What awaits travellers in Madagascar?
Madagascar has been separated from mainland Africa for around 160 million years; as a result, over 90% of its native animal and plant species occur nowhere else, from more than 100 lemur species to the baobabs of the west. At 592,796 km², the island is the fourth largest in the world, but only lightly developed for tourism: trips usually combine two to three regions, connected by long drives or domestic flights.
A classic route begins in the capital Antananarivo on the central highland plateau, follows Route Nationale 7 south via Antsirabe, Ranomafana and Isalo to Toliara on the southwest coast, or continues by domestic flight to Andasibe-Mantadia National Park in the east, about three driving hours from the capital. Those seeking the northwest coast fly on from Antananarivo to Nosy Be.
This page covers regions, best time to visit, entry (as of September 2026), health — including the malaria prophylaxis recommended on the mainland outside Antananarivo — and the advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
Sources: Wikipedia
What kind of destination is Madagascar?
Madagascar is less developed for tourism than other Indian Ocean destinations: roads are often poorly paved according to Wikipedia and domestic flights are expensive, so travel between regions often takes a full day. In return, no other trip in the region offers a comparable density of lemurs, chameleons and baobabs on a single island.
The island is broadly divided into four travel regions: the central highland around Antananarivo with rice terraces and the royal hill of Ambohimanga, the dry south along Route Nationale 7 with sandstone canyons and baobab forests, the humid rainforest east with the lemur reserves of Andasibe, and the northwest coast around Nosy Be with dive sites and offshore islands.
Over 90% of native vertebrates occur exclusively in Madagascar according to Wikipedia: more than 100 described lemur species, plus chameleons, baobabs and, with the indri, the largest living lemur. The IUCN ranks lemurs among the most threatened mammal groups in the world.
Official languages are Malagasy and French; outside the major cities and lodges, little English is spoken. Travel times between regions are, according to Wikipedia, significantly longer than a map might suggest, because many overland roads are single-lane and in poor condition.
Which regions of Madagascar are worth visiting?
The most visited destinations are the capital Antananarivo with the royal hill of Ambohimanga, the south along Route Nationale 7 with the 815 km² Isalo National Park and the baobab forests near Morondava, the rainforest east around Andasibe with the indri, and the 320 km² northwest island of Nosy Be with its offshore dive sites.
Antananarivo and the highland
Antananarivo, usually called 'Tana', sits at about 1,276 m above sea level on the central highland plateau and is the arrival point for nearly every trip to Madagascar. The Rova, the former royal palace of the Merina dynasty, sits above the old town; about 24 km to the northeast lies the royal hill of Ambohimanga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001 as the best-preserved monument of the pre-colonial Merina kingdom and still a pilgrimage site.
Route Nationale 7 runs south from Antananarivo through craft towns such as Ambatolampy, Antsirabe and Ambositra; it is the country's main tourist axis, linking highland, rainforest and dry south in a single, but long, journey.
The south: Route Nationale 7 and Isalo
Isalo National Park, founded in 1962 and covering 815.40 km², lies between 510 and 1,268 m above sea level and displays a wind-carved sandstone landscape with canyons up to 200 m deep. Six lemur species live here, including ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifakas; the nearest town is Ranohira.
Further west, between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina, stands the Avenue of the Baobabs: about 20 to 25, up to 30 m tall, baobab trees of the species Adansonia grandidieri lining a 260 m stretch of road, protected as a natural monument since July 2015. Ranomafana National Park in the southeast, part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Rainforests of the Atsinanana' since its founding in 1991, protects twelve lemur species across more than 40,000 ha, including the golden bamboo lemur, only discovered in 1986.
The east: Andasibe and the indri
Andasibe-Mantadia National Park lies about 150 km east of Antananarivo, reachable in about three driving hours on a paved road. Its core, the Analamazoatra Reserve, is the country's most accessible lemur region and hosts eleven species, including the indri, which at nearly a metre in body length is the largest living lemur, its call carrying for kilometres through the rainforest.
The national park and surrounding protected areas belong to the UNESCO World Heritage 'Rainforests of the Atsinanana', made up of 13 component sites across six national parks (Marojejy, Masoala, Zahamena, Ranomafana, Andringitra, Andohahela). It has been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2010 because of illegal logging.
