Madagascar Travel Guide Best Time To Visit
Philip is the author of the Insight Guide to Madagascar.
Madagascar’s best weather in most areas is from April to December. The warm and relatively dry conditions from September to November are especially good for beach holidays, while the dry months from May to October are best for hiking. For serious wildlife viewing, the shoulder months (April, May, October and November) are often best. From June to September it can be too cold for some animals. It is best to avoid the months from January to March, the peak of the Wet season (November to April).
May to October Dry Season Winter
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Beaches are lovely during September and October
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There is less rain and forest paths are drier
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Many lemurs have babies in October and November
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Reptiles and some mammals are less active in most parks from June to September (June to August elsewhere)
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It gets cold at night in some areas
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Popular parks get extremely busy during July and August
November to April Wet Season Summer
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Orchids bloom from October to December or January
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Usually the best bird-watching months when birds are most vocal
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Reptiles and some mammals are generally more active
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Some parks become inaccessible from January to March
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January or February to March is the cyclone season on the east coast
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Expect heavy rain in some parks and high humidity
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Forest paths can become muddy and slippery
Wildlife Photos
Warty chameleon
© looderooRed ruffed lemur
© dennisvdwFrog
© Ariadne van ZandbergenRing-tailed lemur carrying twin babies
© HajakelyCrested coua
© Hugh LansdownBlue-nosed chameleon
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMale Sanford's brown lemur
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMale crowned lemur
© Ariadne van ZandbergenDiademed sifakas
© Ariadne van ZandbergenNose-horned chameleon
© Ariadne van ZandbergenGiraffe-necked weevil
© Ariadne van ZandbergenIndri eating a leaf
© Ariadne van ZandbergenParson's chameleon
© ArtushCommon brown lemur
© ArtushRing-tailed lemur jumping between trees
© hakoarCoquerel's sifaka
© Ariadne van ZandbergenRing-tailed lemur
© MarkpittimagesCrested coua
© ArtushCrowned lemur
© pierivbDecken’s sifaka sitting on a log
© Michael nicolaiVerreaux's sifaka
© Ariadne van ZandbergenVerreaux's sifaka moving bipedally on the ground or dancing
© Hugh LansdownMadagascar scops owl in front of a full moon
© HajakelyVerreaux's sifaka
© Ariadne van ZandbergenVerreaux's sifaka
© Port_FolioFossa yawning
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMalagasy giant rat
© dennisvdwaterFossa
© dennisvdwaterMocquard's Madagascar ground gecko
© dennisvdwaterAye-aye eating a coconut
© Ariadne van ZandbergenFossa in forest
© mihtianderMount d'Ambre leaf chameleon
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBlack-and-white ruffed lemur
© Ariadne van ZandbergenMossy leaf-tailed gecko
© Ariadne van ZandbergenVerreaux's sifaka moving bipedally on the ground or dancing
© Ariadne van ZandbergenIndri sitting high in a tree
© Ariadne van ZandbergenRing-tailed lemur catching the sun
© pawopa3336Hubbard's sportive lemur
© FishTalesGrey-brown mouse lemur
© Ariadne van ZandbergenBrown lemur
© Ariadne van ZandbergenVerreaux's sifaka
© Ariadne van ZandbergenFossa close-up
© Ariadne van ZandbergenShort-horned chameleon
© Ariadne van ZandbergenRing-tailed lemur in the forest
© Ariadne van ZandbergenTree boa
© Frank VassenCrowned lemur
© Peter-verreusselTufted-tail rat
© Frank VassenIndri with baby
© Ariadne van ZandbergenStanding's day gecko
© ArtushComet moth
© Leamus Best Time To Go by Major Park
Most parks offer year-round wildlife viewing, but there are regional variations. As a general rule, parks in the central highlands and in the east are at their best during the shoulder months of April, May, October and November (although August and September can also be good in some areas). At this time, it doesn’t rain too much and wildlife viewing is at its peak. The dry south, including Berenty Private Reserve, tends to be very hot from December to March, so is best visited from April to October.
- Amber Mountain NP
- Andasibe-Mantadia NP
- Ankarana Special Reserve
- Bemaraha National Park
- Ifotaka Forest
- Isalo National Park
- Masoala National Park
- Ranomafana National Park