Everything you need to know about your Madagascar holiday
Welcome to Discover Africa’s Madagascar holiday guide. The world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar is situated just off the east coast of Africa, home to a wealth of unique flora and fauna. Madagascar’s tropical climate, sun-kissed beaches, friendly locals and diversity of wildlife and flora make it a must-see destination for travellers and wildlife-enthusiasts alike. Few countries on the planet can match Madagascar’s biodiversity – over 70% of the 250,000 wildlife species on the island are found nowhere else in the world, while it’s estimated that 90% of the plant-life on the island is also native to the country. Curate your holiday experience and let us do the rest for you. It couldn’t be more easy.
Our recommended tour
North Madagascar Diego Suarez and Nosy Be Beach Tour
A Madagascar vacation lends itself to more than just a beach holiday. As the world’s fourth biggest island there is much to explore and be seen on this Mystical Island of Madagascar. To appreciate the full diversity of the Madagascar wildlife, culture, amazing plant life and unusual Tsingy rock formations you need to travel through the forests, through villages and across the countryside, finally enjoying three days of relaxation on the beaches of Nosy Be Island. This adventure holiday tour will take you to the northernmost tip of Madagascar, Diego Suarez and then south-west to Nosy Be Island. Diego is situated on the shores of the second largest natural bay in the world and a strategic safe deep-water harbour to shipping with dry docks and other shipping services.

Highlights of Kenya
- Nosy Be
- Taolagnaro (Fort Dauphin)
- Morondava
- Nosy Boraha (Îl Sainte-Marie)
- Taomasina (Tamatave)
- Mahajanga
- Toliara (Tulear)
- Fianarantsoa
- Antsiranana (Diego Suarez)

When to visit Madagascar?
- January
Travelling by road in Madagascar in January is generally ill advised. Heavy rains render some regions completely inaccessible and several hotels and lodges along the west and the east coast close completely for the first two or three months of the year. Nosy Boraha and Taomasina can be particularly unpleasant in January as hot monsoon air currents make it exceptionally humid and the rain can set in for several days. In the extreme north, Antsiranana has its own microclimate and experiences less rainfall than the east but is still prone to cyclones. Similarly, while also less affected by the rainy season, Nosy Be still experiences its heaviest rainfall and high humidity. If you’re set on visiting Madagascar in January, the southern regions, Toliara, Taolagnaro, and to a lesser extent Morondava, provide the best chance of a pleasant holiday although you will still experience peak summer temperatures. - Those willing to take their chances in the rainy season may be rewarded with discounted accommodation prices, cheaper airfares and far fewer other visitors.
- Several regions are inaccessible during this time of year, with some completely cut off by swollen rivers. There is a risk of cyclones on the north and east as well as heavy rain that could set in for the entire duration of your stay.
- February
Madagascar’s rainy season continues throughout February and there is high chance of heavy rain across most of the country. This is also the month with the highest risk of cyclones. Many lodges and hotels along the east and west coast remain closed during this period although even in these rainy months there are some sunny days. Average midday temperatures are between 25°C (77°F) and 30°C (86°F) on the coast and between 20°C (68°F) and 25°C (77°F) in the central highlands. Much like January, travelling to regions on the east and northeast coasts is a bit of a gamble in February. With February bearing the brunt of the cyclones that make landfall (more than 12 cyclones have hit land in the last decade), it’s best to avoid destinations such as Nosy Boraha and Taomasina during this time. The risk to tourists is actually quite small – warnings come several days in advance and brick and mortar hotels are generally impervious to the storms. Nevertheless, they can completely shut down internal travel and you may not see much beyond your hotel’s doors. - If it’s solitude and bargains you’re after, you’ll pick up the best deals in February. However, accommodation options are limited. Naturalists prepared to brave the rainforests this time of year will be rewarded with incredible sightings of flowering orchids found nowhere else on Earth.
- Humid and wet, Madagascar in February isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Many tour operators shut down completely, especially those offering excursions to national parks where dirt tracks become thick with mud. Driving and walking can be nearly impossible in places. Similarly, with many hotels and lodges closed at this time of year, your preferred accommodation may not be available.
- March
March is still very much within Madagascar’s wet season, with recorded rainfall up to 280mm in the northeast and around 25mm in the south. Recent years have seen some of Madagascar’s southern regions receiving almost no rainfall at all, but this is unusual and subject to change. Although rain across the island tends to abate towards the end of the month, swollen rivers and deltas along both the east and west coasts continue to make access, especially to the highlights, near impossible. As such, many lodges and operators remain closed until April. It’s still hot across Madagascar’s coastal regions and especially humid in the north and east. Central Madagascar and the highlands are prone to impressive thunderstorms during this time. With significantly less rainfall than the rest of the country, and sea temperatures generally lower than in the north, the semi-arid south and especially the shores of Toliara and Taolagnaro are your best bet for a sunny beach holiday in March. Off-season specials on Nosy Be and a handful of islands off Madagascar’s northwest coast are also available for those on a budget. Visiting the rainforests in the eastern region around Ranomafana is an excellent option for those interested in reptiles and amphibians, which are especially active during this time. - Off-season specials, affordable flights and fewer tourists makes visiting Madagascar during March very attractive. Wildlife lovers and naturalists interested in smaller forest and wetland fauna will also be rewarded with some wonderful sightings.
