Luxury holidays in Madagascar
Wake to the indri's call rolling through the Andasibe rainforest. We link the island's far corners with domestic flights and trusted guides, and book lodges close to the wildlife.
It comes off your final price, and is refunded in full if you don't go ahead.
Madagascar feels like stepping into a separate world, because in a sense it is. The island split off more than 150 million years ago, and close to 90 per cent of its plants and animals live nowhere else. In Andasibe the indri, the largest lemur, calls across the canopy at dawn, and in Isalo ring tailed lemurs cross sandstone canyons beside natural pools.
In the far south, the spiny forest around Ifotaka is home to dancing sifakas and old baobabs, and the communities there keep customs of their own. Antananarivo climbs over its hills in the highlands. In the north, Nosy Be and the islands around it have warm water, coral reefs and quiet beaches, the natural place to rest at the end.
Each region holds different lemurs, so most trips combine at least two.
Rainforest east of the capital, where the call of the indri lemur carries through the trees each morning.
Sandstone canyons, palm-lined gorges and natural pools on a plateau in the south, with ring-tailed lemurs nearby.
The dry far south, with strange spiny forest, dancing sifakas and quiet villages along the Mandrare River.
The cooler dry months suit walking, and spring brings lemur babies and flowering forests.
Hot and wet with cyclone risk, some roads become impassable.
The height of the wet season and cyclone risk.
Rains ease late in the month, the forests are lush.
Dry season begins, green landscapes and fewer visitors.
Dry and mild, comfortable for walking in the parks.
Cool winter days, cold nights in the highlands.
Dry and cool, whales arrive off the east coast.
Dry, mild and active wildlife across the island.
Warming days and lemurs active, with baby lemurs appearing.
Warm and dry, excellent for wildlife and walking.
Hot with the first rains possible late in the month.
Rains begin, hot and humid across the island.
Most travellers connect through Johannesburg or Mauritius to reach the capital.
Mauritius is a short flight east, and South Africa adds a classic safari.
Calm lagoons, northern islets and sunsets on the west coast.
Cape Town, the winelands and Big Five safaris near Kruger.
Tell us when you want to go, for how long and who is travelling. Your travel expert replies in writing with a trip shaped around you.
