Madagascar Weather

 Climatic Zone(s): Tropical Rainforest Climate, Tropical Plateau Climate, Tropical Savanna Climate, semi-arid climate   

 Climatic Features: Madagascar lies almost entirely in tropics, so it has no cold days. The rainfall varies greatly in different months and regions, mainly affected by monsoon and altitude.   

 Average Temperature: 18-28°C (64.4°F-82.4°F)   

 Warmest Month: December: 21-29°C (69.8°F-84.2°F)   

 Coolest Month: July: 15-25°C (59°F-77°F)   

Tropical Rainforests in Madagascar

 What is the weather like in Madagascar?

Due to the unique topography of Madagascar, the climate in different regions varies greatly. The eastern region has a tropical rainforest climate, where the climate is hot and humid all year round. The central region belongs to tropical plateau climate; here the climate is mild and cool. The western region is on the leeward side with less precipitation, which is tropical savanna climate. Southern Madagascar is in the semi-arid climate zone. On the whole, affected by the monsoon, Madagascar has distinct dry and rainy seasons.     

 Best Time to Visit: May to October   

If you want to have an enjoyable trip to Madagascar, then it is definitely a good choice to go during the dry season. At that time, the weather is mild and pleasant, that is, the sunshine is sufficient and the air is in low humidity, with annual average precipitation of 28-93 mm. It’s suitable for sightseeing and outdoor activities. Also you can observe several wild animals because it’s a time of animal migration.

For rainy season, the weather is hot, humid and unstable, with frequent rain or thunder. The annual average rainfall is about 110-374 mm. Therefore, many attractions will be closed. Besides, the traffic will be influenced undoubtedly because of flood or debris flow. That is to say, you’re not recommended to visit Madagascar during rainy season. If you still plan to travel there at this time, you’d better make good preparation of everything in advance.

Eastern Madagascar

 Major destinations: Toamasina, Tolagnaro, Sainte Marie 

 Weather review: The weather in eastern Madagascar is hot and wet all year round. The annual precipitation is 2,000-3,800 mm, and the average annual temperature is 24℃ (75.2℉).

 Travel recommendations: Would you like to watch whales dance in the sea? Do you want to have a swimming race with whales? Come and enjoy them in eastern part of Madagascar when you are free in July to September. That is because you’re just in time for the annual whale festival. Toamasina is the biggest harbor city in Madagascar. Sainte Marie is a famous island resort, which is called “the Paradise of Tropical Island”. Tolagnaro is a settlement of Antandroy tribe, where beautiful sceneries make you feel relaxed and pleasant. All these cities have many fascinating attractions worth visiting. Certainly it’s a good choice for those who want to have a close contact with whales. 

                                               

Central Madagascar

 Major destinations: Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa 

 Weather review: The weather of Central Madagascar is relatively mild, with annual precipitation of 1,000-2,000 mm and average annual temperature of about 18℃ (64.4℉). The rainfall mainly happens in April to September, the rainy season of the region.

 Travel recommendations: To avoid terrible traffic and muddy road, you can visit central Madagascar from October to March, when it rains less. Antananarivo is the capital city of Madagascar. It’s a beautiful mountain city with blooming flowers, green grass and limpid lakes the whole year. Here the buildings are rich in ethnic characteristics and the whole city is based on red. Fianarantsoa is famous for its religious buildings and universities. It is also a hometown of tea and wine in Madagascar. You can visit Le Palais de la Reine, The Royal Hill of Ambohimanga (World Cultural Heritage) and some ancient churches.

Western Madagascar

 Major destinations: Morondava, Mahajanaga, Toliara, Nosy Be 

 Weather review: It is dry in the western region of Madagascar. The annual precipitation is only 600-1,000 mm. The western region is characterized by high temperatures throughout the year, with an annual average temperature of about 26.6°C (79.9℉). 

 Travel recommendations: Anytime you have an interest on Madagascar, please take the western part into consideration. The west is a must-visit of Madagascar because of its agreeable climate. The Avenue of the Baobabs has to be mentioned when it refers to Morondava. The locals take the giant Baobab Tree as their halidom, and you can always see some offerings under the tree. Nosy Be has the most beautiful beach in the world. If you want to experience different life patterns in Madagascar, you can visit Toliara because it has four tribes. Otherwise, it is said that Mahajanaga is the most popular tourist destination for natives.

Southern Madagascar

 Major destinations: Manakara, Fort-Dauphin 

 Weather review: The southern region is much drier than any other part of Madagascar. Its annual precipitation is lower than 600 mm, and the annual temperature there is 25.4°C (77.7℉) or so.  

 Travel recommendations: The reason why the best time to visit southern zone is May to October is that you may experience convenient transportation because of less rainfall. In Manakara, cars only have access to roads during these months. And if you want to taste authentic coffee in Manakara, you can visit the local coffee gardens. For-Dauphin has a number of soft beaches which is just right for surfers and also has some quiet places for picnics, boating and swimming.

Recommended Madagascar Tours

Classic RN7 Route Tour: 14 Days Antananarivo - Andasibe - Antsirabe -Ranomafana - Ranohira - Ifaty - Antananarivo

Wildlife Safari Tour: 11 Days Antananarivo - Morondava - Kirindy - Bekopaka - Morondava - Andasibe - Akanin'ny Nofy - Antananarivo

Private Adventure Tour: 14 Days Antananarivo - Antsiranana - Amber Mount - Ankarana - Nosy Be - Antananarivo