When is the Best Time to Go to Madagascar?
Published on: December 29th, 2017
Last updated: July 27th, 2023
The best time to go to Madagascar is between the months of April and December. Within these months, there is no bad time to go, but the right month for your trip depends on what you want to see and do.
This is the dry season and though encompassing the winter months, temperatures are pleasant and rarely dip below 20⁰C (68⁰F), even in June or July.
Late December to March is the wet season and sees hot, humid days along with storms and cyclones. Many lodges and hotels close between January and March, so keep this in mind when planning your trip.
Best time for...
Lemur spotting
Madagascar's most famous residents can be seen across the island year round. September to November is when you can best spot the year's crop of young lemurs, with baby ring tailed lemurs, Verreaux's sifaka and indri clinging on to their mothers. This is also the best time of year for combining safari with beach time, as it is both dry and warm.
Humpback whale watching
From June, the sheltered seas by Île Sainte-Marie, off the eastern coast of Madagascar, see large groups of humpback whales arrive after their annual migration from the Antarctic. Here they calve, nurse their young and engage in spectacular courtship displays, with mothers and young staying for around for another four months before returning south to feed in the Antarctic. Whales can also be spotted around this period close to Anosy on the southern coast.
Reptiles and bugs
For those seeking Madagascar's smaller creatures, the start of the rains in December sees an explosion in invertebrate life, followed in turn by amphibians, reptiles and birds feeding on them and each other. It's also still a good time to see lemurs despite the weather.
Green season
April, after the summer's rain, is a fresh, green and quiet time of year to visit, with reserves looking particularly lush. This is also a good time for birders and reptile enthusiasts.
