Best Time To Go To Madagascar
Madagascar is an all-round year destination for tourists but this entirely depends on the activities that you want to do in the country that is game spotting, birding, relaxing and other activities. We are going to look at when it is best to visit to visit Madagascar according to months so that you can get to know which months are good and which ones are not for visiting the country.
January
January in Madagascar is the beginning of the rainy season and this can come in quantities of over 340 millimeters. The heavy rains make it extremely hard for one to travel to the different tourist attraction sites like the National parks that keep on having slippery roads and floods due to the bad roads that keep on flooding from morning to evening.
Some hotels and lodges close during this period due to the heavy rains. It is not a peak season as the country gets few tourist this time of the year but it is only okay for those who do not mind the rain. There is also the likelihood of the country having cyclones during this month and that is why it is not advisable for one to travel to Madagascar during the rainy season especially in January.
February
It is not advisable for one to visit Madagascar during this month since it is the peak season of rainfall. During this month the rainfalls are extremely heavy and the roads in the country become even worse due to the slippery state that they are always in and the constant floods.
Most of the accommodation facilities and other tourist sites close during this month to avoid further damages that can be cause to them. For all those that do not want to mix with the crowds during the peak season, this is still not the right time for you to visit as you will not be able to access most of the sites.
March
March in Madagascar is still a wet season and one of the worst months for one to travel to the Island but even with the heavy rains, the temperature is still warm. The country around this time also experiences cyclones which are harmful and the various roads leading to the National parks and some hotels are closed off due to their flooded and muddy state. If you want to avoid crowds while visiting the country the best time would be beginning of December so that you avoid the cyclones that take up the rest of the months and therefore we advise all tourists not to travel to Madagascar during this month.
April
April is still a rainy month in Madagascar but there is a bit of relief from the cyclones that threaten the Island between the months of January to March. It is also a good time to visit the country as it will be the beginning of the sunny season and you will be able to see the beautiful scenery of the greenery in the different National Parks and other parts of the country. Since it is not a peak season, it is extremely conducive for all those that want to visit with fewer people in the country.
May
May is an extremely conducive month to visit Madagascar. The weather is not all that stable as it alternates between the rains and sunny weather but the beauty about visiting the country during this time is that the crowds will be less and you will be able to see a lot of tourist attraction sites with minimal pushing from the other tourists.
There will be a few showers of rain during this month but you will enjoy the view given by the greenery in the country, visit the Nosy Be and it is the best time for all those who love photography. You will be able to also see and participate in the various festivals celebrated by the locals. Therefore it is extremely advisable for all tourists who do not love crowds to visit the country.
June
During the month of June, the rain decreases drastically and you start to see more of sunshine. This is the same time when the plants in the country start flourishing and you will be able to spot a few animals in the wild playing about and for all those who love whale watching this is your month. You will be able to see the Humpback whales, see how rice is harvested and other cultural practices that are carried out by the locals. Do not be fooled by the sunshine, there might be abrupt showers of rain during this month so you need to be prepared.
July
July is an extremely good month for all those that want to visit Madagascar. It is however the beginning of the peak season and this means that if you want to get the best accommodation facilities and the best services you need to book earlier on in order to avoid inconveniences.
The country during this month experiences winter conditions and the temperature is always low and this gives tourists a chance to explore the country on foot. Due to the low temperatures one is able to trek through the various parks, visit the beaches, explore the rainforests that are found in the country and get to see the humpback whales that migrate to the country during this time, do some birding with the endemic bird species and also participate in Lemur trekking. Some of the Parks that are conducive to visit during this month include the Isalo which is good for trekking during this period.
August
August is a peak month for tourists in Madagascar due to the fact that it’s always holidays in Europe. This time of the month is good for spotting lemurs, birding and relaxing on the various beaches on the Island. The cool temperature experienced in August is always good for family time but you should come with extra money because since it is a peak season everything will be highly costed.