- Several of Madagascar’s parks and tour operators remain closed during this period. Swollen rivers and muddy tracks continue to make transit very tricky and there is still a risk of the final few cyclones of the season making landfall in the north and northeast.
- April
While there may still be significant rainfall in the east and north, the number of sunny days across the country increases dramatically in April and the countryside, from the highlands down to low-lying valleys, is at its most lush and green. It’s the hottest period of the year on the east coast, with averages temperatures of 30°C (86°F). On the west and south coasts, April marks the start of the dry season and the deciduous forests and deltas around Mahajanga and Morondava, as well as the arid regions north of Tulear, won’t see rain again until November. April marks the start of the breeding season for Madagascar’s lemurs. Males are active throughout the country’s national parks but especially fascinating are the ring-tailed lemurs, best found in Berenty Reserve and Isalo National Park where they engage in ‘stink fights’ – wafting pungent odours and shaking their tails at one another. North-easterly winds bring fantastic ocean swells and draw experienced surfers to the Taolagnaro coastline. The beaches of Tulear, Morondava and Mahajanga are also popular, with little to no rainfall and conditions that are cooler and less humid than the rest of the country. - April is a month of lush landscapes, bounding lemurs and quiet national parks and beaches. It’s very much still ‘shoulder season’ and the beaches and hotels are generally quieter, despite good deals on hotels, private tours and certain flights. There’s great surfing to be had on the southeast coast and the drier west coast is good for snorkelling and scuba diving.
- The rainy season isn’t over on the east and northern coasts and accessing the local parks and natural wonders can still be very tricky.
- May
May marks the start of a stable and dry southern winter. There’s no rain at all on the west coast from May until November and average daytime temperatures rarely stray outside 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F). Many wetlands, marshes and deltas are still swollen from the rains, but access gets much as the month progresses and conditions are generally pleasant and sunny in the highlands, despite the occasional chilly morning. While some of Madagascar’s wetlands are still inaccessible in May, fly-in safaris to lodges around Morondava and Mahajanga are now possible, where you’ll find a great mix of quiet beaches and beautiful deciduous forest. It’s a wonderful time to spot small mammals and curious reptiles, including chameleons, giant jumping rats, tenrecs and dwarf lemurs, before they go into hiding for the winter. Madagascar’s interior is green and lush and views from the highlands are spectacular. The peach blossom valleys and lavender scented hillsides around Fianarantsoa are especially pretty. - Cooler temperatures and clear skies make Madagascar’s northern and eastern beaches especially comfortable during May. May is still considered the ‘shoulder season’ and you can expect lower prices from hotels and operators attempting to attract pre-season visitors. On Nosy Be, the weeklong Donia Festival in Hell-Ville is usually at the end of the month, although sometimes it shifts to the first week in June. The festival features live music, a carnival, dance performers, and even a beauty pageant. In Antsiranana, look out for the weeklong Zegny’Zo Arts Festival with its parades and circus acts, street painting and puppetry.
- Some inland regions are still inaccessible in May, and you’ll be just too early for the start of the whale watching season which begins in early June.
- June
June is the coldest month in Madagascar, but daytime temperatures along the coast remain pleasant, only sometimes dipping below 20°C (68°F). The arid south is particularly cool in the late afternoons, while the highlands are even cooler, with days seldom topping 21°C (70°F) and dropping close to freezing in the evenings. It’s also relatively windy in the highlands, which makes for some magnificent, crystal-clear afternoons. While this is officially Madagascar’s dry season, the north-western and northern microclimates (from Mahajanga up to Antsiranana) continue with their perennial rainfall, with occasional, light showers that rarely last very long. June brings lovely clear weather all around Madagascar’s stunning coastline and although temperatures are relatively cool there are still some great beach days. Isalo National Park is especially pleasant at this time of year, with just the right conditions for warm, comfortable afternoon trekking. June also marks the start of whale season in Madagascar and Taolagnaro, Taomasina and Nosy Boraha are also fantastic for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving and boat trips. - Madagascar celebrates its independence on 26 June and there are festivities throughout the country. It’s also the start of the whale season on the east coast (although some can be seen off the western coast too). The western archipelagos are best known for turtles; June marks the start of the hatching season when the baby turtles dash for the sea.
