Madagascar in January

Is January a good time to visit Madagascar? Not really, January is the start of a very wet and hot period in Madagascar. The rain can be as much as 340mm for the month, especially on the east coast which is generally wetter than the west or south. Such rain can make the roads to national parks and hotels muddy and impassable. In certain areas hotels and lodges will be closed, and arranging travel throughout the country is usually difficult in this month.  From south to north, the temperatures range between 33-27°C, cooling slightly the further north you go, with heavy rainfall spreading unevenly across the country. Rains are heavy and more prolific in the north, with the south remaining drier. There is a risk of cyclones in January which reaches its peak in February, calming slightly in March. We are usually encouraging travelling outside of the peak months to avoid crowds and take advantage of lower costs, however, in this case, we do not recommend  traveling to Madagascar in January. If you are looking to travel out of season and don’t mind a bit of rain, Madagascar’s shoulder season is in December and in April. Contact us for advice on alternative destinations to visit during the month of January.