Enjoy a Madagascar safari, designed to showcase the incredible variety of landscapes, wildlife, and people on this island located off the east coast of Africa. Your holiday to Madagascar will be filled with many sights and sounds, beginning upon your arrival in the capital city of Antananarivo, affectionately known as Tana. Surrounded by national parks and reserves, the city is the starting point for your Madagascar adventure. Notably, 90% of the species found on Madagascar are endemic and cannot be found anywhere else on earth. These include 50 different lemurs, such as the Indri, the biggest living lemur, which can be seen in the Andasibe National Park.
There are countless other places to explore on your Madagascar vacation. Make sure to include the natural phenomenon of the Avenue of Baobabs, Masoala National Park with its great variety of geckos and chameleons, the incredible hiking opportunities in the cliffs and canyons of Isalo National Park and the stunning waterfalls and volcanic lakes in Montagne D’ambre National Park. Also make sure to relax on Madagascar’s tropical beaches. The turquoise waters and coral reefs of Nosy Be are filled with fascinating marine species and are also the site of the whale shark migration. Ile Sainte Marie is a tropical paradise in Madagascar, its beaches lined with coconut palm trees and its waters a prime snorkeling and diving spot.
To decide when to visit, think about what draws you most to Madagascar.
If you’re keen on culture and coastal festivals, visit in May for the island’s colourful Donia Festival on Nosy Be, a lively celebration of Malagasy music, food and tradition.
Nature lovers should plan for June to October, the dry season when lemurs and chameleons are easiest to spot, and when whales migrate past Île Sainte-Marie. This is also the best time for exploring the Tsingy de Bemaraha or walking through rainforests in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park.
For fewer crowds and cooler evenings, September offers a peaceful balance, school holidays end and landscapes remain lush. Wildlife enthusiasts can also visit October to November for the fossa mating season, birding season and baby lemur sightings.
Travellers looking for value may prefer December, though brief afternoon rains are common. If you go early in the month, you’ll still enjoy plenty of sunshine before cyclone risk rises.
Travel tip: For ideal weather and wildlife viewing, plan your safari between June and October.
Madagascar offers unique experiences including tracking lemurs in the rainforests, visiting the iconic Avenue of the Baobabs, island-hopping to Nosy Be, snorkeling coral reefs, and exploring limestone pinnacles in the Tsingy de Bemaraha. You can combine wildlife, unique landscapes and beach stays for a varied itinerary.
Have a look at our top 5 Madagscar National Parks
The official currency of Madagascar is the Malagasy Ariary (MGA). One Ariary (Ar) is divided into 5 iraimbilanja, which makes it one of only two circulating currencies in the world with a non-decimal division.
There are banknotes of 10,000 MGA, 5,000 MGA, 2,000 MGA, 1,000 MGA, 500 MGA, 200 MGA and 100 MGA. There are even coins from 1 up to 50 Ar. The one of 50 Ar is very beautiful and has baobabs carved on it.
Banking
Banks are normally open from 08h00 to 12h00 and 14h00 to 15h30 on weekdays.
Credit cards (the most useful credit card is VISA CARD) are only accepted in large hotels, restaurants and some shops, mainly in Antananarivo. In the other big cities, you can get cash from Automatic Cash Machines (ATM) only with VISA CARDS. There’s now also an ATM at the airport in Antananarivo. Don’t rely on ATM machines only; they are often out of order. Keep some cash in Euro for emergencies.
Madagascar is becoming more popular for a honeymoon destination. The island offers all kinds of experiences whether you prefer to plan a relaxing, romantic beach holiday, an adrenaline-filled adventure, or a tour to photograph beautiful spaces, places and people – Madagascar has it all.
We can tailor-make any experience for you.
The best time to travel in most areas is April and October/November. The coolest time to travel anywhere is during the dry season (May to October), but during this time the Hauts plateaux (central highlands; which include Antananarivo) can get cold and windy, with freezing showers.
January to March there is heavy rainfall in many areas and a high risk of cyclones in the east and northeast. The west and southwest get hot during summer, but the winter months in these regions are pleasant, with blue skies, cooler temperatures and little rain. Most rain in the northeast falls from July to September.
Average maximum temperatures vary from about 30°C in coastal areas (higher in summer) to around 25°C on the Hauts plateaux. In Antananarivo and other highland areas, temperatures during winter can drop to 10°C and even lower during the night.
Tourism in Madagascar is still very much in its infancy stage. Booking tours with Jenman African Safaris will ensure that you have a vacation with running water, flushing toilets, electricity (sometimes produced with a generator for a few hours and switched off at night, for example from 11 PM to 6 AM), and hygienic and clean accommodation. Tours are divided into classic, superior and exquisite so that you can choose which comfort and luxury level you require.
There are around 30 four-star hotels in Madagascar, and among the nicest are Anjajavy and Constance Tsarabanjina. There are only three Five star hotels in Madagascar, Miavana Lodge on Nosy Ankao, Carlton and Novotel in the capital city Antananarivo. Luxury tents are also an option for accommodation at the Mandrare River Camp on the Barefoot Luxury Southern Explorer tour.
Madagascar is a huge place, the roads can be bumpy and travel times long. Internal flights can be time-savers but can be expensive. A private vehicle with a driver is a great alternative. Due to the often difficult driving conditions, most rental agencies make hiring a driver compulsory with their vehicles. Driving in Madagascar is on the right-hand side. Police checkpoints are frequent.
Madagascar’s cuisine is traditionally based on rice, which is served with vegetables, meat and spicy seasoning. Malagasy enjoy very spicy food, therefore many dishes are prepared with hot peppers or any other spices. The dishes are usually flavoured with garlic, ginger, onion or curry. Desserts are flavored with vanilla.
Drinking tap water isn’t recommended in Madagascar. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. Most hotels have drinking water available. It’s also advisable to avoid ice in drinks, and peel any fruit and vegetables before eating.
Wear light material during the summer on high central plateaux and throughout the year in the north and south. Cotton and natural fibers work better in this humid weather. Warmer clothes are advised for during the evenings and winter in mountainous areas. Rainwear is advisable as a precaution.
Internet cafes are found in some of the larger cities like Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa and Antananarivo. Smaller towns and remote areas will have far less access, so prepare to disconnect when travelling out of urban centres.
In Madagascar, the two-pronged plug and the European standard socket are the most used with a tension of 220 volts (but it may go down to 170 volts in some areas at peak times).
Yes, Madagascar is safe for many travellers when you take the usual precautions: avoid walking alone at night in cities, do not display valuables, and follow local advice. Some regions may have travel advisories due to civil unrest, crime or challenging road conditions, check your government’s travel advice ahead of your trip
Most visitors require a tourist visa, often obtainable on arrival or online (depending on nationality). Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. It’s wise to verify current requirements as they can change