- The highlands can get very cold in June and many of Madagascar’s forest creatures go into hiding during the winter months. June also marks the start of the island’s busiest season and the more popular hotels and lodges can be harder to book.
- July
July is generally dry across Madagascar although the country’s two microclimate regions (the northeast and northwest) still receive regular, light rains. Temperatures average around 22°C (72°F) along the coast, but can often reach 28°C (82°F), especially in the east. Conditions inland are considerably colder with daytime highs seldom above 21°C (70°F) and cold evenings that dip to almost freezing. Madagascar’s east coast (particularly Nosy Boraha and Taomasina) is at its best from July to September, when humpback whales make their annual migration north. You might even spot males competing for females by breaching and slapping their tails and fins on the water. There’s still great surfing in the southeast around Taolagnaro and trekking conditions are ideal at Ankarana, Isalo and Berenty Reserve, although much of the highlands parks’ endemic wildlife will be less active and harder to see. - July is ideal beach time all across Madagascar and you’ll find excellent surfing conditions along the southeast coast. The island of Nosy Boraha holds a nine-day whale festival (Festival des Baleines) near the beginning of July, with a carnival, concert, singing, film screenings and dancing, as well as a trail run and mountain bike race. Antsiranana also hosts a major highlight on the international trail running calendar in July – Racing Madagascar’s Ultra Trail run.
- July (and August) is high season in Madagascar and flights and hotels book up far in advance. Top destinations such as Nosy Be, Nosy Boraha and Tulear can get particularly busy at this time of year. Some of Madagascar’s smaller mammals and reptiles are also largely inactive so it’s not the best time to see the island’s incredible endemic fauna.
- August
August has a similar climate to July. Days are cool with temperatures on the east coast reaching their lowest for the year, occasionally dipping below 20°C (68°F). The west and north coasts have daytime averages of 22°C (72°F) with sporadic showers. The south coast is slightly warmer and bone dry, but its waters are cooler than those in the north, which makes daytime dipping all the more refreshing. Intermittent south-easterly winds buffet the east and north coasts throughout August, with wind speeds ranging from 20 to 40 knots (37 to 74 km/h). August is a great time to explore Madagascar’s arid regions with the Reniala Forest near Tulear and Isalo National Park both at their best for daytime trekking. Nosy Boraha and Taomasina are excellent this time of year with the whale season in full swing. Favourable winds in the bays around Antsiranana (Sakalava Bay is especially good) make this the best time of year for kitesurfing, while the swells around Taolagnaro in the southeast offer up some magnificent surf. - With the weather at its mildest across the board, it’s tough to pick a bad spot in Madagascar in August. For active holidays, August offers the best conditions for trekking, surfing, trail running and kitesurfing.
- August is the most popular time for holidaymakers across Madagascar’s coastal regions so you’ll need to book well in advance. Strong winds along the east coast can hamper scuba diving, especially with regard to reduced visibility. Some of Madagascar’s rainforest wildlife goes dormant in winter and there’s much less action in the lowland and montane rainforests.
- September
September is springtime in Madagascar and temperatures start to rise gradually across the country. Evenings on the west coast and the highlands remain cooler, while the northwest and northern coasts experience daytime averages of 25°C (77°F) and sporadic showers. The southwest and south are a little warmer and remain dry, with steady winds along the south coast that are not quite strong enough to ruin lazy days on the beach. In general, September’s weather is mild and pleasant across Madagascar and it’s a great time to find yourself anywhere on the island. Spring signals the start of baby lemur season in Madagascar and it’s nothing short of adorable watching mother lemurs and their babes swinging through the trees. Berenty Reserve near Taolagnaro is an especially good place for this, but reserves and national parks across the country are all excellent at this time of year. Ranomafana and the montane rainforests offer exceptional birding in September, with optimal avifauna conditions continuing through to January. September also marks the start of the mating season for Madagascar’s curious fossas and your best bet of spotting these are on the west coast’s Kirindy Reserve, near Morondava. - September is your best chance of spotting whale sharks as they move across the Mozambique Channel to the warm waters off Madagascar’s north-western archipelagos. Fauna and flora flourish at this time of year and the beaches across the country are at their magnificent best.
