Madagascar

Weather : Madagascar's climate is tropical, with two seasons. During the rainy season (December-April), the island receives between 12 and 140 inches (30-355 cm) of rainfall annually. During the dry season (May-November), average midday temperatures range from 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in the highlands and 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) on the coast. Along the Eastern coastal plains, high humidity is tempered by almost-constant ocean breezes.

When is the best time to visit Madagascar?

The best time of the year to visit Madagascar is probably September - November after the cool, dry winter but before the hot rainy season. Cyclone season is February to March when the climate is at its rainiest. Many animals are least active during the coldest months (June-August).

Times of special interest:

• late January - March: cyclone season, peak herp (reptiles and amphibians) season, best time for flowering orchids

• April - May: rains mostly finished leaving the countryside lush and green

• July - August: coolest time of the year, peak whale watching season in the Bay of Antongil (July-Sept), many animals inactive or hibernating

• September - December: excellent time for birding; the breeding season

• October - November: baby lemur season, generally mild weather

Geography

North - Scarcely populated but with a rich mix or ethnic groups, this region is isolated from the rest of the country by the rugged Tsaratanana mountain range. In spite of being closest to the equator, its particularly long dry season of seven months, followed by intense rainfall from December to April, gives this northern area of Madagascar an identity unto itself. Secluded coves, tranquil lagoons, windswept promontories, expansive grasslands and altitude rainforest offer an infinitely varied and broad palette of sceneries, people, fauna and flora.

Western Dry Forest - West is a vast region with only remnants of the dry, deciduous forest which once covered the entire domain. It is a region of spectacular vistas with majestic baobabs and "forest" of karst pinnacles of the World Heritage Site of the Tsingy of Bemaraha. It is hot and dry year-round and its two major towns, Majunga (Mahajunga) and Morondava are Malagasy favorites for a beach holiday.

High Plateau - The scenic countryside of terraced rice fields along Route Nationale 7 from Antananarivo to Fianarantsoa attest to the Asian ancestry of the Merina and Betsileo people, Madagascar's political and intellectual elite. Outside of the two main cities of Antananarivo (Madagascar's capital) and Antsirabe (once a resort/spa town and now an industrial center), the primary vocation is agricultural due to a temperate climate year-round and fertile soil where every possible crop can grow, except the cherry tree.

East - Cash crops such as coffee, cloves, vanilla and all tropical fruits thrive on the East Coast, making the local populations in general more affluent than in any other region of Madagascar. With the exception of Ile Ste. Marie, once a pirate's haven and now a sought-after destination for beach lovers, the East Coast, and in particular the Masoala Peninsula with its exceptional concentration of unique fauna and flora, is largely undiscovered and a must for serious nature lovers.

Southern Rain Forest / Dry Forest - While the southeastern area of Madagascar receives abundant rainfall, the extreme southwestern area hardly has any rain at all. It is known as the "Grand Sud" and is one of Madagascar's most appealing regions: lush virgin rain forests, majestic granite rock formations, as well as exotic flora and fauna on the eastern side, and beautiful vistas, endless beaches of immaculate sand dunes, and strange exotic plants on the western side. The South is noted for its vegetation of unique interest where tropical moist forest meets southern dry forest, and its southern rain forests include Ranomafana National Park and the newly developed Andringitra.

Visas and Entry

Other Information

For further information you may email to : madagascar@nivalink.co.in