The best time to visit Madagascar depends on what you want to do and see. The country is green and fresh after the rain that falls between January and March, with lemurs and reptiles active and easy to spot. In October, you could cruise from Cape Town to Madagascar, spotting black lemurs and walking along the Avenue of the Baobabs, with the bendy branches of the baobab trees revealing themselves in the silhouette of the setting sun. While there are some heavy downpours from April to June, these are interspersed with sunshine, while July and August are cool and dry, making this an ideal time for exploring.
The whales arrive on Île Sainte-Marie in July and remain until the end of September. Between September and November the weather is particularly lovely, remaining fine and warm. This is also when jacarandas are in flower and many lemurs have young. While December is hot, lemurs, reptiles and tenrecs are active, which makes for good wildlife viewing.
Month-by-month guide for traveling in Madagascar
Visiting Madagascar in January - March
January to March is cyclone season, so we would advise against traveling to Madagascar during this time.
Visiting Madagascar in April - June
Heavy downpours can still be expected in April, May and June, but between these showers the sun will usually shine. Following the rainy season the landscape is lush and green, with wildlife such as lemurs and reptiles often making an appearance.
Visiting Madagascar in July - August
This is a good time to try spotting humpback whales as they begin to arrive in Île Sainte-Marie. The weather is cool and dry, making this a comfortable time to explore.
Events & Festivals
- Spot humpback whales (July to September): Humpback whales migrate from the Antarctic at this time of year to calve, making for unforgettable sightings from the shore or on a boat expedition around the island of Île Sainte-Marie.
Visiting Madagascar in September
The weather is fine and warm. Humpback whales can still be seen in Île Sainte-Marie until the end of the month, while lemurs begin to give birth to young.
Events & Festivals
- Spot humpback whales (July to September): Humpback whales migrate from the Antarctic at this time of year to calve, making for unforgettable sightings from the shore or on a boat expedition around the island of Île Sainte-Marie.
Visiting Madagascar in October
Temperatures begin to increase around the country and jacarandas are in bloom, displaying their vibrant purple flowers.
Events & Festivals
- See fossa in western Madagascar: Endemic to Madagascar, fossa are cat-like, carnivorous mammals. October and November are a great time to spot them in the deciduous forests of western Madagascar such as Anjajavy Private Nature Reserve.
Visiting Madagascar in November - December
Temperatures continue to increase around the country, although there is a little bit more in the way of rain. Lemurs, reptiles and tenrecs can often be spotted at this time.
Events & Festivals
- See fossa in western Madagascar: Endemic to Madagascar, fossa are cat-like, carnivorous mammals. October and November are a great time to spot them in the deciduous forests of western Madagascar such as Anjajavy Private Nature Reserve.
Madagascar Climate Guide
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Mountain National Park and Joffreville | 81°F 12" | 81°F 11" | 81°F 9" | 79°F 4" | 79°F 1" | 77°F 1" | 73°F 1" | 75°F 1" | 77°F 1" | 79°F 1" | 81°F 3" | 81°F 9" |
| Anakao | 91°F 3" | 90°F 3" | 90°F 1" | 90°F 1" | 86°F 1" | 82°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 81°F 0" | 84°F 0" | 88°F 1" | 88°F 1" | 91°F 3" |
| Fort Dauphin | 84°F 9" | 86°F 7" | 84°F 8" | 82°F 4" | 81°F 5" | 77°F 5" | 75°F 4" | 75°F 4" | 77°F 3" | 81°F 3" | 82°F 4" | 84°F 7" |
| Île Sainte-Marie | 84°F 13" | 86°F 16" | 84°F 19" | 82°F 16" | 81°F 12" | 77°F 10" | 75°F 10" | 75°F 7" | 77°F 5" | 79°F 3" | 82°F 4" | 84°F 10" |
| Mantadia National Park | 81°F 13" | 81°F 13" | 81°F 11" | 79°F 4" | 75°F 3" | 72°F 4" | 68°F 4" | 68°F 3" | 72°F 2" | 77°F 2" | 81°F 5" | 81°F 10" |
| Ranomafana National Park | 81°F 15" | 81°F 12" | 79°F 11" | 77°F 4" | 75°F 2" | 72°F 2" | 68°F 2" | 70°F 2" | 73°F 2" | 79°F 2" | 81°F 6" | 81°F 11" |
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Travel advice
Practical tips for traveling to Madagascar, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest US State Department travel advice.
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