- September’s major disadvantage is its popularity with visitors and smaller boutique hotels and budget backpackers can fill up equally quickly. You’ll need to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
- October
As Madagascar ramps up to summer, average temperatures along the coastal regions nudge their way up to 26°C (79°F). Temperatures in the highlands also get markedly warmer and winds drop everywhere, bringing blue skies and clear days. Across the island it stays generally dry except for sporadic showers in northern and eastern zones. Weather-wise, October is arguably Madagascar’s best month, with warm, pleasant days and cool nights throughout the country. It’s impossible to isolate Madagascar’s best regions in October. Throw a dart at the map and you’ve found a great place to be. Baby lemurs and excellent birdlife are still plentiful throughout the parks and the beaches just get better as the temperatures slowly rise. Along the southeast coast the flagging winds mean better visibility for scuba diving and the highlands are magnificent, with mild daytime temperatures that make exploring Fianarantsoa and the surrounding valleys bliss. - The town of Sambava, in Madagascar’s northeast, hosts the festival of Festivanille, which celebrates the island’s vanilla industry. There’s also the Malagasy VTT Raid, a six-day, 300km, mountain bike race up the coast from Taolagaro. Scuba diving is also at its best this time of year, and with the local school holidays over, it’s also quieter across the country.
- There are no real disadvantages in September other than securing your bookings and, perhaps, struggling to leave.
- November
November marks the start of the rainy season in central and eastern Madagascar, while the west and south coasts remain relatively dry. Average temperatures continue to climb across the country with daytime highs reaching over 30°C (86°F) and humidity building rapidly in the east and north. The long eastern escarpment catches the southeast trade winds, slowly gathering the deluge that will soon be unleashed over the windward rainforests. November is a risky time to visit Madagascar, but warm, clear days can still be found across the country. Madagascar’s south and west coasts are the last to receive rain and tend to remain relatively clear and fine during November. Scuba diving and snorkelling is excellent around Nosy Be and Morondava, where water temperatures can reach a balmy 32°C (90°F). Madagascar’s northern microclimate zone, around Antsiranana, is also generally pleasant, offering a mix of great beach days and a genuine rainforest feel. Visit the surrounding montane regions, such as Mount Amber, for superb sightings of lemurs, chameleons, colourful amphibians and hundreds of birds. - Warm waters along the northwest and dry conditions in the south and southwest don’t rule out the great beach days just yet. It’s also generally quieter this time of year as visitor numbers drop off briefly before rising again for Christmas.
- The east coast can get very wet in November, with high humidity that makes the days hot and sticky.
- December
December is Madagascar’s hottest month with highs of 33°C (92°F) in the north, east and west, and still hotter days in the south as the sun climbs directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. Although hot, there’s often a cool sea breeze along many of the coastal regions, reducing the humidity and providing some relief. With the wet season reaching its peak, you can expect to see rain roughly two out of every three days in the east and northeast, with slightly drier conditions in the west, and the least rain falling in the south. The northern and north-western archipelagos of Nosy Be and Antsiranana, as well as the southern beaches of Tulear, are generally the best bet for a beach holiday in December. The southern beaches may remain completely dry and showers in the north and west usually only last a few hours. There’s still good surfing at Taolagnora (and especially Monseigneur Bay) in December, but the weather is less predictable, with the chance of much heavier rain. Warm daytime temperatures and abundant fauna make the highlands attractive this time of year. - Each December, for just a few days, Madagascar jumping frogs gather to mate in the marshlands of Ranomafana, and the males turn a bright canary yellow in order to attract a mate. There’s also the Mada Sakafo Food Festival which takes place in Antananarivo. Happily, jumping frogs are not on the menu.
- Heavy rain begins to make many of Madagascar’s parks and reserves inaccessible and except for the far south, beach days are certainly not guaranteed. The December holiday season is also a busy time in the major centres and hotels and lodges can book up far in advance.

As far as genuinely fascinating destinations go, you can’t beat Madagascar. Beyond the exported images of baobabs and beaches are ancient forests and wetlands filled with peculiar creatures, secret bays once bedevilled by pirates and crumbling citadels built by feuding kings and queens. And that’s just the start…

This is because on Madagascar – the oldest island on Earth – two very contradictory influences have converged to create something quite sublime. On the one hand is a natural history that has unfolded in almost total isolation. On the other is a melting pot of humanity that’s left virtually no one out. Indonesian, African, Arabic, European – all lay claim to an inextricable mishmash of culture that colours Madagascar’s anthropology. And it’s these two seemingly opposed forces - isolation and accessibility - that together have created an island that is truly, in every sense of the word, unique.
For visitors, it’s a recipe that couldn’t be more intoxicating. There are endless shores and ancient reefs, forested trails and lazy rivers. There are tropical islets filled with the smell of ylang-ylang blossoms, valleys that radiate with the scent of lavender and markets where vanilla wafts between pots steaming the air with the aroma of boiling rice. You can hike along vast and deep terracotta canyons that glow red at dusk, ride through primordial jungles on mid-century railroads or zoom through pastel-coloured coastal towns in yellow tuk-tuks. You can explore underground caves home to troglodyte crocodiles, climb massifs once fortified by Allied soldiers or brave suspension bridges that dangle between precipitous spires of limestone carved by the wind. You can also just take your towel down to the beach, order a bottomless cocktail and a barrel of seafood and do absolutely nothing.