It might be extremely expensive to travel to Madagascar during the month of August but it will be worth it due to the many things that you will be able to accomplish while in the country. You can travel with your family because there are family packages available so that they are also not left out on this adventure.
September
September is still a peak season for tourists in Madagascar and it is one of the few best months for visiting the country. It marks the end of whale watching and there are hardly any rains during this month. You will be able to carry out the different activities like game drives through the Parks, birding, chameleons reptiles like snakes and many more others. It is quiet during this time of the month as compared to August since this is the time when children go back to school and it is also the best time to see other tourist attraction sites in Madagascar.
October
October is a very good month for tourists to travel to Madagascar. This time of the month the country receives warm temperatures and less rainfall which makes it travelling through the country easy. The mixture of rain and the warm temperatures lead to humidity in Madagascar.
This is the same month where most of the baby lemurs are born giving one a chance to see the various types of lemurs from the young to the old ones. This is also a good time to visit the beaches and do birding where you will get to see the different endemic species of birds in the country.
November
November in Madagascar is extremely hot as compared to the other months. This is a good month to visit the country as the roads are not as slippery as during the rainy season and one can do various activities like visiting the various National parks and see the wildlife, get to know the different plant species, do birding and relax at the beach. But due to the increase in temperature, you should carry protective gears for the sun like sunscreen, wide brimmed hats and a lot of water to quench your thirst. Do not also forget to carry water tablets as the water in the country is not that safe to drink.
December
December is also a rainy season in Madagascar and your visit to the country will have you get caught in the rains from the time. If you are planning on travelling within this month it is better if you travel earlier in the month since the rains will not as heavy as they are towards the end of the month.
When you visit the country in December, you will be able to see the various reptiles like snakes, lizards, chameleons which become extremely active because of the constant rains. It is not the best time to visit the beaches but you can visit the different cities in the country.
Madagascar will definitely be a favorite destination for anyone enthusiastic about nature. The blend of the sight of various endemic species plus the beautiful habitats on-land and in water, together with the culture and traditional history, it is an adventure worthy experiencing. Just don’t forget to carry your USA person with you and passport renewal and other services can be acquired online.
On arrival in Madagascar, visitors are usually astonished by the stunning landscape of the island. Persons interested in a close exploration of wildlife will notice that the verdant surrounding is a haven to several wildlife that you will come face to face with.
You will certainly appreciate the natural beauty of the land on this island. Madagascar is a gem of diversity and more that 80% of the flora and fauna is endemic to the island. Being the fourth largest of all islands in the world, visitors are normally surprised by the wide range of habitats and the variety of landscapes.
To discover more about the mysteries and wonders of the island’s climate and varying landscape, please read on.
Geography
Madagascar has three large geographical zones you can discover during your tours. First are the highlands found on the plateau in the heart of the island projecting to 4500 ft above sea-level and they are leading densely populated area on the island. The region is majorly covered with rice cultivated valleys. The red soil has been exposed by the severe erosion and it’s from this that the island is referred to as The Red Island. Second is the narrow but steep escarpment that extends over the east coast and in it are majority of the tropical rainforests. Third are the extensive dry plains that extend between the western highland boundaries towards the Channel of Mozambique.
Weather
The blend of the northwestern monsoon and the southeastern trade winds result into a rainy hot season from November to April plus a moderately cooler drier spell from May to October during the start of several Madagascar tours. Along the coastal areas, the climate is usually tropical while further inland it is mild. However, the south is drier and arid than other areas. The east coast receives most rain thanks to the heavy rain clouds that build up over the adjacent Indian Ocean. It is for this that the rain forest in this area has thrived.
Exploring
There are a variety of destinations to explore while in Madagascar like a series of man-made plus natural lakes interconnected by French canals on the eastern coast immediately inland, and they are referred to as the Canal de Pangalanes. However, the southern plus western regions of the island are habitats to tropical thorny forests, xeric scrub land and dry forests which are a haven to a variety of other flora and wild animals that can be explored through the various tours the island offers.