We're so often asked when the best time to visit Madagascar is. However, it's almost a year-round destination, with many factors going into when and where you can travel.
The island has a diverse and complex tropical climate, reflected in its contrasting habitats that range from semi-arid spiny desert to permanently humid rainforest.
We hope this selection of ideas is helpful to you while you're in the planning stages for your next trip.
So, when is the best time to go to Madagascar?
In this article:
– When do Madagascar’s seasons take place?
Madagascar’s Seasons
Wet season: December to March
This period is characterised by rain showers interspersed with blazing sunshine across much of the country. The average rainfall in Madagascar at this time is December (226mm), January (312mm), February (237mm) and March (156mm).
Dry season: May to November
Generally speaking, the dry season runs from May to November. Note that in the Central Highlands (Hauts Plateaux) and eastern escarpment, winter nights can be very cold. In the eastern region, there's high annual rainfall (with at least some rain on an average of 320 days a year, even for just a few minutes), peaking in the north-east.
Peak wildlife viewing: September to November
September to November is widely regarded as the best time of year to visit Madagascar: many species of true lemur have youngsters; most species of bird are calling, displaying and engaged in nest building; and as the austral spring progresses, herpetofauna (reptiles and frogs) becomes more active.
Best time for beaches: April to December
Head to the quiet, sandy beaches during this period to soak up the rays.
Africa Travel Specialist
"In Madagascar's forests, spritely lemurs from the ape-like indri to tiny mouse lemurs move skilfully between branches as they forage by day or night. Thanks to the island's sheer diversity of compellingly unique animals, our expert-led Madagascar small group tours have historically filled up rapidly. Wildlife lovers flock here from September to November every year, making it a highly sought-after experience you shouldn't delay."
Madagascar Weather by Month
– January: Wet Season in Full Swing
– February: Cyclone Risk; Not Ideal for Travel
– April: Green Landscapes; Shoulder Season Begins
– May: Start of the Dry Season
– June: Cooler Weather; Fewer Tourists
– July: Ideal for Whale Watching
– August: Cooler, Dry Weather; End of Malagasy Winter
– September: Spring Starts; Excellent Wildlife Viewing
– October: Excellent Weather and Wildlife Watching
January: Wet Season in Full Swing
In most of the country, the wet weather conditions are in full swing come January.
Rain renders some provincial roads in the central west and north west impassable, while in various national parks, paths in the rainforests especially are slippery while in the western 'tsingy' plateaus caves may be flooded, hindering access to certain protected areas. This increased risk of unpredictability is why we generally don't recommend visiting at this time.
The far North around Diego Suarez is dry and almost a ‘mirror’ of the South with its bloated and thorny drought-resistant flora. In the remote North and in the Southern interior, are dry mountains which are accessible year round. Such sites include Montagne des Francais in the far North and Isalo National Park in the southern interior.
Speak with one of our Travel Specialists for expert travel advice on visiting in this period.
February: Cyclone Risk; Not Ideal for Travel
Rains peak in February, generally affecting the windward east coast more than the leeward west or sub-arid south. Some lodges close during this time.
Although it isn't the best time to visit Madagascar, you can still spend time in the South. With its semi-arid climate. Where modification by man has not altered the landscape, large swathes of the South still feature the original habitat, i.e. the remarkable ‘spiny scrub’ or Euphorbia-Didieracea bush, which at first glance in some places might remind some of the Mexican desert.
March: End of Rainy Season
In March, the tropical cyclones and rainy weather subside towards the end of the month.
It's one of two recognised optimum months in which to see endemic orchids, which are found in all ecotypes across the country. Madagascar has more species of orchid – some 1,050 – than mainland Africa does. The flagship Malagasy orchid, Darwin's orchid, was presented to Charles Darwin. Although he never made it to Madagascar, he predicted that the orchid's pollinator would be a very long-tongued moth upon seeing it.
April: Green Landscapes; Shoulder Season Begins
After the rainy season has passed, expect sunny days and verdant landscapes during the month of April. It's a lesser-known window for great wildlife-watching opportunities, and you can seek species such as gremlin-like aye-ayes and leaf-tailed geckos, the latter of which mimic bark or dead leaves.
For flagship animals like the ring-tailed lemur, this is the start of the mating season. You can also max out on the island's diverse creepy-crawlies by visiting now, especially in the western half of the country, when there's usually plenty of critter activity about. The peculiar little three-eyed lizard is one such rare, range-restricted herp you may potentially spot.
If you're unsure of when to visit Madagascar and prefer to give the crowds a miss, then the April to early May window presents one of the best periods to choose.
May: Start of the Dry Season
In the western region, weather in May is glorious. In the sub-desert south, smaller wildlife starts becoming quieter. In the eastern rainforest band, May isn’t optimum: although larger wildlife such as lemurs are still easily observed, bird and herpetofauna observations will start to decrease as winter is around the corner.
Head to Tsingy de Bemaraha on the west coast, accessible now until October, to immerse yourself in the spectacular surroundings of 'grand' tsingy and baobabs, and to learn about 'Vazimba' burial caves.
Enquire with one of our Travel Specialists for more info on any of these incredible activities.
June: Cooler Weather; Fewer Tourists
You can enjoy a wonderful Madagascar holiday in June. The temperatures and tourist numbers are lower. Do note that in winter (June to August), nights in the Central Highlands and along the eastern escarpment can be very cold.
Wildlife watching – notably lemur spotting – is good. Bird activity is generally lower, however. Exploring protected areas like Andasibe-Mantadia should readily provide varied sightings.
