Madagascar Weather and Climate

Madagascar’s climate has two seasons, the hot, rainy season from November to March; and the subtropical cooler, dry season from April to October.
Wet season:
November to March; this is also the summer season in Madagascar. The mountains, including Antananarivo, are warm and dry, it is cool and windy the in rest of the island. Rainfall is heaviest from January to late February. It reduces gradually from the North-East (over 3m) to the South to West (about 400m) with several variants between these two extremes. The lowlands are hot and slightly humid especially during the rainy season.

Dry season:

Madagascar Weather Cell

The dry season or the southern winter is from April to October, and summer is from November to March. The west and southwest regions of Madagascar get exceedingly hot during summer. Average maximum temperatures vary from 30°C along the coastal regions to 25°C on the hauts plateaux. However, temperatures go as low as 4°C or even less in winter nights.

The Island is also washed by torrential rains and high winds associated with tropical cyclones from the Indian Ocean north of the island moving southwards.

Best Time to Visit
In term of weather, the best time to journey to tropical Island of Madagascar is between July and mid October. This is when the climate is relatively cool for most of the days. It presents the best time for Madagascar holidays. Since this is also the European holiday period, most hotels in Madagascar and popular Madagascar tourist attractions get full as prices go up. The period from November to April is not an advisable travel season. It is the rainy season and characterized by thunderstorms and cyclones.
What to Wear
Lightweights are appropriate during the summer on high central plateau and throughout the year in the north and south. Heavy leather clothes are more recommended for the evenings; and more particularly during winter in mountainous areas. Do not forget to pack some rainwear for the Madagascar wet season.