Madagascar is unlike anywhere else on Earth — a continent-sized island where roughly 90% of the wildlife is found nowhere else. This is not a Big Five safari; it's lemurs, chameleons, baobabs and extraordinary endemic species, paired with some of the Indian Ocean's most pristine beaches and reefs. We recommend it for travelers who have done a classic safari and want something rarer, and for honeymooners after true seclusion — the private islands off the north, like Nosy Ankao, are home to a handful of the world's most exclusive lodges. The dry season from April to November is the best time to travel, for both wildlife and the coast.
Go for private-island resorts and lemur species found nowhere else on earth.
Each dimension is rated 0–3: 0 = not offered / avoid, 1 = fair, 2 = good, 3 = excellent. For the monthly strip, a higher score means a better time to travel.
These are our own expert ratings, drawn from years of planning and operating safaris across Africa. They reflect first-hand experience and traveler feedback rather than measured statistics, and conditions vary year to year.
Source: Fauna Travel Safari Seasonality & Suitability Ratings, updated 2026-10-05 — https://faunatravel.com/destination/africa/madagascar
Monthly averages at Nosy Be · 2021–2025. Bars show rainfall; lines show average daily high and low.
Source: historical daily reanalysis from Open-Meteo (ERA5), averaged over 2021–2025. Our month-by-month travel ratings are Fauna Travel's own, from first-hand experience.
Warmest around Jan–Dec (daily highs near 30°C / 86°F); coolest around Jun (28°C / 82°F); wettest in Jan (~621 mm); driest in Jun–Aug. Based on 2021–2025 averages at Nosy Be.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 621 mm | 29 |
| Feb | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 343 mm | 25 |
| Mar | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 367 mm | 29 |
| Apr | 30°C / 86°F | 25°C / 77°F | 160 mm | 25 |
| May | 29°C / 84°F | 24°C / 75°F | 69 mm | 16 |
| Jun | 28°C / 82°F | 22°C / 72°F | 32 mm | 11 |
| Jul | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 70°F | 20 mm | 7 |
| Aug | 28°C / 82°F | 21°C / 70°F | 33 mm | 12 |
| Sep | 28°C / 82°F | 22°C / 72°F | 45 mm | 16 |
| Oct | 29°C / 84°F | 23°C / 73°F | 80 mm | 19 |
| Nov | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 158 mm | 28 |
| Dec | 30°C / 86°F | 24°C / 75°F | 214 mm | 28 |
Visa — required. US passport holders need a visa, valid for 90 days. You can apply in advance through the Madagascar Embassy or get one on arrival.
Passport. Valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date, with 3 blank pages.
Vaccinations. A yellow-fever certificate is required if you’ve visited a yellow-fever country within the past 6 months, or had a layover of more than 12 hours in one. Rabies is also present and local treatment is very limited, so a pre-travel rabies vaccination is worth discussing with your doctor.
Currency. No restrictions on bringing money in or out, though cash over about US$1,160 should be declared at customs on arrival.
Good to know. Cannabis and CBD in any form are illegal, as are firearms and ammunition. Medical care is limited outside the main cities, and power and water outages are common. Getting around takes time — roads between regions are slow (and best avoided after dark), and domestic flights are frequently cancelled, so it’s wise to build in buffer days.
U.S. Embassy, Antananarivo: mg.usembassy.gov
Guidance is for U.S. passport holders and can change — always confirm with the official source before you travel. Confirm at travel.state.gov →
Tell us how you like to travel and we'll craft the itinerary.
Start Planning