July: Ideal for Whale Watching
The whale-watching season starts in July and can continue into September. Many travellers ask about when to visit Madagascar for humpback whales, and while you can visit in August, the sweet spot is late July. Key whale watching sites include Ile Sainte Marie and Nosy Be Archipelago.
You can also go scuba diving and snorkelling in the Nosy Be Archipelago. Water visibility is at its clearest during the dry season, with excellent opportunities available from Sakatia Lodge. Swim alongside sea turtles, multicoloured shoals of fish and coral.
August: Cooler, Dry Weather; End of Malagasy Winter
As the Malagasy winter season ends when the UK/USA summer holidays draw to a close, protected areas notably in the western, northern and southern regions enjoy dry weather very conducive to wildlife spotting. So, expect to see conspiracies – among others – of endangered Verreaux’s sifaka, red-fronted brown lemurs and various species of googly-eyed, nocturnal sportive and woolly lemurs.
August is also a great time to visit Madagascar for its beaches. Not to be missed is the marine reserve Nosy Tanikely, around which reef formations are some of the best in Malagasy waters.
September: Spring Starts; Exceptional Wildlife Viewing
September is arguably the best time to go to Madagascar for wildlife holidays.
During the early austral spring, you can seek the likes of Milne-Edwards' diademed sifaka, red-bellied lemur and golden bamboo lemur while you're roaming the mist-enshrouded rainforest at Ranomafana – when the wildlife is most active. In the tinder-box-dry Kirindy Forest, search for fossa and fork-marked lemur, and enjoy the bird chorus, which often includes calls of giant and crested couas; greater vasa parrot; Madagascar hoopoe; hook-billed and rufous vangas; and Madagascar magpie-robin.
If you're a keen birder, head to the remote Masoala National Park in the northeast of the country, where certain endemic birds such as the helmet and Bernier’s vanga are easier to locate.
For many of the true lemur species, September is the birthing season, allowing you to observe lemur infants clinging to their mothers’ fur.
October: Excellent Weather and Wildlife Watching
Madagascar in October is singled out in guidebooks as the optimum month for wildlife watching. And while it's wonderful when it comes to prolific wildlife sightings and enjoyable weather, it's no better than September or November are: the thing to note is that as the austral spring progresses, temperatures increase.
November: Hot Weather; Great Wildlife Spotting
November is the hottest and last month of the Malagasy spring, and wildlife viewing during this month is superb. Reptiles and frogs are by now more active, so expect to see a variety of critters while you’re out and about. Night walks are exceptionally rewarding in November. So, if you’re in Andasibe, for example, your guide will work hard to locate eastern woolly lemur, furry-eared dwarf lemur and Goodman’s mouse lemur for you.
Note that from November to April, the unmade roads in some rural areas of Western Madagascar become impassable due to rains. Some tours such as Baobabs, Tsingy & Wildlife are therefore only achievable from May to mid-October.
Keen mammal watchers sometimes ask about observing the mating behaviour of the island's largest carnivorous mammal, which usually happens in the first week of November. Female fossas are site-faithful, meaning they return annually to the same tree where suitors compete for them. This nationally scarce rarity is best sought in Kirindy Forest, being difficult to spot elsewhere because of its elusive nature.
November is also a very good month in which to go whale shark watching in the waters around the Nosy Be Archipelago. There, excursions offered from Nosy Be to seek them are operated by responsible organisers.
December: Malagasy Summer and Wet Season Begin
The weather in Madagascar in December is hot and, depending on which region you're in, wet. Birding will still be off the charts, and herping fans will encounter an abundance of endemic frogs and reptiles.
Additionally, the warm Indian Ocean waters lend well for exploring dive sites in December. Nosy Be archipelago is recognised as the country's top site for scuba diving and snorkelling. And in the underwater world around the isles, which include Tanikely Marine Reserve, Nosy Sakatia and Nosy Iranja, you'll see a myriad of tropical fish and other marine life forms. As you're floating through the clear waters, you're likely to see large green and hawksbill turtles.
Best Time to Visit Madagascar for Wildlife
Lemur spotting: Year-round
Truthfully, you can see lemurs all year. If you’re keen to see some of the true lemur species with youngsters, visit in September–November. The nocturnal dwarf lemurs are only seen in spring and summer, as, uniquely among primates, they aestivate during the dry season. If we had to choose one specific month, we would say that the best month to visit Madagascar is September.
Whale watching: July to September
The best whale-watching sites in Madagascar include Ile Sainte Marie and the Nosy Be archipelago.
Main birding season: September to early December
This is the best time of year to visit Madagascar if you wish to observe many of the island’s endemic birds calling, displaying and nesting. During these months a select band of species which migrate to mainland Africa for the winter, will also be present.
Cyclone season: Later January to early March
Although we generally don't recommend visiting at this time, herpetofauna (i.e. reptiles and frogs) are out in force from January to March. March is a very rewarding month in which to see endemic orchids in bloom.
Madagascar and Alternative Africa Product Manager
"Madagascar is home to a bewildering diversity of plants and fascinating animal communities. These include 110-odd lemurs and half the world's chameleons, in addition to flagship plants like six endemic baobab species and more orchids than are present on mainland Africa."
Ready to Plan Your Madagascar Adventure?
Still undecided on when to go to Madagascar?
Speak with one of our Travel Specialists to start planning your bespoke itinerary. We listen to all your ideas and create tailor-made Madagascar trips based on these preferences, curating the very best, uniquely personal travel experience possible.
