Madagascar Fact File

Getting there

As a former French colony, there are regular direct flights to Antananarivo (or ‘Tana’ as it is commonly known) from Paris, so a connection from London Heathrow through Charles de Gaulle airport is the easiest route. Flights are about ten hours in duration, and Madagascar is three hours ahead of GMT, so jet-lag should not be a serious problem. There is also one flight a day from Johannesburg, and four flights a week from Nairobi. Travelling through Madagascar can be undertaken by road to appreciate the differing landscape and environments, and the internal flight network is generally very good, especially to some of more inaccessible coastal locations.

Seasons

The climate is generally hot and sub-tropical, but colder in the more mountainous regions. The rainy season generally lasts from November through to March, with the dry season being April to October. The mountains, including the capital city of Antananarivo, are warm and thunderous from November to April, and dry, cool and windy the rest of the year. There is a risk of cyclones from the end of January to the middle of February.

Is Madagascar for you?

Madagascar is not known as one of the more traditional holiday locations, but there is certainly a great deal to recommend it – known as “The 8th Continent”, you will encounter a real diversity of landscapes, scenery and climate zones, along with unusual yet abundant wildlife, including of course, the famous lemurs, of which there are 32 species throughout the country!  The tourism infrastructure in Madagascar is not yet as developed as mainland Africa, and 5-star properties are few. However, there are many rapidly improving 4-star accommodations, an excellent guiding network, and a real sense of unspoiled wilderness and unique adventure that is perhaps missing from more mainstream African destinations.

Combining Madagascar

While Madagascar is accessible enough from Johannesburg and Nairobi to combine with the rest of Africa, the size and diversity of the country is such that it is advisable to spend at least a week here, exploring several different destinations. There are also some exquisite beach locations on the north and western coasts, so it is perfectly feasible to base your whole holiday here and enjoy the wildlife, scenery and the beach without needing inter-connecting international flights.