You cannot, however, do them all. And therein lies the challenge for anyone planning a holiday in Madagascar. At more than half a million square kilometres it is the fourth-largest island in the world. It spans more than 15 degrees of latitude and straddles the southernmost tropic. Its climate, landscape and infrastructure are as varied as they are on some entire continents. Variations in culture, language and customs are not far behind. To travel from the east to west coast by 4x4 could take as much as three full days. From north to south you can easily triple that.
And so, what makes Madagascar most unique of all is how to plan a holiday here. Whether it’s the swashbuckling shores of the south, the languid beaches of the north, rainforests of the east or semi-arid wonderlands of the southwest, each region is poised to offer different types of traveller exactly what they are looking for, all the while remaining quintessentially Madagascan.

Experiencing all that Madagascar has to offer would take even the most expedient traveller at least a year. The distances are too great and the infrastructure simply too poor to zip from one end to the other, and there’s just no way to tick all the boxes on a two- or even three-week-long holiday. The most enjoyable way to experience this unique destination is to do it one region at a time. With its mix of world-class beaches, exotic cuisine, sublime wildlife and cultural interactions, not to mention superb hospitality and variety of hotels and lodges in all the right places, you won’t feel like you’re missing out by taking it slow. This is an island to experience one magnificent region at a time, with the added bonus that by revisiting you’ll be supporting the conservation organisations and local traders and businesspeople that depend significantly on tourism to keep this wonderful destination going.
Fauna and flora of Madagascar
To really appreciate the diversity of Madagascar’s flora and fauna you first need to understand its unique geological history. Separated from Africa almost 100 million years ago, the base of all its plants and animals is original marooned stock from the Gondwana supercontinent. While those on the African and South American continents continued to evolve in constantly changing environments, Madagascar’s ancient species were left to develop in relative isolation, miles from anywhere, for millions of years. Sporadic landings from floating and flying seeds (sometimes on air currents and sometimes in the stomach of seabirds) and brief land bridge across the Mozambique Channel, only further contributed to Madagascar becoming its weirdest, and most wonderful self.

Some of its more bizarre creations – 400-kilogram elephant birds, giant sloths the size of silverback gorillas and dwarf hippos a quarter the size of their continental brethren – have been driven to extinction by human colonisation. However, it’s still home to more than 200,000 species of fauna and flora, including 11,000 endemic plant species, 420 different kinds of endemic reptiles, five complete bird families and a variety of mammal species found nowhere else on earth. Per square kilometres this makes Madagascar one of the most biodiverse places on the plane, and one of the world’s officially recognised biodiversity hotspots.

For travellers trying to decide how to immerse themselves in this natural wonderland, it’s best to understand Madagascar as an island of two parts. The eastern flank is mostly made up of dense rainforest, separated from the rest of the island by a long, arched spine of mountains that runs down the length of the country, a few kilometres east of centre. West of the escarpment is drier, made up initially of stark gnarled highlands and then deciduous trees and savannah grasslands as the mountains descend into rolling hills and valleys. Nearer the western shores, the landscape is a mix of marshlands and delta and mangrove swamps, with some arid regions stretching all the way to the coast. The south is mostly arid, with spiny forests, succulents and hardy woods dominating much of the landscape before reaching the shores. The north has its own microclimate. It’s closer to the equator and hemmed in by a half moon of towering massifs making it tropical and humid, but also susceptible to cyclones.
In the moist rainforests, you’ll find ancient cycads, giant ferns, orchids and long-stemmed lianas stretching across the damp undergrowth. Red-bellied-, and rare cyanide-eating golden-bamboo lemurs hang out in the dense canopies. Still more peculiar creations, such as giraffe-necked weevils, giant millipedes, satanic leaf-tailed geckos and a very special species of chameleon no larger than your thumbnail, all hide in the undergrowth.

Though you’ll find far fewer species in the western deciduous forests, wetlands and arid regions, they are no less strange. These dynamic regions are home to species such as radiated tortoises, hog-nosed snakes, net-throwing spiders, fossas, dancing sifakas, vasa parrots, skinks, plate lizards, cave-dwelling crocodiles and large boas.
Found throughout the island are baobabs, including many endemics. Of the nine species of baobab found in the world, six grow exclusively in Madagascar.
Seabirds are also common around the island although, in comparison to its litany of insects, reptiles and small mammals, Madagascar’s population of birds is surprisingly small.

