The Great Red Island
Lemurs, baobabs and a wild coastline you won’t find anywhere else.
The journey
Lemurs in the rainforest, sunset on the Avenue of the Baobabs and long, empty island beaches. On an island where most of the wildlife lives nowhere else on Earth, nowhere else looks quite like it.
When to go
July to September
It is dry and cool, making it ideal for hiking through dense rainforests like Andasibe-Mantadia. Thousands of humpback whales arrive at the waters off Île Sainte-Marie to breed and give birth and newborn lemurs clinging to their mothers.
October to November
The jacaranda trees bloom, and baby lemurs become highly active and independent. Reptiles and chameleons also emerge from hibernation, making wildlife sightings incredibly frequent.
May to June
The landscapes are exceptionally green after the summer rains, and coastal hotspots like Nosy Be offer gorgeous, sunny beach weather.
January to March
This period brings torrential rains and a high risk of powerful Indian Ocean cyclones. Travel during these months is generally not recommended.
Highlights
Red-ruffed lemurs in the Masoala rainforest, the stone forests of the Tsingy, whales off Île Sainte-Marie and quiet north-west islands: Madagascar is full of surprises.
Searching for Lemurs in the Andasibe Rainforest
Chameleons & Night Walks in the Rainforest
The Limestone Pinnacles of the Tsingy
Humpback Whales off Île Sainte-Marie
Turquoise Waters & Island Calm
Sunset on the Avenue of the Baobabs
Questions
Quick answers before you start. Anything else, our travel advisors are a message away.
Ask about MadagascarMadagascar is large, and many roads are slow and rough. Most itineraries combine private road transfers with experienced driver-guides and domestic or charter flights to cover longer distances. Domestic flight schedules can change at short notice, so we build flexibility into every itinerary.
Expect characterful lodges and boutique hotels in most areas, with a small number of exceptional luxury properties, mainly on private islands in the north. We’ll set the right expectations and match each client to the best available options.
Flights from Johannesburg connect to Antananarivo, the capital, and there are also direct flights to Nosy Be for a beach-focused stay. Madagascar combines easily with a South African safari.
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