Why travel to Madagascar?
Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world and is popularly known as the world’s eighth continent.
The country is primarily known for its unique nature and wildlife, especially because it is home to more than 100 species of lemurs.
The geographical location of the island state is about 400 km from the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, meaning that Madagascar has developed in isolation (a bit like the Galapagos Islands), which is why the country’s fauna and flora are quite unique. You should travel to Madagascar if you want to experience this fairy-tale paradise of nature and wildlife, which you will not find anywhere else in the world.
Madagascar also has some incredibly exciting stories to tell. The country is a melting pot of cultures from large parts of the world, which is reflected in the nature, the people, and in the country’s history.
Our tours in Madagascar
A tour in Madagascar offers drives through varied landscapes that are reminiscent of Asia, Costa Rica, and even Australia. It’s as if all the continents of the world have somehow made their mark on Madagascar, which you will discover as you drive through landscapes dotted with paddy fields, rocky landscapes, flat plains, and high hills.
On our tours, you will experience an interesting mix of Madagascar’s exciting history, varied landscapes and, not least, the country’s endemic wildlife. Around 90% of the wildlife is totally unique to the island.
Below are some of the highlights you can look forward to on a tour to Madagascar.
Antananarivo – capital of Madagascar
Antananarivo, or ‘Tana’ as it’s colloquially known, is situated in Madagascar’s central highlands and is the capital of Madagascar. The city is rich in history and culture, and it is the natural starting point for experiencing the island.
At the top of the highest hill in the city, you will find Tana’s main attraction: ‘Rova’, or the Queen’s Palace. The palace, which is also known as Manjakamiadana (which translates to “a good place to rule”), housed Madagascar’s rulers from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The palace was home to Queen Ranavalona I, who ruled the Merina kingdom from 1828 to 1861. She is perhaps better known as ‘The Mad Queen’, a name she was given because many people lost their lives during her reign, partly due to forced labour as well as the persecution of Christians.
Unfortunately, the Queen’s Palace burned down in 1995, but has since been rebuilt, providing an exciting insight into Madagascar’s history of its kings and queens as well as Madagascar’s long-lasting struggle for freedom from colonialists. Moreover, the top of the palace offers phenomenal views across the city.
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park
Just east of the capital is Andasibe-Mantadia.
Andasibe-Mantadia is, in fact, made up of two protected areas: the forests of Mantadia and the Analamazoatra reserve. The Analamazoatra Special Reserve (also known as Andisabe) was established in 1970 to preserve the forest and its unique biodiversity, and 19 years later in 1989, Mantadia was established beside it.
The national park is one of the most popular in Madagascar. You may be lucky enough to see as many as 11 of the more than 100 different lemur species in the national park, including sifaka, bamboo, and mouse lemurs. However, the national park’s popularity can probably be largely attributed to its most famous inhabitant, the Indri lemur, the largest of the lemur species. An encounter with the Indri is one you will never forget, especially if you get to hear its call, which gives most people the shivers.
In addition to lemurs, you may also be lucky enough to see chameleons, frogs, stick insects, and rich bird life.
Ranomafana National Park
Further south, but still in eastern Madagascar, lies Ranomafana National Park.
The area where the park is located is one of the most biodiverse in the country. The national park is part of the lush rainforest, the Atsinanana rainforest, which runs down the east coast of Madagascar and has been on the UNESCO world heritage list since 2007.
The national park is covered in thick rainforest with man-high ferns and water trickling down and across the paths, which are therefore quite muddy sometimes. On the other hand, it’s an adventurous experience to ‘go hunting’ for one of Ranomafana’s 12 lemur species – in particular, the rare and endangered bamboo lemur.
In fact, Ranomafana means ‘hot water’ in Malagasy, and in addition to the absolutely fascinating wildlife and beautiful scenery, you can also find hot springs in the area.
Isalo National Park
Isalo National Park is probably Madagascar’s most well-known and – in our opinion – its best national park, at least if unique nature is at the top of your wish list.
The landscape in Isalo takes most people’s breath away.
The 800 km2 national park has dramatic sandstone formations, deep gorges, verdigris green lakes, and flat plains, and you might also be lucky enough to see the fine, yellow elephant’s foot plant, which is only found here. Although its nature is the main focus of Isalo, the national park also has a unique wildlife, including six different species of lemurs such as the ring-tailed and sifaka lemurs which are both active by day, around 100 different species of birds, and a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians.
