The best time to visit Madagascar is without doubt from September to December.
Here are 8 reasons why, though this list is by no means exhaustive!
1. Mild spring weather
Perfect weather guarantees a fine trip: the sea stays at a minimum of 27°C, and the sun shines bright across the island.
Head for the turquoise lagoons of the Mozambique Channel, the little-known coves of the Indian Ocean, the Pangalanes Canal, or Sainte Marie.
2. The Tsingy de Bemaraha are still accessible
The famous Tsingy de Bemaraha remain accessible until mid-November. This is the time to come and see these extraordinary limestone formations, also known as stone cathedrals, whose origins are said to date back to the great flood, at the time of Noah and his ark.
A place to visit at least once in a lifetime!
3. Wildlife is easier to observe
September to December corresponds to spring in the tropics.
Nature awakens, plants come into flower, trees bear their first buds, and animals take advantage of this sudden abundance, becoming bolder as a result. This is why they are easier to observe. It is also the season when lemurs give birth to their young.
4. The fossa comes out of hiding
The fossa’s mating season runs from late October to mid-November. This is when the chances of observing it in its natural habitat are highest — the dry forest of Kirindy, in south-west Madagascar, not far from the Tsingy de Bemaraha and the Avenue of the Baobabs.
5. The best time to discover Masoala National Park
The island’s largest national park comes alive with the arrival of spring. Nature stirs, making it easier to observe the many species found within the protected area: the white-fronted brown lemur, the very rare red ruffed lemur, the blue coua, the striking helmet vanga…
6. Swimming with the harmless whale sharks at Nosy Be
From October to December, the world’s largest fish passes through the waters off Nosy Be.
This impressive animal is entirely harmless, so there is no risk in approaching it, provided certain rules of protection and respect for the animal are followed. A memory to last a lifetime!
7. Antananarivo dressed in its finest colours
With the arrival of spring in Madagascar, the jacarandas come into bloom. They line Avenue de l’Indépendance and Lake Anosy with their vivid purple colour, covering the capital in a soft pastel haze.
8. Discovering golf in Madagascar
The Rova de Ambohidratrimo (near Antananarivo) and the Pearl’s Golf Course at Nosy Be will delight even the most demanding golfers. Two international 18-hole courses set in magnificent surroundings.
Worth discovering during your time in Madagascar!
A trip dedicated specifically to golf is scheduled for late October 2016. Find out more on Étendues Sauvages.