Northwest coast: Nosy Be and offshore islands
Nosy Be, at 320 km² and with about 109,000 inhabitants Madagascar's most visited island, lies off the northwest coast and is reached by flight from Antananarivo. The main town, Hell-Ville (Andoany), also serves as the ferry port to the mainland at Ankify; the Lokobe Reserve shows rainforest with lemurs and chameleons on a small area.
Offshore islands such as Nosy Komba, Nosy Tanikely and Nosy Sakatia are destinations for day boat trips for snorkelling and diving; the waters around Nosy Be are also home to the rare Omura's whale. The rainy season runs from October to early May, and the dry season from May to October is more reliable for island excursions.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
What is the best time to visit Madagascar?
Madagascar has two seasons: a warm rainy season from November to April and a cooler dry season from May to October, recommended for most trips. Cyclones, according to Wikipedia, mainly hit the east coast and the north between November and April, while the southwest around Toliara, with about 330 mm of annual rainfall, stays dry year-round.
| Antananarivo | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 26 | 29 | 29 | 29 |
| Low °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 17 |
| Rainfall mm | 475 | 379 | 304 | 159 | 86 | 84 | 85 | 58 | 47 | 96 | 222 | 388 |
| Nosy Be | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 32 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 |
| Rainfall mm | 309 | 247 | 235 | 83 | 31 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 101 | 237 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station IVATO (10 km, 1280 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station FASCENE (6 km, 11 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Antananarivo on the highland plateau is cool between May and September, with night-time lows dropping to about 9 to 11 °C; the rainy months of November to March bring the highest rainfall, around 475 mm in January. Nosy Be on the northwest coast stays warm year-round with highs around 30 to 33 °C, but from June to September barely any rain falls (under 15 mm in July and August), while November to March brings over 200 mm a month.
Cyclones reach Madagascar mainly from the direction of the Mascarenes according to Wikipedia and most often strike the east coast; Cyclone Gafilo in March 2004, with 237 deaths, was the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded in the southwest Indian Ocean, and Cyclone Geralda claimed about 70 lives in February 1994.
Route Nationale 7 to the south is passable year-round but is slowed by landslides and flooded sections during the rainy season. Those wanting to see lemurs with young benefit from the start of the rainy season in November and December.
Sources: Wikipedia
What do you need to enter Madagascar?
Swiss, German and Austrian nationals need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, issued on arrival at the international airports or applied for in advance online as an e-visa. The fee rises in tiers from 30 euros for 15 days to 50 euros for 90 days; the passport must still be valid for at least six months on entry.
- Visa on arrival: at the international airports, including Antananarivo–Ivato and Nosy Be–Fascene, for a tiered fee: 30 euros for 15 days, 35 euros for 16 to 30 days, 40 euros for 31 to 60 days, 50 euros for 61 to 90 days.
- e-Visa: apply online via the official portal evisamada-mg.com between one week and six months before departure; issuance usually takes place within 72 hours, and the document is exchanged for a visa stamp on entry.
- Longer stays: over 90 days only with a visa applied for in advance at a Malagasy embassy, which should be requested as 'transformable' if an extension in the country is planned.
- Other nationalities: separate rules apply; the Malagasy immigration authority or the relevant embassy is the authoritative source.
A return or onward ticket is required on entry. The current information from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA and the Malagasy immigration authority is decisive at the time of travel.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Government of Madagascar · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
What vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis does Madagascar require?
Unlike Mauritius and the Seychelles, the Malagasy mainland carries a malaria risk in almost all regions according to the CDC; only in the capital Antananarivo is transmission rare. Healthytravel.ch recommends hepatitis A, rabies and a polio booster for all travellers, plus a doctor-prescribed malaria prophylaxis depending on the itinerary.
The CDC lists a malaria risk for Madagascar 'practically everywhere except Antananarivo, where transmission is rare'; for trips outside the capital, medications such as atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine or tafenoquine are options, which must be prescribed by a doctor before travel. In Antananarivo itself, consistent mosquito protection is considered sufficient by the CDC.
- Recommended vaccinations: hepatitis A and rabies for all travellers, a polio booster, plus hepatitis B and typhoid depending on travel style.
- Yellow fever: not mandatory when arriving directly from Europe, but required for entry within six days of a stay in a yellow fever risk country.
- Chikungunya and dengue: both viruses occur on the island and at times become epidemic; all-day mosquito protection is therefore worthwhile even outside malaria season.
