Best time to visit Madagascar

May to October. Month by month below, with the weather, what's on and what it costs to fly there from your city.

May to October

The dry season, roughly May to October, is the most-named window. September and October are picked as the best all-round months, with smaller crowds than July and August.

“The coolest time to travel anywhere is during the dry season from May to October.” scottdunn.com
“Generally, the period between May to October is the best time to travel to Madagascar, with cooler temperatures and little rain.” great-madagascar-tours.com
“the months between May and October are the best time to visit the country, as they coincide with the dry season” exoticca.com

5 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.

Madagascar month by month

Average high and low in Antananarivo, and days with rain

January80°F / 63°F · 17 rainy daysChecking fares…Hot, humid and wet across most of the island, with rising cyclone risk.Up to 340mm of rain; many roads and parks become inaccessible and some hotels close.Cyclones are possible, especially in January and February.Green turtle nesting season
February79°F / 64°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Statistically the peak cyclone month, with the heaviest rains in many regions.Rain persists and attractions close; dirt tracks can become impassable.South coast is warmest in January and February.
March79°F / 63°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Cyclone risk stays elevated through mid-month; rain typically eases by month-end.Most coastal hotels may be closed and many roads muddy, but prices are very low.Southern Madagascar is also suggested in March, April and May.
April78°F / 61°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Tail end of the wet season, with lush landscapes and fewer rains.Tourist season begins after the cyclones, though some roads are still bad.Waterfalls are full and the air is clean.
Best timeMay74°F / 57°F · 2 rainy daysChecking fares…Dry season begins, warm and green, with fewer tourists.The Donia festival, a celebration of local culture, takes place in May.Good for national parks like Andasibe, Ranomafana and Isalo, before European summer crowds.Donia festival
Best timeJune70°F / 53°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Reliably dry with comfortable temperatures; humpback whale season begins off Ile Sainte-Marie.One source lists June as low season with cheaper prices and the rice harvest on the highlands.Highland nights are chilly from June to August.Madagascar Independence Day
Best timeJuly69°F / 51°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Peak dry season and whale watching, but busiest and most expensive due to European school holidays.Start of the Madagascar winter, with cooler temperatures of about 15 to 20°C.Driest month of the year in the west.Festival des Baleines
Best timeAugust71°F / 52°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Peak season with high crowds and prices.Best month for snorkelling, with whale sharks, turtles and humpbacks.Humpback whales peak around Ile Sainte-Marie in July and August.
Best timeSeptember75°F / 54°F · 1 rainy daysChecking fares…Dry weather continues with slightly smaller crowds than July and August.Tourist season ends as school returns, and bird breeding season starts.September and October are the all-round sweet spot.Whale sharks off Nosy Be
Best timeOctober79°F / 58°F · 4 rainy daysChecking fares…Widely regarded as the top all-round month: dry and warm, baby lemurs being born.Temperatures begin to rise to around 25°C and wildlife is out in force.Birds can be seen from October to mid-November.
November81°F / 61°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Baby lemurs and birdwatching; temperatures begin to rise, good for beaches like Nosy Be.In the north, November storms can be violent.Rain and cyclones occur from mid-November to mid-April.
December81°F / 63°F · 14 rainy daysChecking fares…Start of the wet season, still with decent travel conditions and a festive atmosphere.December is part of the peak season, with northern-hemisphere holiday visitors.Peak birdwatching runs October to December.

Weather: Antananarivo averages (1991 to 2020 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

Every date to Antananarivo from your city

Live fares from your airport. Watch them and we alert you when they drop.

What's on in Madagascar

Festivals and seasons through the year

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

July, August and DecemberNorthern-hemisphere summer holidays bring many visitors.
July to SeptemberOfficial start of the tourist season, with a spike in crowds.

Quietest

January to March, and JuneRain and cyclones in the first; June is cheaper than the months after it.
December to MarchWet season is off-peak with fewer crowds.

Watch for

January to MarchHeavy rain can make some roads all but impassable and some accommodation closes.
January to AprilHigh cyclone risk in the east and northeast.
Wet seasonTsingy de Bemaraha is only accessible in the dry season.
July and AugustHighlands can drop to 10°C or lower at night in winter.

Questions people ask

When not to go to Madagascar?: January to March: heavy rain, cyclones, impassable roads and closed hotels, though prices are low.
What is the weather like in Madagascar in September?: Dry and warm, with smaller crowds than July and August, and tourism season winding down.
What is the climate like in Madagascar?: Two main seasons: a drier, cooler season from April to November and a hotter, wetter season from December to March.

Best time to visit Madagascar

May to October

Madagascar month by month

Every date to Antananarivo from your city

What's on in Madagascar

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Madagascar

Best time to visit other places

Best time to visit Madagascar

May to October

Madagascar month by month

Every date to Antananarivo from your city

What's on in Madagascar

Busy, quiet and what to watch for

Busiest

Quietest

Watch for

Questions people ask

More about Madagascar

Best time to visit other places