Madagascar
Africa - With driver
Itinerary idea: Antananarivo, Andasibe, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Isalo, Ifaty/Tuléar (+ Morondava or Île Sainte-Marie for whales)
Strengths: Unique wildlife (lemurs, chameleons, baobabs), real adventure, whales at Sainte-Marie
Weaknesses: Slow roads, basic services, malaria, unreliable domestic flights
Children and safety: Limited health services; lemurs and parks are great for children
Weather: Dry winter: days 20-25 °C, cool nights in the highlands (5-10 °C)
Book ahead: 6 months
Key facts
- Best time to go: May to October
- Flight from Milan: about 12 hours
- Rain days in August: 4
- Daylight hours in August: 11.5
- Driving: on the right
- Malaria: present
- Visa (EU citizens): Paid visa on arrival or eVisa
- International licence: Not needed (driver)
- Currency: Ariary (MGA), euros in cash are useful
- Language: Malagasy and French
- Roads: RN7 paved but potholed, slow dirt tracks
- Vaccinations: Hepatitis A, typhoid; malaria prophylaxis; consider rabies
Ratings (1 to 5)
- Ease of getting around: 3
- Child friendly: 3
- Scenery and wildlife: 5
- August weather: 4
- Logistics ease: 2