Antananarivo Weather in January

Season: Rainy Season
In Short: warm and frequent rainfall

January is the wettest month of Antananarivo in a year: the monthly precipitation reaches 316 mm, and there are 18 rainy days averagely. The average humidity is 80.5%. Visitors will get caught in rain more frequently than in other months. As for the temperature, January is one of the hottest months in Antananarivo. In the daytime, especially in the sunny days, the temperature in Antananarivo reaches 30°C (86°F) or higher. The monthly average temperature varies from 16.6-26.4°C (61.88 -79.52°F). The temperature difference within a day is quite large because it is an inland high plateau city. So you may need to put on an additional coat in the evening or early morning. As a whole, Antananarivo Weather in January is wet and warm with large daily temperature difference. Besides, the sun usually rises at 05:19 and falls at 18:33, meaning the daytime is as long as around 13.2 hours.

  See also: Madagascar Weather in January

Visitors Take Pictures in National Park

Recommended Clothes to Wear in Antananarivo in January:

 
Tops: In the daytime, short-sleeved shirts and dresses are appropriate options. When the night falls, you need to put on a coat.

 
Bottoms & Shoes: For the bottom clothes, shorts, skirts, or light jeans are just fine. As for shoes, breathable sneakers or flats are your best choices.

Tip: In the rainy season of tropical Antananarivo, bites from the numerous mosquitoes and bugs may lead to malaria, so it’s quite important to bring some medicine for malaria. Besides, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent and sunscreen cream. Raincoats and umbrellas are also necessary. 

Best Things to Do in January of Antananarivo:

Tourism Rate:

Actually, January does not have an appropriate climate to visit Antananarivo or even Madagascar because of the high temperature and constant rain. However, the rainy season is also a time full of vibrancy for animals and plants. It’s a good time to get close to the nature. If you plan to come to Antananarivo in January, 2025, then here are several acceptable activities. Remember to check the local weather forecast and go on a sunny day:

1. Appreciate Cultural Relics in the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

Going to the relics is acceptable even on rainy days because most of the time you’ll be inside the buildings. 20 kilometers (12 miles) north from Antananarivo, the Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is, in fact, a building complex on a hill called Ambohimanga. The complex consists of the royal palace, royal cemetery, and a bunch of special buildings made for sacrifice and religious rituals. Made of wood and built on a stone platform, the royal palace is a firm stronghold that could defend royal families from invaders with a watchtower on top of the entrance gate. Meanwhile, the gate is 4.5 meters in diameter and it takes dozens of soldiers to push to open or close it. The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is one of the cultural relics in Madagascar that has been designated by UNESCO as World Heritage. 

The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga

2. Learn More about Antananarivo’s History in Rova-Queen’s Palace

It’s easy to get to and visit Rova-Queen’s Palace even when the weather is bad because of its location in city center. You can enjoy the full view of Antananarivo in front of the palace. It was built as a splendid construction with the interior mostly made of padauk and the outer wall granite, in the mid-19th century by a corps of missionaries. The highest section of Rova-Queen’s Palace even astonishingly reaches 40 meters (131 feet). The palace is also one of the a few UNESCO World Heritage Sites owned by Madagascar.

The Rova-Queen's Palace

3. Get Close to Lemurs in Lemurs’ Park

To see lemurs, the nearest place from the city is the Lemurs’ Park. It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the city center. The park owns 6 different species of lemurs. Most of them tend to be active in the daytime, so you may see their realest living conditions and daily activities. The park also accommodates four kinds of nocturnal lemurs. In all, the park is the best spot where you can enjoy a close contact with this cute and tiny creature in Antananarivo.

Lemur Catta in Lemurs' Park

Travel Tip:

In January, with the high possibility of raining and even hurricanes, some of the nature reserves or scenic spots may be difficult to get into, because bad climate may lead to horrible road conditions. So please check the traffic before you set off. 

Antananarivo Weather by Month