In terms of marine life, Madagascar shares much of its variety with the western shores of Africa. Perennial visitors include hawksbill and green turtles, and humpback whales frequent its eastern bays on their mid-year migration from Antarctica. Madagascar is also notorious for sharks. Its east coast is a well-documented hotspot and as such many bathers prefer the west where the shallow reefs not only offer more protection, but also give snorkelers and divers a larger variety of tropical sightings (more so even than the Red Sea) that includes a wild menagerie of curiosities, such as squirrelfish, batfish, boxfish, flutefish, lionfish, butterflyfish and damselfish.

What type of traveller are you?
Solo travel in Madagascar
Travelling alone can be daunting regardless of where in the world you go. On a remote island with a beleaguered infrastructure, it can seem all the more formidable. The good news is that Madagascar is absolutely fantastic for solo travellers. But that’s only provided you take one essential item: the right (casual) attitude. With a laid-back approach and, especially, a relaxed notion of time, solo travellers will find Madagascar safe, fun and rich with cultural and natural experiences, whether travelling on foot, by bicycle, or using rented or public transport.
The best region for solo travel in Madagascar depends on two factors: your interests and the time of year. Many solo travellers gravitate to the surfing and kitesurfing hotspots of Antsiranana and Taolagnaro, with optimal conditions between April and September. The bars and cafes of Nosy Be, Nosy Boraha, Taomasina and Tulear also attract a small community of independent travellers and are at their busiest between June and November. On the other hand, if you’re travelling solo to escape the crowds then you’ll have no problem finding a quieter spot. Even the busiest resorts are relatively quiet by world standards, but try April, May or November for the best combination of good weather and fewest people.
- Highlights
For the truly independent, self-guided city tours in Taomasina, Antsiranana, Taolagnaro and Mahajanga allow solo travellers to wander the streets and take in the history and culture of these key port towns in their own time; maps are available the towns’ tourist offices. Joining a group is also a great way for solo travellers to meet new people and split costs. Try one of the adventure activities around Taomasina, such as scuba diving, ATV excursions or boat trips down the Pangalanes Canal. For solo travellers on less tight budgets, most of the country’s luxury lodges provide all-inclusive, often highly customisable packages, with a wide range of activities to suit your taste.
- Travel tips
- In general, there isn’t much of a backpacker vibe in Madagascar, so if you’re planning to wing it you should be prepared to get to know the locals or spend much of your time on your own.
- One major disadvantage is the cost of tours and guided trips into the national parks and reserves. Most operators, and certainly all national parks, charge a flat rate for guides (who are compulsory). Unless you find a group to split the costs, you’ll need to pay the full guide rate even if you’re on your own. The same applies to hiring a vehicle with driver, which is the only way to access large areas of Madagascar.
- Women travelling alone will likely encounter men making uninvited approaches. In general Madagasy men are respectful and a firm ‘no’ is usually enough.
- Highlights
Honeymoon in Madagascar
A beach holiday in Madagascar has all the qualities of a classic romance – long walks along white-sand beaches, tropical sunsets and warm evenings under a blanket of stars. That said, there is such an intoxicating mix of exotic flavours, sights and smells that it doesn’t really matter where you are in the country, there’s always the feeling that you might be swept up in a romance at any time. Madagascar has come a long way in the past few years and there’s increasing choice for romantic visitors. From luxury lodges with honeymoon specials, to fly-in safaris and private-hire catamarans, Madagascar leaves it up to you to set the scene for your next romantic escape.
For complete, luxurious, romantic isolation head to Madagascar’s west coast, just north of Mahajanga. Here you’ll find a selection of stunning fly-in resorts where you’ll feel like you have the beautiful beaches all to yourselves. The boutique hotels and upmarket lodges of Nosy Be and Nosy Boraha are also fantastic romantic islands for couples, with palm-tree-lined beaches and clear, turquoise waters. On mainland Madagascar, Antsiranana in the north and Tulear in the south both offer couples the option of mixing luxury oceanside accommodation with the spectacular natural highlights of Amber Mountain National Park and Reniala Forest Reserve. For a truly wild break, Berenty Special Reserve and Ranomafana National Park set an unforgettable scene for romance amongst some of Madagascar’s most breathtaking forest scenery.
- Highlights
Whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or a just an impromptu getaway, a romantic holiday in Madagascar ticks all the boxes. You can take a private boat trip to the Radama and Mitsio island archipelagos near Nosy Be, or watch whales lobtail and breach from the shore on Nosy Boraha. You could learn to surf together in Taolagnaro or search for lemurs on a jungle trek. Of course, and probably most importantly, you can also find a secluded bay in Ifaty, Tulear, or Morondava, and simply while away a sparkling afternoon in each other’s company.
- Travel tips
- Some hotels and lodges – especially the smaller more bespoke establishments – are exclusively childfree. It’s worth seeking these out for an uninterrupted romantic getaway.
- Be aware that many of the upmarket and exclusive hotels and lodges (especially on Nosy Be and Nosy Boraha) list their prices for accommodation as ‘per person’, whereas the rest of Madagascar it’s generally quoted as ‘per room’.
