| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
 | |  | | |  |  | | | | | |
Key
| The best time to travel |
| A good time to travel, but there may be some factors to be aware of |
| Travel is possible, but this is not the best time of year |
| Travel is not recommended |
 | Snow or ski season |
Madagascar runs across several latitudes and its climate varies.
Broadly speaking the north is hot and tropical, the west temperate, the east wet and the south has a dry, Austral climate. The most rainfall is from January to March and cyclones can occur in February: these are the only months we advise against travel. In April, May and June there are some heavy downpours, however these are interspersed with sunshine. The country is green and fresh after the rain and lemurs and reptiles are active and readily seen. July and August are cool and dry and ideal for exploring. The whales arrive on Ile Ste Marie in July and remain until the end of August. September, October and November are particularly lovely as the weather is fine and warm, the jacarandas are in flower and many lemurs have young. December is hot but lemurs, reptiles and tenrecs are active so wildlife viewing is good.
All that said, there are dramatic regional variations so it’s best to speak to our specialists about the best time to visit each part of the country.