In addition to offering unique nature and wildlife, Isalo is also of great cultural significance. The area is sacred to the local Bara tribe, who bury their deceased in caves high up in the cliffs.
Beautiful beaches
Madagascar may be known for its unique nature and wildlife, but we cannot ignore the fact that the country also has plenty of beautiful beaches on its almost 5,000 km long coastline.
Anakao
Just south of the city of Toliara in south-western Madagascar, you will find the coastal village of Anakao, which offers beautiful beaches in quiet surroundings. In the morning, watch the local fishermen sail out for the day’s fishing, which they have done since colonial times when Anakao was a busy fishing port.
You will arrive in Anakao by boat. The relatively poor roads from Toliara to Anakao mean that the village is not yet that modern, but it offers everything that you need on a beach holiday.
The beaches here are not the most well-known in Madagascar, but if you are dreaming of a quiet beach holiday in a quiet coastal town, Anakao is the perfect spot. During the whale season, between June and September, you may also be lucky enough to spot whales directly from the shore.
Ifaty
North of Toliara is Ifaty, which is a popular bathing spot in south-western Madagascar.
Like Anakao, Ifaty was originally a fishing village, but its proximity to Toliara and to a beautiful coral reef – as well as, of course, the soft sandy beaches and turquoise waters – have made it a sought-after destination for a relaxing beach holiday. Just like in Anakao, you can also spot whales directly from the shore during the whale season.
Nosy Be
Off the coast of northern Madagascar, you will find the island of Nosy Be (or ‘big island’), arguably the most popular beach destination in Madagascar. In fact, Nosy Be is a small island group, where Nosy Be is also the name of the main island.
The beaches are beautiful, and gently descend to the sea, which makes them ideal for swimming. Also, some of the islands in the archipelago offer exceptional diving and snorkelling opportunities.
If you want to spice up your beach stay with excursions etc., head to the Lokobe Nature Reserve in the middle of the island, where you might be lucky enough to see black lemurs (Eulemur macaco) and Lepi lemurs. And if you’re dreaming of seeing whales, you may (also here) be lucky enough to see humpback whales in the seas around Nosy Be from mid-June to September.
From Nosy Be, you can also take a short boat trip to the north-west of the mainland. Here, you will find the quirky Baobab Beach, where old baobab trees rise up out of the light sand.
Sainte Marie
About 8 km off the east coast of Madagascar lies the narrow island of Sainte-Marie. Known locally as Nosy Boraha, the island invites you to relax on the soft beaches which are flanked by palm trees and crystal-clear waters. Between the island and the mainland, there is also ample opportunity to see large groups of humpback whales at certain times of the year.
In addition to unique beaches, Sainte Marie also offers something for history buffs. The island was a paradise for pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries who came to the island’s secluded bays after raids in the East Indies. It is said that the island was inhabited by up to 1,000 pirates during this period, including well-known pirates such as William Kid and Thomas Tew. The island also houses a small pirate cemetery.
The island’s only town, Ambodifotatra, has a charming market, a few cafés, and Madagascar’s oldest Catholic church, which was built by French Catholics in the 17th century.
Other highlights of Madagascar
As the world’s fourth-largest island, Madagascar offers a wealth of experiences just waiting to be explored.
You can also experience:
- Madagascar’s third-largest city, Antsirabe. Here, you can discover the city’s historical past as a French colonial city from the comfort of a rickshaw. In the centre is a wide boulevard, at the end of which is the most beautiful railway station building, although it is no longer in use. The city is also rich in local artisans.
- Avenue des Baobabs must be said to be the best place in Madagascar to see the beautiful baobab trees. The road, which is really just a dirt track, is framed by lots of ancient baobab trees, and is especially beautiful at sunset.
- Anja Reserve, which is located outside the town of Ambalavoa. The reserve is home to a large group of ring-tailed lemurs, so there is a very good chance of seeing them here. The reserve is run by local villages, and all income from visitors goes to the locals and the protection of the reserve and its inhabitants.
Combine Madagascar with …
We offer several different combination options with Madagascar. See which options under the individual tours.
Below, you can read more about the combination options.
Combine with a safari in Kenya
Combine your tour to Madagascar with even more beautiful nature and wildlife experiences on a safari in Kenya.
Kenya has some exceptional national parks, where you can experience African wildlife at its best.
You can look forward, for example, to Nairobi National Park, which at 117 km2 is one of Kenya’s smallest. However, the experiences on offer here are by no means limited. The national park is located in the capital Nairobi, and it is not every day that you see giraffes with a big city in the background. Nairobi National Park is also one of the best places to see rhinos in Africa.
