Madagascar in January

Heavy rain and cyclone risk; some lodges and the Tsingy close.

January is rated avoid. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatDry season begins; good light, fewer visitors, Tsingy usually reopening (check).
• JuneGreatCool highlands and dry west; Independence Day on 26 June fills transport.
• JulyGreatEuropean holiday peak; humpback whales off Sainte-Marie from July. Book drivers early.
• AugustGreatBusiest month; chilly highland nights, whales, lodges full on the RN7.

• Central highlands · Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Ranomafana, Fianarantsoarainy

  Cool, even chilly nights June–August (5–10 °C (41–50 °F)); the rains fall November–March as afternoon storms.Cool, even chilly nights June–August (41–50 °F (5–10 °C)); the rains fall November–March as afternoon storms.

• East coast and rainforest · Andasibe, Toamasina, Île Sainte-Marie, Masoalastorm or typhoon risk

  Rain in every month; cyclones land here January–March. Sainte-Marie's whale season is July–September.

• West and south-west dry belt · Morondava, Tsingy de Bemaraha, Isalo, Tuléar, Ifatyrainy

  The driest part of the island; the Tsingy de Bemaraha is closed roughly December–April because tracks flood.

• North and Nosy Be · Nosy Be, Diego Suarez, Ankarana, Amber Mountainstorm or typhoon risk

  Warm year round; the north-east trade wind blows hard at Diego June–September.

• Antananarivo Province: Antananarivo and the highlands · Central plateau, roughly 1,200–1,500 mrainy

  Cool and damp for a tropical country: 10–25 °C (50–77 °F) most of the year, colder at night June–August. Rain concentrates December–March, often as afternoon storms.Cool and damp for a tropical country: 50–77 °F (10–25 °C) most of the year, colder at night June–August. Rain concentrates December–March, often as afternoon storms.

• Antsiranana Province: Antsiranana and the north-west coast · Diana region, bays and Ramenarainy

  Dry season roughly May to November; the wet months are hot and humid with cyclone risk.

• Antsiranana Province: Sava (north-east) · Sambava, Marojejy and Masoala siderainy

  One of the wettest parts of the island; rain is possible most of the year.

• Fianarantsoa Province: Highlands (Fianarantsoa, Ambalavao, Ambositra) · RN7 corridor at 1,000–1,500 mrainy

  Cooler than the coast; rain roughly December–March. Nights can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in June–August.Cooler than the coast; rain roughly December–March. Nights can drop below 50 °F (10 °C) in June–August.

• Fianarantsoa Province: Ranomafana and the eastern escarpment · East of Fianarantsoarainy

  Rainforest: rain in most months, heaviest December–March; leeches after rain.

• Mahajanga Province: Mahajanga coast · City and bayrainy

  Hot all year; the dry season roughly May–November is the comfortable window. December–March is humid with heavy rain.

• Mahajanga Province: Tsingy de Bemaraha and the interior · Bekopaka and the westrainy

  Park access is effectively dry-season only; check opening and road conditions before you commit.

• Toamasina Province: East coast (Toamasina, Foulpointe, Vatomandry) · Sea level to about 200 mrainy

  Hot and humid; rain in most months. Cyclone risk roughly December to March.

• Toamasina Province: Escarpment and Andasibe · About 900–1,200 m on the RN2rainy

  Cooler and misty; rain can close trails. Indri are loudest and most active early morning.

• Toliara Province: Toliara and the south-west coast · Toliara, Ifaty, Anakaocheck

  Semi-arid; rain is scarce all year. Local month-by-month timing is check — the practical window is the dry season, roughly April–November.

• Toliara Province: Taolagnaro and the south-east · Taolagnaro, Berentycheck

  Wetter than the west coast; local month-by-month timing is check — the driest stretch is roughly May–October.

• Antananarivo26 °C (79 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 20 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 20 rain days
• Ambalavao27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Ambanja30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 20 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 20 rain days
• Ambositra27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 20 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 20 rain days
• Anakao32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
• Antsiranana30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Fianarantsoa28 °C (82 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 12 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 12 rain days
• Foulpointe30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
• Hell-Ville28 °C (82 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 15 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 15 rain days
• Ifaty32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 12 rain days
• Ihosy30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Île aux Nattes30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 18 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 18 rain days
• Mahajanga30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 15 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 15 rain days
• Morondava32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 12 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 12 rain days
• Taolagnaro30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Toamasina30 °C (86 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F), 16 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 73 °F (23 °C), 16 rain days
• Toliara33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 9 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 9 rain days
• Vatomandry31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 18 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 18 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year

  1 Jan

  Holiday; family gatherings.

• New Year's Day

  1 January · Antananarivo

  A public holiday; many shops close.

Crowds · Madagascar

Low

Prices · Madagascar

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Madagascar, side by side.

• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
• A spare day in the plan: storms can cancel flights and ferries

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Better another month

• East coast and rainforest

  Rain in every month; cyclones land here January–March. Sainte-Marie's whale season is July–September.

• North and Nosy Be

  Warm year round; the north-east trade wind blows hard at Diego June–September.

• Antananarivo

  Cyclone season and heavy rain; flooding and road cuts.