- Madagascar is one of the relatively few African countries where homosexuality is not a crime, although public displays of affection, regardless of sexual orientation, are unusual in Malagasy culture and are best avoided.
- Highlights
Family holiday in Madagascar
Immersive wilderness experiences and an endless supply of adventure activities make Madagascar an amazing destination for enquiring minds. There’s snorkelling and kayaking and horse riding and climbing, and the absence of big game means your kids can get close to weird and wonderful creatures and return home with photos of animals that their friends won’t believe exist. Despite all this, you should consider a family holiday to Madagascar carefully. Poor infrastructure can mean long transit times so it’s best to keep focussed on a specific town or region.
Unless you’re feeling very brave, it’s highly recommended that you centre your family holiday around a child-friendly lodge or hotel. These offer activities for children, private, comfortable transfers, and have experience in providing safe and entertaining itineraries for kids. Suitable hotels are increasingly common across the country, but there are good options around Isalo National Park, which offer short walks directly from the premises, horse riding, mountain biking and on-site play areas. Hotels in Tulear, Nosy Be and Nosy Boraha also have child-friendly activities and staff who are trained to deal with young ones.
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Horse riding in Isalo National Park is a magical experience that allows the whole family to explore the canyons and arid flora and fauna without having to walk large distances. A guided walk at the top of Mount Amber National Park is also perfect for kids and in the dry season (April to November) it’s possible to drive all the way up to the main picnic site which eliminates the long trek usually needed to get there. At the top, there are short walking circuits, many on easy boardwalk trails that wind their way past Madagascar’s ancient mega flora. Snorkelling in the warm waters around Nosy Be is also safe thanks to a large offshore reef, which keeps the shallows relatively calm and clear. A visit to the pirate cemetery on Nosy Boraha (where one of the gravestones has a skull and crossbones on the headstone) is certain to fire up the imagination of young minds interested in myth and adventure.
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- While Malagasy culture is very child friendly, you won’t find many concessions to travelling families outside the dedicated family hotels and lodges. Many tour operators, for example, don’t accommodate children under eight years old and few restaurants anywhere have high-chairs available.
- You’ll certainly need to stock up on child-specific supplies (high SPF sunscreen, medication, formula, insect repellent, travel sickness tablets etc.) before you leave, as you won’t find any of these easily once there.
- While travelling on public transport with young kids can be stressful, it’s worth noting that children five years old and under generally go for free on local busses.
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Budget holidays in Madagascar
Travelling on a budget in Madagascar can be exciting and immersive, provided you’re willing to accept that it may not always be comfortable. Distances are significant and public transport generally old and crowded; the most affordable way get around takes time and often involves a few bumps! Antananarivo has the biggest selection of budget accommodation, offering the widest variety of low-cost guesthouses, hostels and basic rooms. Further afield, you’ll find budget hostels and hotels close to the beaches in Taolagnaro, Antsiranana and Tulear as well as in tourist hotspots such as Nosy Be. Across the rest of the island, there’s budget accommodation almost everywhere in the form of plain, simple rooms with shared ablutions and facilities
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Great surfing at great prices is one of Madagascar’s major highlights. For budget surf rentals and lessons, head to Taolagnaro where you can hire a surfboard at Ankoba Beach or Monseigneur Bay for about 20,000Ar ($5.50) a day. Surf lessons cost about the same. For a very affordable taste of Malagasy history and culture, take a self-guided walking tour in Taolagnaro, Tulear, Mahajanga or Fianarantsoa. Simply buy a cheap map from the local tourism offices in each town.
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- Flights to Madagascar can be pricey, and internal transfers are also often quite steep. These can be as much as $400 or more for a return from Antananarivo so it’s important to plan your route with care. Even better, fly directly to your preferred stretch of coast and explore the surrounding area from there. Local taxi-brousse (buses) will get you practically anywhere on the island, but while a short journey can be fun and interesting, longer routes may quickly become an ordeal. Fares are low, and depend on distance. A trip from Antananarivo to Tulear takes about 20 hours, for example, and will cost you around 60,000Ar ($16.50) one way.
- Once arrived, you’ll find Madagascar an extremely affordable island destination, but it’s even better value if you’re travelling as couple or – first prize – in a group. Tours, activities, vehicle hire and guide fees are rarely available on a per person basis, which means you’ll pay the same whether you’re on your own or with company. This can also apply when booking rooms, which are sometimes charged at the same rate for single or double occupancy. That said, a simple double room will start at 18,000Ar ($5) a night, although expect to pay more in the harder-to-reach, exclusive areas. One option is to find the less expensive rooms a little further from the main beaches and hire a scooter for about 35,000Ar ($9.50) a day. This will not only allow you to reach the more exclusive, remote areas, but adds a degree of independence and the ability to explore a little inland.