- Other risks: current outbreaks (such as mpox) are reported by healthytravel.ch; contact with people showing unexplained rashes should be avoided. Plague is endemic between September and April, though the risk to travellers is, according to healthytravel.ch, very low.
Medical care outside Antananarivo is limited; the Federal Foreign Office points to long travel times to clinics and the absence of a social security agreement. Travel and repatriation insurance is therefore advisable.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How safe is Madagascar for travellers?
The risk of kidnappings and armed robberies in Antananarivo, including during the day, is structurally high. Travel off the main routes and driving after dark should be avoided as far as possible, according to the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
The Federal Foreign Office explicitly advises against visiting certain places, including Battery Beach north of Toliara, the banks of the Tsiribihina River, and Pic Saint-Louis, because of high crime levels. The BMEIA additionally warns of armed attacks on overland roads at night and recommends always keeping vehicle doors and windows locked.
Political tensions can lead to protests with unrest, looting and curfews in the cities, especially in Antananarivo. Travellers should avoid gatherings and follow instructions from security forces.
Check the current situation with the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
Sources: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland
How do you get to Madagascar and travel around the country?
International flights mostly land at Antananarivo–Ivato Airport (TNR); Nosy Be–Fascene (NOS) in the northwest has its own international connections. There are no nonstop flights from Europe — arrival is via hubs such as Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dubai or Istanbul, or via the neighbouring island of Réunion.
| Route | Mode | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Nairobi – Antananarivo | Flight (Kenya Airways) | direct connection |
| Addis Ababa – Antananarivo/Nosy Be | Flight (Ethiopian Airlines) | direct connection from both airports |
| Réunion (Saint-Denis) – Antananarivo/Nosy Be | Flight (Air Austral, Corsair) | direct connection |
| Antananarivo – Nosy Be | Domestic flight | several times daily, multiple airlines |
| Antananarivo – Toliara (Route Nationale 7) | Car/bus | multi-day journey with stops |
| Nosy Be – mainland (Ankify) | Ferry | short crossing, connects to the road network |
There are no nonstop flights from Europe to Madagascar; typical connections are via Nairobi (Kenya Airways), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Dubai (Emirates) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), as well as from the neighbouring island of Réunion with Air Austral or Corsair. Air Madagascar, Ethiopian Airlines, Air Austral, Air Mauritius and Kenya Airways connect Antananarivo with Nosy Be several times a day.
Within the country, domestic flights dominate for longer distances, since many overland roads are poorly paved according to Wikipedia and journeys can take several days. Route Nationale 7 between Antananarivo and Toliara is the main tourist axis and is usually driven with a driver and rental car; public shared taxis (taxi-brousse) are slower and less comfortable.
What money do you need in Madagascar and how do you pay?
The national currency is the Malagasy ariary (MGA); 100 euros bought about 502,800 ariary in September 2026. Card payment is rarely possible outside Antananarivo and larger hotels, so cash in ariary is needed for most expenses.
ATMs are mainly found in Antananarivo, Nosy Be and a few larger towns along Route Nationale 7; they are usually absent in rural areas. Larger notes should be exchanged in the city beforehand, since off the main routes only small amounts can often be changed.
In hotels and restaurants in tourist centres, euros or US dollars are sometimes accepted in cash, but change is usually given in ariary. When withdrawing cash or paying by card, it's worth settling in ariary rather than an offered conversion to another currency.
Tipping is not obligatory but is expected for drivers, guides and in restaurants if the service was good; small cash amounts at the end of the service are customary.
Sources: Xe.com
Where is best to stay in Madagascar?
In Antananarivo, most hotels are in the centre or in the hillside districts overlooking Lake Anosy; along Route Nationale 7, you stay in small lodges near the national parks, while on Nosy Be, options range from simple guesthouses to beach resorts.
Outside the capital and Nosy Be, the range of hotels is thinner and simpler than in other Indian Ocean destinations; many lodges near the national parks are geared towards wildlife viewing rather than comfort, with generator power and limited hot water. Those driving Route Nationale 7 are best off booking accommodation in advance, as the choice in smaller towns like Ranohira is limited.
On Nosy Be, the larger resorts are concentrated on the beaches near Hell-Ville and Ambatoloaka; those seeking quiet head to the offshore islands of Nosy Komba or Nosy Sakatia.
What do you eat in Madagascar?
Rice is the basis of nearly every meal and is served with side dishes (loaka) of zebu beef, chicken, fish or beans, often seasoned with the chilli sauce sakay. The cuisine combines Malagasy, French, Indian and Arab influences; vanilla and cloves are among the country's most important export goods.
