Best time to go to Madagascar for a perfect weather and where to go?
Julie Parment and Tony Samson last update: 27/05/2024When is the best time to go to Madagascar?
The best time to visit Madagascar is undoubtedly the dry season, which runs from early April to late October. Located below the equator, the island experiences reversed seasons compared to Europe. Therefore, this dry season corresponds to the austral winter, which will offer you mild and pleasant days.
However, the rest of the year should not be ruled out: as the country is very vast, there is always a region of the island that is spared from the rain between November and March.
Choosing the timing of your trip to Madagascar will depend on your interests and what activities you wish to do there:
- For hiking in the Highlands, the months from April to November are preferable. During the day, temperatures are mild and nights are cool. It is the perfect time to discover extraordinary landscapes without getting wet from the rain.
- For diving and enjoying the beach, visit Madagascar between April and October. The water temperature is cooler than during the austral summer, but the underwater visibility is exceptional, and you can relax in the sun or in the shade of a coconut tree.
- When to go to Madagascar to observe the famous lemurs? Good news: all year round! National parks remain open in all seasons, and you will have no trouble seeing this emblematic animal in its natural habitat.
- To see whales, go in August. The channel separating the island of Sainte-Marie from the mainland is a privileged place to observe humpback whales, which find the suitable conditions to calve there. Moreover, the Whale Festival is celebrated on the island of Sainte-Marie during this period.
- To witness cultural events, you will have plenty of choices. For example, in Nosy-Bé, in the north of the island, you can attend the Donia in May, which is nothing less than the largest music festival in the Indian Ocean! Another significant event is the Famadihana, which celebrates the deceased and takes place on the highlands in September.
Regarding packing, remember to bring warm clothes, especially if you plan to go to the Highlands between April and October (sweater, light down jacket, scarf, socks...). Whatever the season, do not forget to pack good hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket, a hat, and of course, a swimsuit!
Where and when to go based on the weather?
Central of Madagascar
Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Isalo National Park...
East Coast of Madagascar
Toamasina, Sainte-Marie Island, Vangaindrano...
North of Madagascar
Nosy Be, Sambava, Antsiranana...
South of Madagascar
Fort Dauphin, Itampolo, Ambovombe...
West Coast of Madagascar
Toliary, Mahajanga, Morondava...
To get all the information about the climate and weather in Madagascar for a specific month, click on the corresponding link below:
Madagascar in january Madagascar in february Madagascar in march Madagascar in april Madagascar in may Madagascar in june Madagascar in july Madagascar in august Madagascar in september Madagascar in october Madagascar in november Madagascar in december
Best time to travel to Madagascar by cities
Climate and Weather in Madagascar
Due to its geographical location in the heart of the Indian Ocean, not far from Mauritius, the climate in Madagascar is tropical and experiences two distinct climatic seasons:
- The dry season (which includes the austral winter) extends from early April to late October. Temperatures are generally mild during the day and cool at night. As for precipitation, it is mostly concentrated on the east coast.
- The rainy season occurs between early November and late March. Although the thermometer shows ideal temperatures, rain, present over much of the island, creates a very humid atmosphere. However, as is often the case in tropical countries, showers mainly occur in the afternoon and evening. Thus, even in the heart of the season, the sun can be very present and offer very pleasant days.
The weather in Madagascar varies depending on the part of the country:
Climate around Antananarivo (the Highlands)
With average altitudes of 1200 meters, this part of the island of Madagascar experiences the coolest temperatures, especially at night in July and August. If you plan to visit during this period, be aware that it can be cold with regular winds. It is essential to pack warm clothing. During the rainy season, showers can be very heavy in this region.
Climate on the east coast of Madagascar
The eastern coast has the particularity of experiencing only wet seasons! Indeed, a rainy season extends from December to April, and another one hits the east coast of Madagascar between June and August. Outside of these periods, the weather is a bit milder but still humid. The most favorable months to visit this part of the island are May, September, October, and November.
Climate on the west coast of Madagascar
The west coast, especially around Toliara, is the driest and sunniest part of Madagascar. Throughout the year, the southwest experiences strong and hot sun, with light rains between December and March. In the northwest, in cities like Nosy-Bé, the dry season extends from May to October.
What about cyclones?
The official cyclone season runs from mid-December to mid-April, but most of them occur from January to March. If you are planning a trip to Madagascar during this period, it is advisable to avoid the east coast, as well as the northern and southern tips, which are the most affected. Cyclones do not occur every year, but they can be extremely destructive.
Temperatures and rainfall in Madagascar
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Madagascar and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Ambovombe, Antsirabe and Antsiranana, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Madagascar
Find out when Madagascar has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Madagascar
The months with low numbers of tourists are: January, February, March, April, May, June, July and September. The number of visitors to Madagascar is high in: August, October, November and December.
- Very low season in Madagascar: January, February, March and June.
- Low season in Madagascar: April, May, July and September.
- High season in Madagascar: October, November and December.
- Peak season in Madagascar: August.
Figure: Visitor index for Madagascar month by month
Average price for flights to Madagascar
A return flight between London and Antananarivo is generally cheaper if you go in march ($ 796 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 669 more for your airline ticket to Antananarivo if you go in august.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to Madagascar
Where to go in Madagascar?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Antananarivo | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 74°F | 72°F | 68°F | 67°F | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 79°F |
| Nosy Be | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Ambovombe | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 81°F | 77°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F |
| Antsirabe | 72°F | 74°F | 72°F | 70°F | 68°F | 65°F | 63°F | 67°F | 72°F | 76°F | 76°F | 74°F |
| Antsiranana | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Fort Dauphin | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 76°F | 74°F | 77°F | 79°F | 83°F | 83°F | 86°F |
| Isalo National Park | 85°F | 83°F | 83°F | 81°F | 77°F | 76°F | 76°F | 79°F | 85°F | 88°F | 90°F | 88°F |
| Itampolo | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F |
| Mahajanga | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F |
| Morondava | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 85°F | 88°F | 88°F | 90°F | 92°F |
| Sainte-Marie Island | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F | 74°F | 76°F | 76°F | 79°F | 81°F | 85°F |
| Sambava | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 79°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 88°F |
| Toamasina | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 79°F | 77°F | 74°F | 76°F | 76°F | 79°F | 81°F | 85°F |
| Toliary | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F |
| Vangaindrano | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 81°F | 79°F | 76°F | 74°F | 76°F | 77°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F |
| Ambanja | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Ambaramidada (Mitsio) | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 79°F | 81°F | 81°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Amber Mountain National Park | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F |
| Analalava | 86°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 88°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 90°F | 88°F |
| Andasibe-Mantadia National Park | 77°F | 77°F | 76°F | 74°F | 72°F | 68°F | 67°F | 70°F | 74°F | 79°F | 81°F | 79°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
bad weather
very bad weather
About Madagascar
What can I do in Madagascar?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Madagascar reliable?
Climate data for Madagascar has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Madagascar allows us to determine the average for each month in Antananarivo, Nosy Be, Ambovombe, Antsirabe, Antsiranana, Fort Dauphin, Isalo National Park, Itampolo, and 34 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.