At a glance
So, when are you going to visit the Big Island?
From December to March, most of the regions are affected by the rainy season or even hurricanes! So that is not the best time.
In winter (June to August), you can expect cool weather at higher altitudes. In short, the best moments to go are spring and autumn, when the climate is less hot and the weather is quite dry.
Travel as you wish to Madagascar
When to visit the Highlands
The central Highlands is the most temperate region of the country.
Like elsewhere on the island, the year is divided into two distinct seasons: a dry season from approximately April to October and a rainy season from November to March.
Due to the average altitude of the region, the temperatures are lower than elsewhere and it can even get very cold (even to around freezing point in Antsirabe!) in winter, i.e. the months of June, July and August.
When to visit the north of the island
The region benefits from a tropical climate.
It is characterised by the alternation of a dry, temperate season from May to November and a hot, rainy season from December to May.
Temperatures range from 25 °C to 30 °C during the rainy season. It is not uncommon to have a little wind in the region, which tends to cool things down!
When to visit the east of the island
The east of Madagascar is the wettest region of the country, which explains its lush vegetation.
The climate is subequatorial and less well defined than elsewhere. It rains more regularly than in the other regions, even in the dry season...
The best time to visit the region is during the months of September, October and November. From January to April, the region is often prey to cyclones from the Indian Ocean... so beware!
When to visit the west of the island
This region is characterized by a semi-arid tropical climate and very low rainfall that affects the vegetation, which consists mainly of dry, thorny forests.
It gets very hot there and it rains very little, particularly from April to October when the region suffers from drought. In November, the region may be the scene of violent storms.
When to visit the south of the island
The south of Madagascar is also a very hot and dry region.
This is a semi-desert region, with significant differences in temperature between the day and night. The warmest months are January and February and the "coolest" months are June, July and August.
There is very little risk of rain here, except for a few times during December, January and February.