Amboseli National Park is not big either, but from here you have views of Africa’s highest mountain, Kilimanjaro. The sparse vegetation in the park makes it easy to see the animals, and you can look forward to seeing lots of elephants, zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and many different species of birds.
From some of Kenya’s smallest national parks, the tour then continues to the largest park. Tsavo National Park, which is actually two national parks, offers visitors a rich wildlife and contrasting landscapes. In Tsavo East, the landscapes are red and flat, and you can see lions, cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, elephants, and much more. In Tsavo West, the vegetation is dense and the nature is unique.
Combine with a beach holiday in Mauritius
You can also choose to combine Madagascar with a tour to Mauritius.
The two countries share much in common. They have both been French colonies. They are both located in the Indian Ocean. But while Madagascar, which is almost 300 times larger than Mauritius, is a destination known mainly for its nature and wildlife, Mauritius is a popular destination on account of its beautiful beaches.
Mauritius actually has fantastic beaches, beautiful water, and lush nature all year round – an island paradise that will provide an exotic end to any tour.
The beaches in south-western Mauritius are among the island’s most beautiful, and here you will find, for example, Le Morne, Tamarin, and Flic en Flac. The area is rich in nature experiences, and has some fantastic hikes, for instance, to the iconic mountain Le Morne, which is almost always featured in photographs of the island.
Package tours to Madagascar incl. flights
All of our tours to Madagascar are package tours.
This means that flights (outbound and homebound, as well as any domestic flights or flights on the actual tour), transfers, overnight accommodation at hotels and resorts, and scheduled activities are included in the total price. In Madagascar, full board is often also included.
You typically have to pay for things like beverages and meals (other than those specified), tipping, insurance, and any vaccinations.
FAQs about Madagascar
A lot of questions often arise in connection with preparing for a big trip. Below, we answer the most frequently asked questions about Madagascar.
Is Madagascar a country?
Yes. Madagascar is a country which is also an island. In fact, Madagascar is the fourth-largest island in the world after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo.
Where is Madagascar located?
Madagascar lies about 400 km off the coast of south-east Africa in the Indian Ocean.
The country’s rather remote location has meant that Madagascar has developed in isolation from other countries, which is why, today, it has a completely unique nature and wildlife.
Is it safe to travel to Madagascar?
Yes, it is generally safe to travel to Madagascar. And we know this because we have been there.
We work with local partners who help to ensure that your tour is safe from start to finish.
In general, it’s always a good idea to exercise caution when travelling – regardless of your destination.
When is the best time to visit Madagascar?
Madagascar offers unique experiences all year round.
In general, April to October is considered to be the best time, as this is the dry season in the country. However, there may be local variations. For example, during the cyclone season (January – March), it is not recommended to travel to the eastern or northern part of Madagascar.
How much does a tour cost?
The cost of a tour to Madagascar varies depending on the length of the tour, the itinerary, and when you want to travel.
Our tours are package tours that include flights, transfers, scheduled excursions, and, in Madagascar, also full board, unless otherwise stated.
You can see the starting prices for the individual tours.
It is usually more expensive to travel during the high season – for example, during the summer holidays and over Christmas and New Year. On the other hand, it is cheaper to travel to Madagascar in the low season.
Do you need a visa for Madagascar?
Yes, possibly. Whether you need a visa depends, among other things, on how long you intend to travel.
You can read more on our practical info page.
Do I need to be vaccinated?
You will probably need to be vaccinated before you go to Madagascar. It depends, among other things, on which vaccinations you already have.
We recommend that you contact a specialist doctor, your own doctor, or an authorised vaccination clinic for advice on which vaccinations you need (and which vaccinations you may already have).
However, you should be aware of the rules regarding yellow fever, especially if you are travelling to Madagascar via another country where there is yellow fever. In fact, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination upon entry.
Do you tip in Madagascar and how much?
You are welcome to tip in Madagascar, and it is common practice.
How much you tip is up to you. Here are some suggestions. The amounts are in Madagascar’s currency – the ariary (Ar). You can find the current exchange rate here.
- Guide: Ar 20,000–30,000 per person per day
- Hotel porter: Ar 5,000
- Hotel maid: Ar 5,000
- Local guides in the national parks: Ar 10,000 per person per day
- Restaurants: 5-10% of the total bill.
Do you have more questions?
If you have more questions about Madagascar or our other tours in Africa, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are ready to answer all your questions.
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