

December is a shoulder season before the onset of the wet season. Although there may be some rainy days, you will find the country almost empty of tourists. Meanwhile, the temperatures are creeping up. This can be a great time to explore the Anjajavy Nature Reserve, home to brilliant beaches as well as several distinct habitats. As you explore the mangrove swamps, limestone outcrops, caves, and lush, tangled forests, your expert guide will point out the quirkiest reptiles, most colourful birds and rarest species of lemur.