HOW LONG SHOULD I SPEND IN MADAGASCAR?
Wonderfully diverse and offering such variety, it would be a shame to spend less than 10 days on a luxury Madagascar safari. Even for those wishing to visit as part of a larger itinerary, five days would leave you somewhat unfulfilled. We recommend devoting two weeks or more to your Madagascar adventure, or at least seven days if you are wishing to include it alongside another experience which, as a rule, isn’t really recommended.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MADAGASCAR?
Climate varies remarkably little throughout the Malagasy year, both high and low temperatures varying by little more than seven or eight degrees annually. Rainfall, however, is drastically different. From the arid, almost drought-like dry months to the monsoonal downpours at the beginning and end of the calendar year, the weather, like the landscapes, can vary greatly. November to February is best avoided, with October, March and April changeable. Late April through to June offers drier climate but lush vegetation, though it can become very humid. May to October is our suggested optimal time for Madagascar.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM ACCOMMODATION IN MADAGASCAR?
Madagascar is still catching up to its peers on the African mainland, but is doing so rapidly. Accommodation can be a little rustic, but visitors don’t visit the island for its decadent luxury safari camps, so this is rarely an issue. The camps and venues we have selected are more than adequate, delightfully charming and incredibly well-staffed. If your expectations are reasonable, you will be pleasantly surprised, finding quaint, congenial accommodations with plenty of comfort.
OTHER DETAILS:
Visas are required to visit Madagascar, and it is strongly suggested that you contact your travel designer or a travel medicine specialist for advice.
Flights to Antananarivo will transit through Europe or one of Africa’s major international airports. From there, internal flights will be able to take you to larger destinations, but in the southerly regions, overland transits are often necessary. These can be a little longer at times, though thankfully infrequent.
English is fairly widely spoken in hospitality, and guides will often have a strong vocabulary. However, French is the predominant language, alongside the traditional Malagasy, so a French phrasebook or even a basic grasp of French language can prove incredibly useful.
Malagasy culinary offerings are a melting pot of African dishes, seafood, spices and hints of colonial French cuisine. While you might not find Michelin standard gastronomic excellence, you will thoroughly enjoy a diversity of new and delicious dishes, freshly prepared and beautifully served across much of Madagascar.
Embrace the diversity of the nation and explore from mountain to forest and all the way to the shoreline to truly encapsulate this unique destination.