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An affordable holiday in Madagascar
Although flights are relatively expensive, Madagascar is much more affordable once you land. There are good-value, mid-range hotels and lodges to be found throughout the island and its archipelagos, although the widest variety is in and around the mainland beach towns of Antsiranana, Taomasina, Tulear and Morondava. Here you can choose between half-board lodges or self-catering apartments, with nearby restaurants and cafes, vibrant nightlife and easy access to a variety of tour operators. Tours can be arranged into the nearby parks and reserves, or there’s also the option of staying just outside a park’s borders where there’s almost always a good selection of reasonably-priced lodges and hotels offering transfers and guided tours. The eastern rainforests and the deciduous parks in the west have excellent nearby accommodation and tend to be more popular. The north and arid south also have good options, but on the whole, are quieter.
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Madagascar offers a wonderful sense of freedom and spontaneity for travellers on a mid-range budget. Bespoke itineraries, guided tours and even vehicle hire (almost always only bookable with a driver included) can be arranged at reasonable rates, which means combining the magic of Madagascar’s beaches with its natural marvels – without having to worry about logistics. Superb combinations include Tulear and Isalo National Park; Morondava and Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park; Nosy Be, Antsiranana and Ankarana National Park; and Taolagnaro and Berenty Reserve. Prices depend largely on the region, season, scope of activities and type of accommodation, but $1700 a person is a rough benchmark for a six- night custom tour with transfers, accommodation, activities, and most meals included. Alternatively, a 4x4 with driver costs around 500,000Ar ($135) a day, while half-day excursions (whale spotting by boat from Nosy Boraha; island-hopping from Nosy Be; horse-riding in Isalo National Park) are generally around 200,000Ar ($55) a person.
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Organising an itinerary in Madagascar yourself can be frustrating and time consuming. If your budget allows, it’s almost always better to spend a little more on a booking a tour through an established, trusted operator that knows the country well. You’ll spend more time enjoying the islands’ splendours and less being frustrated by tricky travel arrangements and logistics. Keep this in mind when comparing prices – a few extra bucks can save a lot of headaches. You can pick up good deals by travelling in the shoulder months of April, May and October, and even better ones if you’re prepared to brave the rains in January and February, although you risk the chance of a washed-out holiday. If you’re not flying directly to any of the coastal towns, then select itineraries closer to Antananarivo – Morondava, Taomasina, Nosy Boraha and Fianarantsoa are good options. Expect to pay around 200,000Ar ($55) a couple a night for mid-range, half-board lodges and about half that for self-catering. Mid-range accommodation on the outskirts of Madagascar’s national parks is around 400,000Ar ($110) for a double room including transfers.
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Luxury holiday in Madagascar
If it’s luxury you’re looking for then Madagascar is your oyster, and where to find its pearls is entirely up to you. For chilled-out beach bliss, cocktails and massages, look no further than the upmarket lodges around Nosy Be, Mahajanga and Antsiranana. If it’s Madagascar’s unique fauna and flora that fascinates you, you’ll find almost all of the national parks have at least one exclusive resort nearby. There are private bungalows that look out onto sculpted ‘forests’ of tsingy and luxury tented camps with seemingly prehistoric mountain views. Then there’s French villas, board walked jungle gems and even a handful of modern designer hideaways secreted away in secluded bays. For opulence and privacy with a gourmet flair, there are some excellent hidden treasures around St. Augustine’s Bay and also along the beaches north of Mahajanga.
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Few places in the world are as varied and exotic as Madagascar. With it’s incredible wildlife, unique flora and stunning natural landscapes it’s a dream destination which offers a luxury experience like no other. Choose somewhere remote and intimate and you’ll likely have coral reefs, squeaky white-sand beaches, private pirogue cruises and enchanting forest trails all to yourself. Or why not charter a catamaran with a private chef and let yourself be whisked off for a beach picnic with not a soul around for miles. As a growing luxury destination, Madagascar is all about tailor-made itineraries. Your greatest indulgence here is the freedom to choose.
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You’ll need to book well in advance if you’re planning to travel during peak season (June to September). Although growing slowly, the number of exclusive hotels and lodges in Madagascar is still relatively small and they tend to book up fast. If you’re spending more than a week (recommended for such a large, varied island), request a few itinerary options from your hotel or tour operator. Many have fantastic ‘beach and bush’ options with partnership arrangements that mean fewer snags and, often, discounts. Several upmarket and boutique hotels offer fly-in packages, which are great for maximising your holiday time and eliminating the chance a frustrating transfer. Almost all large hotels and luxury lodges take credit cards (very few, if any, take American Express), but it’s a good idea to carry some local cash for tips and souvenirs.
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