Romazava, a stew of zebu meat and leafy greens, and ravitoto, pounded cassava leaves with pork or zebu meat, are among the best-known national dishes. Fish and seafood dominate on the coast, while the highland favours rice with meat or bean dishes.
Madagascar produces much of the world's vanilla, mostly from the Sava region in the northeast; it is inexpensive at markets and spice shops and a popular souvenir. Tap water should not be drunk; bottled water is available in cities but not always in the countryside.
What culture and customs shape Madagascar?
Madagascar's culture combines Austronesian, African and Arab roots; the concept of fady refers to local taboos that can vary from place to place. Famadihana, a periodic re-wrapping of ancestors' bones with music and dance, is among the best-known rituals of the highland Merina people.
About 18 ethnic groups shape the country, from the Merina and Betsileo in the highland to the Sakalava on the west coast; official languages are Malagasy and French. Ancestor worship is deeply rooted, with many families maintaining elaborate tomb traditions and observing fady rules about places, animals or behaviour, best explained on site by a guide.
Christian and traditional beliefs often coexist. When visiting sacred sites such as Ambohimanga, modest clothing and respect for local rituals are customary; photographing tombs or religious ceremonies should be asked about beforehand.
What experiences are worthwhile in Madagascar?
Highlights include lemur walks in Isalo, Ranomafana and Andasibe, sunset at the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava, and diving or snorkelling trips around Nosy Be. Those with more time can add the limestone formations of Tsingy de Bemaraha or whale watching off the east coast.
Lemurs and national parks
The indri in Andasibe-Mantadia National Park calls out for kilometres through the rainforest in the morning; guided walks usually last two to three hours. In Isalo National Park, day hikes combine the sandstone canyons with natural pools and ring-tailed lemurs, while Ranomafana National Park focuses on the golden bamboo lemur and eleven other lemur species.
Avenue of the Baobabs and the west
The Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava shows about 20 to 25, up to 30 m tall, baobab trees along a 260 m stretch of road, most striking at sunrise or sunset. Tsingy de Bemaraha, a UNESCO World Heritage natural site with sharp-edged limestone pinnacles, lies a further drive from Morondava and requires sturdy footwear and via ferrata-style passages.
Coast and water
Off Nosy Be and the surrounding islands of Nosy Komba and Nosy Tanikely, reefs can be snorkelled and dived; the dry season from May to October offers the clearest visibility. Off the east coast, near Sainte-Marie, humpback whales pass through the waters between July and September to calve.
How do you travel responsibly in Madagascar?
The 'Rainforests of the Atsinanana', six national parks with lemur habitat, have been on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger since 2010 because of illegal logging. National park entrance fees and local guides directly fund the protection of forest and wildlife, which is why booking them locally is worthwhile.
- Book local, state-certified guides in the national parks rather than informal operators; their fees go towards park maintenance.
- Do not touch or feed lemurs, even if some animals are habituated to people.
- Stay on marked paths when visiting baobabs and tsingy formations to avoid damaging roots and limestone structures.
- Buy vanilla, spices and crafts directly from producers rather than middlemen when origin and fairness are clear.
Sources: Wikipedia
Which countries pair well with Madagascar?
The most obvious choice is the French island of Réunion, with direct flights from Antananarivo and Nosy Be and its own volcanic landscape. Mauritius is also directly connected via Air Mauritius — both islands are noticeably easier to travel than Madagascar itself.
Réunion and Mauritius offer a contrast to Madagascar's wilderness: well-developed roads, predictable travel times and a denser range of hotels. Those wanting to add mainland Africa instead can use the Nairobi or Addis Ababa hubs for a side trip on safari.
Who is Madagascar a good fit for, and who might it suit less?
Madagascar suits nature-focused travellers who want to experience lemurs, baobabs and rainforests and are willing to accept long drives and simple accommodation for it. Those seeking reliable infrastructure, short distances or a pure beach holiday are better served on Mauritius or the Seychelles.
Photographers, those with an interest in biology, and hikers benefit from the huge biodiversity packed into a small area; those who stay flexible and plan for delays get along well with the sometimes poor roads.
Madagascar is less suited to travellers with little time, families with young children on long car journeys, or anyone dependent on consistently good medical care; the current security situation in Antananarivo also calls for extra caution.